Annual Review 2016/17working together, growing stronger

STOP PRESS!FLAIRwelcomesbackFergusliePark HA

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Spokesperson’s Review, our 8thedition!

Welcome to ourFLAIR report for theyear 2016-17. It hasbeen yet anotherbusy year for all of usand we hope fromthis Report you willrecognise the extentof the work that we

are doing together. At this year’s FLAIRconference we were delighted to welcomeback Ferguslie Park Housing Association toFLAIR. The other FLAIR Associationsunanimously voted to have them re-joinFLAIR and I know that the Association isagain playing its full part in the work ofFLAIR.

As the Spokesperson for FLAIR, first ofall, I’d like to say how proud I am to beassociated with FLAIR, despite our smallnumbers we are well known throughout thehousing sector as an example of goodpartnership, collaboration and jointworking. For those of you who don’t knowor, might have forgotten, I thought it wouldbe useful to remind ourselves that theFederation of Local Associations inRenfrewshire is a collection of our six localassociations based in Renfrewshire andEast Renfrewshire. We have beenoperating in partnership for more than 20years with our first formal constitutionagreed 18 years ago in 1999. Over timethe constitution has been amended andupdated twice and I am pleased to say thatall six Associations have recently, taken theopportunity to re-affirm our commitment topartnership working by signing an updatedconstitution.

This means that we continue to:

• Provide a safe forum for our staff and

Board members to share opinions andviews.

• Campaign and lobby on the things thatcollectively matter to us

• Organise joint training and learningopportunities for staff and BoardMembers.

• Participate in joint initiatives and projects

• Benchmark performance and learn fromeach other’s good and not so goodperformance.

• Represent all of us on the wide range ofcouncil and other groups that weparticipate in, including important andinfluential community planning groups.

• And a whole lot more.

It’s never been truer to say that we aremore than the sum of our parts and (unlikeelsewhere in the country), that FLAIRprovides a strong and stable context to ourjoint working.

What have we been up to this lastyear? Obviously we have had our AnnualMeeting last November, where chairs, vicechairs, other Board Members and seniorstaff got together to review progress inrelation to our partnership agreement. Wealso heard from a Renfrewshire Councilcolleague about developments andprogress in relation to the Council’sresponse to the Renfrewshire PovertyCommission, which FLAIR was representedon through Bridgewater HA.

The highlights for me over the last yearhave been;

• As I’ve already mentioned Ferguslie Parkre-joining.

• The results of our joint customersatisfaction survey which showedincredibly positive results for theorganisations taking part – see the resultsin the benchmarking review.

• The continuing success of the IFLAIRFramework Agreement, which we wouldnever have been able to achieve, withouthaving FLAIR first.

• Our work, spearheaded by WilliamsburghHA, to put together a developmentprogramme which takes account of theindividual contexts of each Associationbut brings it together into acomprehensive and attractive,prospectus.

• The internal audit work which we havebeen involved in with Arneil Jonson onidentifying risk.

• The shared policy development.

• And the training programme for staff andBoard Members which is now being runthrough SHARE and where the feedbackhas, so far, been very positive.

These are just some of the highlights –there are many more – and I am sure thereis much joint working, mutual support andsharing which goes on which never comesto the Boards and is just part and parcelnow, of how our organisations work.

And in this context I would like to paytribute particularly to our Directors andChief Executives who support the aims andobjectives of FLAIR in a very practical wayimplementing the partnership agreementand keeping FLAIR alive and vibrant andcontinuously improving things for ourorganisations and our customers.

Despite being around for more than 20years, FLAIR is pretty unique. Althoughthere are other groupings of HousingAssociations across the country, their levelof shared working is no match for ours.The amount of trust between thoseorganisations is not as great as ours andtheir history and experience of workingtogether is not as mature as ours. FLAIR iscommitted to working together for thebenefit of our organisations but moreimportantly our customers. I hope youenjoy reading about the work we havebeen doing in this report both individuallyand collectively as FLAIR. Thank you.

