Rural Matters Focus On - Rural Community Awards Grants Social Enterprise Listen, Share, Change - The Housing ...
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Rural Matters Special Edition Balmoral Show 2019 Focus On Rural Community Awards Grants Social Enterprise Listen, Share, Change
Welcome to the 2019
Balmoral Show edition
of our Rural Matters
magazine
T
his year the Housing On page 8 you can read about
Executive stand is Libraries NI Out of Hours Service,
situated within the which makes key library services
government section available outside normal opening
of the Eikon Exhibition Centre. hours in 6 rural libraries. This may
We would be delighted to be particularly useful for accessing
see you there to answer your computer facilities and getting
questions or provide advice. online.
At the Show we will be promoting
the wide range of services that We would also like to
the Housing Executive offers, highlight the grants that
including energy efficiency and are available for boiler
disabled facilities grants, housing replacements and disabled Professor Peter Roberts
Chair
and homelessness support, adaptations.
community cohesion support and
advice on how we can examine the
You can find out more about this,
need for more housing in your rural
including how to apply, on pages 3
community.
and 4.
We will also be launching our 2019
On page 9 you can find out more
Rural Community Awards, with
about our approach to identifying
£6,000 of prizes up for grabs for
hidden housing need in rural
any rural groups who have made a
locations.
difference within their community.
The awards last year showcased a
Finally, we hope you will enter our
wide range of inspirational projects,
competition to win an Amazon Fire.
which demonstrated the vital
Simply fill-in the slip at the back of
contribution made by community
the magazine and put it in the box at
groups in creating and supporting
our stand at the Balmoral Show, or Clark Bailie
vibrant and sustainable rural
return it to the address shown. Chief Executive
communities. Read about how to
The answers to the questions can
apply for the 2019 Rural Community
be found in the magazine.
Awards on pages 6 and 7.
Good luck!
In this edition we feature the
exciting Listen, Share, Change
project on page 5. Listen Share
Change aims to inspire meaningful
conversations which address
issues such as history, diversity
and conflict that can affect peoples’
lives.
2 Rural Matters May 2019 Follow us on: facebook.com/housingexecutive @nihecommunity nihecommunity
Boiler Replacement
T
he Boiler Replacement
Allowance is a
THE BOILER REP
Department for
SCHEME PROCE LACEMENT
Communities scheme,
administered by the
Housing Executive.
SS
1
Contact your lo
cal Grants Offi
application an ce to get an
d installer form
your applicatio . When we rece
n form, we will ive
eligibility. d etermine your
2
You should seek
the advice of an
the type of new installer about
boiler and con
suits your nee trols that best
ds and reques
Boiler Installer t they comple
Form. te the
3
We may inspec
t your existing
issuing an app boiler prior to
roval. If your b
will issue an ap o ile r is eligible, we
proval to instal
will also let yo l a new boiler. We
u know the am
you will receiv ount of allowan
e. ce
The Boiler Replacement Scheme
is for people who own their own YOU MUST NO
T START ANY
YOU HAVE RE WORKS UNTIL
home, to help with the cost of CEIVED A LET
OTHERWISE Y TER OF APPR
replacing boilers which are 15 OUR GR ANT W OVAL
ILL NOT BE PA
years old or older with new energy ID
4
efficient boilers. To be eligible for
When the work
assistance you must have a gross has been com
your installer sh pleted, you or
annual income less than £40,000. ould submit th
documents: e following
• Notification
The amount of allowance payable of Completion
• Building Co of Works form
will depend on your total income, ntrol Completi
• Installer’s d on Certificate
with those earning less than etailed invoice
name of the sc showing the
£20,000 receiving £700 for heme and det
carried out ails of works
replacing their boiler, rising to • BACS form
(instruction to
£1,000 if time and temperature a bank accoun pay allowance
t) into
controls are also being installed. • Planning A
pproval (if req
5
For those earning £20,000 or more uired)
but less than £40,000, the grant is We may inspec
£400 for replacing their boiler, rising t the work follo
payment will b wing which
e issued.
to £500 if time and temperature
controls are fitted.
The work must be carried out by
a qualified and competent installer
who has suitable experience and
expertise. You must use a You can apply for a Boiler Replacement Allowance by
‘Gas Safe’ registered installer for
contacting your local Housing Executive Grants Office
gas boilers.
on Tel: 03448 920 900
Follow us on: facebook.com/housingexecutive @nihecommunity nihecommunity May 2019 Rural Matters 3
Disabled Facilities Grants
D
isabled Facilities • Making the preparation and To apply your GP or social worker
Grants are available cooking of food easier, e.g. will refer you to your local Health
to make the home by enlarging the kitchen or and Social Services Trust. However
of a person with a providing low level units our Grants Offices will also be
disability suitable for his or • Adapting lighting or heating happy to advise you about how to
her needs, and are based on controls apply and to answer your questions
the recommendation of a local • Improving the heating system at any stage of the process.
