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Autumn edition

Plus Dane Group residents’ magazine Issue Ten Autumn 2011

www.neighbourhoodinvestor.com

Christmas

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helloWelcome to the Autumn edition of UNiTY.

With winter fast approaching, this is an important time of year for us in delivering one of our seven promises - supporting vulnerable people. That’s why we are once again delivering our Beat the Chill campaign to ensure that anyone who needs support during the cold winter months gets the help and advice they need.

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We hope that as you read the

pages of this magazine,we will show you the

many ways in which weare delivering our seven promises.

Plus Dane Cheshire - tenantboard member vacancyPlus Dane Group works as a neighbourhoodinvestor (Ni). We spend less on running ourbusiness and more on our homes and theneighbourhoods we work in. Our belief is that only a radical shift in the use of our resources will improve quality of life, choice and opportunity in some areas of society. We trade commercially to generate income, provide jobs and direct wealth into neighbourhoods.

We have a vacancy on the Plus Dane CheshireBoard for a tenant board member. Plus DaneCheshire is a subsidiary of the Plus Dane Groupand as such its Board members have an importantrole in ensuring the strategic direction of the Groupis fully supported through its work in Cheshire.

The tenant board member role is vital inensuring that the strategic decisions of theBoard fully reflect tenant views as well asmonitoring the day to day performance of theorganisation.

If you are passionate about creating and sustainingvibrant places to live and feel that you couldpositively contribute to delivering our Ni mission inCheshire please contact Alison Carey, CompanySecretary on 0151 708 4664 or by email [email protected] applicants will undergo an informalinterview process prior to appointment to the Board.

THE CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS IS WEDNESDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2011.

Christmas

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Competition winnerscapture the beauty ofNORTH LIVERPOOL

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Keen snappers from across Liverpool were invited to take part in aphotography competition over thesummer to capture images thatshowed the beauty of North Liverpool,in all its forms and from any angle!

The competition was part of theBeautiful North partnership’s Show Your Beautiful Face campaign,which aims to promote everything that’s positive and beautiful about North Liverpool communities.

The jubilant grand prize winner, selected from over 150 entrants, was Terry Bouch for his majestic shot ‘The Venice of North Liverpool’a photograph depicting the beauty of the Leeds to Liverpool canal.

Winner in the People category was Richard Morrison with his candidimage of a North Liverpool boy ‘Commissioned Portrait?’, and winnerof the Place category was Adam Atkins with his humorous take onfootball punditry ‘Liverpool 2, Everton 3’.

Crossing the Tiber Young people have been breathing new lifeinto their Liverpool neighbourhood.

The Tiber Youth Enterprise Project has renovatedunused space in Lodge Lane, Toxteth, andbrought local people together to give the area asmart new look with a series of community prideand clean-up events.

The group, aged between 13-18 years old, raisedalmost £20,000 to start up a business renting outoffice and meeting spaces to local businessesand community groups.

Florence Watson, at 18 the oldest member of the Tiber Group, says: “Our idea is to ask peoplearound the area to work with us to really improveLodge Lane and to show that we are proud ofwhere we live.

“Hopefully our Loving Lodge Lane campaign will bring people together from across allcommunities to help make the place look evenbetter than it is already.”

The project has been supported by a range oforganisations including Plus Dane.


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The winners were presented their prizes at acelebratory exhibition launch and prize givingceremony at Café Sports Express in LiverpoolOne by competition judges Mark McNulty, aninternal photographer and filmmaker, DonnaWilliamson, a North Liverpool resident andcommunity cultural champion, and worldrenowned photographer, musician and authorMike McCartney.

Mike McCartney said, “I'masked to judge quite a fewphotography competitionsand the standard in theShow Your Beautiful Facecompetition was really high, the ideas and execution were excellent.

“It really was a difficult task,especially when you knowthere’s always a winner and a

loser - but that’s thenature of competition.The most importantthing is the fact thatpeople entered!”

The event marked theofficial launch of theShow Your Beautiful Face exhibition whichcomprised of 27 shortlisted photos including the three winners,which were on show in Liverpool One during October.


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Tenants in Cheshire enjoyed their annual gettogether by sharing money-saving tips.

Great Dane Day

One of Macclesfield’s iconic buildings has beentransformed into much-needed affordable homes.

Great timingSome 36 apartments areavailable for local people at the Clock Tower, a Grade II listed building, on the site of the former Macclesfieldhospital.

Plus Dane has beenworking with Cheshire East Council, the Homes

and Communities Agencyand Keyworker Homes, to deliver the mix of one,two and three bedroomapartments, as part of a£30m development in thearea which has broughtmore than 200 jobs to thetown.


