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INSIDE this issue
Competition time!Win a family ticket on the SwanageRailway with our colouringcompetition for kids - p10
A Day in the Life...of New Leaf, BCHA’sfriendly, professionaland efficient cleaningteam - p5
BchangemakerAwardsA celebration of staffand customerachievements - p6-7
TenantTALKThe magazine by and for BCHA customers Summer 2019
2 BCHA Newsletter Summer 2019
Pauline Lewis Housing & Customer Services Manager
Kirrin Chahal Tenancy Officer
Jeanette Morgan Income Recovery and Financial
Inclusion Officer
Andrew Robertson – EditorResident Engagement Co-ordinator
Nikki Crockford BCHA resident
Contents
This editionwas brought toyou by theEditorial Panel,which is madeup of residentsand staff.
We hope youenjoy themagazine.
Get in touch; BCHA Board update .......... 3
Advance Payments advice ...................... 4
A day in the life of our cleaning team .... 5
Bchangemakers awards round-up ..... 6-7
Resident block inspection ...................... 8
Festival of Wellbeing; BCHA allotment .... 9
Working together to stay safe ................ 10
Win a trip on the Swanage Railway ........ 11
Contact numbers and information ......... 12
6-7 9 11
Congratulations to resident Aaron Smith fromHilsea for winning the £30 Asda vouchercompetition
Meet the Editorial Panel
3
Introducing BCHA’s BoardThe BCHA Board has twelvemembers – all of whom areunpaid and voluntary.
They bring a range of skills andexperience including financial andtreasury management, banking,legal, surveying, architecture andconstruction, social work, medicineand health service management.
The aims of BCHA are:
Building Resilience, PromotingInclusion, Inspiring Change
Creating Opportunities, DevelopingCommunities, DevelopingEnterprise
Homes of Choice, Building &Owning More Homes, ProvidingQuality Homes
Achieving Value, Excellent People,Efficiency & Quality
The role of the Board covers threebroad areas:
1. Governance – ensuring thatBCHA’s service quality, financesand processes are fit for purposeand as good as they can be.
2. Strategy – ensuring that BCHAhas clear plans for the next 5, 10and 30 years, and the flexibility tocope with things we can’t predict.
3. Advocacy – getting out there andspeaking to customers, staff andcommissioners promoting thevalues and services that we standfor. Promoting our cause regionallyand nationally.
The Board meets at least six timesa year and has sub-committees ofAudit, Risk and Treasury,Development and Governance.
The finances of BCHA are crucialbecause a strong financial positionenables us to pursue our aims andobjectives.
But the Board’s interests go waybeyond that – at the end of the dayit is all about people – ourcustomers and our staff. Boardmembers are always keen to visitservices and to meet customersand staff – please don’t be shy toinvite them!
We hope you enjoyed readingthe first edition of Tenant Talk.One of our priorities is lookingat various ways to hear morefrom our residents. We alsowant to:
l Know how you prefer to talkto us when you havesomething to say.
l Know how you want BCHAto get in touch with you whenwe have something to tellyou.
l Work with you in exploringusing various digitalcommunication likeFacebook.
l Tell you how you can join afocus group discussingvarious issues like anti-socialbehavior, attend block
inspections or reviewingexisting policies.
l Encourage more of you toget involved and have avoice.
Thank you for your valuablefeedback and please keep yourcomments coming!
We would like to hear from youMeet your newResident EngagementCo-ordinatorBCHA hasrecruitedAndrewRobertson asthe newResidentEngagementCo-ordinator.Part of his rolewill be to workclosely withresidents,helping you get more involved andlooking at new ways that BCHAand residents communicate andwork together.
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 01202 410642
Face to Face: Why notarrange to talk our ResidentEngagement Co-ordinator?
If you have any ideas forfuture articles or would like tojoin our editorial panel for theTenant Talk magazine pleasecontact Andrew Robertson.
Ways to get in touch
Board members meet at least sixtimes a year
Join our BCHA ResidentFacebook Group:www.facebook.com/groups/BCHAresidentsgroup
DIRECT DEBIT
If your bank/buildingsociety account is in asole name, contactyour Income Recoveryand Financial Inclusion
Officer or Customer Services Advisorwho can set up your direct debit overthe phone. Joint account holdersrequire a form to be completed.
DEBIT CARD
BCHA can accept yourpayment using yourdebit card over thephone.