Hugh Cameron, FLAIR Spokesperson,and Chair of Bridgewater HousingAssociation Ltd

Focus on Ferguslie Park HA companies make up “The FerguslieGroup”. Ferguslie has lots of trees andopen spaces, modern houses and two newprimary schools.

However, part of the estate (beingconsidered with residents for demolition bythe Council) tops the list of areas ofmultiple deprivation in Scotland. Thisdoesn’t reflect the experience of everyoneliving in Ferguslie Park but there areindicators of deprivation which are provinghard to shift, especially health andemployment prospects. The FerguslieGroup is working to increase how FPHAand the Centre are used to specificallytarget activities and support to the priorityneeds of the area.

The Management Board of FPHA,along with Board members of the TannahillCentre, recently considered its purposeand its future. It decided that the best wayto meet the needs of its tenants is to

remain anindependentassociation, focusedonly on the needsof Ferguslie Park. The new GroupBusiness Plans include spending £4.2m onhome improvements by 2021. It recognisesit has to be a much improved landlord andemployer, and that it needs to look furtherthan Ferguslie Park for inspiration, goodpractice and friendship. The FerguslieGroup strategy is “Where the Potential ofFerguslie Park is fully Realised” andworking with others in FLAIR is animportant way of achieving it.

It’s good news thatFerguslie ParkHousing Association(FPHA) has re-joinedFLAIR. FLAIR oncemore represents allthe locally basedhousing associationsin Renfrewshire and

East Renfrewshire. It emphasises FLAIR’sauthority as a body that can promote theviews and priorities of local social landlordsand campaign for recognition of ourtenants’ and customers’ needs.

Elaine Carter is the Chairperson atFerguslie Park. She’s lived in the area allbut two years of her life (when she lived inBarrhead) and has been a communityactivist for many years. She’s very pleased,saying “FLAIR is a beacon of good practiceand it makes sense for all the localassociations to be involved. Ferguslie Parkwas one of the founders of FLAIR about 20years ago, so we’re back where webelong”. Elaine wants Ferguslie Boardmembers to make the most of the jointtraining and the networking opportunities inFLAIR, she said “We haven’t workedenough with our important partners for afew years, but that’s over. FLAIR isessential for Board members to widen theirhorizons and learn from each other, as wellas for influencing those we want to workwith like the local authorities and thegovernment.”

We asked Ferguslie staff and Boardmembers what they like about FLAIR andthese are the top items on the list:

• An environment of trust where we canshare and learn from each other.

• Access to like-minded organisations

who share our commitment to ourcommunities as well as to our homes.

• Buying services from each other, e.g.thank you to Linstone HA for helpingwith our review of repairs and propertyservices.

• Opportunities for a bigger local impactby sharing projects with other FLAIRmembers, like employmentopportunities and shared specialist staff.

• IFLAIR, which is great for accessinggood quotes from contractors andparticularly for getting communitybenefits included in contracts.

• Collaboration on things we are allcommitted to such as training for Boardand staff, sharing policies, jointcommissioning of research.

• Benchmarking our services and sharingwhat we do to get the best results forall our customers.

The Housing Association was set up in1988 to help with the regeneration ofFerguslie Park and the housing stockchanged dramatically in the 1990’s withlots of improvement work and demolitionby the Council, plus new build by theHousing Association. The Tannahill Centrewas built as a community centre, and tocontain a shop, pharmacy, library,community nursery, doctor’s surgery, healthclinic and the FPHA. There are now about4,000 people living in about 2,000households in Ferguslie Park. FPHA hasjust over 800 homes for rent, whileRenfrewshire Council has about 500. Thereare also about 600 privately owned and100 private rented homes in the area. TheTannahill Centre became a subsidiarycompany of FPHA in 2006 and the two