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Exhibition & Gala Night for the East African Drought Appeal

For more details visit www.merseysideblackhistory.co.uk

Plus Dane hosted a day of fun to celebrate Black History Month during October.

The event, which took place at the Frontline Centre on thecorner of Lawrence/Wellington Roads in Liverpool, wassplit into two parts - a daytime session of activities andentertainment for all the family to enjoy and a gala dinnerand shows in the evening.

Proceeds from the event went to the African droughtappeal.

Black History Month features a wide selection of eventsand is promoted, supported and encouraged by manyindividuals and groups across Merseyside.

A Cultural Food Festival also took place at the Palm House in Liverpool’s Sefton Park, while the annual BlackAchievers awards celebrated some of the outstandingachievements of the Merseysde black community andthose that are making a real difference.

Last year saw record numbers attained by these twoevents and this year was just as successful.


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Hundreds of people came out to cheer on the competitors in a raftrace across Astbury Mere in Congleton.

Teams battled against the clock to build a raftand sail it across the lake as the main event in a day of fun for local people organised by Plus Dane’s Youth Forum.

Members of the forum decided to put this eventon as a way of building their confidence andskills, adding to their CVs and gaining a sense of achievement.

The race was won by a team of five, including Chloe and Marnie Reanneyand Danny and CallumDoughty, all from Merseyside,with Congleton 11-year-oldStanley.

Youth make a splash

More than 100 “old timers” enjoyed a taste of the Wild West at a party in Alsager.

Emma Sneyd and Mary Collins

How the west was funThe hog-roast and hoedown,which was thrown by HomeFarm Social Club, saw olderpeople from across CheshireEast come to Dennis RoundCourt, which had beentransformed for the occasion.

Entertainment at the countryand western themed eventincluded musical bingo and a performance from singerDerek Harrison.

The day was aimed at givingpeople who, because of age

or health problems, are indanger of becoming isolated.Free transport was providedso as many local tenants aspossible could enjoy the day.

John Kane, who lives nearDennis Round Court and isthe Chair of the socialcommittee said: “The foodand entertainment wereexcellent and everyone really enjoyed themselves.”


Robert Lymer, Paul West and Frank Goben of Alsager asked for permission to take over themaintenance of three gardenswhich were in need of TLC. Theyhave turned two of them intoattractive vegetable plots and are working on making the third apatio area.

The trio, who are hoping to accesscash from our neighbourhood

fund for further work, are also intalks with a neighbour abouttaking over her garden, said:

“This is an example of whattenants can do to improve theirneighbourhoods, working withPlus Dane to get good results.

“We hope other people follow this example.”

growing interest

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Tenants in Cheshire have been involved in a green-fingered competition.

As part of ‘Streets Alive’ project, which saw scores of hanging baskets,plants and seeds given out free in theneighbourhoods, tenants were offeredthe chance to show off their gardening skills.

The best-kept basket competition waswon by a Margaret Wooton ofSandbach, who received a minigreenhouse as a prize, and DavidStanworth of Congleton.

A children’s competition to grow thetallest sunflower was won by Elizabeth and Lucy Johnson of Congleton, whose plant was measured at 130cm.

The pair won a mini-gardening set for their efforts.

GREEN FINGERS BloomingGreatResidents at a care home in Ellesmere Port are busy working on a new garden created for their enjoyment.

The 18 residents at Dover Drive, a care home foradults with autism and learning difficulties, aregrowing flowers and vegetables on the new plots.

The interiors of the home were recently given asmart new look.

Contractors Seddon Property Services were sopleased with the welcome from staff and residentsthey gave £600 to create a garden and donated thetime of two of their workers - Wayne Simpson andMark Kalvans - to do the spade work. Plus Danedonated seeds and other essentials.Elizabeth and Lucy Johnson

Neil Sheen (service supervisor) and Dover Drive resident Christopher Browncutting the tape to officially open the garden

Three friends have been showing just what tenants can do toimprove their neighbourhoods.


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Pride in our homesTenants and staff from Merseyside’s leading housing associationsjoined forces to take pride in Liverpool’s diversity.

Scores of people took part in the Liverpool Pride event under a‘Homes for Everyone’ banner, reaffirming the commitment to ensuringlesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender people have full access tohousing services and can live in their communities without fear.

Thousands of local peoplecame together for thisyear’s Party in the Park inRuncorn’s Phoenix Park,Castlefields, which sawresidents of all ages enjoya variety of activities, fromskateboarding to Orbingand football to falconry.

The event, which wasorganised jointly by HaltonBorough Council, PlusDane Group, LHT andothers, also gave localpeople the chance to findout more about the partsthese organisations haveplayed in the multi-millionpound regeneration of thearea, which is due toreach a climax with theopening of the new villagesquare in the new year.

