In this newsletter:
Let's Talk Money
How to Pay Your Rent
There are a number of ways you can pay your Housing rent to the Council:
- Pay online here
- Direct Debit – Contact Housing Income to discuss
- Standing Order – Contact Housing Income for an instruction to be sent to you
- Telephone Payments on 0845 835 0144
Housing Income – call 0115 917 3658 or email housingincome@broxtowe.gov.uk
Remember, there are two rent free weeks coming up for the weeks commencing 19th December 2022 and 26th December 2002.
Struggling to Pay Your Rent?
Talk Money Week takes place from 7th - 11th November and is a national event to encourage people to open up about their finances.
We know it can hard to talk about money, even with an increase in the cost of living. However, we are here to offer help and advice. The sooner we are aware you are having difficulties the easier it will be for us to help you.
The Housing Team will be at the Eastwood Job Club on Monday, 14th November 2022 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. Join us at Eastwood Library where you’ll be able to talk to one of Financial Inclusion Officers in confidence for free impartial advice.
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Are You Our Next Neighbourhood Champion?
We’re looking for volunteers to join our growing team of Neighbourhood Champions. Is this the role for you?
We’re looking for Council tenants and leaseholders who want to play an active role in improving their neighbourhoods, to provide much needed support to their neighbours, local area and community. Supported by the Housing team, you can make a real difference to your local area.
You can choose which aspects of the Neighbourhood Champions role to take part in, based on what interests you and how much time you have. Even a little time given can help to make a big difference.
You can:
- Be a good neighbour by helping new tenants settle into the area, or giving advice about how to access Housing services
- Help improve your neighbourhood through joining your Neighbourhood Coordinator on inspections, or through applying for funding through our Housing Community Fund
- Share feedback by encouraging other tenants to get involved with Housing, or by attending our Resident Involvement Group meetings
Visit our Neighbourhood Champions web page for more details, or contact the Housing Engagement team for more a chat about the role: 0115 917 3935 or housingengagement@broxtowe.gov.uk
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Boilers and Cold Weather
It’s getting to the time of year where you’ll be starting to think about switching your boilers on. To ensure your boilers are running efficiently, here are a few tips to help keep you warm during the colder weather.
Most combination boilers and many standard boilers are now installed as pressurised systems. There is no need to worry if your system does become over pressurised. All modern systems are designed with pressure safety values, which will release the excess pressure. You may hear a thumping noise while this is happening, which is nothing to be worried about.
If the pressure drops you can refill the system. Bleeding radiators will always cause the pressure to drop on the boiler. There’s a handy step by step guide in our Repairs Handbook to show you how to re-pressurise your boiler.
You can also find other useful tips in the Handbook for what to do if you have:
- A burst or frozen water pipe
- Radiator problems and how to bleed a radiator
- How night storage heaters work and how to get the best from them
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Poetry Together at Rockwell Court
Tenants recently welcomed students from George Spencer Academy into an Independent Living Scheme in Stapleford for the Poetry Together Campaign to recite their chosen poem at a poetry tea party.
Students had chosen a variety of poems to read together with tenants at Rockwell Court, which were humorous and made everyone laugh as they were read out. One tenant chose a lovely poem about a tea party to read to the students. The students then spent time talking to tenants afterwards over tea and cake.
Over 60 and Interested in Independent Living?
Our Independent Living Schemes have a real neighbourhood feel, so no one ever feels like a stranger. There’s a whole range of social activities you can get involved in. There’s no pressure though, you can participate as much, or as little as you like.
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We see lots of friendships blossom and there are plenty of communal facilities where you can meet up for a tea or coffee, enjoy your hobbies or make the most of the beautiful surroundings of our communal gardens.
There are 22 schemes across the Borough that benefit from communal lounges for tenants to enjoy, with a varied programme of social activities delivered by our Activities Coordinators designed around tenants wishes.
If you’re looking for accommodation that can provide you with your own private facilities, a safe and secure feeling and opportunity to socialise with others, visit our Independent Living web pages to find out more about what the service can offer you, or your family member.
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Independent Living Open Days
We’ve been delighted to see so many residents join us at our Independent Living Open Days to find out more about the service and what it can offer them.
Over 150 residents received advice and support from Housing employees, with Independent Living Coordinators providing tours of the scheme and accommodation. Lettings Officers gave advice on Homesearch applications and available properties.
Whilst, Activities Coordinators showcased social activities available for Independent Living tenants.