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FLAIR Annual conference June 2017Glynhill Hotel Paisley

Organised annually by Paisley HousingAssociation, FLAIR representatives gottogether for our 7th Annual Conference atthe Glynhill Hotel. Following the formalopening of the conference by our FLAIRspokesperson, nearly 60 guests wereupdated on the wider programme for newhousing by Anne-Marie Thompson,Investment Manager from the ScottishGovernment. She provided an update onthe Government’s commitment to deliver50,000 new affordable homes during thisParliament. Anne-Marie confirmed thatwhile approvals for new housing were nowcoming through the programme, there wasstill much to achieve against the target andshe urged local housing associations tospeak with the local authorities to identifynew sites and come forward with aprogramme. She confirmed that fundingwas in place to deliver the programme,with housing subsidy increased last yearand new infrastructure funding in place tohelp progress difficult sites. Her speech

was followed by a ‘question and answer’session which was very helpful.

Following the opening session, thefollowing workshops were available toattend:

• Succession Planning – DavidBookbinder from Glasgow and West ofScotland Forum of HousingAssociations, GWSF, discussed therecently published document whichfocused on the need to plan forreplacement of both Board members

and senior staff. The documentprovided useful examples from thewider housing sector.

• Cyber Security – Grahame Clarkefrom the Scottish Business ResillienceCentre gave a fascinating update onrecent developments in relation tocyber hacking, and provided somesimple steps on how to keep businessrisks to a minimum. He used examplesof where passwords could be hacked inseconds and provided information onwhat businesses should be doing tokeep their computer systems up-to-date, safe and secure. The session wasso successful that FLAIR has agreed tohave Grahame deliver more sessionson this and related topics.

• Wider Community Regeneration –Bryan Dando, communityregeneration officer atBarrhead HA provideddelegates with an update onthe work he’d been doing forBarrhead and WilliamsburghHAs and his backgroundwork with Groundwork Wales.With significant access tofunding, Bryan highlighted arange of projects and

resources available in developing awider FLAIR strategy.

• Employment and Mental Health –Karen Auld, NHS Network service.Karen, being a qualified occupationhealth specialist, provided delegateswith an update on how this localservice provided vocationalrehabilitation and employability inRenfrewshire for people in mentalhealth and addictions recovery services.Cyber Security workshop.

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FLAIR Development Services provided byWilliamsburgh HA

During 2016/17, the FLAIR membersbased in Renfrewshire adopted a jointapproach to promoting developmentactivity. Co-ordinated by WHA, the initialwork has largely involved seekingRenfrewshire Council’s support for FLAIRprojects within the Strategic HousingInvestment Plan. More recently, we haveprocured the services of a consultingengineer, to explore the feasibility of severalpotential FLAIR development projects. Anoverview of some of those schemescurrently under consideration is providedbelow:

Bridgewater HA has an opportunity toacquire the existing Erskine Mains Home,to provide approximately 20 new supportedunits, to replace some of the Association’sexisting stock.

Ferguslie Park HA may have theopportunity to promote a developmentproject, should a Renfrewshire CouncilBoard decision find in their favour.

Linstone HA has reached in principleagreement to acquire land and an existingbuilding from Abbeyfield Paisley. Steps arebeing taken to determine the client group

and residentnumbers to becatered for by thisproject at StationRoad, Paisley.The Association isalso exploringseveral otherdevelopmentopportunities inJohnstone and Linwood, includinga joint project with a private contractorwhich would deliver50 homes foraffordable rent and20 houses for sale.

Williamsburgh HAcontinues to exploreoptions which mayallow the Associationto overcome thedrainage issuescurrently preventing a joint developmentwith Renfrewshire Council at Seedhill Roadprogressing. The Association alsocontinues to pursue its interest in a site inKilbarchan. Although planning consent wasrefused, the Association has submitted an

appeal in respect of this decision andawaits the outcome. The Association haslodged its interest in acquiring a Councilowned site in Renfrew and intends topromote a feasibility study, utilising theFLAIR consultant.