Party in the Park


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Dozens of Congleton families enjoyed a picnic lunch onthe banks of Astbury Mere in Congleton.

The day was organised in support of National Play Day, a campaign that aims to promote the positive benefits that play has in children’s lives.

Cara Booth with her medal

Libby and Cara Booth having fun doing crafts

Connor Gillett, Jake Corrigan, Bradley Jones andIsaac Harvey take part in a “space hopper race”

Family funACROSS7 Neighbourhood 8Princess 9Keen 10Malaise 12Panda 14Chin16Denmark 19Pest 20Investor 22Silver jubilee

DOWN1 Bear 2Agenda 3Obverse 4Fussy 5Chukka 6Toreador 11Athletic13Nervous 15Native 17Muslin 18Tiara 21Oven

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UNITY CROSSWORD ANSWERS

UNITY SUDOKU SOLUTION

Check your freezers

CA 5411 FFS/FFW/FFX CA 7014 FFX CA 7015 FFW/FFS/FFX CDA 539 FS/FW/FX CDA 543 FS/FW/FX CDA 645 FW CDA 647 FS/FW CDA 648 FS/FW CDA 653 FS/FW/FX

CDA 659 FS CDA 751 FS/FX CDA 752 FS/FW/FX CS 460 FF/FFS/FFW/FFSD CS 461 FFW/FFS CSA 4706 FFX CSB 4606 FFSD/FFS/FFW

BEKO have recently published that a small number of incidents have occurreddue the defrost timer on certain BEKO frost free refrigeration units which can failand overheat. The BEKO frost free freezer models affected were manufacturedbetween January 2000 and October 2006 and have a serial number beginningwith either 00, 01, 02, 03, 04, 05 or 06 this information can be found on a labelinside the fridge.

The affected model numbers are:

BEKO will modify the defrost timer free of charge and will takeapproximately 30 minutes to carry out.

If your model is affected or is not working properly/faulty pleaseunplug and contact BEKO immediately on 0800 0094837. You can also check your appliance details athttps://refsafety.beko.co.uk/Home/Intro

Competition

AnswersHere are the competitionanswers from the backpage – no peeking for thoseof you who haven’t had a go!


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This is the fourth year Plus Dane has run the campaign andbuilding on the success of previous years, staff will be visitingaround 600 of our most vulnerable tenants to ensure they areprepared for the winter months.

As part of the visit staff willbe asking questions aboutcontrolling the heatingtemperature in your homeor if you would like amember of staff to contactyou about getting a betterdeal with your energysupplier. Staff will also be bringing a small gift for those customers thatare visited.

Experts say many elderlyand other vulnerable people

struggle to cope in the winter but by making some simplechoices, the risks they face can be massively reduced.

By shopping around for the best energy tariff you can saveyourself a lot of money on fuel bills. There may also bebenefits you can claim to help you through the winter, but the best advice is to eat healthily, have lots of hot drinks, keepthe temperature in your home to around 21 degrees, set yourheating to turn on before you normally wake up, wear warmclothes - plenty of layers is best - and stay active, movingaround at least once an hour.

If you are over 65, it is advisable to get a flu vaccination, whichis available free of charge from your local GP surgery.

We will also be holding events during the winter months aspart of our ongoing programme where staff will be on hand to answer any queries or deal with any concerns you mayhave. Further details can be found on our websitewww.neighbourhoodinvestor.com

2011 WinterWarmth CampaignStaff from Plus Dane Group have started visiting tenants as part ofour winter warmth campaign - Beat the Chill.

Plus Dane is investing £1.1m in aproject that will help tenants slash their fuel bills and keep their homeswarmer in winter.

Improvements to homes will be offered in five neighbourhoods as we work with a range of partners to find solutions totenants future energy needs.

More than 30 properties in Elaine Street,Liverpool 8, will be the first to be offeredthe cash-saving innovations.

Homes will be fitted with new wallinsulation as well as solar panels whichwill give tenants free electricity duringsunlight hours.

The project will then move to Everton,where 25 homes will be offered solarpanels and other improvements that willgive access to free hot water.

It is hoped the pilot projects, which underfunding rules can only take place inMerseyside on a limited number ofsuitable properties, will then be rolled outto Bootle and Runcorn.

More than 150 homes could benefitand the work will help Plus Dane andother organisations as they plan themassive investments which will beneeded in the future to cope withrising fuel prices and climate change.

The project forms part of the REECH(Renewables & Energy Efficiency inCommunity Housing) initiative, which is managed by Sefton Council.REECH is funded by the EuropeanRegional Development Fund and arange of registered social landlordsacross Merseyside and Halton.