ALLPAY CARD
This swipe card allowsyou to pay rent at aPost Office orPayPoint outlet.
BY POST
Send your cheque(made payable toBCHA) quoting yourname and address on
the back, to BCHA Head Office atSt. Swithuns House, 21 ChristchurchRoad, Bournemouth, BH1 3NS.
INTERNET BANKING –DIRECT PAYMENTS
You will require BCHA’sbank account and sortcode along with yourrent account number.You can make directpayments to us,
whenever you choose, by goingonline.
STANDINGORDERS
We have a form for youto fill in and pass toyour Bank/ Building
Society so that they can pay us thesame amount on the same day everyweek, fortnight, four weeks ormonthly. The payments should quoteyour rent account number andproperty code. You will need toinstruct your bank if your rent or anybenefit entitlement changes.
4 BCHA Newsletter Summer 2019
How to pay your rent
For further information orassistance, please contactyour Income Recovery &Financial Inclusion Officer orour Customer Services Team(Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm)on 01202 410500.
Rent in Advance is important – itprotects you from rent arrears.
How to apply for anAdvance Payment l When you move on to UniversalCredit it will take five weeks beforeyou receive your first payment intoyour bank or building society. Tohelp support you through this timeyou can apply for an AdvancePayment from your work coach atthe Job Centre.
l If you’ve already had yourinterview, you can phone theUniversal Credit helpline to ask foran Advance Payment or applythrough your online account.
l You can ask up to one monthminus three working days after youapply for Universal Credit.
l You will need to explain why youneed an advance.
l You’ll usually find out the sameday if you can get an advance.
How you pay back youradvancel The payments are deducted fromyour Universal Credit every month.
l You must pay it back within 12months. This may be extended to18 months if you experiencefinancial hardship.
l Even though this is a loan, you arenot charged interest on it.
Help with housing costsfrom your local councill If you have been nominated for anew property and cannot afford therent in advance, you can apply for aDiscretionary Housing Payment from
the council. You have to do thisbefore you move into the property.
l It is available to people who donot receive their full housing cost,either from the council or UniversalCredit. For example, if you areaffected by the bedroom tax or thebenefit cap.
l If you are experiencing financialdifficulties, pick up the phone andcall your Income Recovery andFinancial Inclusion Officer, we arehere to help.
Helpful advice aboutAdvance Payments
Here to help: BCHA’s IncomeRecovery & Financial InclusionOfficer Jeannette Morgan
What we doNew Leaf have three mobilecleaners who work individually,but also as a team. Angela, Karenand Nicola work together toensure all communal areas arecleaned regularly and anymaintenance issues are reportedto the office.
Our day isn’t just about cleaning,it’s about being aware of anymaintenance issues, rubbish thatneeds to be cleared and issuesthat may affect our tenants. Wereport repairs, anti-socialbehaviour and welfare issues tothe office.
New Leaf provides each of us witha work van which we keepstocked with everything we needto do our jobs.
A typical dayA typical day consists of an eight-hour shift, working from afour-week rota. Each week isdifferent with some jobs being
weekly, some fortnightly andothers monthly. Along with thiswe are regularly required to cleanempty properties, getting themready for the next tenant to movein, deep cleaning properties dueto be handed back to their ownerand dealing with any spillage thatrequires urgent attention whichcan sometimes involve hazardouswaste.
We clean lots of properties thathave a variety of purposes. Theseinclude mainstream housing,HMOs, women’s refuges, youngpeople’s hostels, and supportedhousing for people with mentalhealth issues or addictions.
ChallengesEvery day is different and, as alarge part of our work is on a rota,we get to visit the same propertieson a regular basis and thereforeget to know some of the residents.
Generally this is a positive part ofour job, however we need to be
aware of our surroundings,mindful that their reactions mightnot be what you generally wouldexpect and be respectful that youare in their homes.
If we feel there are any concernsfor a tenant’s wellbeing, or ourown, we report it to the office.
Our AimWe are focused, as a team, todeliver a friendly, professional,efficient service which is flexible tofit the needs of New Leaf, BCHAand the tenants.
A day in the life... of New Leaf, theBCHA Cleaning
Team
Left to right: Nicola, Angela andKaren
Q. I am having financial difficultiespaying my rent at the moment, who
can I talk to about this?
A: You should seek advice as soon aspossible. The first thing you need to do is
contact your Income Recovery Officer,who will work with you to identify why
you are unable to pay your rent, and tryto help you sort the problem.