Paisley HA has secured support from theScottish Government for thecomprehensive tenement improvementproject proposed for CauseysideStreet/Orchard Street in Paisley. TheAssociation is also promoting adevelopment to provide supportedaccommodation for 10 persons, togetherwith exploring the possibility of a jointventure in Foxbar. This is intended topromote the regeneration of areas ofvacant land, owned by both theAssociation and Renfrewshire Council.

Barrhead HA’s proposed development inNeilston.

Williamsburgh HA’s proposed Kilbarchan development.

Benchmarking information to 31.03.17How well do we perform?Given our close working relationship, FLAIR members can learn from one another.Nowhere is this better illustrated than in benchmarking, where we share information onperformance and highlight good working practices.

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Category Barrhead Barrhead Bridgewater Bridgewater Ferguslie*

2015/16 2016/17 2015/16 2016/17 2016/17

Total stock 908 934 850 849 799

Total rent due £3,597,063 £3,837,360 £3,935,249 £3,998,731 £3,342,719

Rent increase for the year ahead 2.00% 2.00% 1.50% 2.00% 0.90%

Average weekly rent £80.44 £81.98 £89.05 £90.20 £80.92

Satisfaction with overall service 95.90% 94.00% 88.95% 98.60% 90.60%

Satisfaction with being kept informed 98.60% 99.10% 91.90% 99.70% 99.40%

Satisfaction with opportunities to participate 58.60% 95.70% 69.80% 98.30% 99.70%

Satisfaction with rent as value for money 51.00% 94.30% 61.63% 91.90% 93.30%

Complaints: Stage1 – no/response 80/91.25% 54/85.20% 60/93.30% 37/94.60% 21/66.70%

Stage2 – no/response 6/100% 3/100% 12/91.70% 31/83.90% 12/90.90%

No. of abandonments 7 5 2 1 1

Homes meeting SHQS 98.45% 98.20% 97.40% 97.40% 100%

Homes meeting EESSH 41.40% 50.60% 28.70% 35.20% 76.80%

Emergency repairs 2.45 hours 2.28 hours 2.02 hours 1.74 hours 1.7 hours

Non-emergency repairs 4.46 w/days 4.92 w/days 5.02 w/days 5.13 w/days 5.36 w/days

Repairs completed right first time 89.01% 78.31% 86.30% 87.90% 93.01%

Repair appointments kept 96.50% 90.68% n/a n/a n/a

Valid gas certificate 99.78% 100% 100% 100% 99.40%

Satisfaction with repairs in last 12 months 93.20% 82.30% 92.00% 96.10% 86.10%

Anti-social behaviour cases resolved within local target 94.90% 91.40% 30.80% 57.10% 100%

Gross arrears 3.82% 2.88% 1.60% 1.95% 6.90%

Rent lost due to empty homes 0.26% 0.29% 0.61% 0.75% 0.46%

Time taken to re-let 11.6 days 13.39 days 27.5 days 30.67 days 27.62 days

Days lost to sickness 3.20% 0.97% 5.00% 9.00% 2.13%

Staff turnover 24.00% 20.00% 20.00% 12.90% 15.00%

*The 2015/2016 benchmark figures for Ferguslie Park HA are not available.

