Plus Dane UNiTY 1

Issue 16 Summer 2013Plus Dane Group residents’ magazine

Find us on... /plusdanegroup

CONNECTING NEIGHBOURHOODS - YOUR GUIDE TO GETTING ONLINE

www.neighbourhoodinvestor.com

Plus Dane UNiTY2

Inside this issue...

Plus Dane Group has launched a new storytelling website called Fireside, which aims to tell the stories of the people and the neighbourhoods we serve through the voices of real people. Stories on the site are told in different ways, through film, audio, photography and words, but they all aim to show the achievements and successes of the people we work with and their communities.

We want to share as many great stories as possible through Fireside, so if you have any that you think should be included, then let the Communications Team know by contacting Sarah Moston on 0151 703 2064 or emailing sarah.moston@neighbourhoodinvestor.com.

Find out more at www.nifireside.com

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Plus Dane launches Fireside

Connecting neighbourhoods

Help others get online

Moving On Moving In

Branch out

Grubby hands

Available Homes

Supporting community businesses

Time for a cuppa

Focus on community safety

Bursary scheme

Green fingers

Competition

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hellolike us on facebookfacebook.com/plusdanegroup

follow us on twittertwitter.com/plusdanegroup

watch us on youtubeyoutube.com/plusdanegroup

and welcome to the latest issue of UNiTY magazine.

This edition is all about how using the internet and developing computer skills can help us all to get better connected. This is a topic which has once again been chosen by the Tenants Communications Group as an important issue for the magazine to focus on for tenants and residents.

The internet continues to change the way we do things, with more and more services now being delivered and accessed online. This will also include claiming for benefits in the future as the government works towards a move to online claims as part of the introduction of Universal Credit.

Not only that, but with employment opportunities increasingly being advertised online, savings that can be made through shopping around and paying bills online, or simply through keeping in touch with friends and family, making the most of the opportunities that internet can bring has never been more important.

We know that for many there are lots of barriers and fears about how to use and access the internet. This issue aims to show you lots of ways that you can get support and develop your computer skills to get online, whether it’s in your home or through using community facilities.

One of the ways you can do this is through Plus Dane’s office reception areas which have been revamped to offer new and improved facilities for customers. This includes new kiosks where you can get online, with staff on hand to help you if you need showing the ropes. Find out more on P5.

There are also lots of training courses available that can help you with the basics of getting to grips with computers right through to more advanced skills and you can find out more about how to access support available in this issue. Plus Dane offers a wide range of free training through our Residents Academy, including basic IT courses, which you can read about on P10.

There are so many opportunities to develop and learn new skills through our Residents Academy, ranging from presentation skills to running community events to eating healthily on a budget and many more. Our courses are free to attend, you can go on as many as you like and we also offer travel and care expenses to make accessing the training available as easy as possible.

We hope you find this issue useful and if you have any comments or have a topic that you would like to see UNiTY focussing on for a future edition, please do get in touch using the contact details on the back page.

Ken PerryChief ExecutivePlus Dane Group

Des FinlayChairTenants Together Forum

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Sandra Millett, of the Tenants Communications Group, said: “We were shocked to discover that over 70% of housing association tenants in the UK don’t use the internet and so we wanted this issue of UNiTY to highlight why it’s important and show residents how they can get online and the support that is out there to help them do it.

“There are so many benefits to being online, whether it’s just by helping you keep in touch with friends and family or from getting discounts for utility and other bills, right through to helping people find jobs. The challenges being introduced by the government’s changes to benefits will also mean that there’s a vital need for people to get online.”

Helen Jamieson, Neighbourhoods Project Manager at Plus Dane who is working to help neighbourhoods get better connected, added:

“This issue is so important, not just for Plus Dane in terms of giving tenants and residents more choice in how they can access to our services, but some of the best deals for goods and services are often online so there are significant savings that can be made through shopping around online. With the changes to benefits being introduced by the government, these savings could really help, as well as improving access to job opportunities and skills development. Not forgetting all the fun and enjoyment that the internet can offer!

“Lots of services are also now becoming ‘digital by default’ and so people that aren’t online risk being at a disadvantage if we don’t take steps to help more online. I’m really pleased that the Tenants Communications Group wanted to focus on this important issue through UNiTY, to highlight the importance of breaking down barriers to getting online.”

Connecting NeighbourhoodsThis issue of UNiTY is all about raising awareness of how customers can get better connected through developing computer skills and making the most of the opportunities that being online and using the internet can bring.

Using the internet can help with anything from saving money through shopping and paying bills online, to finding and accessing job opportunities.

Changes being introduced by the government to benefits, including the introduction of Universal Credit, will also increase the need for people to get online.

• Thegovernmentwants80%ofapplications for Universal Credit to be onlineby2017.

• Ifthe1.6mchildrenwholivingwithfamilies which do not use the internet at home, it could boost their total lifetimeearningsbyover£10bn.

• Manyjobs,between75%and90%,need at least some computer use.

• Householdsthataren’tusingtheinternet are missing out on estimated savingsof£560ayearfromshoppingand paying bills online.

• Only35%ofjobvacanciesareadvertised at the job centre and even less in newspapers – the rest are advertised online through newspaper and company websites, job search websites, services such as Universal JobMatchandeventhroughsocialmedia channels such as Facebook and Twitter.

Facts

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There are lots of barriers to getting online. You may not have access to computer equipment or find the costs of connecting to the internet are out of your reach, or it may be that you don’t have much experience using computers and so feel you don’t have the skills or the confidence.

Plus Dane is working to help people overcome these barriers and encourage as many tenants and residents to make the most of the internet and there is lots of other support out there.

A number of organisations can offer a PC or laptop at a discounted

price to people on low incomes or certain benefits. It’s important to remember though that you will still need to pay for an internet connection to get online in your home. Ifyouareinterestedinfindingoutmore,contactHelenJamieson, Neighbourhood ProjectsManageratPlusDane01513303519/helen.jamieson@neighbourhoodinvestor.com.

There are lots of places across Merseyside and Cheshire where you can access the internet. In fact, in Merseyside there are over 150 places offering internet access and around 30 in Cheshire where you can either drop-in or pre-book time at a computer free of charge.

Ifyouwouldliketofindoutwhereyou can get online near where youlive,contact08001692988/03001234560orvisitwww.ukonlinecentres.com to find your localUKOnlineCentre.

Plus Dane’s Residents’ Academy offers free courses in basic IT skills and there are lots of other courses available through local colleges, community centres and libraries – Find out more about Plus Dane’s Residents’ Academy onP10.

We have been working closely with residents who have been involved in the whole process of redesigning the spaces and there are now new features in place to support customers.

When visiting our offices you can talk directly to our advisors, but we have also introduced new kiosks in all our offices where you can get online and access the internet. We have a team of staff ready and waiting to help you if you need support using the kiosks so if you’re not sure, come along and ask and we’re happy to show you the ropes!

How can you get better connected through the internet?

It may not cost as much as you think

You don’t have to have a computer at home to get online

There’s a lot of training available

Other good sources of information are:

Learning in Liverpool – 0151 233 3026

Learndirect www.learndirect.co.uk

You can get online from your local Plus Dane office – Following feedback gathered from customers, Plus Dane’s reception areas

have been undergoing a revamp to make them more customer friendly.

You will find kiosks available at the following offices:

Park Road - 172 Park Road, Liverpool L8 6SJ

Rialto Buildings - 90-94 Upper Parliament Street Liverpool L8 7SY

Runcorn - Jackson House, Second Avenue, Runcorn WA7 2PD

Congleton - Shepherds Mill, Worrall Street, Congleton, Cheshire CW12 1DT

Ellesmere Port - 7-9 Civic Way, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire CH65 0AX

There are also public computer facilities available at Neston Library where Plus Dane’s Housing Officer for the area is based. You can find us at:

Neston Library, Parkgate RoadNeston, Cheshire CH64 6QE

CONNECTING NEIGHBOURHOODS

Plus Dane Kiosk Champions

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Plus Dane is supporting the national GOONDigitalChampions initiative and encouraging tenants and residents that have some basic IT knowledge to become a volunteer Digital Champion and help others in their neighbourhood to get online.

It’s a great opportunity not just to help others get digitally connected, but to develop your own skills and knowledge at the same time.

To become a Digital Champion you need to have some knowledge of using a computer and the internet but you don’t have to be an expert, the rest is simple!

Help others online!Do you think you have what it takes to help your friends, family or neighbours online?Ifyoudothenweneedyourhelp!

Using the internet can help with anything from saving money through shopping and paying bills online, to finding and accessing job opportunities.