Q. How do I get my views across more? I want to get involved with
BCHA so my voice is heard?
A: We are always happy to listen to youand there are many ways to talk to us that
can suit you. Why not join one of ourfocus groups or talk to our Resident
Engagement Co-ordinator for more detailson how you can get involved?
Q. I am having a problem with damp and mould in my property,
what should I do?
A: You should first talk to your TenancyOfficer as soon as possible, who will be
happy to help. There is a usefulcondensation pack to help youminimise and resolve the issue.
Q. What are the main types of tenancies that BCHA offer?
A: The four most common tenancies we offerare an Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST),
Starter Tenancy, Assured Tenancy (AT) and aLicence agreement.
Q. I need an issue repaired in my property, how can I report this?
A: There are two main ways youcan report a repair:
Call: 0300 1234 001 or [email protected]
5
Ask the expert...
Bchangemakers Awards: Celebrating 50 years of aAs well as providing a chanceto meet up, discuss the pastyear and plan for the yearahead, the Building the FutureTogether event included thepresentation of a range ofBchangemakers Awards todeserving residents and staffwho had been nominated bytheir peers.
Providing well-earnedrecognition and muchapplause, the awards were alsoa chance to recognise the verypeople who inspire the work ofBCHA – our customers. Craftexercises also helped tenantsand staff get to know eachother better and work together.
6 BCHA Newsletter Summer 2019
chievements
7
Mark Rowlands - New Leaf Repairs & Maintenance Services
Mark was recognised for achieving the highest percentage of ‘first-time fixes’ – an important measure to ensure we deliver a ‘right firsttime’ service to our customers, providing efficiencies and value formoney for the business.
Inspiring Customer - Melissa
In 2014 Melissa fled a violent relationship with her two children andwas sheltered by a BCHA women’s refuge.
She said: “All my life I had been told how to feel, behave, speak andlive – but thanks to the refuge I found the courage to decide how therest of my life would go.”
Melissa started counselling and settled her children into school. Shewas also put forward for a course called Pattern Changing, highlightingthe impact of abusive relationships.
She said: “I wanted my kids to be proud of their mum, and I wanted toteach them to never give up. The BCHA refuge saved me and I havenever looked back.”
Valiant Volunteer - Stuart Milburn
Stuart currently works as a Teaching Assistant, mainly on the twoIgnite IT courses (Digital Life Skills & the accredited Level One Award),but also on the Ignite Personal Development Skills workshops. He isalways reliable with excellent feedback from learners.
Award winners
8 BCHA Newsletter Summer 2019
Your upcoming block inspection schedule
BCHA’s TenancyOfficers carryout regularblockinspections inthe areas theycover. Use thishandy scheduleto find out whenthey will bevisiting you overthe next fourmonths.
xxxx JULYBLOCK
BLOCK
AUGUST SEPTEMBER OCTOBER
Sunnyleigh Mews w/c 8th
w/c 8th
w/c 8th
w/c 8th
w/c 8th
w/c 8th
w/c 8th
w/c 8th
w/c 8th
w/c 8th
w/c 15th
w/c 15th
w/c 15th
w/c 15th
w/c 5th
w/c 5th
w/c 7th
w/c 7th
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w/c 5th
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w/c 2nd
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w/c 2nd
w/c 2nd
w/c 16th
w/c 16th
w/c 16th
w/c 16th
Bell House
Hengist Road
Walpole Road
Hamilton Road
St Albans Crescent
Acacia View
Holly House
Birch Lodge
Chestnut Court
Knightstone Court
Padwick House
St Barbara Way
Ernley House
Your Tenancy Officer is Kirrin Chahal
Marchesi House
Princess of Wales Court
7 Holland Road
10 Holland Road
11 Holland Road
Kellaway Court
Sephton Court
Hall House
Jack Mantle House
43 Dorchester Road
Knightstone View
Orchard Court
34 Carlton Road North
17 Carlton Road North
Cornerpoint
834 Christchurch Road
Queensland Lodge
76 Kimberley Road
BLOCK JULY AUGUST SEPT OCT
Your Tenancy Officer is Robert Clarke
w/c 1st w/c 5th
w/c 5th
w/c 26th
w/c 26th
w/c 26th
w/c 12th
w/c 12th
w/c 12th
w/c 12th
w/c 5th
w/c 5th
w/c 12th
w/c 12th
w/c 12th
w/c 19th
w/c 19th
w/c 19th
w/c 19th
w/c 2nd w/c 7th
w/c 7th
w/c 29th
w/c 29th
w/c 29th
w/c 14th
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w/c 14th
w/c 14th
w/c 7th
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w/c 21st
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w/c 2nd
w/c 23rd
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w/c 2nd
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w/c 1st
