Your stories

Summer client forum feedback

Your artwork and poems

Here at HORTON

Autumn 2019

IN YOUR NEWSLETTER…

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WELCOME We hope you’ve had an enjoyable summer. This edition features some of your fun days out and activities as you’ve made the most of the summer sunshine. You will also find information on the latest client forums (on pages four and five) and some examples of your brilliant creativity (on pages 14 and 15). Thank you to those who’ve shared their work and those who took part in the Starts at Home campaign (see page six). We hope you enjoy reading your newsletter.

VOLUNTEER ROLES AVAILABLE:

Latest volunteering opportunitiesHave you ever considered volunteering? Volunteering can help you:

Gain confidence Meet new people Learn new skills Gain work experience Help others

Please contact us if you are interested in volunteering:

By emailing: volunteer.applications@hortonhousing.co.uk

or phone us on: 07525 667895 or 01274 753352

or fill in our volunteer application form found on the volunteering section of our website.

Check out our website to keep up to date with any volunteering roles available: https://hortonhousing.co.uk/volunteering/current-volunteering-opportunities

Intensive Housing Management Volunteer:We are looking for an enthusiastic volunteer to support our busy Intensive Housing Management team, based in Halifax. You will be helping us to keep the team’s administrative systems up to date and supporting us with a variety of ad-hoc administrative tasks and projects.This is a great opportunity for someone to use or enhance their IT and organisational skills. We are looking for someone who is keen to gain hands-on experience in business administration or is interested in working in the Social Housing sector.

Horton Intervention Prevention Service (HIPS) Volunteer:We are looking for a volunteer to assist our HIPS team in Huddersfield with a variety of administration duties, such as taking telephone referrals, helping with assessments and inputting data. You will also help clients to access support including: welfare benefits, housing or applying for grants.We are looking for someone who is friendly and welcoming, has good IT skills, a good standard of written and spoken English, ability to work under their own initiative, and who has an understanding of the issues faced by our client group.

Keep active Have a sense of

purpose Improve your

mental health.

We will provide: • Induction, support,

supervision and training• Out of pocket expenses,

such as payment towards travel Horton Wellbeing Café Volunteers:

Our Wellbeing Cafés are looking for volunteers to assist in the delivery of café sessions in the Selby district. Café sessions run on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The role involves setting up and clearing the room, serving refreshments, meeting and greeting visitors, assisting with some paperwork, offering peer mentor support and assisting with group workshops.An understanding of mental health/emotional problems is desirable for the role.

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Shiver me timbers!It was anchors aweigh when clients and staff from our Intensive Housing Management (IHM) service in Kirklees ventured out on their latest barge trip in July.

They booked a whopping five hours of sailing time and took a picnic with them (well, any excuse for cake!). They fed the crew too as they were fearful they might be made to walk the plank if they didn’t share their plunder!

Clients and staff were very excited to be given a chance to steer the boat, thank goodness under extremely close supervision, as one or two of them were definitely more Captain Pugwash than Captain Sparrow. Fortunately, the crew managed to seize back control of the boat before they did anything too dangerous and run aground.

Clients Danny, David, and staff member Lynne worked hard opening and closing the locks with the crew instructing and supporting them and it was a real hands-on day for them. They were even in a traffic jam for a while, awaiting another barge coming through. Gridlock on the canal, who’d have thought it?

Clients Barbara and Gary decided to recreate the epic ‘Titanic’ movie poster but thankfully, their adventure ended better and they made it safely back to port.

The team has booked to go again on Halloween wearing their spookiest sea-faring outfits, and taking creepy cupcakes with them!

Barge trips are popular with clients and staff alike and is one of our most requested trips, so have a look at www.safeanchor.org.uk and talk to your support worker if you fancy doing something a little different.

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Summer Client Forums

We held client forums in Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees and North Yorkshire over the Summer. Fire service officers gave a presentation about fire safety in the home. You were asked to give feedback on the Single Equality Action Plan and the Complaints Policy and Procedure. Discussions were followed by quizzes and refreshments were provided.

Forum discussions Single Equality Action PlanWe are currently reviewing our Single Equality Action Plan. More information about the document is on page 16.

