Newsletter GLASGOW WEST HOUSING ASSOCIATION LIMITED

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contact the office and we will do our best to accommodate your requirements.

Cash for Kids

Cash for Kids grants are awarded to help with

the cost of a Christmas treat.

Last year £1,850 was awarded to the 35 families

we helped to apply; that’s £25 per child.

If you are a GWHA resident, looking after one

or more children (15 years old or younger) and

you are on a low income, or in receipt of

benefits, you could be eligible for a grant.

For our help to apply please drop into the

office on any of the dates/times below:

Tues 29th September: 2pm – 4pm

Thurs 1st October or Fri 2nd October: 10am – 12pm

Mon 5th October: 2pm – 4pm

We know it’s very early to be thinking about

Christmas but applications have to be

submitted by 16th October 2015.

Office Closure Dates Our offices (and the Hyndland concierge

station) will be closed on the following dates.

Friday 25/09/15 & Monday 28/09/15

The Blythswood and St Vincent Terrace

concierge stations will operate as normal during

the above dates.

Please refer to the office answer phone or the

GWHA calendar in the event of an emergency

arising out with our normal office hours.

September 2015

Annual Tenants Conference

Saturday 23rd Jan 2016

Please contact Jennie Cameron

on 0141 331 6658, if you have any

suggestions for the Agenda or any

ideas to encourage more residents

to come along to this very

important event.

Information on the venue & agenda will be

issued with the Festive Newsletter.

The Property Services Team will not be

available on Tuesday 27/10/2015.

Repairs should be reported as

normal on 0141 331 6652

Annual Report on the

Charter (ARC) Delivered along with this Newsletter you will

find our 2014/15 ARC. Please let us know

whether you find this information useful by

returning the tear-off slip (at the back of the

Newsletter) or by email to

admin@glasgowwestha.co.uk

Would you consider downsizing?

To facilitate our major stonework repairs

programme, we desperately need to

re-house families who are unable to stay in their

current homes.

If you live in a 3 bedroom home & no longer need

all the bedrooms, you may be able to help one of

these families by moving to a smaller and more

manageable one bedroom property.

We will assist you by:

Making all removal arrangements (including

disconnections & re-connections of appliances)

Meeting the cost of your removal

Granting one months free rent at your new

property

Just think... Less cleaning!

Lower bills & maintenance!

Change in Circumstances? We Can Help

Have your circumstances changed since your

tenancy with GWHA began?

If you find that your property no longer suits

your needs we may be able to help you find

a more suitable property through either a

transfer or a mutual exchange.

If you are interested in moving home, or to

get more info on the articles on this page

please contact Laura Clapperton on

331 6651 to discuss your housing options.

Applications for transfers and exchanges will

be considered by GWHA where:

Overcrowding or under occupancy would

not occur

The rent account is up-to-date or an agreed

repayment has been in place for at least 3

months

The tenancy has been kept in a good

condition (for example, good decorative

order and no recharge repairs)

You must have the permission of GWHA prior

to carrying out any mutual exchange.

Rent Reward Scheme (RRS) Our RRS is available to all tenants who meet all the terms

of their tenancy agreement, with the following benefits

available to members:

Free entry to quarterly prize draws

£10 bonus paid on an approved membership

£52 annual bonus, paid at Christmas time

£25 cash back on your contents insurance

The annual bonus payments to existing members will be paid w/c 14/12/2015 and the last draw of

the year will also take place on 14th December. Good luck to One and All!

For more info or to request a membership pack please contact Chris Pill on 0141 331 6653

Sub–Letting Please remember you need our written

permission BEFORE you sub-let your home.

If your circumstances are about to change

for a period of time, e.g. taking up a

temporary job, looking after a family member,

even travelling the world, please contact your

Tenancy Services Officer (Jonathan, Lynne or

Thomas) for advice on the options available

to you.

