Hello!
We hope you are keeping safe and well and enjoying the summer. You can listen to this email by clicking here.
Inside this email:
• Vote YES to BITMO!
• Belle Isle Gala success
• Need help from Adult Social Care?
• Unblocking your sink or bath
• 3 more weeks of play at BITMO
• Broom Gala this Saturday
• Green bin your glass
• Say No to Hate Crime
• Compassionate City Awards 2024
You will get a vote in September to decide if you want BITMO to keep managing the estate or for control to go back to Leeds City Council. This happens once every five years.
Belle Isle is controlled by tenants, not Leeds Council, and we believe that grassroots control produces better services for local people, because the people who live here can say what they want to be in place, what standard of service they want, and we are free to make that happen. For example, we have a team of caretakers who can respond quickly to issues that you raise, and we have BITMO’s GATE and all the support and activities that it offers. These aren’t things that the Council provides, so if these are things you value, we would really appreciate you voting YES for BITMO in September.
10 Reasons why a YES vote will be better for Belle Isle
- Because we are tenant controlled, we put tenants first!
- Your local office is here for you 5 days a week, with staff who you know.
- The estate is run by people who live here, and are committed to the community
- BITMO caretakers look after the estate and do minor repairs for you. This means the service is reactive to where our tenants need them most and better value for money.
- Our Financial Inclusion Officers put £347,000 into the pockets of Belle Isle residents in the last year
- We provide FREE activities for families in EVERY school holiday
- Our Tenancy Support Team work with individuals and families who are struggling to thrive, to build resilience and coping skills
- We provide FREE help with maths and English for school children
- Our Community Kitchen provides FREE food three times a week and is a social hub
- Our Community Fund helps BITMO tenants to buy the household essentials they can’t manage without
The Belle Isle Gala was a big success. Thanks to everyone who helped, sponsored or just came along and enjoyed it. Save this date for next year - the Belle Isle Gala will be back at Windmill School and Coopers Field on Saturday 5 July 2025.
Adult social care is also known as social services. They help adults who need support to live well. It can be long term or just until they are doing better. Their aim is to always support people to be as independent as possible and keep living safely in their homes. They can recommend adaptions to your home or arrange for meals on wheels. You can tell them about anyone you think who might need support, like an elderly neighbour or if you think someone is being neglected, abused or exploited.
Adult Social Care are offering a session at BITMO on Thursday 29 August where they can meet you in an informal setting, explain what adult social care do and signpost to appropriate support. To book an appointment call 0113 222 4401 – ask for “Middleton Park Talking Point” and request a call back to discuss further and arrange an appointment.
Due to high demand on our repairs service, it can often take a few days for our caretakers to come and deal with blockages. Sometimes you can remove these blockages yourself with a plunger straightaway, without having to ring up or wait in for a caretaker. Plungers are low cost, and you can buy them in many shops.
To try and remove a blockage, put a wet cloth over the plughole. Then place the bottom of the plunger around the plughole. Then firmly, but not forcefully, pump the plunger up and down to create suction. This should dislodge the water and any solids trapped in the pipe. You can find videos online showing you how to do this. If you can’t unblock your sink or bath yourself, report the repair to us.
We are half way through the summer holidays – so there are still three more busy weeks of free food and activities at BITMO. Next week sees the playbox coming to Belle Isle. It’s a half shipping container filled with games. We will have two playworkers ready to work with parents and children to make the BITMO carpark a fun and imaginative play space. See the programme below.
  Please note the Summer Holiday Festival Finale is on THURSDAY 29 August
Broom Gala this Saturday
Live in or near the Brooms? It’s the Broom Gala tomorrow – Saturday 10 August 12-4pm behind the shops on Broom Place. There will be burgers and hot dogs, a bouncy castle and live music.
BITMO has put up three more community noticeboards. There's one by the shops on Town Street, one opposite the sorting office (which was supported by Leeds Federated Housing Association) and one on Newhall Road, in partnership with Manorfield Hall. These are in addition to the four existing noticeboards on Broom Place, Windmill Parade, Belle Isle Parade and Windmill Road/Belle Isle Road.
You can now put glass bottles and jars in your green bins for the first time. Read more here.
What is Hate Crime?
A Hate Crime is any criminal offence that is motivated by hostility and prejudice towards a person’s identity or perceived identity. The following are the five nationally monitored strands:
- Disability
- Race
- Religion/Faith
- Sexual Orientation
- Transgender Identity
Anyone can be affected by Hate Crime. You don’t have to be a member of the group to which the hostility is targeted at.
You don’t have to be gay to have had homophobic abuse shouted at you.
You may not be part of a religion and still have someone target you because they think you are.
Some police forces also record hate incidents based on other personal characteristics such as age or alternative subculture. Alternative subcultures include Goths, Emos, Punks, and other similar groups.
Stop Hate UK monitors beyond the five strands covered by Hate Crime legislation, this includes Gender-based violence, Alternative Subcultures, even Hate against characteristics such as weight and hair colour.
Hate should never be tolerated. Everyone has the right to be themselves. Stop Hate UK is here to support, listen and tackle Hate in all forms. You can contact them directly and report Hate Crimes directly on their website.
The Compassionate City Awards recognise the outstanding individuals and organisations who make a difference to their communities. They celebrate diversity, showcasing the best that Leeds has to offer, highlighting those who go above and beyond to help make Leeds a special place to live and work. With nine award categories, take part in something special by nominating someone now
Keep up-to-date with BITMO services and local news by visiting the BITMO Facebook Page and the BITMO website.
Belle Isle TMO works in partnership with Leeds City Council to serve the residents of Belle Isle estate.
Belle Isle Tenant Management Organisation Limited Registered under the Co-operative and Communities Benefit Societies Act No.29817R. Registered Office: Aberfield Gate, Belle Isle, Leeds, LS10 3QH
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