You were asked to give suggestions on what we could do to achieve a higher satisfaction rate from people who have a protected characteristic. Feedback included:

• A need for male and female staff as some clients feel more comfortable working with a particular gender.

• Employ staff from different faiths/cultures due to the different faiths/cultures of clients.

• Install a prayer room.• Looking at different ways in which to

communicate – not always written.

Complaints Policy and ProcedureYou were asked to give feedback and any suggested improvements for the way Horton currently handles client complaints.

We asked you to suggest simpler ways to make a complaint. Feedback included:

• Using a suggestion box.• Text message/ WhatsApp.• CD or Audio version for people with poor

vision or learning difficulties.

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Summer Client Forums

We asked you to consider what was important to you if you needed to make a complaint. Feedback included:

• That staff are available/approachable/respond quickly.

• Clients are not judged or treated differently for making a complaint.

• They feel listened to.• Having an independent view.

We asked you to tell us examples that might put you off from complaining. Feedback included:

• Feeling uncomfortable putting in a complaint.

• Scared of being treated differently by staff or clients.

• Thinking that the complaint will be ignored.• Having a disability (visual) can be a barrier to

making a complaint.

Thank you to everyone who took part in the summer client forums.

We are reviewing your feedback and suggestions and will give you our responses in the next client forums.

If you would like to attend future forums, please ask your support worker for more information.

“I am happy - it has been a

good day.”“Good bunch of clients

and staff.”“We think you all do a great job in

supporting people with needs.”

Comments from those who attended the forum include:

Share your suggestions for a chance to win £20 in vouchers.What would you like to read about in your newsletter? If you have ideas or content for a future issue, please get in touch with us (page 16). The winner of the voucher will be randomly selected from a draw of the suggestions we receive.

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Starts at Home DayStarts at Home Day is an annual campaign by National Housing Federation which celebrates supported housing and the positive impact it makes on people’s lives. We took part in this year’s Starts at Home Day on Friday, 30 August, sharing the stories below on Horton’s social media pages.

CharlieCharlie was diagnosed with autism in her mid-forties.

“It was a bit of a shock,” she said. “I thought I was just stressed.”

She had been living in Scotland, in a ‘ramshackle’ cottage with lots of animals, surrounded by lakes, forest and the countryside.

When her house was repossessed she moved down to Yorkshire to be closer to her mum, and found herself sofa-surfing in Harehills, an area of Leeds.

Charlie became a client of Horton Housing’s Harrogate STAY service, part of the North Yorkshire Homeless Prevention Service and was introduced to her support worker, Niamh.

“She helped me with my bills and getting stuff for my house. It’s good to have someone there to talk to, things I can’t talk to my mum about. I’m a terrible worrier. Niamh is really good fun and she’s got a young outlook on things.”

Charlie sees her mum once a week and is hoping to go to college to study animal care. She likes to cycle and swim in her spare time and would like a job either in gardening or working with animals.

MartinMartin was forced to give up his career in catering after a series of strokes. This also resulted in him losing his home, as his employment came with accommodation, furniture and all his amenities.

Martin came to Harrogate STAY to access support as he had no experience of living on his own. Staff are supporting him to develop his independent living skills and set up home.

To read more about Martin’s experience, visit: hortonhousing.co.uk/case-study-martin

Search for ‘Horton Housing’ on YouTube to watch Charlie’s and Martin’s stories.

A film of Group Living Service client Willow’s story was also shared on the day and is on our Youtube channel.

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What does your job entail?I have two aspects to my job role which I love as it makes it interesting and diverse.

I deliver Tenancy Ready Training to our young people in Group Living accommodation. These young people are aged between 16 – 18 years, and are care leavers or from a homeless background. I visit their homes each week and provide them with skills, understanding and knowledge that will help them live independently and responsibly as a tenant.

I am based at the Training Centre where I also deliver ICT classes to our clients who are mostly refugees and new migrants. These classes provide essential skills to assist them with confidence when applying for employment, integration and self-confidence. Both aspects to my job role are endearing and rewarding.