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Linstone Linstone Paisley Paisley Williamsburgh Williamsburgh FLAIR Average FLAIR Average

2015/16 2016/17 2015/16 2016/17 2015/16 2016/17 2015/16 2016/17

1579 1580 1204 1176 1623 1621 1233 1160

£6,159,211 £6,264,585 £4,842,997 £5,191,065 £5,710,297 £5,725,807 £4,848,963 £4,728,059

1.50% 1.40% 2.02% 2.50% 0.70% 1.50% 1.54% 1.72%

£72.75 £76.83 £79.31 £80.76 £69.60 £70.34 £78.55 £80.17

85.50% 93.60% 89.80% 93.20% 86.00% 94.20% 89.25% 94.03%

91.30% 100% 94.40% 97.20% 90.30% 99.70% 93.30% 99.20%

70.10% 99.04% 63.50% 90.80% 71.90% 99.70% 66.78% 97.20%

54.94% 97.50% 53.00% 90.20% 76.82% 91.90% 59.48% 93.20%

118/95.76% 85/94.05% 83/100% 86/93.10% 13/81.82% 31/77.40% 71/92.40% 52/85%

13/92.30% 7/100% 11/90.91% 5/100% 15/85.71% 28/78.60% 11/92.10% 14/92%

25 16 17 7 26 22 15 9

76.09% 78.24% 99.75% 99.75% 100% 100% 94.34% 95.60%

80.20% 87.10% 88.70% 91.30% 27.40% 99.90% 53.30% 73.50%

1.37 hours 1.44 hours 1.87 hours 1.94 hours 3.50 hours 1.75 hours 2.24 hours 1.81 hours

4.8 w/days 4.82 w/days 3.67 w/days 3.07 w/days 3.86 w/days 3.11 w/days 4.36 w/days 4.40 w/days

96.12% 98.08% 96.89% 96.10% 92.98% 96.10% 92.26% 91.22%

95.80% 95.08% 98.23% 99.80% 97.60% 98.60% 97.00% 96.10%

99.92% 100% 100% 100% 100% 99.94% 99.94% 99.90%

94.75% 92.80% 78.01% 93.80% 94.34% 95.60% 90.46% 91.10%

92.90% 93.90% 90.41% 92.10% 72.43% 80.80% 76.31% 85.90%

5.13% 4.43% 4.50% 3.58% 6.17% 6.81% 4.24% 4.40%

1.43% 1.09% 0.52% 0.31% 0.91% 0.64% 0.75% 0.59%

32.47 days 25.63 days 15.7 days 12.58 days 28.23 days 24.05 days 23.10 days 22.3 days

5.00% 5.11% 1.39% 2.23% 5.00% 3.74% 3.92% 3.90%

17.00% 20.00% 3.38% 3.16% 5.97% 4.72% 13.40% 12.60%

The second Framework was launched inApril 2016, providing eight housingassociations with the ability to purchaseplanned and cyclical maintenance work. InMarch 2017, Ferguslie Park HousingAssociation was admitted to theFramework as a ninth contracting body.Maintenance staff meet with theFramework Administrator on a regularbasis, to monitor and review itsperformance. Following the first anniversaryof the Framework launch, certainperformance milestones can be reported:

• In year one, there were 25 ordersplaced (call-offs).

• The total value of work called-off was£7.5 million.

• The highest value work called-offinvolved kitchen, window and doorreplacements, together with gasmaintenance and servicing.

• In the first three months of year2, a further £4 million worth oforders has been placedthrough the Framework.

The Framework seeks to delivercommunity benefits. These haveincluded:

• The employment of a graduate quantitysurveyor.

• The employment of previouslyunemployed labourers.

• The appointment of trainees andapprentices.

• Work experience offered to a variety ofstudents.

• SVQ training for call centre staff.

• Temporary employment during summermonths.

• Visits to local schools and colleges forcareer advice.

• Local enterpriseinitiatives toconsult onopportunities for

involvement insupply chain.

• Local communityvolunteering.

• Refurbishment of planted areas andlitter picking.

From feedback provided, it seems clearthat the I-FLAIR Framework continues toprovide an attractive option, due to thespeed and ease by which maintenancecontracts can be put in place.

IFLAIR Property MaintenanceProcurement Framework 2016 – 2020

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Paisley environmental works.

Annual servicing of gas boiler.

Kitchen upgrades.