Ocuupational Therapist. • Addressing items of unfitness or
disrepair to protect the safety of To contact your local Housing
Any owner occupier, landlord or
the occupants of the house Executive Grants Office
private tenant can apply for assistance
providing that there is a person with a Tel: 03448 920 900
The amount of grant we pay
disability living in the home.
depends on the approved cost
of the work and the financial
Only works recommended by your
circumstances of your household.
Occupational Therapist can be
Grant aid up to a maximum of
considered for grant aid but typical
£25,000 is available but you may
works may include:
have to make a contribution
towards the cost of the works.
• Making access easier to the
bathroom, living room or bedroom
However if the works carried
• Providing bathroom facilities
out are for a dependent child, no
• Replacing a bath with a level
contribution is required.
access shower
Making rural
communities safer
W
e are committed to If you prefer a relative, friend How we are working to improve
ensuring anti-social or representative can make a community safety
behaviour, in all its complaint on your behalf.
forms, is tackled We provide funding every year to
appropriately. We are here to support you develop local solutions to address
anti-social behaviour in our estates.
While the majority of our estates If you make a complaint we will Some examples include Community
are safe and popular places to live, respond in a sensitive way and take Safety Warden schemes, an
we recognise that nuisance and appropriate action to tackle the independent and confidential
anti-social behaviour are real issues problem while taking your wishes professional mediation service,
which can have a significant impact into account. We can organise good morning services, home safety
on individuals and communities. support for victims and witnesses schemes, diversionary activities for
by making referrals to specialist young people, and intergenerational
It therefore is important that Housing organisations such as Victim programmes.
Executive tenants in rural communities Support Northern Ireland.
know what to do if they are worried
about anti-social behaviour. We have specific powers to take
action against our tenants who
Reporting anti-social behaviour commit anti-social behaviour. This
can include injunction proceedings,
Your local Housing Executive office Anti-Social Behaviour Orders and
or the PSNI is the first point of possessions. We will also work
contact for those wishing to report with partner organisations in the
anti-social behaviour. statutory, community and voluntary
sector to address the underlying
You can also contact us by ringing causes of anti-social behaviour to
03448 920 900 or the PSNI on 101 stop it reoccurring.
4 Rural Matters May 2019 Follow us on: facebook.com/housingexecutive @nihecommunity nihecommunity
Listen, Share, Change
(Clockwise from top) Award winning author Paul McVeigh, our Belfast Regional Manager Jennifer Hawthorne, Verbal Chief Executive James
Kerr, Patricia McQuillan from our Rural Residents Forum and Gina McIntyre, Chief Executive of the Special European Union Programmes Body
launched the project at the Crumlin Road Jail.
€
1.3m PEACE IV funding 52 communities will be engaged Or via the project leaders at the
is being used to during the project with a view to Housing Executive:
transform the lives developing 26 cross-community
of over 1500 Housing partnerships. • Gareth Doran, (South Antrim,
Executive tenants through the East, Causeway & West),
‘Listen Share Change’ project. It will provide OCN Level 2 Gareth.doran@nihe.gov.uk
Listen, Share, Change uses training in Facilitation Skills for • Gus Moore (Belfast North,
the Reading Rooms model of Shared Reading for over 120 South, West, East,
transportive storytelling to inspire volunteers, who will then become Lisburn & Castlereagh),
meaningful conversations and in Neighbourhood Champions, further Gus.moore@nihe.gov.uk
turn address the needs of Housing implementing the Reading Rooms
• Sean Brennan (South Mid
Executive tenants across Northern model at a local level beyond the
Ulster, South, South West, South
Ireland. By engaging participants project term. In addition 104 Future
Down, North Down & Ards),
in reading and discussion around Youth Leaders will promote active
Sean.brennan@nihe.gov.uk
purposefully selected literary works, citizenship and engagement.
they will be encouraged to explore
and reflect on issues relevant to Want to get involved?
their own lives such as diversity, Referrals for the Listen Share
heritage and conflict. Change programme are welcomed
from agencies and organisations
The project, led by us and Verbal, working with young people and can
aims to build positive relations be made by contacting the Project
between people from different co-coordinator Louise Moore at
communities and backgrounds. lsc@theverbal.co
Follow us on: facebook.com/housingexecutive @nihecommunity nihecommunity May 2019 Rural Matters 5
Is your village RURAL
best in show?
