SPRING 2018 - Safety at home - Sanctuary Housing
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SPRING 2018
Safety at home A survivor’s story Is your garden thriving?
! page 4 page 6 page 8
CONTENTS
WELCOME P3 How we store
your data
SPRING 2018 P 4 Family Safety
P 5 Dealing with debt
P 6 -7 Your stories
Welcome to the spring edition of Voice. We have some more of your stories in this edition,
P 8 National Gardening
including an inspiring article about putting new found
This edition is packed full of useful information to
skills into practice and even an up-cycled telephone box! Week
help you maintain your tenancy, including who
Read more on pages six and seven.
to contact if you require any adaptations to your
home (page four). Please do keep on sending in your stories to be in with
Email us:
a chance of winning a £25 voucher. In this edition, our contactus@
Also in this edition, we have an article focused on
star story was sent in by Doreen Pemberton, from South sanctuary-housing.
dealing with debt (page five). We understand that
Hackney, who has lived in her Sanctuary property for co.uk
at times money can be tight but please remember,
75 years!
as a priority debt, paying your rent should come
Call us:
first on your list of outgoings. Please contact us if Last but not least, thank you to everyone who entered
0800 131 3348
you are struggling with your finances, the sooner the Quiz of the Year in the last edition of Voice. We had
or 0300 123 3511
the better. We can offer you help and advice. lots of correct entries and the winner was drawn out of
a hat. Congratulations to Sue Bright from Gillingham,
Family Safety Week starts on Monday 23 April. Write to us:
Dorset, a £20 Love to Shop voucher is on its way Marybone House,
Whether you’re a parent or carer, a grandparent,
to you! 2 Marybone,
aunt, uncle or sibling, we’ve included some tips
Liverpool,
and advice to help you keep under-fives safe at I hope you enjoying reading this edition.
L3 2BY
home. Find out more on page four.
Best wishes
Daren Nowlan
Operations Director – Housing Sanctuary Housing
@HelloSanctuary
Are you experiencing Antisocial Behaviour (ASB)? This newsletter can be
translated into other
ASB is a serious issue. Typical examples of ASB include: languages, large print
aggressive behaviour, drug activity, criminal damage, loud and Braille or recorded
noise, dumping rubbish, violence and domestic abuse. on to an audio CD. Please
contact your local office
for details.
If there is an issue with your neighbour that can’t be
resolved with a calm chat, you could try asking someone,
such as a Housing Officer, to speak with them on your Reduce, reuse, recycle
behalf. If the problem persists, you should gather evidence Printed on revive 50:50 Uncoated-a recycled
paper containing 50% recycled waste and 50%
in an incident diary. virgin fibre and manufactured at a mill certified
with ISO 14001 environmental management
standard.
The pulp used in this product is bleached using
If you are experiencing ASB please let us know by calling 0800 131 3348 or Elemental Chlorine Free process (ECF).
0300 123 3511. NB Reference to this products FSC® certification
can only be made by holders of the FSC® Chain
of Custody certificate.
To report incidents call 101 or if you are concerned for the safety of yourself or
others, call the Police on 999.
Did you LiveChat is now available on our website:
know? www.sanctuary-housing.co.uk
click on the LiveChat box to chat with us.
2
How we store your data
Every now and again we may ask you You do not have to give us this information, but if
you do, you are helping us ensure our services are
for information about yourself, such as
fair for all. Your personal information is kept on a
your ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual secure system and cannot be shared without your
orientation and whether you have a consent.
disability.
In order for us make sure our information is
It may seem strange that we ask you such accurate, please let us know if any of your
personal questions, but we do this so we can information changes (for example if you develop
ensure that we are not discriminating against a disability) by calling 0800 131 3348 or emailing
one particular group and that we can offer you contactus@sanctuary-housing.co.uk.
any support you may need.
Examples of the support we can provide
includes arranging for a translator, if English is
not your first language, or ensuring meetings
are held in a room that is accessible for people
who have mobility problems.