Changes being introduced by the government to benefits, including the introduction of Universal Credit, will also increase the need for people to get online.

All volunteer Digital Champions are offered training in the form of the Digital Champion Award, a short online training programme which covers four key elements – computer basics, how to inspire people, learning styles and resources, and takes about 2 hours in total to complete – all at your own pace.

Onceyouhavecompletedyourtraining,it’sover to you to do as much as you can to help others in your own time, which can range from:

• SignpostingpeopletoaUKOnlineCentreor another local access point in your neighbourhood where they can get online

• VolunteeringataUKOnlineCentre,libraryorother local access point

• Givinganhourtoshowafriend,relative,orneighbour how to use a computer to access the internet – side by side

• Takingpartindropinsessionsrunby Plus Dane• Deliveringatrainingclasstoagroupyourself

(Plus Dane can help you arrange this and support you with ‘Train-the Trainer’ training)

• HelpingsomeonesetupanewPCoralaptopin their home

• DonatinganunwantedPCorlaptoptosomeone that needs one and helping them

use it• Encouragingotherstobecomedigital

champions to help spread the word about the importance and benefits of being online!

What do Digital Champions do?

Plus Dane staff are also signing up to become

Digital Champions as part of our commitment to

get more people online. Hayley Pover, Support

Officer at Plus Dane, is one member of the team

that has completed the training. She said: “The

training is really straightforward to complete and gives

you all the information you need to support others to

get online. It’s a great way to learn something new,

develop new skills and help others at the same time.”

Ifyouwouldliketofindoutmoreabouthowyo

u

can become a volunteer Digital Champion, contact

HayleyPoveratPlusDaneon0151

3303518or

emailhayley.pover@neighbourhoodin

vestor.com.

You can also keep up to date with the initiative at

www.facebook.com/digitalchampions.

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Many areas now have Jobcentre Digital Champions, which are dedicated staff who can assist you with making benefits claims and job search online or can point you in the direction of another local centre where you can get online.

JobCentreOfficeChester Ellesmere PortWarringtonMacclesfieldNorthwichWilmslowWinsfordCreweCongletonAintreeBelle ValeBirkenheadCrosby

BootleEdgehill Everton

GarstonHuyton

Kirkby

Norris Green RuncornStHelens

ToxtethUpton/BromboroughWallasey/HoylakeWavertreeWest DerbyWidnes

Williamson Square

ContactDavid BlinstonGwynne Brothwood Glenn CromptonSamantha DeansMaria GrembowiczMark LambertAndrea LomasLorna NobleLynn WaltonLisa WheatleyGary BradyMark PembertonJoan EvansNeil HallSuzanne DeavesPeter RatcliffeLindsay TynanEmma MacaulayDebbie PeachGary BellCarl ChurchGary BellGaynor WilliamsMichael FoulkesSharon CullenLynda YorkWilliam YoungAndy DonaldsonSimon ReedAndrew PickersgillAbdul BatenKaren TurpinSharon AdidiJoyce HalsallJimmy McCartan

Telephone number01244 3542030151 552 884101928 78551501625 60384501606 31811401625 60802301606 31820001270 53801301260 2053180151 801 65060151 802 39500151 551 66200151 949 40580151 949 40070151 801 60590151 708 47850151 801 66620151 801 66610151 801 52110151 443 62020151 443 68790151 801 87190151 801 85080151 551 635501928 85370401744 69825801744 6980690151 801 82150151 551 65390151 801 38070151 801 58330151 801 66310151 422 34790151 422 24310151 551 6328

Beingonlinecanmakejobhuntingaloteasier.ManyjobsarenowadvertisedandaccessedonlineandITskills are often key skills needed for many jobseekers.

Jobcentre Plus Digital Champions

If you would like to find out more about the services you can

access near you, contact the Jobcentre Plus Digital Champion

for your area.

CONNECTING NEIGHBOURHOODS

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The MovingOnMovingIn (MOMI)site, devised by the young people and developed by Merseyside Youth Development Service and Brighter Design, was developed to help provide young people with all the information they need on how to find a home, as well as practical advice about tenancy agreements, budgeting, managing money and avoiding debt, and how to look after a home.

The aim of the project was to reduce the number of tenancies failing in the first six months. Plus Dane has found that often, when young people move into a home of their own for the first time, they may not always understand all the costs involved or how to do the practicalities of setting up a home such as arranging gas and electricity suppliers or setting up direct debits.

Julie Tomlinson, Youth Engagement Manager at Plus Dane, commented: “Moving into a home of your own for the first time can be a very stressful and daunting experience. There’s a huge amount to consider, from making sure that you can afford all the costs involved such as rent, utility bills and food, to making sure you understand and meet the conditions of your tenancy agreement.

“Plus Dane has found that often, understanding these issues can be the difference between maintaining a tenancy and a tenancy failing. MOMI aims to provide all the information that young people need to ensure a smooth transition into living on their own. It’s been designed by young people, for young people, and the results so far have been extremely positive.”

Young people from homeless units have been working together with Plus Dane to develop an innovativenewwebsitecalled‘MovingOnMovingIn’,an information resource designed to ensure that young people are well prepared for their first home.

Moving On Moving In

For more information visit

www.momi.org.uk

IfyouliveintheEllesmerePortand Neston area there’s no excuse when it comes to getting onlineandlearningaboutITandconnecting to the internet.

Over 1 million people have learned IT skills since 2010 through UK online centres. They offer training in the use of computers and the internet, and at the Ellesmere Port Work Ready Centre there are also opportunities to improve basic skills and achieve English and maths qualifications and it’s all FREE.

Courses are held at the following locations

Ellesmere Port Work Ready Centre4 Civic WayEllesmere Port CH65 0BE0151 356 6667Monday-Friday 10-4

The Debt Advice Network15 Chester RoadEllesmere Port CH65 9BE0151 356 8200Monday-Friday 9-4

Neston Community Youth CentreBurton RoadNeston CH64 9RE0151 336 7805Monday 9-4

Ellesmere Port LibraryCivic WayEllesmere Port CH65 0BG0151 337 4684/5Mon/Thu/Fri 9.30-7Tue/Wed 9.30-5Sat 9-1

Wolverham Community Computer and Learning CentreCheltenham RoadEllesmere Port CH65 5DS0151 355 4791M-W-F 12-3 Tues 10-12 Thurs 12-2

Neston LibraryParkgate RoadNeston CH64 6QE0151 336 5486Mon/Thu 9.30-5.30 Tue/Fri 9.30-7.30 Sat 9.30-1

UK Online

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After being offered the chance to take part in a free IT course, he took the opportunity and is now looking forward to getting his first computer. A keen guitarist and Morris dancer, Peter is also looking forward to the prospect of being able to get information about guitars at the touch of a button, as well as keeping in regular contact online with his fellow Morris dancers.

“It is certainly to my advantage to be able to use a computer and make the most of the incredible wealth of information that is available on the internet,” said Peter, who is better known by his nickname ‘Spike.’

“I play electric bass in bands and, although I use active and digital electronic systems, I often need to research information about specialist instruments and music generally. It will be terrific to be able to tap into the incredible body of information that is out there.

“Also, as a Morris dancer in a side called the Mersey Morris Men, it is useful to be able to communicate with everyone about forthcoming events via email. In fact in the past, I have been the only one not on email and everyone has moaned at me to get with it.”

Peter initially took part in a six week online basics course, later progressing to an improver’s course. All subjects are covered including internet shopping and awareness of the perils of scams and viruses.

“I found the safety aspect of the course to be of particular importance,” explained Peter. “It seems it is very easy to get caught out online, particularly when you are sharing information or inputting information like bank details.

“I am thoroughly enjoying these computer courses and, whilst I would never profess to be any kind of expert, I am really looking forward to owning one. A friend is upgrading his computer and has promised me his old one.

“The courses take place at the Work Ready Centre in Ellesmere Port, in the council offices (formerly called the HHEET Centre). The staff are helpful, friendly and I really rate their tutorial skills.”

Peter took early retirement following a varied career that included a stint in community art, groundsmanship and a role within a Royal Mail processing depot in London.

On retirement, in 2006, he decided to return to his roots in Ellesmere Port and home is a one-bedroom flat in Little Sutton, Ellesmere Port, now managed by Plus Dane.

“I absolutely love my home, I have a garden front and back, which I’m busy sharing with my good neighbour’, he said.

“I’dliketogetmoreinvolvedin working with Plus Dane and hope my newly-acquired computer skills will assist in this.