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Community Regeneration Projects across FLAIR

Barrhead HA projects include:Creative Pathways for young peopleaged 16 to 19 years – In 2014 BarrheadHousing Association (and partners ImpactArts/West College Scotland/EastRenfrewshire Council) secured People andCommunities investment to deliver‘Creative Pathways’, a 12-18 weekcertificated employability programme whichincreased confidence, self-esteem and re-engage young people into the routines ofattendance, team work, learning andcreative problem solving. This programmeis now in its fourth year.

Welfare Rights and Energy AdviceService – In 2014, Barrhead HousingAssociation established a Welfare Rightsand Energy Advice Service with grantinvestment from The Big Lottery. Thisservice (now financed wholly by theAssociation through income-generatingactivities) employs a Welfare Rights Officerand a part-time Energy Advisor. Over thelast two years, our welfare rights servicehas worked with 526 tenants achievingfinancial gains of £461,926. Of this total,£101,910 relates to housing benefit gainslike HB underpaid, HB backdates, HB writeoffs, and discretionary housing benefit.

Craft Café – This project delivered inpartnership with members of theFederation of Local Housing Associationsin Renfrewshire (FLAIR) and Impact Arts(with the support of grant investment fromthe People and Communities Fund)provides activities to sheltered housingtenants and wider community. The Cafémeets weekly in the Barrhead HousingAssociation’s Main Street ShelteredHousing Complex, and across Linstone’ssheltered developments in Linwood andJohnstone. The Craft Café model has beenselected by the Scottish Parliament as abest practice example of engaging witholder people within the community, as ameans of tackling isolation and lonelinessand increasing social inclusion.

Gardening on the Main Street(Barrhead, Main Street ShelteredHousing Complex) – With the support ofan environmental grant from GreggsFoundation, this project aimed to transforman existing outdoor area within the MainStreet Sheltered Housing Complex inBarrhead into an accessible communalgarden and social space for up to 33 olderpeople aged 60 years and over.

Auchenback’s Climate Challenge(Auchenback Active) – Barrhead HousingAssociation has also supported the deliveryof Auchenback Active’s Climate ChallengeFund project which aims to support thecommunity of Auchenback to take actionto reduce the impact of climate change bydelivering a programme of practicalactivities designed to inform, engage, buildknowledge and skills of local people onissues relating to home energy, foodconsumption and waste.

Barrhead Buzz (Pulse CommunityRadio) – Lead by Pulse Community Radio,this project aims to bring together a crosssectoral partnership of Public and ThirdSector service providers and communitygroups from across Barrhead, to deliver asix month long ‘promotional campaign’ ofthematic events and activities centredaround a dedicated schedule of PulseRadio broadcasts. These broadcasts(involving Vox Pop interviews, topical newsfeatures, infomercials and podcasts) will bedesigned raise local awareness, andpromote the different ways in which thecommunity of Barrhead, East Renfrewshireis tackling issues relating to welfare reformand inequality.

Dunter-stay – this proposed project willwork exclusively with tenants in theDunterlie area to provide them with realwork experience to sustain their tenancies,practical assistance with painting anddecorating, equipping their home, andmaintaining their gardens. We will get thisproject up and running during 2017.

Employed by BarrheadHousing Association,Bryan Dando is nowproviding communityregeneration services for

both Barrhead and Williamsburgh HA.Below is a brief summary of theprojects that have been progressed inthe last year or so. With recentsuccesses in funding coming forwardfrom the Climate Challenge Fund andthe Aspiring Communities Fund, lotsmore will be possible over 2017 andbeyond. Both organisations are nowdeveloping their CommunityRegeneration Strategy followingextensive, wider consultation. Craft Café.

Creative Pathway trainees.

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Community Regeneration Projectsacross FLAIR...continued Energy Efficiency Award for Linstone!