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w/c 8th
w/c 8th
w/c 8th
w/c 8th
w/c 1st
w/c 1st
w/c 17th
w/c 17th
w/c 17th
w/c 15th
w/c 15th
w/c 15th
w/c 15th
138 Surrey Road
Corneila Lodge
431 Poole Road
Morgan Court
Beauchamp Court
27A Park Road
Richley House
4 Portman Crescent
Elmslie Place
Cedar Court
480-502 Christchurch Rd
Henley Court
64 Christchurch Road
Florence Court
Denmark Court
Elizabeth House
Lynthwaite House
Vale Court
Southcote House
Bell Heather
BLOCK JULY AUGUST SEPT OCT
Your Tenancy Officer is Paul Whitehouse
w/c 8th w/c 19th
w/c 19th
w/c 19th
w/c 19th
w/c 19th
w/c 19th
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w/c 19th
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w/c 16th w/c 14th
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w/c 8th
RobertClarke
Paul WhitehouseKirrin Chahal
9
Ignite is a BCHA initiative aimed atgiving people the self-belief andskills to get back to work.
l Ignite has run free coursessince 2010 and has supportedmore than 2,000 people.
l The six-week programmefocuses on self-development andwellbeing and is available toanyone over 19 who isunemployed or about to lose theirjob.
l 97% of learners report anincrease in motivation.
l 88% increase in confidence and85% achieve a qualification.
l More than 100 learners havealso found employment or avoluntary role.
l Ignite courses include Stressand Anxiety Management; Stepsto Change; Building Resilience;Art as Relaxation; Money Skills;Confidence and Self-EsteemBuilding, Assertiveness andEmotional and Physical Wellbeing.
l Ignite also offers a range ofqualifications which include Skillsfor Work, Level 1 Horticulture, DigitalLife Skills, Level 1, IT user skills,Level 1 Skills for Supporting Others.
To find out more call the team on01202 410595, [email protected] or visitwww.bcha.org.uk
Light up yourlife with Ignite
The Ignite team
Grow in confidence atthe BCHA allotment
BCHA has a 2.2 acreallotment in Throop. Theallotment is home toseveral ground and raisedgrowing beds, poly-tunnels, a pond, 40 appletrees, an ancient orchardand bee hives.
The site is run by adedicated allotment co-ordinator and a team ofvolunteers. There arevarious groups who usethe site, like schools andgroups for those withlearning disabilities.
BCHA runs the GrowthProject, which is a six-
week accredited coursewhere you can achieve aNOCN Level 1 Certificatein Horticulture. The courseis a programme whichfocuses on wellbeing,personal development andhorticultural skills.
To sign up to the course,complete the onlineapplication form on theBCHA website or [email protected] for moredetails.
Festival of Wellbeing is back!BCHA will be holding its free annual Festival ofWellbeing Event in Boscombe Gardens on 26th July.
There will be live music and plenty of fun activities forall ages. Come have a chat with our resident leadNikki Crockford. There will also be BCHA staff onhand to answer any questions relating to rentpayments, tenancies or general housing issues.
Everyone is welcome, so please come along!
There are many reasons whyBCHA may have to enter aresident’s property. Forexample, BCHA has a legalobligation to manage andreport on gas safety andtherefore would need toenter your property toensure everything is to asafe standard.
If you work with us, then the
whole process is simple andwe can ensure your propertyis safe for you and yourneighbours to live in.
Working together tokeep everyone safe
Food vouchersWe know that anyone can reach a crisis pointand BCHA is here to help our customers if thathappens. Foodbanks work on a voucherreferral system. All you need to do is visitcustomer services at our BCHA office and fillout a few basic details and you will be issued avoucher. There is a limit of three vouchers everysix months.
Take your voucher to your nearest foodbank,where you will be welcomed by volunteers todiscuss your needs and prepare your foodparcel. Each food parcel contains sufficientnutrition for at least three days of healthy,balanced meals for individuals and families.BCHA also provides small packs of emergencyfood to those who require it immediately.
l When your property isdue for an inspection wewill contact you direct.
l We will give reasonablenotice of any visits.
l If the visit is notconvenient or if you needto re-arrange, please call0300 1234001 and wewill help.
l But please do not ignoreour letters or accesscards. If you do not giveus access, we may needto force access throughthe courts to do theservice and this will alsoconstitute a breach ofyour tenancy. Please helpus keep you safe byworking together.