If you would like to register your details, or search

for a mutual exchange on the homeswapper

website, we may be able to help you with the

registration fee. We can only refund the

subscription if you apply four our assistance and

have our approval for a refund. For more info,

contact Laura Clapperton on 0141 331 6651

Keep us up to date with changes in

your household circumstances

If the size of your family increases, if your children

can no longer share a room, if someone has

moved out of your home or if you have problems

managing in your home (stairs becoming a

problem) then moving home might be an option

for you. Please let us know so that we can help.

Over the last few months we have dealt with our first Universal Credit claimants and we are now

more informed about how the claim process will go.

If your benefits are due to change to Universal Credit please do come and see us as you will need

the following information:

A copy of your tenancy agreement

Confirmation of your current rent charge

Confirmation of any arrears on your account

Ideally we would like to meet with everyone who is moving on to Universal Credit, so we can

support you through the change. Remember the payment you receive will include a

rental element; it may be that we can apply to have this part of your Universal Credit paid directly

to GWHA. This would be the same as your current arrangement for direct to landlord,

housing benefit payments.

EPIC 360 is a lottery-funded financial capability

project working across Glasgow and it may be of

use to you if you recognise the phrase “more month

than money” when thinking about your finances.

EPIC 360 work city-wide and offer sessions covering:

budgeting, spending, saving, credit, debt,

well-being, and financial products and services.

Sessions with EPIC 360 are always free, it’s totally

voluntary and confidential.

If you are interested in receiving some advice about

your monthly budgeting please give us a call and

we will be happy to make a referral to this project.

For more info please see www.epic360.co.uk

Welfare Benefit Updates For advice and assistance on any benefits issue please drop in to one of our monthly surgeries, or

contact the Team on 0141 3316678 to make an appointment.

Welfare Benefits Surgeries Our appointment system fills up quickly, but you can drop in to our surgeries if you need assistance urgently

Keith/Walker Court 1st Fri of the Month 10am - 11am

Hyndland 3rd Thurs of the Month 10am - 12noon

Blythswood Court Last Thurs of the Month 9am - 11am

St Vincent Terrace Last Tues of the Month 9am - 11am

Pension Credit You can get Pension Credit if you have

reached the qualifying age. This is the same

age as women’s State Pension Age. To find

out when you can apply go to

www.gov.uk/pension-credit-calculator

If you have a partner and only one of you

has reached the qualifying age you can still

apply. The person who has reached the

qualifying age must make the application.

If both have reached the qualifying age,

either of you can apply.

IMPORTANT – Changes to Pension Credit.

After 06/04/2016 the Savings Credit of

Pension Credit will no longer be available to

applicants reaching State Pension age on or

after 06/04/2016.

UPDATE

Annual Gas Servicing (AGS)

We are legally required to carry out Annual Gas Servicing (AGS) of the appliances in your home

This is imperative for your safety, and that of your neighbours. We rely on your co-operation in

providing access to our appointed contractors James Frew Ltd & City Building.

Although legal action is always a last resort for us,

because of the importance of AGS, we will take

steps to force access where there are persistent

difficulties. We will also seek to recover the full

repair and legal costs of this action.

Cyclical Works Gutter cleaning

will be taking place

throughout our stock in

October & November

Close painting

Will be taking place at the

Weaver Buttery development

(640 - 649 Argyle St & 1 McIntyre St).

This will commence on completion of

the window replacement

programme.

Rent Review 2016/17

Over the next few months our rent and service

charges review process will begin, with

consultation through our Festive Newsletter and

at our ATC on 23/01/16.

Your response to this consultation helps to inform

decisions and is particularly encouraged.

A more efficient Service?

To assist in delivery of our AGS responsibilities we will be trialling initiatives including reviewing the

access schedule to 11-12 months (instead of the current 10 months) for those tenants who

always provide early access. If we are able to roll this out across all GWHA properties, we could

streamline our management of AGS and ultimately save you around £15,000 a year!!

Thank You!

In the 5 months to August

2015 we obtained access

to all but one property due

for AGS. In this one case

we reverted to legal action.