“Ithinkit’sreallyimportantthat people know how to use computers and have access to them, particularly young people, asITskillsarecrucialwhenapplying for jobs.

“Although I feel there is a life without computers, people can become increasingly excluded from society when they are not computer literate. I think it is vital that they are given the opportunity to learn these important skills and have internet access, if they require it.”

Getting to grips with the internet ByhisownadmissionPeterMorrisfeltitwastimetobringhimselfintothe21stcenturyandgetonline.

CONNECTING NEIGHBOURHOODS

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All of our courses are FREE and you can go on as many as you like.

We offer travel expenses and care expenses and some sessions also provide lunch.

The Academy will be running two Basic IT courses in the autumn, which will provide you will all the basic skills you need to get started with computers. These are taking place on:

10thSeptember13-15RodneyStreet,Liverpool10am–4pm

8thOctoberShepherdsMill,Congleton10am-4pm

If you would like to find out more or book a place, or to find out about the range of courses and opportunities offered through the Residents Academy, contact Michelle Cartwright in Plus Dane’s Learning and Development Team on 0151 708 4691.

with Plus Dane’s Residents Academy

All courses

are FREE!

Work Club NewsCastlefields workclub is an initiative created by PlusDaneandLiverpoolHousingTrust(LHT),designedto help residents who are searching for employment, training or volunteering. The club is open at Castlefields CommunityCentreVillageSquare,eachFriday1pm-3pmandisattendedbyarangeofagenciesthatcanofferhelp on benefits, debt, money advice, housing and health & wellbeing.

FormoreinformationcontactJeffO’Carroll–PlusDaneon01928706821orJaneSmith–LHTon01928976000.

We are also able to offer support to local community groups who need help to set up their own digital work club, either on a regular basis or as a one off event. Please contact helen.jamieson@neighbourhoodinvestor.comorcall01513303519.

The Residents Academy is the name we give to our programme of training and skills development courses available to all Plus Dane residents.

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One resident who has benefited from the Residents Academy is Sangeeta Uppaladinni, who lives in Alsager. Her ambition is to set up her own social enterprise and feels that the training opportunities open to her have taken her closer to achieving her goals.

Sangeeta has a condition called Stickler Syndrome which affects the body’s collagen. It’s a condition that affects everyone differently but for Sangeeta it has resulted in her being registered blind and suffering from brittle bones.

As a Plus Dane resident she moved into a bungalow in a sheltered housing scheme four years ago and has lived there happily ever since with her guide dog Ranger, who she describes as a “fantastic companion”.

“I have been doing some voluntary work from home, which suits me best,” she explains. “When I was young I achieved a degree in English Literature and a post graduate degree in advertising and

public relations. I worked as a brand account manager and copywriter for advertising agencies and in marketing communications in the corporate sector for multinational companies such as SIEMENS.”

The work took Sangeeta overseas for ten years but her deteriorating health meant she could no longer work at that pace. “I’m still passionate about the industry however,” she says, “and I am currently studying for my Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) qualification, via a distance learning course.”

Sangeeta also volunteers with the charity British Wireless for the Blind which she has done for the past three years. This provides high quality audio equipment specially designed and adapted for listeners living with sight loss.

She also campaigns tirelessly to improve the quality of life of people who are visually impaired and to

increase guide dog access and has been working with Oxford College of Marketing, who are equally committed to providing equal access to professional CIM qualifications for students with long-term health conditions.

Her ultimate goal is to set up her own social enterprise and she feels that the support and access to training she’s had through Plus Dane’s Resident’s Academy has taken her a step closer.

“The Residents Academy provides some brilliant free courses that will really help me to set my social enterprise up”, she commented. “Courses that I have attended include ‘Finding Funding’, ‘Consulting the Community’ and ‘Running a Community Event’.

“The courses have been very, very useful and I am really excited and very positive about the future.”

Aiming high “Myultimategoalistosetupmyownsocialenterprise”

Loan a laptop from your local!

Not all areas have local internet access or a community space where sessions can take place, so in Scholar Green, Alsager, we are piloting a laptop loan scheme at The Rising Sun pub.

Local people can pop down during pub opening hours, have a drink and get online free of charge using ourloanlaptop.Ifyouhaveanysuggestions where this could work in your neighbourhood let us know.

CONNECTING NEIGHBOURHOODS

With 99.7% of people living within three miles and 93.1% living within one mile of a local Post office, the ‘Get Connected’ campaign sees the Post Office, Online Centre Foundation and partners bring together internet access and courses across the UK into a single database. Post Office staff are able to search, using a customer’s postcode, to find the five nearest free or low cost internet access and training points for you.

It means that anyone that doesn’t have access to the internet at home will be able to find a local facility to get online.

Get Connected through the Post Office ThePostOfficeisnowofferingafree service where counter staff print out the nearest internet access points to customers’ homes.

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• Ifyouusewirelessbroadbandathome, make sure it’s password-protected to prevent other people from using it.

• Ifyouusetheinternetonasharedcomputer – for instance, in a library or internet café – try to remember to use the ‘In Private Browsing’ option in Internet Explorer.

When you do, you don’t leave any trace of the websites you’ve visited.

• Alwaysrememberto‘signout’of any accounts when using a public computer.

• Nevertellanyoneyourpassword,change your password regularly and don’t use the same password for everything.

• Lockyourscreenordevice-youwouldn’t go out for the day and leave your front door wide open, so keep your laptop secure when you go away and leave it switched on.

• Makesureyourantivirussoftwareisup to date.

• Emailattachmentscancontainviruses so never open them unless you’re confident that they’re from a reliable source. If an email looks suspicious, it’s best to delete it.

• Preventidentitytheft-knowthecommon tricks that criminals employ to help you protect yourself

from online fraud and identity theft. For example, beware of what’s known as ‘phishing‘ emails, which often look like they’ve come from a bank or similar institution and usually ask you to click a link to verify your identity. These emails are never genuine and should always be deleted.

• Keepyourdeviceclean.Findoutsome common signs that your device might be infected with malware - malicious software designed to harm your device or network - and how you can protect yourself.

• Usesecurenetworks-beextracareful whenever you go online using a network you don’t know, such as in a coffee shop or other public Wi-Fi access point.

• Ifyouusesocialnetworkingsites– for instance, Facebook – change your account security settings to limit who can see your profile information. Never update your status with information that you wouldn’t want to be made public.

• Makeyourprofilesprivatesoonlyfriends can see them and be wary of accepting ‘friend requests’ from people you don’t know in person

• Useanicknameratherthanyourreal name when participating in

online chatrooms or forums and don’t give out any personal information

• Avoidscams-thewebcanbea great place but be aware that not everyone online has good intentions.

• Reportabuseandillegalactivity.Help yourself and others stay safe online by reporting people or companies who send spam, try to sell counterfeit goods, or distribute malware.

• Whenshoppingonline,onlyusereputable sites.

• Beforeenteringanypersonalorpayment information online, always check that you’re on a secure website. This is indicated by a yellow padlock icon at the top of the screen and a website address that starts with ‘https://’ (the ‘s’ stands for ‘secure’).

Protecting your computer and yourselfThe internet is a fantastic resource but it’s important to be aware of the dangers and take safeguarding measures to protect yourself and your computer.

Keeping up with and supervising childrens’ online activity can be challenging, especially when they have their own computers, smartphone and games consoles... or they are in other people’s homes. It can take time to understand the risks yourself and plan ahead before allowing children access to the internet and Plus Dane, in conjunction with Merseyside Third Sector Technology Centre, can offer a short FREE e-safety workshop for parents and older children (14+), and others working regularly with young people. Ifyouwouldlikebookaplaceonaforthcomingsessionpleasecontacthelen.jamieson@neighbourhoodinvestor.comorcall01513303519

Top tips to stay safe online

For more advice and tips visit

www.getsafeonline.org

How safe is your child online?

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West Cheshire College, a state-of-the-art vocational College with campuses in Ellesmere Port and Chester, is offering short courses in mobile app development or social media as well as full-time courses encompassing digital design and media production.

If you’re interested in designing a new mobile app then the NCFE Level 2 Award in Mobile Device Application Development is perfect. The part-time course, available from June 2013, provides students with the opportunity to use industry standard software and equipment, as well as a platform to break into the lucrative independent app development market.

The College has also introduced a Social Media for Business course that allows students to gain an accredited Level 1 Introduction to Advertising unit, which can be used towards future courses or qualifications. This

part-time course, available now, teaches students to use social media professionally and explores how it can be used to develop small businesses.