COMMUNITY
AWARDS
Pick up an application form at our Balmoral Show stand
for a chance to win prizes worth £1,000
in our Rural Community Awards.
W
ith a total prize The awards, which are now in
fund of £6,000 their fifth year, recognise rural
available, communities that went the extra
community and mile to make their neighbourhoods
residential groups in rural a better place to live. This could be
areas can apply for three by organising a community clean-up,
awards: introducing health and well-being
initiatives or developing projects
• Cleaner and Greener that improve community relations.
• Rural Community Spirit
Tim Gilpin, our Acting Rural and
• Sustainable Village of the Year
Regeneration Manager, explains how
the application process works:
Each of these awards will have two
categories, one for villages with a “We have made applying for the
population of less than 1,000 and awards as simple as possible this
one for villages with between 1,000 year. All residential and community To be considered for the Sustainable
and 5,000 residents, with a prize groups have to do is complete a short Village of the Year award, groups
of £1,000 up for grabs for each form which can be downloaded from must apply for both the Rural
category. our website: www.nihe.gov.uk Community Spirit and Cleaner and
Greener awards. They should also
write a 500 word statement that
outlines steps that they have taken
to shape the future of their village.
For example, this could be projects
that encourage biodiversity, protect
local wildlife, create new jobs in the
community or help residents lower
their carbon footprint.”
6 Rural Matters May 2019 Follow us on: facebook.com/housingexecutive @nihecommunity nihecommunity
5 tips for writing an
award winning entry!
Choose the right category ✓
1 make sure you choose the category in the Community
Awards that best fits the work or projects of your
group. You can apply for more than one category if
you want to.
Leave enough time ✓
2 give yourself enough time to fill out the application
form. You may need to start a few weeks in advance
of the closing date so that you don’t have to rush it
the night before. The closing date is 31st July 2019.
Make sure you don’t miss out!
✓
3 Keep it simple
Read each question carefully and make sure your
answers are clear and concise.
Answer all the questions ✓
4
An incomplete form won’t be considered by the
assessment panel so make sure you have
answered everything.
Provide evidence ✓
we strongly recommend that you include
5 supporting information with your application.
This can be photographs, minutes from
meetings or promotional materials.
Show us what you have achieved!
Date for diary!
JULY
31st
2019
The deadline for applications is 4pm 31st July 2019
Follow us on: facebook.com/housingexecutive @nihecommunity nihecommunity May 2019 Rural Matters 7
Libraries NI Out of
Hours Opening Service
L
ibraries NI, with • Dungiven Library to library broadband, Wi-Fi and
funding from • Irvinestown Library computer facilities in areas that may
the Department • Lisnaskea Library be affected by limited broadband
of Agriculture, • Maghera Library availability.
Environment and Rural Affairs • Saintfield Library
To access the library as an Out of
(DAERA) has introduced an • Whitehead Library
Hours member, you must be aged
exciting Out of Hours pilot 18 or over and be a library member.
The Out of Hours service offers
service in six rural libraries Children under 18 are welcome to
adults controlled access to library
across Northern Ireland. The use the service providing they are
facilities outside of normal library
Out of Hours service provides accompanied for the entire duration
opening hours. Customers can
local communities with more of their visit by an adult member.
access a limited but important range
options to use facilities at a of services such as broadband/ You will need to attend a short
time that suits them, for up to Wi-Fi access, printing facilities, induction event to learn to use the
an additional 35 hours every study space and book borrowing on new technology and understand the
week. a self-service basis. safety measures involved. If you are
This service could be particularly not a member you can simply sign
The Out of Hours service is helpful for people who have online up to library membership which is
currently available in the following forms and registrations to complete free and open to all.