The European Regional DevelopmentFund, managed by the Department forCommunities and Local Government, ismaking a real difference to people andbusinesses in the North West. With€55million euros to invest between 2007 and 2013, ERDF is enhancing thecompetitiveness of the region’s economyby supporting growth in enterprise andemployment.

For further information on ERDF pleasevisit www.communities.gov.uk/erdf.

Homes fit forthe future


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Stylish new, affordable apartments in Chester -which can only be bought or rented by localpeople - are being snapped up fast.

Nine homes in the Post House on Station Road, a listed building opposite Chester rail station, were reserved just a day after opening its doors.

The Post House, a conversion of the former Royal Mail sorting office and latterly YMCA centre,was developed by Plus Dane at a cost of £4.5mto meet an urgent need for affordable housing in the city.

To apply for a home, you need to currently live,work, or have family living in Chester, and be in employment.

Under the Government’s HomeBuy scheme,customers can take advantage of SharedOwnership or Rent-to-Buy options.

Shared ownership, which is designed to helpthose who would struggle to buy a home, allowsbuyers to buy a share of the property, between25%-75% of the property’s value, and pay areduced rent on the share they don’t own.

You can eventually own 100% of the property,when you are ready to. This means you need less of a deposit, as you are borrowing less.

Rent to Buy, meanwhile, allows customers to pay a low monthly rent for five years while they save up to buy. There is no obligation to buy the home.

For more information, visit www.homeshub.co.uk

or call 07772 549 199 or 01260 288 206

First class delivery


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As Celia Rowley watches the X Factor she can do so with a certain amount of inside knowledge.

The Alsager singer appeared twice on the talent show’spredecessor, Opportunity Knocks in 1956 and again in 1971.

A mezzo soprano with a stunning voice, Celia won manyprizes for singing over the years and appeared on televisionand radio whenever she could find time away from family and work commitments.

“You had to go through so many auditions to get through to the finals of Opportunity Knocks,” Celia remembers. “When I got to the studios I had to do five songs and theproducer chose the one he liked rather than the one I wantedto do. One of them was a piece from Carmen which I knewwouldn’t be popular with the general public.

“There was so little time to prepare, it was all live and a realwhirl. I was shown a chalk mark on the floor where to standand music was piped in. I was looking round for where theorchestra was and they were signalling for me to sing.

“I was very nervous but you’ve got to feel nervous if you are a true artiste. If you don’t feel nervous then you’ve gotnothing to offer.”

Celia wishes that shows like the X Factor and Britain’s GotTalent would take a leaf out of Opportunity Knocks’ book.

“I do feel for people on talent shows these days. There wasn’tall this mockery when I did it. It was a talent contest pure andsimple. Hughie Green, the host of the show, was a perfectgentleman. He always encouraged performers.”

Celia, who is married to Frank, has two sons Terry andMalcolm and eight grandchildren and great grandchildren,

has fond memories of her singing career and especially hermentor Howard Redding.

She recently gave a concert at Plus Dane Group’s supportedhousing scheme Dennis Round Court, which is near herAlsager home, with a set of songs including her favourite Can’t Help Loving Dat Man of Mine, which she dedicates to her husband.

Celia’s still got the X Factor!

Coming up rosesHomes on the Pinehurstestate in Anfield have beengetting a makeover.

Painting work is being carriedout on Plus Dane’s behalf by Seddon Property Services,who have been enteringtenants who completefeedback forms into a monthly£50 prize draw.

Recently the team completedwork on the 100th property ofthe contract and to mark theoccasion presented tenant

Miss Maddock of YelvertonRoad with a bouquet.

Miss Maddock said: “I’m really delighted, the flowersmatch my home’s colourscheme. The workers werereally polite and I’m veryhappy with the work.”

Pictured with Miss Maddockare Emma Wood and BrianRobinson (both of Seddon)with Julie Andrews andplanned investment teamleader Ron Lawson.


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Making models has become a way oflife for Brian McAllen.

The Middlewich man has been buildingmodel planes and boats since the 1950sand finds they bring him enormoussatisfaction.

“I’ve been a joiner all my working life and I find working with wood very easy andrelaxing - most of the time,” he says.

“I started building model flying planes inthe 1950s when I was in the RAF,” saysBrian, 81. “I had to switch to motor boatsabout 15 years ago after suffering fromvertigo and I couldn’t look up any more.”

Brian’s had more than his fair share ofhealth setbacks, including two strokes.His second wife, Norma, nursed him backto health from one of these only to diesuddenly herself, just 18 months after they were married.