Other creative and digital media courses available at West Cheshire College include a full-time ABC Level 3 Diploma in 3D Digital Animation. The course covers professional knowledge and skills in 3D modelling and animation techniques. There’s also a Level 4/5 HND BTEC in Creative Media Production, which covers moving image production, journalism and games development. Both courses are full-time and start in September 2013.

For more information on studying creative and digital media courses visit www.west-cheshire.ac.uk orcalltheCollegehotlineon01244656555.

The Workzone team are there to help you find a job by offering a range of courses to update your skills including computer courses from the very basic for those are terrified of technology to more advanced qualifications at levels 1 and 2. Also on offer are English, maths and other job search skills courses amongst others. All programmes are free to people on means tested benefits and looking to enter work. They also have Employment Mentors who can give you personalsupportinyourjobsearch,helpwithyourCVandthere are drop in PCs for you to search and apply for jobs.Other forms of help are at hand, including one-to-one

mentoring giving you the encouragement and support you mightneedtogainaninterview,helptoupdateyourCVandadvice on job searching as well as courses to boost your confidence and prepare you for that all important job interview.

IfyouthinkyouwouldbenefitfromthistypeofsupportthencontacttheWorkZoneat4CivicWay,EllesmerePort,CH65OBEorphone01513566667.

Take a step into the digital world with West Cheshire CollegeAre you a budding business leader of the future? Then why not look at some of the pioneering creative and digital media courses available at West Cheshire College.

TheWorkZoneinEllesmerePortwasformerlycalledHHEETcentreandhasnowmovedintotheCouncilOfficesinCivicWay.

CONNECTING NEIGHBOURHOODS

Are you looking for work? Do you want to update your skills? Do you want to build your confidence?

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AHealthyEatingcourseinAlsager,Cheshire, has been helping local residents learn how to cook healthy meals on a budget.

The course, run by Plus Dane, took place over four weeks and worked with over 30 residents teaching them how to cook healthy, fast meals for the whole family using a range of ingredients, such as homemade burgers, risotto, stuffed peppers and chilli.

Residents taking part also received a home cooking starter kit including herbs and spices, a chopping board, spatula and recipes and there was also a weekly competition where participants could win equipment to help them in the kitchen, with the star prize of a slow cooker!

Tenants really enjoyed the course and we are looking to do more in the future, for more informationcontactAndyTester,HealthandWellbeingOfficeratPlusDaneon01260288212.

Healthy eating

Here’s just one of the recipe’s we cook on the course - Jamie Oliver’s Cheats Pizza!Ingredients •1cupself-raisingflour(Serves2): •1/2cupwater •1pinchsalt •1canchoppedtomatoes •11/2handfulbasil •1-2clovesgarlic •freshmozzarella •toppingsofchoice •balsamicvinegar •oliveoil

Before you start - take out all your ingredients, set up a food processor and blender, oil your cast iron pan.

Then prepare your sauce - you can use canned, jar or fresh. To make fresh, empty a can of crushed or chopped tomatoes into a blender. Chop about one and a half handfuls of basil and roughly chop 1-2 cloves of garlic and add them to the canned tomatoes. Throw the garlic and basil into the blender with the canned tomatoes; add a swig of balsamic for taste, plus a drizzle of olive oil.

To make the dough - Measure one cup of self-raising flour into your food processor. Add 1/2 cup of water, a drizzle of olive oil, and a pinch of salt. Pulse. Your first pulse will result in a soft, wet dough, the goal is to work toward a firmer, processor-formed ball. Do this by slowly adding more flour. In the end you want your dough to be somewhat wet and elastic, but not so wet that it’s impossible to work it with a rolling pin.

Once you have a satisfactory ball of dough, cover a dry surface with a layer of flour. Remove the dough from the processor and add remnants to your solid “baseball”; coat lightly with flour and roll into a flat, round piece with a rolling pin. Once you have a good thickness and large enough piece to fill an approximately 14-inch cast iron pan (or two smaller pans), fold your dough in half or quarters to easily transport to the well-oiled pan. Unfold and spread/smooth slightly with your fingers if necessary.

Prepare Your Toppings - before you start cooking your dough, you should have your sauce, cheese and toppings on hand. Have all your toppings chopped - Use fresh mozzarella and tear it into chunks beforehand.

“Fry”/GrillYourDough - Turn the heat on high, and let your dough get crispy. Stand by with a spatula and lift the edges to make sure the bottom isn’t burning (this is why coating the pan with olive oil is so important - you don’t want the dough to stick to the bottom). You want it to get it crispy, but not charred. Let it go for 3 to 4 minutes and once it’s almost finished, spoon sauce in the centre and spread. Remove from the heat entirely and top with cheese and toppings.

Now that your pizza is ready, place it under the grill in the oven for another four minutes or so. Leave the oven light on and watch it. Remove when it looks good to you.

Plus Dane UNiTY 15

The site, on Park Road in Toxteth, had become a magnet for fly tippers and rats and had blighted the local community.Now, through an initiative between Plus Dane and Liverpool City Council, the site is flourishing, with fruit, flowers and vegetables growing for the benefit of local people.

A colourful mural has been painted by Dingle-based artist Alan Murray whilst children from Holy Family and Pleasant Street primary schools are enjoying weekly visits to the site to tend to the plants and flowers.

The garden, called Grubby Hands, was officially launched during a special ceremony attended by representatives from the local community, Plus Dane and Liverpool City Council, as well as school children.

Liverpool City Council funded clearance of the land, whilst Plus Dane worked with local residents and schools to encourage them to get involved. Work began last year and also included Plus Dane’s environmental services team who built raised beds.

Christine Dohren, a teacher at Holy Family Primary School commented: “The children really love coming here and it is also very educational as they can experience the growing cycle for themselves.

“They are also enjoying the fruits of their labour, eating some of the produce they have grown.”

Primary schoolchildren and residents in Liverpool have workedtogethertotransformaformerflytipintoacommunity allotment and garden.

Everything comes up roses as former eyesore is transformed into community garden

Plus Dane UNiTY16

HomesHub, part of Plus Dane, is among a national network of Help to Buy agents working to let prospective buyers know they are there to help them buy a home through the initiative.

Help to Buy – Equity Loan enables working people to purchase a new build property up to the value of £600,000 with a 20% equity loan from the government, which is interest-free for five years. This means the buyer – whether a first time buyer or someone looking to move up the property ladder – only needs to pay a 5% deposit, a fraction of the normal requirements in today’s mortgage market.

HomesHub has been appointed by the government to help buyers from start to finish, coordinating with the house builder, mortgage lender and solicitors. It also checks buyers are eligible, credit-worthy, and can afford the mortgage and loan repayments. The scheme is not available for landlords looking to invest in buy to let properties, or to second home buyers.

For more information visit www.helptobuy.org.uk

Renaissance in Neston is the perfect place for people looking to downsize and release equity or looking to come out of rented accommodation. We have seven stunning one and two bedroom properties that are available through shared ownership which can be an ideal affordable option for older people too.

You can enjoy private space in your own high quality, purpose-built apartment and socialise with others using facilities such as the homeowners’ lounge. And when you have friends or relatives

over, there’s our convenient guest accommodation for them to enjoy.

All our developments feature a 24-hour security system and are run by a dedicated House

Manager who is there to provide any assistance you need. Renaissance

gives complete peace of mind and is perfect for independent living.

An annual service charge covers the cost of all external maintenance, gardening and landscaping, window cleaning, buildings insurance, and upkeep of other shared areas.

Help to Buy campaign launched Neston’s Renaissance

A new campaign has been launched to encourage hopeful home buyers to seize the opportunity and take partinthegovernment’sHelptoBuy– Equity Loan scheme.

Imaginealifestylewhereyoucanenjoygreaterfreedom to do the things you want to do.

Help to Buy

PlusDane,MiddlewichVision, Saint Luke’s HospiceEndofLifeTeamandSaintMichael’sandAll Angels Church have joined forces to spearhead a new initiative aimed atbringingMiddlewichresidents closer together.

Around 80 people, including the Town Mayor Cllr Bernice Walmsley and Fiona Bruce MP, gathered recently to mark the launch of the Good Neighbours scheme pilot, which aims to create a ‘time

bank’ giving people the chance to donate their time to help others. The scheme aims to bring together people who can help and those who need help with everyday tasks. This could be anything from knitting or gardening, cooking or even just getting help putting the curtains up.

Commenting at the launch event, Fiona Bruce MP, said: “The benefit of the giving and receiving, caring and sharing, of Middlewich

Good Neighbours will be felt far beyond the individual acts of kindness involved – important as they are; this will strengthen relationships right across the town so that no one in Middlewich need feel isolated or lonely.”