June is a wonderful time in the garden.Flowers are starting to appear inabundance and there’s plenty to harvestin the veg patch. Check your plants dailyand water them if the soil is dry now thatthe weather is warmer.
Keep on top of weeding and supportingyour plants and keep an eye out for coldnights at this time of year, as some plantswill still need plenty of protection.
Why not try to sow poppies? If sown directnow, many varieties flower within eightweeks.
If you’re thinking of growing herbs now, whynot try coriander, parsley, chives or dill?
At this time of year, stems of mint willproduce roots within a week if cut andplaced in water. They can then be plantedup, ideally in pots to contain their spread.
Summer garden
10 BCHA Newsletter Summer 2019
11
Method:
Heat the oil in a large pan, finely chop the garlic and dice the onion and add to the pan. Pour over the stockadd a pinch of salt, and bring to the boil. Drain and rinse the cannellini beans and add to the pan, along withthe mustard and herbs. Reduce to a simmer for around 30 minutes, until the beans are soft and creamy. Ina separate pan, fry the sausages for 10 minutes. Remove from the heat, slice thinly and add to the pan ofbeans. Now measure the pasta into the pan and add 300ml more water. Stir well and bring to the boil, thenreduce to a simmer for 10 minutes more. Add the cabbage into the pot for a few minutes to soften.
If you try this recipe, please let us know how it turned out. If you have a healthy recipe you’d like to share, pleasesend it in to [email protected]
Cooking on a shoestring: Healthy Bean and Sausage Pasta
Please include:
Name:
............................................
............................................
Address:
............................................
............................................
...........................................
............................................
Postcode: ...........................
Email: .................................
Phone: ................................
Kids’ colouring competitionColour in and cut out for your chanceto win a family return ticket onSwanage Railway! The competition isopen to children aged 2 – 8.
Submit your entry to: BCHA, StSwithuns House, Christchurch Road,Bournemouth, BH1 3NS or email [email protected] by 15th August.
!
Serves 4
Ingredients:
1 tbsp oil (store cupboard item)
½ tsp English value mustard, 32p
1 onion 160g, 17p
4 fat cloves of garlic, 8p
500ml chicken or vegetable stock,39p/12 cubes
400g cannellini beans, 42p
6 sausages, 27p (91p/20 sausages)
300g dried pasta, 17p (29p/500g)
160g green cabbage or springgreens, 20p (62p/500g)
Useful contacts and information
Maintenance enquiries: New Leaf 0300 1234 001 [email protected]@newleafcompany.com
BCHA Customer Services 01202 410 500 [email protected]
Mental Health Floating Support 01202 612 600 [email protected]
Generic Floating Support 01202 451 458
National Citizen Service 01202 410 550 [email protected]
New Directions 01202 410 635 [email protected]
Ignite 01202 410 595 [email protected]
Dorset Police Emergency 999 non-emergency 101
Homelessness Contact your local authority for advice
Shelter 0808 800 4444 Shelter.org.uk
Rough Sleeping Help Line 01202 315 962
Salvation Army 01202 309 803 www.salvationarmy.org.uk
National 24-hour DomesticViolence Helpline
0808 2000 247 www.nationaldomesticviolencehelpline.org.uk
Each local authority will hold their own housing register for houses within their area,
operating a choice-based lettings system for these homes:
Area Citizens Advice Bureau Local Authorities Housing Options
Dorset
Bournemouth,
Christchurch &
Poole
Portsmouth
Hampshire
citizensadvicedorset.org.uk
www.citizensadvicebcp.org.uk
call: 01202 290 967
caportsmouth.org.uk
call: 023 9285 5855
www.citahants.org
call: 034 4411 1306
Dorset County Council –
01305 251 000
BCP Bournemouth Council
- 01202 451 451
BCP Poole Council -
01202 633 633
Portsmouth City Council –
023 9282 2251
Hampshire County Council
– 0300 555 1375
www.homechoice.dorsetforyou.gov.uk/
DorsetHomeChoice/
Bournemouth Council –
01202 451 467
Poole Council – 01202 633 804
023 9283 4989