Tenant satisfaction in the area of providingopportunities to participate has increasedto 91% in 2016 and Paisley HA believethere has been much to celebrate.As well as holding regular eventssuch as our Annual Festival, Pantoouting and the Children’sChristmas Party (pictured) we

have carried out Mystery Shopping andcompleted our first Tenant Scrutiny.

The Association’s Tenant ParticipationWorking Group, which was established in

2012, works hard giving theirviews on policies which arebeing reviewed, the annual rentand service charge consultationand in producing the tenant’sannual report on the charter.

Moving forward with tenantparticipation and scrutiny theAssociation is now introducing

tenant liaison members for its services,testing our new app and going digital withlocal “Tea & Tablet“ events (pictured).

Linstone Health & Housing HubThe Linstone Health & Housing Hub is partof Community Connectors offering housingadvice and assistance to anyone inLinwood or Johnstone –and has securedanother year of funding through the Healthand Social Care Partnership.

Community Connectors is a third sectorpartnership along with RAMH and ActiveCommunities and has been set up with anaim to take pressure off GPs by usingsocial prescribing to improve people’shealth, housing and physical activity. Youcan find the annual report aboutCommunity Connectors on our website atwww.linstone.co.uk.

Both physical and mental health can beaffected by poor housing or housing thatno longer meets the needs of thehousehold. The Housing Hub providesfrontline housing information and adviceand is delivered by Linstone Housing. It isopen to anyone in Linwood or Johnstonewho has a housing issue.

We have practically supported peopleto complete application forms as well asoffering advice on different housing matterssuch as mobility issues, private lets andneighbourhood issues. Further informationis available from Laura Kerr atlkerr@linstone.co.uk

Linstone Housing was named theRegional Housing Association of the Yearin the Energy Efficiency & Healthy HomesAwards 2017. The Association has beenrecognised for taking numerous stepswhich improve and support the localcommunity. Linstone secured funding forone of Scotland’s largest home efficiencyprogrammes. The Linstone communitybenefited from a wide range ofinvestments in both tenants’ and owners’homes.

With 327 properties improved during2016, Linstone has invested £2.7 millionin energy saving External Wall Insulation,resulting in an estimated amount ofenergy saved of 11,297 tonnes of CO2.For the three year programme the costsfor the project were £12million.

Scottish Housing Quality Standards(SHQS) and Energy Efficiency Standardsfor Social Housing (EESSH) come intoforce from 2015 and 2020. LinstoneHousing is proud to have achieved 76.1%and over 80% compliance for SHQS andEESSH respectively. Homes must beenergy efficient (SHQS); and 42% carbonemission reduction target by 2020

(EESSH) and 80% carbon emissionreduction target by 2050.

The Energy Efficiency measuresintroduced by the Government followingthe Energy Act 2013, included the EnergyCompany Obligations (ECO) Scheme, theGreen Deal Finance Initiative, and theRenewable Heat Incentive (RHI). Thesemeasures together help homeownersreduce their energy bills, tackle fuelpoverty and reduce carbon emissions.

The Energy Efficiency & HealthyHomes Award is to promote the excellentwork the Energy Efficiency sector is doingin implementing energy efficiencyschemes and to help encourage bestpractice within the energy industry, as itworks to improve UK housing stock.

Paisley Tenants Are Doing It for Themselves

Winners!

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Connect4Renfrewshire project

C4R stats – since December 2013

Overall LHA household referrals 610

Financial gain energy £89,853

Financial gain financial literacy £32,576

Advice works debt managed/financial gain £25,095

Furniture vouchers issued £14,298

Welfare Rights figures year 16/17

Actual gains £97,029

Predicted gains £192,711

Linstone manages this innovative projectwhich provides energy, money and debtadvice to households acrossRenfrewshire, as well as a range ofpractical measures.Connect4Renfrewshire works alongsideother partner to access services for ourresidents, including the provision of costfree energy efficiency measures such asdraught proofing and LED light bulbsthrough the LEAP “Make it Happen”Scheme.