DISPOSING OF BULKY ITEMS
We want your neighbourhood to be clean and tidy. Thank you to the vast
majority of residents who help us to keep it that way.
The illegal dumping of rubbish, also known as fly-tipping, is not only unsightly,
but it’s also a health hazard.
The removal of this rubbish costs money, which can result in higher service
charges to residents.
If you have a bulky item to be removed, please contact your local council.
For unwanted furniture in a reasonable condition, you could:
• see if there is a charity nearby that • take it to the tip
will take it • up-cycle the item by painting and
• freecycle it restoring
• offer it on social media • re-sell it
Fly-tippers can face a hefty fine or even a prison sentence
If you spot any fly-tipping, call us on 0800 131 3348 or
0300 123 3511
3
Aids and adaptations
need to have major adaptations, such as installing
a stair lift or putting in a level access shower.
These types of adaptations are the responsibility
of your local authority and require an assessment
by an Occupational Therapist.
Who can apply?
Permanent household members of Sanctuary
If you or a family member has a rented properties, who:
disability or mobility issue, our aids
• have a long-term condition
and adaptations service can adapt your
• are struggling with everyday activities
home to make everyday tasks easier.
• are restricted by their environment
How can we help you? All requests for any type of adaptation will be
We can provide a range of equipment from assessed and considered on an individual basis.
handrails and lever taps to specialist items
designed for people with specific disabilities. If you require any aids or adaptations in your
home, please call us on 0800 131 3348 or email
We also give advice and support to residents who contactus@sanctuary-housing.co.uk.
!
Family Safety Week ROSPA
Family Safety
Family Safety Week (23 – 27 April 2018) focuses on Week
23 – 27 April
protecting the littlest members of our community -
babies, toddlers and children under five.
Most of the steps you can take to keep your children • Keep medication and cleaning products out of
safe in the home are free. Keeping hot drinks up out reach, especially liquid laundry capsules as their
of reach, putting hair straighteners away after use or bright colours and squishy textures mean they
throwing a towel over the door to prevent little fingers catch children’s eyes but the contents can be very
getting trapped are just some examples. dangerous if ingested
• Keep your floors and stairs free from obstacles and
Courtesy of The Royal Society for the Prevention of use a safety gate on the stairs
Accidents (ROSPA), we have provided some tips for • Never leave your child unattended in the bath,
safety in the home: even to answer the door or the phone
• Children love to climb so make sure heavy furniture is • Try to keep children out of the kitchen while you
secured to the wall cook. Use the back rings of cookers and turn pan
• Second hand cots should be approached with handles away so they are not sticking out over the
caution. Cots from before 1973 may contain lead edge, where they can be grabbed by little hands
based paint • Put knives and other sharp objects away after use,
• Never leave a baby unattended on a raised surface, and store them out of sight and reach
such as a bed or a changing unit as they could roll off • Tuck away wires and tape rugs down or get
non-slip mats to avoid falls
For more safety tips please visit www.rospa.com.
4
Dealing with debt
There’s debt that’s manageable and there’s
problem debt. If your debts are becoming
unmanageable, it can be hard to know where to
turn. But help is available and talking about the
problem is the first step to solving it.
T
1. Be honest with yourself and write down all your debts
– even if it’s just on the back of an envelope.
E N
2. Make sure you pay your rent and council tax first. These
are priority debts. If you fall behind with your rent
payments, we will contact you by phone or by post.
U RG
3. Get in touch with every organisation you owe money
to and tell them that you are experiencing difficulties
4. Create a budget and stick to it 9. If you’re called to court, take along a copy of your
personal budget to prove that you’ve thought about
5. Get rid of non-essential expenses and make sure you
how to pay off your debts.
have the best rates for utilities. There are a number of
websites that can help you find the best deals. 10. Contact one of the services below, with your list of
debts to hand.
6. Work out how much you can afford to pay off your
debts on a regular basis, even if it’s a very low amount, Our Income team can be contacted on 0800 916 1516 if
it may be considered to be a reasonable offer. you need advice about how to manage your money. The
sooner you contact us the better. We have trained staff
7. Don’t borrow money from high-interest lenders to pay
who can talk to you about any financial difficulties you’re
off your debts. This kind of borrowing can often make
facing and can check if you’re receiving all the benefits
you worse off.
you are entitled to.