Anne Gould Award

The Anne Gould award is a staff recognition

award introduced in 2008. The award is to

recognise any member of staff who has gone

above and beyond their job description.

If you would like to nominate any member of

GWHA staff who has gone out of their way for

you, why not put in a nomination.

Nomination forms are available on our

website or please contact Carly McFadyen on

our reception desk 0141 331 6650.

Below (left) is Linda Reid, Chief Executive with

2015 Winner Jan Tullis and (right) all of the 2015

nominees.

Major Repairs Update

Windows

74 Properties already have new windows with

a further 76 due in this first phase of our

window replacement

programme.

The windows for the 56

properties in phase 2

are now being made

and are expected to

be fully installed by the

end of October.

Academy Bank

Deck Repairs are progressing well , with the

project expected to complete by the end of

September.

Over the coming weeks

the paint works to the

supporting steel will be

completed and the

garden walls & handrails

reinstated.

Stone Work Repairs

This has been a major project, with the

scaffolding due to come down in a

number of closes on a phased basis from

October through to December.

Unfortunately the works are more

extensive in other properties, and we

await Building Warrant approval for the

partial rebuild works to the front

elevations at 47 Beltane St, 48 - 54 Dorset

Street & 79 Kent Rd. We await building

warrant approval before this work can

commence.

St Vincent Terrace

Lift Replacement

The project for the replacement of the 3 lifts at

St Vincent Terrace is underway.

We expect to appoint a

contractor by the end of the

year, with a view to be on site in

February and completion by

October 2016. Our thanks to

those residents who attended

our consultation events and for

your feedback which has

informed the design.

Elemental Replacements

The Major Works contract with Carillion has reached the end of the

installation phase and we are delighted to report the following works

are now complete. Thanks to all who provided access for these

works and we hope you are now enjoying the benefits of the

improvements to your home.

25 new kitchens installed

20 bathroom suites replaced

27 central heating systems upgraded with

new boilers in a further 36 properties

Rewiring in 35 properties with electrical

works in a further 18 properties

Bin collection/ Bulk Uplift Disposal

Contact GCC on 0141-287 9700 - Always ask for a Reference Number

Call GCC if your bin has not been collected or for information on where to leave

items for uplift.

Please note that it is taking around 28 days for Bulk uplifts.

For further advice contact Karen Hillhouse on 0141 428 3245.

Why not recycle instead? . .

Are you bothered by noise?

Contact the Antisocial Behaviour Noise

Service who can help resolve this problem

0141 287 6688

Noise officers are available to respond to

out of hours domestic noise complaints

between the hours of

5pm - 3am, 7 days a week.

NEW! Online Tenant Account

In conjunction with our software partners “Kypera” we are pleased to introduce real time access

to your own tenant account from the comfort of your own home or while on the go

(PC, Laptop or Smart Phone)

Your online account offers you the opportunity to:

View your rent account

Make a payment via your Allpay online account

View repairs history to your home and common areas

View the status of repairs in progress

Report routine 10 day repairs

If you think this facility would be of benefit to you please call us on 0141 331 6655 or email on

it@glasgowwestha.co.uk to request your personal log in details.

Smoking outside.. butt no mess! We have noticed during our inspections an increase

in the number of cigarette butts lying around at

close doors, back courts and front gardens.

We understand you may not

want to smoke within your

home, BUTT please be

considerate of your neighbours

by putting the BUTTS in the

BINS!

Thank you for your

cooperation.

Reduce, Re-Use, Recycle

If you have large items at home that you no longer need and are still in good condition, you can

have them collected for free by calling the National re-use phone line.

Simply call 0800 0665 820 and they will arrange for a local

re-use organisation to collect your item and pass it on tor use

by someone else.