For more information about the Good Neighbours scheme contact Alison Roylance-White, Action Plan ManagerforMiddlewichVision,on01606841379.

Good neighbours become good friends

If you are interested

please give Trish in the Homeshub Team a ring on 0151 708 4696.

Imaginespendinglesstimeoneverydaychoresand responsibilities.

ImaginelivinginabeautifulapartmentintheCheshire countryside.

Plus Dane UNiTY 17

Neston LibraryParkgate RoadNeston CH64 6QE

Every Thursday between 10.00 am and 3.00 pm.

Free advice and support with all your rent queries and income maximisation.

Please call for more details on01513732572andmakean appointment.

Rent and Income

Advice ‘Drop in’

The revised Trust Home Choice Allocations Policy has been developed by Cheshire West and Chester Council in partnership with Plus Dane Group, Chester and District Housing Trust and WeaverValeHousingTrustandaimsto make it easier for people with a local connection with the area and who are in employment, education or training to apply for a new home.

On 1st October the Council will take over the administration of the Choice Based Lettings Scheme and the housing register, and people will be advised to contact the Council for Choice Based Lettings enquiries from this date. Moreinformationisavailableatwww.trusthomechoice.co.uk.

New Trust Home Choice Allocations Policy Local people living in the Cheshire West and Chester area will benefit from changes to the way available homes are allocated from1stOctober2013.

The team is seeing record numbers of enquiries for shared ownership schemes and for more information about homes available, visit www.homeshub.co.uk.

HomesHub have helped over 40 households into an affordable property through shared ownership in the last year, including Tim and Charlene who bought in Congleton.

They had been looking to secure a suitable home for themselves and their two sons for a long time.

“We needed a proper family home,”says Tim. “Where we were living just wasn’t suitable for our family. The property was only a two-bedroom and needed lots of work doing to it. With such an age gap the kids couldn’t share a bedroom so Oscar was still in our bedroom, which wasn’t ideal. The property had no central heating and we were struggling to find anything suitable in the area. The private rents were really expensive and we really wanted to buy our own property but with house prices so high in Congleton, and with just one of us working, it didn’t seem possible,” he continued.

The family found the answer to their housing dilemma - PlusDane’ssharedownershipschemeatHavannahVillage.

“I was trawling Rightmove looking for properties then I saw these properties advertised at £47,000, I couldn’t believe it they looked amazing. When I read into it I realised they were shared ownership, part-buy, part-rent. It seemed like the perfect solution. I thought we could get a mortgage for a smaller amount. At last something seemed in our grasp,” said Tim.

Tim and Charlene quickly applied on the HomesHub website and arranged for a viewing. Once they had been accepted they reserved the plot and moved in a couple of months later, having bought a 25% share of the property.

“We know we only own a little slice of this property but it’s our little slice and that means the world to us,” added Charlene. “It’s so tranquil here. We feel so secure as the site is tucked away and it’s perfect for the kids.”

Affordable homes in Cheshire PlusDane’sHomeshubTeamhasafantasticselection of properties available for shared ownershipthisyear.Therearecurrently12schemes being advertised including coach houses in Sandbach, great family homes in Chester and beautiful rural schemes.

Good neighbours become good friends

To find out more about shared ownership, please contact HomesHub on 0845 603 4559 or visit www.homeshub.co.uk

Plus Dane UNiTY18

Making Business Work provides free advice and support to businesses and social enterprises across Merseyside, whilst Skillshare is encouraging businesses to help charities working in communities across Cheshire. Plus Dane says such initiatives have never been so important as charities, social enterprises and businesses work hard to survive and grow in a tough economic climate in which funding is being cut.

The initiatives are proving very popular with success stories including helping a training academy that works with teenagers and young people to source funding, and a partnership between a business and a charity that is assisting the charity in helping children with special needs.

Making Business Work is a consortium of several organisationsledbyAltValleyCommunityTrust,that have joined forces to help local small and medium enterprises compete with big businesses for contracts and tenders with funding from the European Regional Development Fund.

The project focuses on areas such as business growth, productivity and franchise development across Merseyside, with the aim being to create and safeguard jobs and support growth at a time when many of Merseyside’s small businesses and enterprises are struggling.

The enterprises which will benefit will typically include firms that reinvest profits back into their workforce or neighbourhoods. All of the enterprises taking part are offered 12 hours free tailored business support including planning for growth; social media; social franchising; bid writing; fundraising and writing successful tenders.

Organisations that have benefited from Making Business Work, include Liverpool Homeless Football Club, that creates sports, health and wellbeing opportunities for homeless people; Walton Cornerstones, a community enterprise centre and UK Green Angels, an IT repairs and recycling company.

In Cheshire, Plus Dane has linked up with the Lord Lieutenant of Cheshire David Briggs to match the expertise and generosity of local businesses with the needs of the voluntary and community sector. Skillshare, the brainchild of David Briggs, aims to help create more successful and sustainable organisations.

Businesses agree to support their local communities by donating their expertise and skills to help inspirational local charities.

Denis Hogg, who is running the project on behalf of Plus Dane, said: “This is a really innovative scheme that involves supporting Cheshire’s voluntary, community and faith groups by helping them to save money, solve problems and achieve their community goals.

“So far we have matched 12 businesses with 18 charities, with 50 successful pieces of work coming out of it.”

Charities and community groups to have received help and support include Congleton Museum, Shopmobility in Congleton and Age UK. In addition, Crewe Woman’s Aid has received marketing advice and assistance to rebrand their logo and website in an effort to raise its profile and reach out to more women and children experiencing domestic abuse.

Denis added: “We are passionate about investing time and energy into the communities in which we work and these projects are a perfect illustration of that.

“By working in partnership with other organisations, we can ensure that we are reaching as many people as possible from a wide variety of backgrounds.”

Supporting community businesses

Plus Dane is helping businesses, charities and organisations to thrive in communities acrossMerseysideand Cheshire, thanks to two innovative projects.

Ruby’s FundFundraising mum Alison Parr says the help and support she has received from business consultant Kevin Cook has proved invaluable.

Alison, from Congleton, set up charity Ruby’s Fund to address the lack of practical and social support and multi-sensory services for children and young people with additional needs and their families in the area. The idea came after Alison’s daughter Ruby, 5, was born with a rare chromosome disorder that resulted in severe developmental delay and epilepsy.

Alison was dismayed to discover that there were few facilities for children like Ruby, so got together with friends to do something about it. They decided to establish Ruby’s Fund in 2009 and set a target to raise £250,000 for a multi-sensory facility. Thanks to Skillshare, Alison was

matched up with Kevin Cook who runs Business Doctors in Congleton and, over the last 18 months, Kevin has been working with Alison to help with the development of a business plan.

“I was a nurse and mum of three so had little idea of how to go about setting up a charity,” said Alison.

Plus Dane UNiTY 19

Onebusinesstobenefit

from the support available

throughMakingBusiness

Work is Airborn Academy,

an internationally

recognised and

established freerunning

and parkour training

provider based

in Liverpool.

Parkour combines sprinting,

usually through urban areas,

with energetic jumps and

climbs over obstacles in

the way.

The organisation has

successfully delivered a

wide range of freerunning

projects throughout the

Merseyside area, focusing

on engaging and teaching

teenagers and young adults.

Organisers say a

characteristic of this

activity is the great sense

of community that it

encourages amongst the

young people and how

supportive they become of

each other.

The Airborn Academy runs

successful sessions for

teenagers in Toxteth, along

with structured classes in

Wirral for children and young

people. It also delivers

workshops, demonstrations

and choreographed

displays, as well as

filming and editing

videos and showreels.

It now hopes to open a

purpose-built, multi-use

academy in Liverpool which

will focus on freerunning

and parkour, but will also

enable the training and

development of a range

of activities including

cheerleading, trampolining

and martial arts.

Jules Tsang and Gisele

Partridge, directors at the

Airborn Academy, said:

“As a young company it

is vital to put together a

strategy to develop our

sessions, generate outreach

programmes and engage

with local schools, youth

groups and communities,

whilst keeping a strong

focus on our main goal

which is to obtain a suitable

building and open the

Airborn Academy.

“Our Making Business

Work adviser has provided

fantastic support, helping

break down our business

needs and ensuring we

concentrate on what is

important. Her scope

of guidance, which has

ranged from trademarking,

marketing and funding

opportunities to networking,

social media and ensuring

we have suitable policies in

place has given us direction

and a clear, realistic

approach on how to

develop our ideas into

a viable business.