What do you enjoy about your job?I have great job satisfaction. There is nothing better than being able to help people. Supporting the young people within Group Living enables me to build their confidence as well as guide and teach them to live independently. It’s just like being a mum in many respects. Both aspects of my job role include teaching, helping people and providing them with skills to improve their lives.

What do you like about working for Horton?I started my employment at Horton, working at the Training Centre on the Connecting Opportunities project 11 months ago. From the start, I have felt welcomed and valued by managers, colleagues and clients. Horton

has great community values that start with the people who work here. Horton has a very positive vibe and everyone cares about others. I like the community involvement and how Horton has real life mission, vision and values. Oooooo and the free tea and coffee.

Who would you most like to meet or to have met? Chris Hemsworth (Thor).

What do you like to do in your spare time?I like to spend time with my partner and our family, I have three boys and my partner has one boy. We have three boys at home with us and my eldest son has his own family which includes my granddaughter. They keep me very busy and we do lots of fun activities together. However I manage to do a few things such as go running, baking and I love to read.

What could you not live without?My family. Caffeine. Fun and laughter.

Where would you like to travel?My bucket list is to travel and to see as much of the world as I can.

I have made a good start and I have travelled to many places on holiday but I want to tick off visiting and seeing a few Wonders of the World, the Pyramids along the Nile and the Great Wall of China.

Something you might not know about me is…I am a shopaholic.

Meet NIKKI NASHTraining Centre Tutor

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How are WE DOING?At Horton Housing we aim to provide excellent services and always look for ways to improve them. Every three months we look at our performance to see how we’re doing. We measure ourselves against targets based on the performance of a group of other good housing providers, where available. Other measures are set by Horton Housing’s Management Board and Senior Management Team.

Here are the latest figures (from Quarter 1 up to June 2019)

Properties with a valid gas safety certificate

100% 100%Our target

Satisfaction of repair received

100% 98%Our

target

17 formal complaints

were received in this quarter.

All complaints were responded to on time.

Rent collection

97%Our target

95%

Residents in arrears8 weeks or more

4%

Our target

2%

Repairs completed in target time

98% 100% 89%

Emergency Urgent Routine

97%Our target

100%Our target

95%Our target

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HIPS becomes part of an alliance of providers in Kirklees Our Horton Intervention and Prevention Service (HIPS) in Kirklees has become part of an alliance of providers in the area.

HIPS is a floating support service working with people aged 16+ who are homeless, at risk of homelessness or who need assistance to maintain a tenancy because of their support needs.

KBOP (Kirklees Better Outcomes Partnership) brings together the expertise of nine providers in the district.

Important notice – Whirlpool dryer recallA product recall has been issued for all tumble dryers manufactured under the Whirlpool brands of Hotpoint, Indesit, Creda, Swan and Proline made between 2004 and 2015.

The Government has estimated that the fault affecting these tumble dryers has caused up to 750 fires in the last 11 years.

Visit the Whirlpool website to check if your model is being recalled: dryerrecall.whirlpool.co.uk

If your dryer is mentioned on the website, you will have the option to:

• have it replaced free of charge

• opt for an upgrade

• have it fixed by an engineer

• choose a refund (depending on the age of the product).

Home from hospital service showcased Our Bradford Respite Intermediate Care Support Service (BRICSS) was showcased at a national conference last month. 

The Improving Hospital Discharge for People who are Homeless conference, organised by the National Institute for Health Research, was held in Bradford on 25 September. 

Two of our clients, Christine and Mark, spoke about their experiences of BRICSS and how it had helped them.

Our services director Sue Atkinson also gave a presentation about how the service was set up and funded, and the recent move to new premises.

BRICSS is a home from hospital scheme for people who are homeless or living in unsuitable accommodation and are being discharged from hospital.

Run in partnership with Bevan Healthcare, the scheme provides short-term, temporary accommodation for people who need support with health and housing after leaving hospital. It helps to reduce ‘bed blocking’ in local hospitals.

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Welcome to Bewick Houseby Erin Collier, Work experience student

Mariam, a previous client at the Training Centre, works part-time as a translator and has applied to study accountancy at Bolton University.