Digital Volunteering Project

This service is now available in local libraries offering free individual support to help with everything

from printing & scanning to navigating online forms, setting up email accounts & uploading

documents. Your local drop in service is :

Partick Library - Monday 10am - 1pm

Hillhead Library - Monday 1pm - 4pm

GoMA (Gallery of Modern Art) - Monday 1pm - 4pm

For more info either call or drop into your chosen library venue, listed above.

Festive Gifts Festive gifts will be issued again this

year to our tenants who may be

elderly and/or vulnerable and appreciate a

small gift at Christmas time.

If you missed out last year, or if you know of a

neighbour who would enjoy receiving a small

gift, please inform our Tenancy Sustainment

Team on 0141 331 6676.

All gifts will be delivered, where

possible, before the office closes for

the Festive period. The cost is met

from our Community Fund which is

in part funded by the profits made

from our staff tuck shop!

Meal Makers

Are you over the age of 55? Would

you like a friendly neighbour to

deliver you some home cooked food?

Meal Makers is a free, local

neighbourhood food sharing scheme,

connecting local cooks with others in the

neighbourhood who would appreciate a home

cooked meal.

You will be matched with a cook in your

area, who likes the same kind of food as you do.

Depending on whether you enjoy their food

and company this could be a one off or you

might like to share meals on a regular basis.

If you are interested in joining meal makers,

either as a cook, or if you would like to

receive a meal then please contact “Meal

Makers” directly on 0800 783 7770

or email hello@mealmakers.org.uk

MEND 2 - 4

MEND is a free healthy lifestyle programme on

offer to 2 - 4 year olds and their families.

Help to take the fuss out of food

Spend time playing with your child & learn

new games

Make new friends in your area

Learn about food & how to get your

children to eat a wider variety of food

For more info call MEND on 0141 276 8882

or email mend@glasgowlife.co.uk

Christmas in Anderston Anderston's traditional Christmas party will take

place this year on Friday 04/12/15 at the

Anderston & Kelvingrove

Church.

Do take your kids along for

a free and fun filled afternoon

and help to support your local

community at the same time.

Who knows, maybe even

Santa will pop in.

5 Royal Crescent Glasgow G3 7SL

Tel: 0141 331 6650 • Fax: 0141 331 6679

Email: admin@glasgowwestha.co.uk • Website: www.gwha.org.uk

Office opening hours: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday - 9am to 4pm.

Tuesday - 11.30am to 4pm. Appointments are available at other times on request.

Registered with the Scottish Housing Regulator HEP 126. Registered as a Scottish Property Factor No. PF000328

Registered under the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 1955 RS. Registered as a Scottish Charity SC001667

Staff Update/Information

Welcome to Deirdre Campbell, IT Officer, who has recently

joined the Corporate Team, Christopher Pill, Services

Administrator, who has joined the Tenancy Services Team and to

Iain Pickering, Projects Officer who has joined our Property

Services Team

ANNUAL REPORT ON THE CHARTER—FEEDBACK TEAR OFF SLIP

1. Were you aware that we are now required to issue an ARC? YES/NO

2. Did you find the ARC informative? YES/NO

3. Was the information easy to read and understand? YES/NO

4. Did you like the layout of the ARC? YES/NO

5. Overall, how would you rate our ARC in terms of the amount of performance information it contains?

Too much Not enough About right

Any other comments/suggestions?

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

NAME: _____________________________________________________________

ADDRESS: _________________________________________________________________________

Our Estates Services Team are now

based at St Vincent Street

Concierge Station, contact details

below:

Andrew Todd - 0141 428 3247

Karen Hillhouse - 0141 428 3245 or

khillhouse@glasgowwestha.co.uk

Best wishes to

Siobhan O’Connor, HR

Officer, who left recently

to take up a new

challenge.

Congratulations to Paul

Ferns who became a dad

to baby Calvin in July.

Congratulations to our GW

staff who took part in the

Recovery 10K on 30/08/15

and good luck to those

taking part in the Great

Scottish Run at the

beginning of October.

After Run

Before Run

Christopher Pill Deirdre Campbell Iain Pickering