Housing Newsletter - January 2024

Welcome to the January Better Homes, Better Lives newsletter and a Happy New Year to all.

In this edition, you can find out about our new Neighbourhood Reviews which will help us help you with community and neighbourhood improvements. We have information about safety in the home, including our annual safety tests, out and about information about recent safety courses for residents and advice about the alarm call system in our sheltered housing for our older residents.

Remember, information about Wiltshire Council's cost-of-living support, including energy cost advice, housing advice and financial support, can be found at www.wiltshire.gov.uk/cost-of-living and these pages will be updated regularly.

Win a prize hamper donated by Tesco in our monthly prize draw!

This month our newsletter readers have a chance to win a prize hamper sponsored by Tesco.

For your chance to win simply email Tenantparticipation@wiltshire.gov.uk (opens new window) with your name and address before the closing date of Friday 12 January 2024 and you will be entered into the draw. Your entry email must include your name and address for it to be valid and go into the draw. Please do not simply send a blank email.

Our December winners included two large prize hampers for the newsletter competition and also a raffle for four prize hampers across our sheltered housing schemes. Residents attending events such as community drop ins, scheme meetings and other engagement events, were entered into a prize raffle and our winners included Beryl and Pat from Salisbury, Jerry from Amesbury and Ruby from Tisbury.

Congratulations to all our winners!

Better Homes

Keeping you and your home safe with regular safety checks and inspections

The well-being and safety of our tenants is our top priority. We carry out a number of safety checks to your property to keep you safe and comply with the law.
We partner with a number of different contractors to ensure not only the safety of individuals and families but also contribute to the overall quality and standard of your home. These safety checks, include:

• annual gas safety check
• five yearly electrical test and check
• annual safety check for solid-fuel, oil / LPG heating or Air Source
• asbestos surveys
• annual Fire Risk assessments in all communal areas of our properties, including fire door checks
• legionella water testing

Why we do this:

1. to keep you safe in your home
2. to enable early detection of any potential issues
3. ensure appliances in your home are efficient and consume the least amount of energy possible - helping you keep your bills lower wherever possible
4. it's the law!

Wiltshire Council Housing or our partner contractors will contact you to make a convenient appointment for any of these safety aspects. It is important that you allow access so that we can keep you safe and keep within the law. Regular safety inspections and testing helps us identify any potential hazards and provide prompt remediation.  Your safety is our top priority.

Sheltered scheme residents asked to keep your alarm call pendant close

Our sheltered housing features an alarm call system, covering each property and the communal areas and grounds around the buildings.

As part of this system all residents are issued with a wearable alarm call, referred to as a pendant, which can be worn around the neck or wrist, which will summon aid in an emergency.

Recently, some residents have had incidents or falls within the scheme and have not been carrying their alarm call button. In many cases it is only due to the alertness and intervention of their neighbours that help was summoned quickly.

We ask that, if issued with one, residents please carry their alarm call buttons at all times within the scheme grounds for their safety. If you have lost your alarm call or it is broken, please contact Housing Repairs immediately to have a new one issued.

Better Neighbourhoods

Neighbourhood Reviews - making a difference to your community

In 2024 we will be replacing our monthly estate inspections with Neighbourhood Reviews. All of the dates and locations for the reviews in 2024 can be found on our web page Resident involvement.

The reviews will:

• allow us to monitor the appearance and upkeep of our neighbourhoods
• give residents and staff the opportunity to work together to make your neighbourhood a better place to live
• give residents a greater opportunity to make a real difference by letting us know about issues affecting your neighbourhood

All issues identified will be publicised on our website and updated regularly so you can follow the progress of any works.

If you would like to join a Neighbourhood Review please contact us Tenantparticipation@wiltshire.gov.uk (opens new window) We are keen to listen and act upon local knowledge and would be delighted to meet you. Together we can make a difference.

Keep Safe course for residents of Salisbury

The Resident Engagement team was pleased to offer Salisbury residents the chance to take part in a 'Keep Safe' course funded by Soroptimists Salisbury and delivered by Georgina an expert in the field. The group learnt how to protect themselves from unwanted attention and learnt skills to ensure they felt confident in all environments including, having to walk in dimly lit areas. Salisbury's City Council's Community Develop team was able to provide the community centre, working together we were able to provide a free course for up to 16 people.

If your local community would be interested in similar courses, then get in touch with us via the iHousing Portal or email Tenantparticipation@wiltshire.gov.uk (opens new window).

Better Lives

Panto fun for families thanks to Wiltshire Creative

Families were able to enjoy Panto fun in Salisbury this year thanks to the generosity of Wiltshire Creative who provided free tickets for housing families. Our Tenancy Sustainment service was able to help spread the word and the Resident Engagement Team distributed tickets to families for two performances at Salisbury Playhouse.

Thank you Wiltshire Creative! You can find out more about their work at Wiltshire Creative (opens new window).

Lanfear Residents organise a Christmas afternoon tea

Residents at Lanfear Close, Amesbury got together to organise a trip to Hillier Garden Centre with help from the Resident Engagement Team.

Denise told us Several residents from Lanfear Close enjoyed an afternoon out with Caz.  We had afternoon tea at Hilliers Garden Centre which was delicious. We also got a lot of shopping done! Special thanks go to Caz for organising this lovely trip for us.

Christmas jumper day at Needham House

Tenants and staff at Needham House, Devizes joined in the fun for Christmas Jumper Day in December supporting Save the Children.

Every December, millions of people across the United Kingdom (and beyond!) put on a festive knit at their workplace, school or with friends and make a donation to help give children the magical future they deserve. Residents and staff at Needham House took part to raise money for this worthy cause.