After migrating to the UK, Mariam struggled with the change in environment and language and was directed to Horton Housing Training Centre, where she was allocated with a tutor.

She said: “Her name is Jenna, and she encouraged me to volunteer at Oxfam as well as apply to do a literacy interpreting course at Bradford College. She has helped me a lot, and I am glad that I came here.”

The Training Centre at Bewick House opened in October 2017 and provides services to those who need to access employment, education and training courses, including: Tenancy Ready Training, life coaching, cookery, arts and crafts and ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages).

ESOL tutors deliver English classes to develop the clients’ confidence. ESOL tutor, Anissa, says she enjoys teaching her clients and following their journeys through education and employment, which can often be faster than anticipated.

She said: “Within just a year from joining at level E2 (an entry level), one of my students was able to find work locally as an engineer and can now provide for his family.”

Tutors such as Anissa help the clients to gain independence and develop the skills required for work and everyday life, such as making doctors appointments, going shopping, organising finances and supporting the family.

A new client will be assessed in an entry meeting and allocated to the most suitable and beneficial service. An ESOL student, for example, will be set at a level according to their English language ability. Staff also provide progress

review meetings, to gain insight of the client’s aspirations for the future and tailor their learning to accommodate.

Classes at the Training Centre are flexible around the schedule of the students. One client stated:

“It is good for me as I am free to leave when I need to pick my children up from school or go to the doctors.”

The Training Centre also offers trips out to help clients to engage with the local community and experience the culture first hand. The most recent trip being to Bradford’s National Science and Media Museum, followed by ice-cream and table tennis at the City Park.

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How to make:SOUTHERN FRIED CHICKEN WRAPS

1 cup or 120g of plain flour1/2 cup or 118ml (or 118g) of milk1/2 cup or 118ml (or 118g) of water1 tsp of baking powder1/2 tsp of saltSunflower oil (or olive oil)A large pack of chicken breast fillets Tortilla wrapsSaladSauces/ condiments e.g. ketchup, mayonnaise etc.

You will need:

• Cutting board• Kitchen knife• A sieve• Dish or bowl• A measuring jug• Large deep pan • A plate• Manual whisk (or a fork)• Kitchen tongs (or a fork)• Wooden spoon

Food hygiene tip:

After handling raw chicken, wash your hands and clean any utensils or surfaces that have come into contact with it, to avoid contaminating other food and risk getting food poisoning.

ingr

edie

nts Recipe

1. To make the batter mixture 1. Mix the flour, baking powder and salt into a bowl. 2. Whisk in milk and water (until the mixture is of a consistency that would coat the back of a spoon).

2. Cut the chicken breast into strips.

3. Place the pan onto a hob and pour around four tablespoons of sunflower oil (or olive oil) into the pan. Turn the hob on to a high heat and wait for the oil to heat up.

4. Using either a fork or kitchen tongs – Place a piece of chicken into the batter mixture, making sure to coat the whole strip in the mixture. Shake off any excess batter.

5. Turn the hob to a medium heat and place the strip of chicken into the pan. Occasionally turn the chicken until all sides are golden brown.

6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 so batches of the chicken are cooked in the pan at the same time.

7. Once the chicken strips are golden brown all over – transfer them from the pan to a plate and cut them open slightly to check the middle. The chicken is cooked if the inside is white and any juices run clear. Cook the chicken for longer if it is still pink in the middle.

8. Take the tortilla wraps out of the packet. Place some salad, the chicken and sauces or any other ingredients that you wish onto the wrap.

9. Eat and enjoy.

!

By YPASS’s (Young Persons’ Prevention and Support Service) cook and eat group led by volunteer Alistair

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Dates for your DIARY 2019/20OCTOBER27 Clocks go back one hour27 Diwali31 Halloween

NOVEMBER5 Bonfire Night11 Remembrance Day

DECEMBER21 Winter Solstice

(shortest day of the year)24 Christmas Eve25 Christmas Day26 Boxing Day31 New Year’s Eve

JANUARY1 New Year’s Day

(bank holiday)

Wondering what to do with the leftovers after scooping out a Halloween pumpkin? There are many options available at your fingertips: from making pumpkin soup, homemade pumpkin spiced latte, using in pies, roast dinners or desserts.