“It would be easy to get depressed aboutthings,” he says. “But I think you need tohave a come day, go day attitude. A lot of

people worry too much, you have to keepgoing, live for the day and appreciate theluck you do have.”

Brian, who sails at Boundary Park, nearHolmes Chapel as a member of CreweModel Boating Club, takes around three tofive months to build a boat. And in all histime sailing he has only had one disaster.

“Only one of my boats has ever sunk and

that wasn’t my fault,” he explained.

“Taxis and model boats used to usesimilar radios. A young lad was at thecontrols of my boat and as a taxi went by,the boat suddenly shot across the lake,went into a wall and sunk. The boat wasworth around £180, the lad was mortifiedand, as you can imagine, I felt pretty sickmyself!”

Congleton MP Fiona Bruce has officially launched a newhousing development built on the site of the former Elworth Court sheltered housing accommodation.

Developed by Plus Dane Group, the Elworth Courtsite previously consisted of 34 bedsits for elderlypeople, along with wardens flats and communalfacilities.

The site, which also marks the 1,000th new property developed by Plus Dane Group in Cheshire,is now home to eight new two and three bedroomfamily houses.

Local MP Fiona Bruce was given a tour of the newhousing development and met with Jane Davenport, tenant of the 1,000th property who moved into her new home in July with her two children and couldn’t be happier. Jane commented:

“I am delighted with our new home, which is really spacious,warm and homely. Before moving in here we were living in a smallflat and it’s so nice to have a garden and more space. Plus Danehas been so supportive in finding me a suitable home and helpingme to settle in.”

Speaking at the opening of the new homes Fiona Bruce MP, said: "It is excellent to hear

how pleased Jane is to have such a spacious and quality homebuilt for her family and to hear from Jane about how helpful all the staff at Plus Dane have been.

“It is a real benefit having such a caring and responsive housingassociation playing such a major role in the provision of modern,quality homes in this area - of many different types, from theaward-winning Care Home in Heath View, Congleton to muchneeded two and three bedroom family homes like these."

MP Fiona Brucelaunches new affordable family homes in Congleton

Plane sailing for model man Brian


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Over the past year, as part of ourcommitment to continually improvingthe services we deliver, we havechanged the way that we get yourfeedback on our repairs andmaintenance service to ensure thatwe continue to meet and respond tothe needs of customers.

We now use an independent companycalled Voluntas, who contact customerson our behalf when a repair has beencompleted and ask a number ofquestions about how pleased they were with the service they received.

Voluntas specialise in the housingsector and speak to 125 customers amonth to ask a range of questionsabout their repair such as:

l Did we turn up when we said we would?

l Was the repair carried out in one visit?

l How satisfied are you with theperson that carried out the repair?

l How satisfied are you that yourhome was left clean and tidy?

l How satisfied are you with the overall quality of the repair?

l Do you consider the repair to be complete?

l Generally, how satisfied are you withthe overall repairs and maintenanceservice from Plus Dane Group?

The information we receive from yourfeedback is invaluable in helping us tounderstand more about what you’rehappy with and what you’re not happywith and what you really think about theservice you receive.

Carl Millward, Business ImprovementTeam Leader at Plus Dane, said:“Getting feedback from

customers on the service they receive is vital to making sure wecontinue to provide a high qualityrepairs and maintenance service. It also helps ensure that anyimprovements we make are in line with what customers have told us they want.

“Because Voluntas contact customersimmediately following the completion of a repair, this gives us the opportunityto react much more quickly thanthrough the paper based feedbacksystem alone. The information wereceive provides us with anindependent view into how our service is doing and how it compares to other landlords so that we can look at where we can make improvements.”

How your FEEDBACK improves our services

Hello. Quite a lot has happened since our last article in UNiTY!

We have a new Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer and Secretary, who are dedicated to running the communitygroup in the way that it’s always been run.

TATRA members agreed that there needed to be aninformal place where members of the community couldcome together for a coffee and a chat.

So, TATRA’S Tea and Chatter mornings were created.These take place on the first Saturday of each month,10am-12pm at the Community Centre in Union Street,Sandbach. Homemade cakes are always available topurchase and children are welcome too!

We have also been busy working with Sandbach Woodland and Wildlife Group in Brook Wood in Sandbach. The wood had been neglected for many years when SWWG envisaged it should be returned to its former glory. So, with help from TATRA and othergroups, we undertook a rather large litter pick!

Plus Dane Group kindly provided a skipfor the rubbish. Recently we took part in the MacmillanWorld’s Biggest Coffee Morning (Saturday 1st October),where we were amazed at the turnout from the communityand in the end managed to raise an amazing £147.84.

So, many thanks to all who came.

Our monthly TATRA meetings are held on the firstWednesday of each month at the Community Centre inUnion Street, Sandbach.