rural libraries: as it offers increased access
The current timetable for the Out of Hours Service in participating libraries is:
Dungiven Irvinestown Lisnaskea Maghera Saintfield Whitehead
Monday 5:00pm – 8:00pm 5:00pm – 8:00am – 5:00pm – 10:00am – 10:00am –
8:00pm 8:00pm 10:00pm 9:00pm 8:00pm
Tuesday 5:00pm – 8:00pm 5:00pm – 8:00am – 8:00am – 8.00pm – 7.00pm –
8:00pm 12:00pm 12:00pm 9.00pm 8.00pm
and 7.00pm and 8.00pm
– 8.00pm – 10.00pm
Wednesday 10:00am – 8:00am – 5:00pm – 5:00pm – 10:00am – 5:00pm –
1:00pm 1:00pm 8:00pm 10:00pm 9:00pm 8:00pm
and
7.00pm – 8.00pm
Thursday 10:00am – 8:00am – 5:00pm – 5:00pm – 5:00pm – 10:00am –
8:00pm 8:00pm 8:00pm 10:00pm 9:00pm 8:00pm
Friday 2:00pm – 8:00pm 5:00pm – 5:00pm – 5:00pm – – 5:00pm –
8:00pm 8:00pm 10:00pm 8:00pm
Saturday 2:00pm – 6:00pm 1:00pm – 1:00pm – 4:00pm – 1:00pm – 5:00pm –
5:00pm 5:00pm 8:00pm 6:00pm 8:00pm
Sunday 1:00pm – 6:00pm - - - - -
Outside of these times each library is also available during
their normal opening hours
Find out more about the Out of Hours service at:
www.librariesni.org.uk/out-of-hours
8 Rural Matters May 2019 Follow us on: facebook.com/housingexecutive @nihecommunity nihecommunity
Give your community a boost with
our Social Housing Enterprise funding
O
ur Social Housing When our programme opens in You can chat to our Social
Enterprise the autumn you can apply for large Investments Team about setting up
Programme can awards (worth up to £50,000) or or expanding a social enterprise in
help you create small awards (worth up to £1,000) your area by:
new job opportunities, upskill for business start-up and education
local people and provide new
or training. Calling
services in your area.
03448 920 900
Interested?
We launched the programme in Then make sure you chat to the or emailing
2015 and have invested £500,000 Social Investments Team at our socialinvestments@nihe.gov.uk
per year so we can empower Balmoral Show stand.
people living in Housing Executive We are hoping to launch our new
communities to set up or develop Did you know? programme in the autumn this
their own social enterprise. year so make sure you check out
We also support social enterprises our website and social media
Through our Social Housing on our estates by leasing our accounts for more details.
Enterprise Programme we’ve surplus land and letting our voided
provided funding for: and commercial properties.
• Community cafes and bakeries We want to hear from you…
• Childcare services
• Fitness facilities We are currently developing our
Social
Housing
new Social Housing Enterprise
• Employment opportunities
Programme and are keen to hear
Enterprise
• Qualifications from groups or individuals in rural
• Health & wellbeing services areas who live in our estates.
Housing Need Tests
T
he Housing Executive need tests in
recognises that rural locations
because there is less across Northern
existing social housing Ireland. Through
stock in rural areas and much these tests we
of our stock has now been sold,
work with rural
people in need of a home may
communities to
not register or seek advice in
their local Housing Executive encourage those
office. in need of a home
to come forward
Without names on the local waiting and register on our
list, the need for any additional waiting list. We also
social/affordable housing will remain promote the range
hidden and new housing schemes of housing services
will not be planned. Over time, this we offer.
may impact on the sustainability of Rural and Regeneration Unit at
our rural communities. If you think there may be hidden rural.housing@nihe.gov.uk
need for social or affordable so that we can determine if it
To try to overcome this, every housing in your area we would would be appropriate to carry out a
year we undertake rural housing encourage you to contact our Housing Need Test.
Follow us on: facebook.com/housingexecutive @nihecommunity nihecommunity May 2019 Rural Matters 9
Primary school
children dream big!
A
s part of Rural Housing Need Tests, we’ve been running ‘My Dream Home’ art competitions
in rural areas across Northern Ireland to encourage people in need of a home to register
their interest in social and affordable housing. Since the last Balmoral Show we have held
quite a few competitions. Here are a few of the winners!
My Dream Home…
Óg Blaney, from St Brigid’s Primar y
Niall and Erin from St Mary’s Prim
ary School, Talisha, from Cloughmills Primary School, and Sean
Derrytrasna couldn’t wait to open School, proudly show off their winning design s.
their Kindle Fires.
They were presented with their prize
s by our staff
Denise McNally and Sinead Colli
ns and their principal
Mrs Una McAlinden.
Primary School in
m St.Colmann’s
Liam and Cora, fro Fires in January.
picked up Kindle Tighe,
Lawrencetown, the ir principal Darragh
selfie with cKinney.
They took a group cN all y an d Eo in M
mbers Denise M
and our staff me
Aimee and Alfie from St Columba
’s Primary School in Clady were all
the competition in their school. smiles after winning
If you would like to discuss the potential for new social and affordable housing in your area please
contact our Rural & Regeneration Unit by email: rural.housing@nihe.gov.uk
10 Rural Matters May 2019 Follow us on: facebook.com/housingexecutive @nihecommunity nihecommunityMake the call and save
money on your energy bills
T
he NI Energy Advice
Line provides
householders with
free impartital nergy saving
advice.