8. Make sure you reply to any court papers and letters
For free and impartial money advice visit:
from those you owe money to. This approach will help
them look at your situation more fairly. www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk.
If you have had a change in your rent or service charge in
April, you will have received a letter from us informing you
of the change. If you are entitled to housing costs as part of
your Universal Credit claim, you need to tell the Department
REMINDER of Work and Pensions (DWP) of any changes in your
circumstances; this includes any changes in your rent.
If this applies to you, and you haven’t already done so, you need to send the Department for
Work and Pensions a copy of the letter you received as soon as possible, to make sure they pay
you the correct amount. If you do not let them know, you could lose benefit to which you are
entitled, or you may have to pay back any overpaid benefits you have received.
If we receive Housing Benefit direct from your Local Authority, we will also notify them of the
change to your rent and service charge (where relevant). However, you must always send your
Local Authority a copy of your rent review letter to make sure they pay you the correct amount of
Housing Benefit.
Your Housing Benefit claim is your responsibility. If you think you are getting the wrong amount of
benefit, talk to your Local Authority straightaway.
5
Your stories
101 years young A SURVIVOR’S STORY
Congratulations to Eva
Dewberry (pictured right), who Karen Vaughan, the
celebrated her 101st birthday project manager of
at Jalland Lodge, Hull, in Rising Moments, a
January. She was wished all
the best for her special day group which supports
by staff and presented with women affected
her birthday card by Glenn by abuse past
Pickering, Scheme Manager
(pictured on the left). It was a
or present, is a
double celebration for the pair, as it was Glenn’s resident and a
birthday too! survivor of abuse
herself.
Eva was born in 1917, also born that year were
famous faces John F Kennedy, Dean Martin and
Vera Lynn. In 2012, Karen (pictured above) had the
chance to move to a Sanctuary property in
CONGRATULATIONS Torbay, and hasn’t looked back since. She
says: “My new home became my place of
HOME SWEET WINN
safety and I began to heal after nearly 20
years of suffering. The local community was
HOME Congrat ER wonderful and accepted me for who I was.
ulatio
Doreen! ns,
Having lived in her Sanctuary You hav
property in South Hackney for 75 a £25 voe won “I also really wanted to give back to help
years, there’s nowhere else Doreen ucher
women in situations like I was in, so with great
Pemberton would ever dream of
calling home. support from Sanctuary and all the community
projects they are involved in, I set up my own,
Great-grandmother Doreen moved into her house when
she was just four years old. She recalls playing in the
called Rising Moments.”
air-raid shelters during the war and the terrifying silence
before the bombs were dropped. The project offers ‘I Feel Good’ boxes to
women affected by abuse past or present,
Recently, Doreen was invited to a local school to talk to
the school children about what life was like growing up which are collections of donated goodies such
in the area, with no heating and an outdoor toilet. To her as books, bubble bath and stationery. They
amusement, the children were more shocked that there aim to let the women know they aren’t alone
were no mobile phones or televisions.
and provide a positive moment.
Doreen’s quirky appearance - red hair and colour co-
ordinated outfits, makes her instantly recognisable in
SHARE YOUR
her neighbourhood. In her heyday, she was renowned
for her legacy of pet shops, but nowadays, her colourful
personality is reflected through her flowers, which are
displayed in unusual containers such as toilets and hand
basins in her front garden. STORY
Living life to the full and enjoying an active, social lifestyle
is important to Doreen. She says: “I don’t feel my age;
while I can do it all - I’ll do it all!”
If you have a story to share in
Doreen’s life-long home really is where her heart is. We Voice, please email: voice@
wish her many more years of health and happiness. sanctuary-housing.co.uk or
call 0800 131 3348 / 0300 123
3511.