The meetings starts at 7.30pm prompt. Refreshments and raffle are always available at each meeting. We have representatives from other agencies such as the Police, Community Wardens, Cheshire East Council, Town Council and of course Plus Dane Group! If you areinterested in attending and would like further information,then please do not hesitate to contact Ken on 07519 751 669.

Thank you

The Avenue Tenants andResidents AssociationWritten by Caroline Roughley, Secretary of TATRA


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Kirby scheme recognisedfor excellence at awardsA Plus Dane scheme in Kirkby, Liverpool, has beenrecognised for excellence in the Best Housing Schemeaward at the Knowsley Regeneration and Business Awards.

When complete, the £2.5m Quarryside Drive developmentwill feature 25 new eco-friendly homes featuring innovationssuch as solar panels and rain-water harvesting. The newhomes form a vital part of the redevelopment of the townand will be offered at affordable rents to local people.

Over the summer, we have been busy working with the tenants communications group getting yourfeedback on UNiTY magazine.

From the survey in the Spring issue of UNiTY magazine,to getting your views at our summer events, thank you toeveryone that took the time to give us your views. Yourcomments are really valuable in helping us ensure thatUNiTY magazine continues to feature the information andstories that you want to read about.

The great news is that from all your feedback, we knowthat many tenants and residents value UNiTY as a way tofind out what's going on in your neighbourhoods and toget the latest news from Plus Dane, but you've told us thatyou want more!

You’ve asked for more pictures, more support and advice

on the issues that affect you, more practical tips on issueslike gardening and health, and more about what'shappening in your neighbourhood, so we need your help!

If there’s an issue you’d like to read more about, an eventtaking place in your neighbourhood that you’d like to seefeatured or a story about you or someone in yourneighbourhood that you think should be told, we want toknow about it!

You can call our communications team on 0151 522 1349or email [email protected] orwrite to Plus Dane Group Communications Team, PlusDane Group, Rialto Buildings, 90-94 Upper ParliamentStreet, Liverpool, L8 7SY.

So let us know and your story or neighbourhood could befeatured in the next issue!

feedback

Tenants have been giving theirverdict on our front-counter service.

Sixty-seven customers took part ina survey about what they like anddon’t like about our receptionareas.

The feedback - which includedcalls for more privacy, brighter

colour schemes and the provisionof refreshments - will be used togive the welcome areas a newdesign.

Everyone who completed thesurvey was entered into a prizedraw and the winner was GemmaMassey of Runcorn, who wins £50 of high street vouchers.

Tenants have their say


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RESPECTING each otherNo one likes to be on the receiving end of verbal abuse, threats or violence. Happily, most neighbours live, work and play in harmony and friendship, but sometimes our staff are verbally or physically abused.

We take this very seriously. We have a duty of care under the Health andSafety at Work Act to protect ouremployees as well as providing safeplaces to live for all our customers.

Our zero tolerance approach forbidsany of us doing anything in ourneighbourhoods which:

l Causes a nuisance or annoyancel Disturbs the peace or comfort

of othersl Damages the property of a

neighbour, anyone representing us or anyone else who has a right to be in the neighbourhoodand that includes employees and contractors.

This includes any behaviour that islikely to injure, intimidate, or cause

alarm, distress or inconvenience toother people including neighboursvisitors, Plus Dane employees orcontractors working with us.

If antisocial behaviour is reported we have to act to prevent furtherproblems, including reviewing rights of tenancy, flagging a tenant as athreat to our staff, or involving other agencies.

We are fortunate that these problemsoccur with only a small minority oftenants and trust that you will supportus in our efforts to keep our staff,contractors and neighbourhoods safe.

Further guidance is given in yourtenancy agreement or please contact our customer contact centres:

t: 0800 169 2988 (Merseyside)

t: 0500 026 079 (Cheshire)

Jing’s amazingjourney, frompersecution, grief,despair and finally happinessShe held my hand and said:

“I feel you are the one, when I go to heaven, take Daniel as yourhusband.”

Jing Deng smiles as she remembersher friend Maria’s deathbed plea, the grief that followed those finalmoments and the joy - just over ayear later - as she and Daniel tied the knot.

The mother of two follows wherever her Christian faith calls her. In Chinashe was a pastor in a banned church,playing a cat and mouse game withthe authorities.

After a short time in the United Statesshe was called to England in 2004,preaching in Manchester, which iswhere she met Daniel, also a pastor,ministering to Chinese Christians in the North West.

“Daniel and Maria were so much inlove, her illness was such a tragedy,”she remembers. “Shortly aftermeeting her, I had a dream Maria was being called to heaven and Ishould make her as comfortable as possible in her final days.