By ringing 0800 142 2865
you can get advice on:
• Insulation
• Oil Buying Clubs
• Installing an energy efficient
heating system or boiler
• Applying for home
improvement grants
• Switching energy suppliers
We’ve been awarded €2m to research energy
efficiency measures in rural homes.
T
he €2m will be used • develop viable business
to fund research that models with innovative
will tackle fuel poverty, solutions to tackle energy
identify renewable problems in rural areas;
energy solutions and improve
energy efficiency in rural • identify opportunities for
homes across Northern Europe. rural communities to access anisations
from partner org
renewable energy sources and Representatives lau nc he d the project
Europe
The ‘Handi-Heat’ project, which across Northern
reduce their reliance on fossil earlier this year.
is run over 3 years, will look at at Belfast Castle
fuels.
developing a series of resources
for government policy makers on “We will also be
sustainable energy solutions for Our Chief Executive, Clark Bailie, upgrading and
rural communities. explains how we are involved in the
project:
providing four of our
It is being led by us, with support homes in Fermanagh
from the Northern Periphery & “Handi–Heat is a fantastic with a renewable
Arctic Programme (NPA) and the opportunity for us to collaborate energy supply so
European Regional Development with a range of organisations from
the Republic of Ireland, Finland,
we can find out how
Fund, and aims to:
Iceland and the Shetland Islands to these measures could
• document current home energy find solutions to problems faced benefit our rural
policy and practice across by rural householders such as a tenants.”
Northern Europe; reliance on home heating oil.”
Follow us on: facebook.com/housingexecutive @nihecommunity nihecommunity May 2019 Rural Matters 11WIN an Amazon Fire!
We are giving the chance for two of our readers to win an Amazon Fire!
The closing date is 1 June 2019 and we will present the winners
in the next edition of the magazine.
You can enter at our stand at the Balmoral Show or simply return the tear off slip to:
Eoin McKinney, Rural Unit, Housing Executive,
2 Adelaide Street, Belfast BT2 8PB
1. Name one of the libraries included in the Libraries NI Out of Hours Service?
2. Name the Housing Executive’s new rural energy efficiency research project?
Name*
Tel* Email*
*We will retain your personal data until the competition draw has taken place, after the draw we will
securely destroy the information. We will not use or retain your personal data for any other purpose.
If English is not your first language and you need help with interpreting &
translation the Housing Executive can provide free services on request,
please ask for further details at your local office.
ARABIC POLISH SLOVAK
Jeśli język angielski nie jest Państwa językiem Ak angličtina nie je váš materský jazyk
ojczystym i potrzebują Państwo pomocy a vyžadujete si pomoc s prekladom a
w zakresie tłumaczeń ustnych i pisemnych, tlmočením, kancelária úradu pre otázky
Housing Executive oferuje bezpłatne usługi bývania (Housing Executive) vám ochotne
tłumaczeniowe na życzenie. O szczegóły poskytne tieto služby bezplatne. Prosím,
prosimy pytać biuro lokalne. požiadajte svoju miestnu kanceláriu o viac
informácií.
CANTONESE PORTUGUESE
Se o Inglês não for a sua língua materna SOMALI
e precisar de ajuda com tradução e Haddii af Ingiriisigu uusan ahayn
interpretação, o Executivo de Habitação luqaddaada hooyo oo aad u baahan tahay
pode providenciar serviços gratuítos in lagaa caawiyo turjumaadda oraahda
mediante solicitação, pode obter mais ah iyo midda qoran Agaasinka Guryeynta
informações no seu escritório local. (Housing Executive) ayaa adeegyo bilaash
ah bixin kara marka laga codsado, fadlan
LITHUANIAN RUSSIAN faahfaahin dheeraad ah weydii xafiiska
Jei anglų kalba nėra jūsų gimtoji kalba ir Если английский не является вашим xaafaddaada.
jums reikia pagalbos dėl vertimo žodžiu ir родным языком и вам требуется помощь
raštu, jums pageidaujant Housing Executive с устным и письменным переводом,
gali suteikti nemokamas vertimo paslaugas; Жилищное управление может For customers with sensory
dėl išsamesnės informacijos prašome kreiptis предоставить по запросу бесплатные
į vietinį skyrių. услуги переводчика. За более подробной disabilities, information can be
информацией обратитесь в ваш местный provided in alternative formats like
офис. large print, Braille or audio. Sign
MANDARIN
language interpreters can also be
provided, but please give as much
notice as possible to allow us to
meet your request.
nihe.gov.uk facebook.com/housingexecutive @nihecommunity RS-249-03-19You can also read