6
Ringing the changes
A phone box in Cherwell, Oxfordshire, has been given a new
lease of life as a miniature library. Weston-on-the-Green
Village Hall Committee has stocked the phone box with
hundreds of favourite titles for readers of all ages to enjoy.
With no library of their own and the mobile library service no longer
visiting the village, residents previously had to travel to nearby local towns
to borrow books. But now, they can visit the phone box library at any time
to pick up something new to read and return titles they are finished with.
The library was officially opened in January by former MP and Home
Secretary Alan Johnson, with residents gathering at the phone box to
celebrate and enjoy browsing the shelves.
Andrew Wilson, chairman of Weston-on-the-Green Village Hall Committee,
said: “The phone box library is a wonderful addition to the village and we’re
so grateful for the support from Sanctuary, the parish council and everyone
in the community who has helped make this idea a reality.”
This project was part-funded by our Community Investment Fund,
supporting projects which benefit our residents and their communities.
Do you have a grand idea for your community? If you do, we would love to
hear from you. Call us on 01905 335411 or email community@sanctuary-
housing.co.uk.
Sowing the
seeds for
success
After reading about Sanctuary Online in now updates on a regular basis - even adding in
the summer edition of Voice magazine, weekly hints and tips!
resident Deborah Bull was looking to
improve her online skills and gain the Debbie said: “‘I feel comfortable learning
confidence to start her own blog. in my own surroundings. I am more relaxed
and can remember information. If I had to go
Debbie’s dream was to create a website where somewhere, I wouldn’t have gone!”
she could share her knowledge and passion
about gardening, to encourage children to be Sanctuary Online sessions can boost your
more interested in outdoor activities and get internet skills and your confidence. They are
them planting! available for you to take for free in your own
home, or a community venue of your choice.
After six hours of in-home training with John,
We Are Digital Tutor, Debbie had set up her To book a session call 03333 442 561, text
dream website 4theloveofsowing.com which she Sanctuary to 07537 416 944 or email
sanctuary@we-are-digital.co.uk.
7
30 APRIL
– 6 MAY
Is your garden thriving?
Whatever the shape and size of your garden, from windowsill boxes Your old wellingtons can make
to communal spaces, many of you have gardens to be proud of.
great plant containers! Here’s how
Regular gardening in the fresh air has many health benefits. It can: to do it:
1. Clean the wellies with soapy
water
2. Remove any insoles and make a
few little holes in the bottom
Lift your Relieve stress Reduce depression for drainage
self-esteem and anxiety and loneliness 3. Put a few pebbles inside
4. Fill your wellies with
compost
5. Plant seeds and
top up with more
Reduce the risk of Increase your Improve sleep compost
heart disease stamina quality 6. Water and place
and obesity in sunlight (check
seed packet for
directions).
The humble bee
Why not try doing
A spot of gardening this spring can bring several your part to save
benefits to the wildlife around you. the bees and set
Britain’s bees are essential for a thriving garden, up a bee garden
but unfortunately they are in decline due to the in your outdoor
destruction of their natural habitat. space?
It would cost farmers billions to pollinate our
crops without bees. Our food would cost a lot Pots on a patio, herbs
more to produce and our economy would suffer. on a windowsill or even
a hanging basket can help bees pollinate.
All flowering plants and herbs, like rosemary, chives
Get a buzz and thyme will attract bees, but they can see the
from entering colour purple most clearly. Growing lots of purple
plants, such as lavender or alliums, will attract more
competitions? bees.
Count the number of bees that appear in this Choose flowers with pollen that bees can get to
magazine and bee in with a chance of winning a
easily. For a larger garden, tubular-shaped flowers
Love2Shop voucher! such as foxgloves, honeysuckle, or snapdragons are
Email your name and answer by 30 June to the favourite feeding places of bumblebees.
voice@sanctuary-housing.co.uk or write to
us at Housing Communications,
Sanctuary Group, Chamber Court,
Castle Street, Worcester,
WR1 3ZQ
Good Luck! 8 Sanctuary Housing Services Limited is a subsidiary of Sanctuary Housing Association, an exempt charity
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