“We feel much more

confident, are delighted

with the progress Airborn

has made this year and are

absolutely determined to

ensure the Airborn Academy

opens its doors in 2013.”

To find out more about

Airborn Academy visit

www.airbornacademy.com.

Airborn Academy

“It is terrific to be able to give my time

to a charitable cause and help them by

doing something that I am good at. It is

extremely fulfilling to see Ruby’s Fund

grow and develop and I hope to provide

continuing support to Alison.”

Both Alison and Kevin credit the role that

Denis has played in bringing Ruby’s

Fund and Business Doctors together

through Skillshare.

Alison added: “Denis’s role in identifying

both the needs of our charity with

the skills that were available from a

business that would show empathy and

introducing us to Kevin, has

been invaluable.”

Ruby’s Fund“Things like sourcing premises, seeking planning permission and becoming an incorporated charity.

“We also had to write a business plan and didn’t know where to start. How could we possibly predict how many people would be coming through the doors in five years time?

“However, Kevin has been fabulous, guiding us along the process with loads of help and support. He is always at the end of the phone and I think Skillshare is a fantastic idea.”

Kevin Cook, of Business Doctors, an organisation that helps small and medium-sized enterprises to grow and flourish, said: “I first heard about Skillshare at a Chamber business briefing and was keen to get involved.

“One of my areas of expertise is property and lease acquisition so I was able to provide lots of support to Alison in her search for premises. We were also able to work together to develop a clear strategy for the future and I assisted Alison in working on her business plan.

To find out more about MakingBusinessWork,contact Brittany Dickson on 01513303474,email making.businesswork@neighbourhoodinvestor.com or visit www.makingbusinesswork.org

Plus Dane UNiTY

What to do if you experience a power failure

20

Ifyouexperienceanelectricalfailureinyourhome,thereareanumber of steps to follow to investigate this safely:

• Youneedtofindoutwhatisaffected.Youneedtoknowifyouhave a complete supply failure or whether just one or more of the circuits have gone off.

• Gotoyourfuseboardwhichsitsnexttoyourmeter.Ifyouhaveameter with a payment card make sure that it is in credit and does not read ‘Debt’.

• Checkwhetheryourcircuitbreakersareinthe‘up’position.Sometimes something as simple as a bulb blowing can cause a circuit breaker to trip.

• Ifthesocketsaren’tworkingbutthelightsareworkingnormallyit is likely that a faulty appliance may have caused the problem. Check the circuit breakers are in the ‘up’ position. If they are you need to check the Residual Current Device (RCD). This sits alongside the circuit breakers. It is clearly marked RCD and has a small button on it marked ‘Test’. The RCD should also be in the ‘up’ position, if it is not this means it has tripped and it is likely that a faulty appliance will have caused this.

• IftheRCDhastrippedyouneedtofindoutwhichappliancehas caused the problem. You should switch off and unplug all sockets. Remember to unplug those behind fridges, freezers and washing machines as the kitchen is where most faults occur.

• ResettheRCDtothe‘up’positionandswitchoneachapplianceone at a time to check whether any of them causes the RCD to trip. If this happens then you have found the faulty appliance.

• YoucanthenresettheRCDbutyoumustleavetheapplianceunplugged until it has been checked.

• IftheRCDwillnotresetevenwhenallyourappliancesareunplugged then you should call for a Plus Dane electrician to come and look at the problem.

She is a General Assistance and Family Liaison Officer at the school and participates in the group, which is attended by local parents and the wider community, every week. She has enjoyed it so much that she is planning to attend our forthcoming Read to Lead residential course this September so that she too can be a shared reading practitioner and deliver her own shared reading groups in the local community.

Marguerite said about her journey so far: “We started the reading club nearly a year ago. The numbers were small but are starting to improve. The book we’re reading at the moment – Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier – has practically taken us a whole year to read together!

“We’ve been enjoying it that much and stopping to talk about it as we go – it’s nice not to have to rush through it. We crochet at the beginning of the session, which in itself is both challenging and fun, and then we read a chapter of the book and talk about it and give our views. The conversation leads on to so many different subjects and almost always not about Rebecca!

Ellesmere Port and Neston Asset Management Group

Cuppa AnAssetManagementGroupmeetingtookplaceforEllesmere Port and Neston residents in April, where residents were invited to a presentation outlining the procurement process used when selecting contractors for capital investment programmes.

Marguerite is a Plus Dane customer who attends a weekly Get Into Reading group at a local school in Everton every Thursday morning.

Time for a

During the meeting, we agreed with residents to have quarterly meetings going forward to provide an opportunity for Plus Dane to keep the group informed on the investment programmes in their neighbourhoods, the levels of customer satisfaction received for projects and be given an update on the procurement process for individual contracts. We also discussed the opportunity for residents to be involved in interviewing potential contractors and our first interviews were carried out in June for external work and kitchen and bathroom projects.

Plus Dane UNiTY 21

“The parents who attend the club never miss it and totally enjoy it. I have seen improvement in confidence levels for everyone over the last year because of the reading club.

“One member told me that the book club was the highlight of her week and that she has now started to read at home, which she hasn’t done before. Another parent said she enjoyed the group because it helped her to make friends and that she feels more confident about reading now. People who never would have read out loud before now feel more comfortable about it. The parents also value the group because it gives them a bit of quality time to themselves when they can talk and laugh with other adults.

“I think the book club has been a great success and hope to continue it. Our reading sessions are really special!”

Annual service charge estimates for the 2013/2014 service charge year have now been sent out. All the estimates were sent with invoices for the current quarter’s service charge and the year’s ground rent with the usual supporting information.

The next service charge invoices for the quarter from 1st July to 30th September have now be sent out. Adjusted service charge accounts for the year ended on 31st March will be sent by 30th September, and we will be working to identify in advance of this those leaseholders who may be asked to make extra payments to make up the difference between their estimated charges and their share of what was actually spent on their blocks.

The prize draw for leaseholders with a clear service charge account at 31st March 2013 was held early in April and the winner was an owner-occupier living in Stanney Grange, who has since received £100 in high street shopping vouchers. Information on how to pay your service charges is on the back of your service charge invoice, and if you are going to have any trouble paying, you should contact the Home Ownership Team to discuss payment by instalments. You can contact Melanie Wild, Home Ownership Assistant on 0151 373 2516 or Brian Hughes, Home Ownership Manager, on 0151 373 2515.

Some blocks of flats with leasehold properties are scheduled to have major work done to them in the coming year. Most of those properties are in Churchill Court in Neston, and the leaseholders and tenants affected have already been informed. For leaseholders who are concerned about the cost of their share of this work, there is a detailed consultation procedure which has to be gone through in relation to any work where the cost to any leaseholder is likely to be more than £250. You can obtain further information from the Home Ownership Team and there is also a summary of this in the Leaseholder Handbook.

Leaseholder UpdateFromtheHomeOwnershipTeam

in Ellesmere Port

Service charge estimates and invoices

Leaseholder prize draw

Major works

Ifyouhaveanyleaseholdqueries,pleasecontacttheHomeOwnershipTeam for Ellesmere Port and Neston on01513732516.

Time for a

If you would like to find out more about joining a local Get Into Reading group, please contact Clare Ellis on

clareellis@thereader.org.uk or 0151 207 7207.

Plus Dane UNiTY22

Our Community Safety and Neighbourhoods Teams work in partnership with other agencies such as the Police and local neighbourhoods teams, other housing providers, the fire service and local authorities to tackle antisocial behaviour. This includes taking a zero tolerance approach towards any tenants that allow their homes to be used for supplying/cultivating drugs.

Our standards

Plus Dane takes all reports of antisocial behaviour seriously and investigates all complaints thoroughly. We operate a 24hour, seven day a week reporting service, and aim to respond quickly. The nature of the complaint will determine our response times and these are prioritised according to the type of antisocial behaviour reported:

If you report an instance of antisocial behaviour to us, a case officer will be assigned and work with you and support you through the investigation by agreeing an ‘action plan’ which will detail what we will do in our investigation, how regularly we will keep in touch with you and how we will feedback progress. AnindependentcompanycalledVoluntaswillcarryoutasatisfactionsurvey with you once your case has been resolved. This is so that we can get feedback from you on how we can continue to improve our service. All reports are confidential.

Focus on Community SafetyPlus Dane understands that community safety is one of the top priorities for residents in the neighbourhoods we serve. We undertake a wide range of work to deliver our promise to increase community safety measures and help to make the neighbourhoods we serve safe for everyone.