One resident told us:
“I’m getting to the stage where I can’t manage the stairs at home, but it’s difficult knowing I need to move. Today has been great to put names to faces of people I talk to on the phone and meeting staff face-to-face has made me feel less anxious about moving to a place like this.”
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We were also joined by partner organisations, providing services for older people who were able to give advice on a variety of health and wellbeing queries. Thank you to everyone that supported these events, including:
- Nottinghamshire Health and Wellbeing Team
- Citizen’s Advice
- The Helpful Bureau
- Inspire Learning
- NHS Digital Inclusion Team
As a result of the Open Days we have been able to let a number of vacant properties for residents looking for the safety and security offered by the accommodation and to help reduce social isolation.
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White Ribbon Day
25th November 2022
Broxtowe Borough Council is a White Ribbon accredited local authority, working to end male violence against women. We’re helping to promote the campaign and encourage professionals and members of the public to:
'Never excuse, commit or remain silent about male violence against women'
We encourage all men to make the White Ribbon promise. By doing so, you’re becoming part of a wider movement to end violence and helping to make a difference to the lives of many people.
The Council has also signed the Chartered Institute of Housing’s pledge to “Make a Stand” and commit to supporting people experiencing domestic abuse. You can find out more about the key areas that the pledge focusses on in our Domestic Abuse web page.
If you or anyone you know is affected by Domestic Abuse, don’t suffer in silence. Click below to find out details of Domestic Abuse Services in Broxtowe.
If you are ever in immediate danger, please call the Police on 999.
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Homesearch and Allocations Contact
If you have any queries about Homesearch or letting of properties, please use the emails below to ensure you query gets to the right team.
For any queries relating to placing bids or banding and application queries, please contact the Homesearch Team at homesearch@broxtowe.gov.uk.
For any queries relating to lettings or allocations of properties, please contact the Housing Allocations Team at HousingAllocations@broxtowe.gov.uk.
Alternatively, you can call the teams on 0115 917 3347.
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Readership Survey
There’s still time to complete our readership survey to let us know what you think about these Housing News bulletins and if there’s anything else you would like to see included in them.
Broxtowe Borough Council tenants and leaseholders responding to the survey will be entered into a prize draw to be in with a chance of winning one of four £10 Love2Shop vouchers.
The survey will close on Wednesday, 30th November 2022.
Complete this short survey to help develop future bulletins and be in the draw.
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Lifelong Learning Week
Lifelong Learning Week takes place from Monday 7th November 2022 to Friday 11th November 2022. This annual week of activity takes place across England, to raise the profile of lifelong learning and celebrate and champion adult learners and adult learning providers.
What better time to consider joining our Well for Work project? Open to all residents of the Borough who are 15+, unemployed and looking for support into employment. Well for Work advisers can help you with:
- Qualifications, including English and Maths
- Sector based training
- CV, application and interview skills
- Confidence building
Also:
- Finding the perfect job for you
- Work programme assistance
- Wellbeing and therapy services
- Housing support, financial advice and travel assistance
For more details about Well for Work visit our website or contact the Housing Income team for a referral to be made:
housingincome@broxtowe.gov.uk
0115 917 3658
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The Housing Team will be at Darren Henrys Job Fair at Kimberly Leisure Centre on Friday 25th November from 10am - 2pm.
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Housing Performance
We are continually looking at ways to improve the service we offer to tenants and leaseholders.
We do this by:
- Setting and reviewing meaningful targets
- Listening to the feedback we receive, learning from complaints and sharing our changes through You Said, We Did
- Addressing poor performance in a proactive way
- Benchmarking our services against similar housing providers
Our Quarter 2 Performance Information is now available on our website.
To address some areas of underperformance an internal restructure has taken place and an ongoing comprehensive review of the Repairs service is being undertaken. Methods of making it easier for tenants to report repairs are being developed, including software which will make it easier for calls to be logged and provide accurate timings and costs.
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Policy Email Group
Tenants, do you have a passion for the written word? Do you have an eye for detail and proof reading? Interested in learning more about Housing services?
We’re looking for tenants to join our newly established Policy Email Group, who are willing to look through policies when we are proposing amendments to them. Specifics will be sent out with each policy on feedback being sought, but it will include as a minimum:
- Views on the policy amendments being proposed
- Language used and ease of understanding
- Accuracy of the contents
The Housing Department has a suite of policies and processes relating to many aspects of services we provide to tenants. These local policies are regularly reviewed and amended to ensure service delivery is in line with any changes made in Government policies and regulation.
Interested?
Email your name and address to the Housing Engagement Team, or, contact the team for further information.
housingengagement@broxtowe.gov.uk or 0115 917 3935
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