“We were praying for each other and for Daniel and she said shewished Daniel and I would serve the Lord together. Then the daybefore she died she said I was theone who would look after him and behis wife. She said she gave herblessing and asked me to also takeher parents into my heart.

“As soon as she said these words she went into a coma and died thenext day.”

It was business as usual for PlusDane tenants and staff whoseneighbourhoods were caught up in the disturbances in Liverpool.

Over two nights in August, homes,businesses and other property was damaged or looted in the city.

Wavertree resident Dawn Needhamsaid the mood among local peoplewas one of anger at those involvedand a desire to move on.

“It’s wrong to call these disturbancesriots,” she said. “This was justvandalism and criminal damagefrom people who were just copyingwhat was going on elsewhere.

“The council were very good atcleaning up the mess quickly andprofessionally and most people want to forget it now.

“This wasn’t a political thing like the Toxteth riots 30 years ago, thiswas vandalism pure and simple.”

After the trouble


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Daniel was full of grief following thedeath and returned to China.

However, when he came back sixmonths later, an overwhelmingattraction between them began toform. They started dating and, oneyear on from Maria’s death, agreed to marry.

“This is a beautiful love, not betweentwo but three,” says Jing.

However, although their love wasstrong, trouble was brewing.“We served together in Doncaster for a time but when that ministryended, I was seven and a half monthspregnant, with little money in the bankand nowhere to go.

“Someone we knew through churchsaid we could stay with them inLiverpool until the baby was born but then we would have to findsomewhere else.

“When baby Samuel came, we hadnothing, we had no idea of benefits,and we faced ruin andhomelessness.”

Jing was delighted with her baby boy but complications from a wombinfection - and her own fears andinsecurities - contributed to her fallinginto a deep post-natal depression.

She and her husband continued to go from pillar to post in her search for help before being put in touch with a service called Asylum Link, whichreferred her case to Plus Dane’sfloating support service for refugees.

The service, which is partly funded by Liverpool City Council (SupportingPeople) offers support to those forcedto flee terrible situations abroad andguides them as they adjust to their new lives and working toward livingindependently in the community.

It supports them to improve their lifeskills, participate in work, education and training opportunities, helping them access many other services andbenefits but often, most importantly, by offering a shoulder to cry on andlisten.

It was here she met support officerJacqueline Connolly.

“Everything turned around. We got a place to live and Jackie arranged for everything we needed, things like furniture, cups, plates, bedding, toys for Samuel, she discovered we were entitled to some benefits and helped us.

“She is an angel, she never asked for anything but she did everything for us.”

A second child - Caleb - was born just over two years ago but with

issues surrounding the pregnancy, Jing sank even lower into depression.

“I used to break down. I would havedark days, aimless train journeyswandering round cities; Jackie offered constant support to us in these dreadful times and helped meinto the counselling I needed.”

Then, with a windfall from the sale of a family property in China, the family were able to buy a home in Toxteth at auction and able to live independently in the community.

Her boys are thriving and Jing feels much happier.

“We feel blessed that we had the help of Jackie and Plus Dane. They have helped this family pushthrough misery to the other side.”

Her dying wish was for me to marry her husband


Plus Dane UNiTY 20

l Deductions from housingbenefit for non-claimingadults in the householdhave already beenincreased and will continueto do so each year to 2014.

From April 2013:

l If you are of working ageand living in a council orhousing association homethat is larger than yourhousehold size, the exactfigures aren’t yet know, butthere is likely to be 10%reduction in Housing Benefitfor each ‘spare bedroom’.

For example:

A couple or a single personliving in a 2 bedroom propertywill have their housing benefitreduced by approximately 10%.

A couple or a single personliving in a 3 bedroom propertywill have their housing benefitreduced by approximately 20%.

A couple or a single person withone child or 2 children of thesame sex living in a 3 bedroomproperty will have their benefitreduced by approximately 10%.

l The overall amount ofbenefit an out-of-workhousehold can receive willbe capped at the averageearnings of a workinghousehold (expected to bein the region of £500 perweek). Households withsomeone claiming DisabilityLiving Allowance or WorkingTax Credit, or a war widow,will be exempt from the cap.

l New benefit claimants willreceive a single payment of Universal Credit insteadof separate payments forhousing, income support,Jobseekers Allowance andtax credits.

l Existing claimants will bemoved across to the newCredit between 2013 and2017.

l The housing benefit part ofthe new Credit may be paiddirectly to you rather thanyour landlord, leaving youresponsible for making sureyour rent is paid.

l Community Care Grantsand Crisis Loans, currentlyadministered on a nationalbasis, will be abolished andreplaced with local authorityschemes.