Performance – 2012/13

In the last year Plus Dane’s community safety team has been working hard to deliver even more to help keep neighbourhoods safe places to live and has:

• Metalltargetsforcontactingcustomers in the relevant response times–wehavemetthe100%targetfor the past two years

• Successfullyresolvedover98%of174cases received

• Carriedout93enforcementactions–with many of the cases reported to us resolved at first contact

• Made14referralstointernalsupport service

• Securedeightantisocialbehaviourinjunctions with the power of arrest attached to them, which means if they were breached by the person causing the antisocial behaviour, they would face further action.

Taking action when it’s needed

If you are aware of any issues with antisocial behaviour in your neighbourhood, you can help us make your community safer by reporting them to us so that we can investigate and take action when needed.

You can report antisocial behaviour to us in a number of ways:Calluson08001692988(freefrommostUKlandlinephones)Or03001234560(localratefromamobilephone)Use the online report form on our website at www.neighbourhoodinvestor.comOremailusatcustomer@neighbourhoodinvestor.com

Nature of antisocial behaviour reported

Noise nuisance

Flytipping

Pet nuisance

Verbal abuse

Harassment

Intimidation

Alcohol nuisance

Hatecrime

Domestic abuse

Gun/knife crime

Drugs and abuse

Response time

Five working days

Three working days

Oneworkingday

Plus Dane UNiTY 23

The event brings staff and residents together as one big team to celebrate each other’s successes, mark their achievements and reward hard work.This year’s ceremony took place at The Florrie in Liverpool and was opened by Linda Minnis, Chair of Plus Dane. Linda was joined by Shellesa Coke, acting chair of Plus Dane’s Youth Shadow Board, who spoke about her experiences with the Ni Residents Academy.

Commenting on what she’s learnt, Shellesa said: “I enjoy learning new things as it’s a chance to develop

myself, I feel like it has prepared me for the future. After my experience working with the youth engagement team as a mentor I have changed from wanting to do business to social work. The experience has made me realise where my passion lies. Hopefully I will be starting university in September.”

At the event, 38 staff and residents were presented with their certificates by Ken Perry, Linda Minnis and Mike Jones, Leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council.

Plus Dane and SSAFA (Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association)havejoinedforcesto offer support to tenants and residents that have served in the Armed Forces.

SSAFA, a volunteer charity that provides lifelong support to anyone who is currently serving or has ever served in the Royal Navy, British Army or Royal Air Forces, provides volunteering and training opportunities for caseworkers to work with military servicemen and women and their families.

Through the partnership, SSAFA is offering Plus Dane residents the opportunity to train as caseworkers to enable them to provide this support in their neighbourhoods. The role includes identifying and visiting eligible residents to assess their needs and offer support. Interested residents will be invited to an interview where they will find out more about the role. For more information contact RobinMcGrathatSSAFAon01519285936oremailMerseyside@ssafa.org.uk.

Staff and residents celebrate their learning and development achievements

Plus Dane partners with SSAFA

Plus Dane residents and staff have been recognised for their learning and development achievements over the last year at our annual Graduation Ceremony.

Tackling antisocial behaviour

Plus Dane always works to investigate instances of antisocial behaviour thoroughly and if it’s needed, we take action.

During June this year at Liverpool County Court we secured a ‘without notice one year injunction’ against the son of a tenant living in a Plus Dane sheltered scheme.

This was as a result of the son repeatly turning up at the scheme and verbally abusing his father and demanding money, and causing a general nuisance with shouting and banging.

His behaviour was causing such alarm to his father and other residents that the Police had to be called on three occasions earlier this year. He was formally warned by Plus Dane to stay away but ignored this and at the beginning of May he was recalled to prison as part of his probation licence due to this nuisance behaviour.

While he was in prison we applied for the injunction and expected to get an interim order for a few weeks with a full hearing date being set for him to give his representations. But in a surprise move, the judge granted a full order for a year, putting the onus on him to apply to the court to have it set aside/amended.

The terms of the order are that the son cannot enter the scheme, verbally abuse his father or try to communicate with him by shouting at him from adjoining roads. Failure to comply with this will be treated as contempt of court.

Despite this, the son once again visited the scheme on two separate occasions following this action, and was verbally abusive to the warden when he was asked to leave.

Plus Dane liaised with probation services who recalled him to prison to complete the rest of his sentence. Because this was different behaviour to that which he was sentenced for, probation services didn’t have to take this course of action, which demonstrates how strong partnership working can have a big impact.

In another case this year, a Plus Dane tenant appeared in court for drug offences, following the discovery of nearly 30 cannabis plants in the spare room of his property which had a potential to yield up to £43,000. Plus Dane takes drug offences very seriously and following the individual being given a suspended prison sentence, we immediately took action to take back possession of the property. The judge awarded immediate outright possession and the tenant has moved out of the property.

Linda Minnis and Ken Perry

with Shellesa Coke

Two of our tenants, Mary Walkley and Joyce McDonald, show off their certificates

Plus Dane UNiTY24

The town has a long and varied history with the first settlements recorded during Neolithic, Stone Age and the Bronze Age. It is mentioned in the Domesday Book as “Cogeltone: Bigot de Loges”, and was granted its first charter in 1272. Bear baiting was a frequent “sporting” activity and legend has it that during the 1660s the town bear died just before the Wakes holiday. Money was borrowed from the town chest to buy a new bear, although this was being saved to buy a new bible, consequently it gained the nickname “Beartown” and the rhyme “Congleton rare,

Congleton rare, sold the bible to buy a bear”.

The history of this town is so varied, and we can only mention a few facts in this article. Look out for more local history and bit and bobs in future editions of UNiTY.

Meanwhile, if you live in the area or are visiting, pop into the Congleton Museum in Market Square. Open Tuesday-Friday and Sunday 12.00-4.30 and 10.00 til 4.30 on Saturdays. Entrance is free and definitely worth a visit.

Getting to knowour neighbourhoods...

Problems occur where private companies, selling and fitting new gas or electric cookers, fail to connect the new cooker. Customers paying for this service are often left without a working cooker where the reconnection is more than a very simple job.

Tenants making their own arrangements to install a new cooker should contact Plus Dane beforehand. Our Repairs Team can organise a visit to a your property before a cooker is disconnected to ensure that no extra work is required beforehand.

Contact the team as early as possible to ensure that your new cooker can be connected without delay.

We are delighted to hear that a brand new ‘Fab Lab’ has moved into vacant shoppremisesat53Whitby Road, Ellesmere Port. The facility opened in May2013.

A Fab Lab (fabrication laboratory) is a fully kitted fabrication workshop which gives everyone in the community from small children through to entrepreneurs and businesses, the capability to turn their ideas and concepts into reality.

Fab Labs were set up to inspire people to turn their ideas into new products and prototypes by giving them access to a range

of advanced digital manufacturing technology.

It has been opened by The Manufacturing Institute, a charity set up to inspire, educate and improve manufacturing companies and their people following the success of the first of its kind in Manchester which opened in 2010. One of a number of new Fab Lab facilities opening across the UK, Ellesmere’s Port’s Fab Lab offers a range of facilities including fun, interesting and informative events for schoolchildren and young people, community groups and individuals.

For more information visit www.fablabmanchester.org

Fitting a New Cooker?

CongletonNestled in the Cheshire countryside, Congleton is also close to the Derbyshire and Staffordshire borders.

Would you like a particular area or

local place of interest mentioned in future

editions of UNiTY? We would love to hear from you. Contact details are

on the back page.

‘Fab Lab’ comes to the Port…

Are you planning to purchase a new cooker?

Ifso,wewouldliketohearfromyou.

Plus Dane UNiTY 25

Plus Dane in Ellesmere Port and Neston has recently established a Community Safety Task Group. Made up of officers and residents, the group has been working on a number of tasks to improve the service, ensuring that the team are equipped with the correct tools to tackle antisocial behaviour. The first task identified was to procure an independent mediation service to help resolve disputes arising between tenants and their neighbours.

The group has recently interviewed a number of Mediation Service providers and decided upon a preferred partner - Cheshire West and Chester Council Regulatory Services.

Actions that can disturb or inconvenience others such as making too much noise or careless parking can often result in relations between neighbours deteriorating. What can appear to be a small issue can sometimes escalate into a major disagreement between neighbours which can cause stress and worry to everyone involved.

Mediation is a way of resolving these issues by helping neighbours reach an agreement that works for everyone. Mediation is a voluntary, confidential process where people involved in conflict are helped by a neutral third party (the mediator) to resolve their problems together.

Initially mediation involves meeting parties separately before bringing all parties together face to face. Mediators will be present throughout all meetings.