Why not try making roasted pumpkin seeds? They are quick and easy to make and tasty (if we do say so ourselves).

• Pre-heat the oven at 180°c/350°F/gas mark 4.• Put the seeds in a sieve or bowl and rinse them

with cold water.• Place the seeds on kitchen roll and pat them

dry.• Spread the seeds evenly onto a baking tray.• Toss some sea salt (and any other seasoning

of your choice such as pepper, chilli flakes or paprika) and a little bit of olive oil over the seeds.

• Mix the seeds on the tray with a spoon, so they are well coated.

• Bake in the oven for around 10 minutes or until they are lightly golden brown.

• Remove the baking tray from the oven and leave the seeds to cool.

• Store seeds in an airtight container to help them keep fresher for longer.

• Enjoy them as a snack or add the seeds to salads or side dishes.

13CLIENT NEWS photo album

A DAY AT THE SEASIDE

Families from the Bradford Homeless Partnership had a lovely sunny day in Scarborough in August.

Some people had the opportunity to meet up with family members that live or who were on holiday at the coast.

Everyone had a fantastic day making lots of memories by playing on the beach, building sandcastles, burying each other in the sand, and eating good old fish and chips and yummy ice-cream.

Some of the dare devils enjoyed the thrills of the rides and going into the sea.

TRIP TO BRADFORD INDUSTRIAL MUSEUMConnecting Opportunities participants enjoyed a trip to Bradford Industrial Museum in September to learn about Bradford’s wool industry. The group got the chance to see some of the old wool machines in action. One of the ladies is a keen knitter so she was really impressed by how the machines worked.

NEW ARRIVAL IN CALDERDALE We welcomed our first baby at our Young Persons Prevention and Support Service accommodation in Halifax. Zachary was born in June. Pictured here with our mediation and prevention worker, Sandy.

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Over to you!

Jermyn Court ran a craft session which was led by their volunteer,

Paula last month.

The CSA Mental Health team and clients unleashed their creativity in an art session at Bradford’s Lister Park. All paintings were inspired by the lush greenery and surroundings. The artwork is going up in the team’s office.

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Do you have any pictures you would like to share?

Or perhaps you have written a poem or created some artwork?We would love to see them and share them here! Please email them to

communications@hortonhousing.co.uk or talk to your support worker.

We are going for a walk in the woods today

There are six of us going

Oh I hope we see nice things!

We picked a nice day to go.

While we were walking Sue and Lynne took some photos

I hope they come out nice

There were mushrooms and lots of trees

There were a few benches

And they took a picture of me with an owl on some wood

Had some tea and biscuits after the walk

By Alison, Water Street clientArtwork by a Group Living Service client.

Cross stitch and crochet art by Charlotte, Horton Intervention and Prevention Service

(HIPS) client.

get IN TOUCH!...

Horton Housing is committed to promoting equality, diversity, respect and inclusion. Our aim is for our organisation to be truly representative of all sections of society, for each individual to be treated fairly, to feel respected and be able to be their best. We are committed to ensuring that our services are appropriate and accessible to the people who need them. We are opposed to all forms of harassment and unlawful discrimination.

Our commitment to EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY

If you have ideas on what you would like to see in the newsletter or to give any feedback, please get in touch.

You can contact us through your support worker or by emailing: communications@hortonhousing.co.uk

Or you can write to us at:

Communications Horton Housing54 Little Horton LaneBradfordBD5 0BS

Phone us on 01274 370689

Or connect with us on social media

Facebook: search for ‘Horton Housing Association’ Twitter: @hortonhousing

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We have a Single Equality Scheme which sets out how we will meet the needs of our clients and our equality duties. Every year we publish a Single Equality Scheme Action Plan which sets out our targets and how we will put our commitment to equality and diversity into practice. You can view the plan on our website in the ‘About’ section under ‘Documents’.

We have achieved ‘Investors in Diversity’ stage 2 accreditation. This demonstrates our commitment to equality, diversity, respect and inclusion in our recruitment, the work that we do and the services we provide.