One Linstone resident said “Theworkers that have been in have beenfriendly and able to come at times thatsuited us. We have never been in debt(with utilities) and it’s very stressful whichmakes our health worse. It has made a

big difference having the right people in tohelp us sort the mess out.”

Contact Linstone’s Housing Team andask about Connect4Renfrewshire.Linstone staff can help you to heat yourhome more effectively and for less, helpyou access an affordable loan* and canhelp take the stress out of money anddebt concerns!

Paisley HA hasrecognised thatquality of outsidespace is just asimportant toresidents as theinside of theirhome. Over the

next 10 years PHA has committed £3million to improving the local environment:improving fencing, bin stores, parking,landscaping and green areas. We have alsointroduced our “Green Goddess” service to

help people with growing their own food orto have beautiful gardens. All this is helpedby over £200,000 (so far) of grants fromScottish Government.

Our first area was Green in Glenburnand we have moved on to Thomson Brae.

Tenants think the improvements arewonderful and give the areas a whole newlease of life. Thomson Brae is so enthusedthey have formed a local group to keep thestandard as high as it is just now. We lookforward to tackling our other areas in thefuture.

Paisley HA – environmental strategyWilliamsburgh HA’s projects willfocus onNeighbourhood development –addressing neglected areas and creatingvolunteering opportunities.

Tenancy support – focussing on tenancysustainment and promoting the supportavailable from partner organisations.

Employment, training and workexperience – raising awareness ofopportunities created through ourprocurement framework and employmentthrough the delivery of new services.

Estate management – regular inspectionsand the delivery of new services includingbulk uplift and bin management.

Energy Action Scotland – During theyear, 118 tenants were referred to the fuelpoverty project. 45 households receivedfitted carpeting to a main room in theirhome and all received energy advice,resulting in an average household savingon utilities of £247 per year.

Climate Challenge Fund – In March2017, the Association was notified that theapplication to establish the Seedhill UrbanGrowing and Regeneration Project hadbeen successful. We will establish anetwork of community growing spaces,and a programme of recycling, reusing andupcycling activities.

Social Economy Growth Fund – TheAssociation has submitted an application todeliver a new work/life service. Ifsuccessful, the project will deliver supportdesigned to empower over 200 people to:

• Identify positive work/life goals androutes to better paid employment.

• Improve their skills and abilities throughlearning, training, volunteering and workshadowing.

• Build confidence, personal resilienceand provide opportunities to sharework/life solutions to support andinspire others.

60-70 Main Street, Barrhead, East Renfrewshire G78 1SBT: 0141 881 0638E: enquiries@barrheadha.orgW: www.barrheadha.orgCharity No: SC036265

flair = community regeneration • community work • partnership • employability

1st Floor, Bridgewater ShoppingCentre, Erskine PA8 7AAT: 0141 812 2237E: enquiries@bridgewaterha.org.ukW: www.bridgewaterha.org.ukCharity No. SC035819

17 Bridge Street, Linwood,Paisley PA3 3DBT: 01505 382383E: general@linstone.co.ukW: www.linstone.co.ukCharity No. SC027454

64 Espedair Street,Paisley PA2 6RWT: 0141 889 7105E: admin@psha.org.ukW: www.psha.org.ukCharity No: SC035589

Tannahill Centre, 76 BlackstounRoad, Paisley PA3 1NTT: 0141 887 4053E: admin@fpha.org.ukW: www.fpha.org.ukCharity No: SC034893

Ralston House, Cyril Street, Paisley PA1 1RWT: 0141 887 8613E: admin@williamsburghha.co.ukW: www.williamsburghha.co.ukCharity No: SC035350

If you would like to find out moredetails or information on FLAIRplease contact:Barrhead Housing Association60-70 Main Street, Barrhead, East Renfrewshire G78 1SBT: 0141 881 0638E: enquiries@barrheadha.org D

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