The mediator never takes sides or imposes solutions but helps the participants reach their own solution that they are happy with. If parties agree a written agreement can be drawn up between parties.

The Council’s Regulatory Services team have trained mediators who are very experienced in conflict resolution. Successful mediation can offer long lasting solutions to problems as an alternative to costly legal action or in those situations where enforcement is inappropriate.

Phil Swan a tenant on the group said: “Having had some experience of mediation in the past, I feel that it is something that can be of benefit to all parties, and from the interviews that were held, overall we felt that working with the Mediation team from Cheshire West and Chester Council would be the best way forward for residents. Mediation is a service that I hope you never have to use, but if you do, it is there to help, not hinder.”

For more information, please contact the PlusDaneofficeon01513732520.

Community Safety Task Group helps to drive service improvements

As members of the Social Club held at Dennis Round Court, they were surprised and delighted to be presented with an original watercolour painting by a local artist and a cake to mark the occasion. Mrs Naylor commented: “It was a lovely surprise, we never expected it.”

A card signed by members was also presented. Mr Naylor added: “I am so grateful to all those who arranged this celebration.”

Not only were they bowled over by the kindness of their friends at the club, but Mr and Mrs Naylor also received a greeting and kind words from Her Majesty the Queen on the day!

A family do at the St George’s Hotel in Llandudno organised by their son Graham rounded off their celebrations and a great time was had by all.

Alsager couple celebratetheir diamond anniversaryEarlierthisyearMrandMrsNaylor,tenants of George Bates Close in Alsager, celebrated a very special occasion – their 60thweddinganniversary.

Mr and Mrs Naylor show their painting

Plus Dane UNiTY26

Am I eligible to apply?

You can apply to the Fund if you are:

• Aged18orover

• Studyingarecognisedqua

lificationatan

institute of higher education

• APlusDanetenantorlivin

ginaPlus

Dane home

• Avolunteerthathasbeen

workingwith

Plus Dane for six months or more

Applicants must not be in breach of their

tenancy agreement and must be able to show

why they need a financial award. You will also

need to have a current bank account or credit

union account.

What costs can the bursary be used for? The bursary can contribute towards course costs including:

•Transport•Booksandequipment•Additionalcoursecostssuchasstudytrips•Accommodationcosts if living away from home to study.

The fund can’t be used for paying outstanding student loans or outstanding debts.

How can I apply?An application form is available on our website

www.neighbourhoodinvestor.com or if you don’t have access to

a computer you can contact LisaCover01517032011

to receive a form in the post. Once you have completed the form, return it to:Lisa CoverNeighbourhoodEngagementOfficer

90-94UpperParliamentStreetLiverpoolL87SY

The deadline for applications is 5pmon1stSeptember2013. The application form features a personal statement section

which is your opportunity to tell us about your interests and

achievements and your future plans and how the Bursary Fund

could help you.

Plus Dane has launched a Bursary Fund to provide financial help to tenants and their children and young people that volunteer with the Group’s young people’s programmes.

We know that going to university can be very expensive and for many, the costs involved can sometimes make moving on to higher education seem out of reach. The bursary scheme aims to offer some financial help to both young people whose parents are unable to help them and mature students looking to further their studies.

How will you decide who is successful?

A selection panel of five members, made

up of both Plus Dane Group residents and

colleagues, will meet during September 2013

to appraise the applications.

Anyone who has applied will find out whether

or not they have been successful by

1st October 2013.

How many bursaries are available?The scheme can provide five bursaries of £2,000 over three years. Each successful applicant will receive:

•Year1-£1,000(September2013)•Year2-£500(September2014)•Year3-£500(September2015)

Plus Dane UNiTY 27

Street Sports is run by Plus Dane working in partnership with Cheshire East Council who deliver

the sessions and offers a variety of sports and physical activity sessions

for young people aged 8-16.

The sessions are an hour long and participants take part in a wide range of

sports such as dodgeball, football, basketball and cricket. They take place at:

•SandbachSchool, 6.00pm-7.00pm every Tuesday•AlsagerLeisureCentre(AstroTurf), Hassall Road, Alsager, 6.00pm-7.00pm every Monday•CongletonLeisureCentre, 5.00pm-6.00pm every Tuesday

The project has also provided over 200 voluntary hours, resulting in three people gaining accredited qualifications and two volunteers securing paid employment as direct result.

An innovative project that provides free sports sessions for young

people in Congleton, Alsager and Sandbach has provided opportunities

fornearly300peopleintheareaandisnow in its third year.

Take part in sports for FREE!

For many years we have run an annual garden competition in Ellesmere Port and Neston and we have decided to extend this to our residents in Liverpool and Cheshire.

We would love to hear from you whether you have a garden full of colour or just a lovely hang-ing basket or pot which you have enjoyed planting up.

We have prizes in the following categories –

• Best Garden• Best Communal Garden• Best Hanging Basket or Container

Simply send in a photograph or two of your entry and we will then visit the best to decide on our winners.

We look forward to seeing all yourefforts–goodluck!

You can send photographs intoCaronHuntatourCivic Way office or you can email them to us at unity@neighbourhoodinvestor.com or upload to our facebook page at www.facebook.com/plusdanegroupClosing dateFriday20thSeptember2013

Easter Prize Draw WinnerAll tenants with a clear rent account as of the 28th March were entered into a prize draw to win £250ofHighStreetVouchers.Ourcongratulationsgo to Miss Goff from Neston, who received the fantastic prize.

Miss Goff was extremely pleased when she received a call from Carol Price our Income Co-Ordinator to inform her of the wonderful news and the vouchers were presented to her on her birthday, a double celebration. Well Done.

Win up

to £100!! green fingers Competition 2013

It’stimetogetthosegardeningglovesonandgetoutsideinthefreshairnowsummerishere!

Increased investment in existing property

Ensure neighbourhoods enjoy good well being

Increased community safety measures

Further supporting vulnerable customers

It’ssummertime!Timeforstrawberriesandcream and a glass of something cool. After AndyMurray’ssuccessatWimbledonourwordsearch this time is based on terms usedinagameofTENNIS.

Find the words in the grid. They can appear backwards, forwards, up, down or across. Oneofourwordsappearstwice.Let us know which one and youcouldwinaprize!

Send your entry to Caron Hunt, Plus Dane Group, 7-9 Civic Way, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire CH65 0AX

Our winner last time was Linda Lanski of Pearson Court in Liverpool.

Write to us:

If you have any comments about UNiTY magazine please let us know. We also welcome any ideas for stories that you might have and would love to talk to peoople who would like to take part in our regular columns or have news to share. You can contact us in the following ways:

Call our Communications Team on 01517032064, or write to SarahMoston,PlusDaneGroup,Communications Team, Rialto Buildings, 90-94UpperParliamentStreet,LiverpoolL87SY. You can also e-mail us at unity@neighbourhoodinvestor.com

Visitourwebsitesatwww.neighbourhoodinvestor.com or www.nifireside.com and follow us on Twitter and Facebook. A range of Neighbourhood investor films can also be viewed on our NiTV Youtube channel.

Merseyside172 Park RoadLiverpoolL8 6SJ

CheshireShepherds MillWorrall StreetCongleton CW12 1DT

Ellesmere Port & Neston7-9 Civic WayEllesmere PortCheshire CH65 0AX

©2013 this publication has been written & designed by Plus Dane Communications Team working alongside the Tenants Communications GroupPrinted on environmentally friendly paper

Working with customers, we have established a set of seven Neighbourhood investor promises these are:

Working in partnership with residents

Increased creation of local jobs

Increased supply and choice of homes

WHEN YOU HAVE FINISHED WITH THIS MAGAZINE PLEASE RECYCLE IT.

Plus Dane Group is commited to recycling.

A R G C E O S N M G U PS R R C H E F B A L L IW U A V E B A L T S E YE G S C I O Y D C U G LI O S K Q P X A H O J EP E G H L U Q C T D A IT I U W M D E U C E I KG A M E P L F T O H O US R T S S E N I U V B HO F A U L T F B R E A KE C J S F D R S T D Z AG K R M S P N U O Y P R

Competition

Contact Us

Wordwheel

ACE BREAK GAMEDEUCE GRASS LETFAULT RACQUET MATCHCOURT SET BALL

Find the nine letter word in the wheel grid and then find as many words as possible using the letters.

Send your entry in to us for your chance to

win a prize.

Good luck!

/plusdanegroup

OL U

F

EW

S

R

N

IfyouareaCheshireWest&ChesterCounciltenantliving in Ellesmere Port & Neston contact 01513732520

For general information and repairs email: customer@neighbourhoodinvestor.com