Take action:

You can email or write to your MP to raise your concernsabout these changes or visit our websitewww.neighbourhoodinvestor.comwhere you can access a letterto send to the Minister forWelfare Reform, Lord Freud, oryou can write a more personalletter of how these changesmay affect you.

Find out more:

If you would like moreinformation about the proposed changes contact us on 0800 169 2988 for Merseysideand 0500 026 079 for Cheshire.

Proposed changesto welfare benefits

Housing cTenants are joining

together to fight governmentplans to change the rules on

housing benefit.Liverpool tenant Betty Dunderdale said the Welfare Reform Bill, which will shortly go before the House of Lords, would push countless numbers of people into poverty and homelessness.

Mrs Dunderdale said: “I’ve been on my hands and kneespraying that this Bill does not go through but I can promise that there is an army of people who will be pushing back against it if it does progress.”

Under the Bill, the government is proposing to cut benefit forsocial housing tenants deemed to have a ‘spare bedroom’ - even if they have lived in the property for decades.

An estimated 670,000people living in socialhousing who are of working-age and claimHousing Benefit will receive an average cut of £676 per year.

It will hit people withdisabilities hardest. Fostercarers and estrangedparents could lose out too, even if their ‘spareroom’ is being used byfostered children.

Many of the details have not been finalised but, we areanticipating that if the proposals become law:

Financial Performance


Plus Dane UNiTY 21

benefit changes

Separately, the government wants to scrap tenants’ right to have their housing benefitpaid directly to their landlord. Removing themost convenient way for tenants to pay their rent is likely to lead to increased personal debt and arrears.

The government is also proposing to introduce a cap on the overall amount of benefit that people can claim. Families will be amongst the hardest hit as the cap takes no account of the huge variation in housingcosts across the country and changes to Child Tax Credit and other allowances further increase the cost of child care for low waged working parents.

Mrs Dunderdale added: “How are people going to live with these cuts to their benefits? Where are they going to go? If there is not a rethink on this it will cause chaos.”

Plus Dane has also been campaigning for a rethink to the Bill, which if passed is due to be introduced in April 2013. We have also improved our financial inclusion service, which has been helping people reduce their energy bills, claim cash they are entitled to, find access to jobs and training, or reduce debts by working in partnership with credit unions.

Income £’000

Rent receivable net of identifiable charges 40,803

Service charges receivable 2,093

Supporting people funding 1,909

Development and management services 4,545

Sale of housing properties 2,428

Private contract and other income 2,967

Income from finance leases 432

Joint venture income 180

Interest and investment income 57

Surplus on sale of fixed assets 595

Corporation tax 983

56,992

Expenditure £’000

Management and service costs 15,048

Repairs and maintenance 18,520

Depreciation and impairment of fixed assets 1,955

Provision for bad or doubtful debts 170

Cost of property sales 2,284

Other costs 5,448

Interest payable and similar charges 9,827

Total 53,252

Retained surplus for the year 3,740

Our survey saidThank you to all our tenants and residents who took time to take part in our recent STATUS satisfaction survey. The results are beingfinalised and will be presented in full in the New Year, but we justcouldn’t wait to share some of the feedback with you.

The survey which took place between April and May 2011 received over3,000 responses; these responses were analysed independently by theNational Housing Federation’s Feedback Services and the headlines areshown below.

The majority of the questions within the survey cannot be changed to allowus to compare ourselves to other housing providers, however a number of additional questions were included by representatives from the TenantTogether Forum so that we could gain a better understanding of specificaspects of our services.

A full report will be provided in the New Year, including what we plan to dowith the information that you have provided. In the meantime if you haveany questions about our STATUS results please contact Julie Walker on0151 330 3504.

Views takeninto account

Repairs & maintenanceservice

70% 83.4%

76% 85%

Puts us inthe top 10%

Puts us inthe top 25%

87.4%87%

SERVICES PROVIDED BY LANDLORD

TSA Top 25% score

Puts us nearlyin the top 10%


Plus Dane UNiTY 22

Planning AheadThe Cheshire East Children and Young People’s Trust

Cheshire East Council has announced a three-year planfor its Children and Young People’s Trust.

The Trust brings together services which support children,young people and their families, such as; The Council, with its Family Information Service, health services, the Police, The Youth Offending Service, Connexions and schools.Following consultation with young people and families,Cheshire East Council has produced a compact and easy toread leaflet, outlining the Trust’s priorities for the next threeyears and essential contact details for the relevant services.

The Cheshire East Children and Young People’s Trust’s priorities are:

l To help children and young people keep and feel safe

l To support individuals and families as early as possible

l To help children and young people feel good aboutthemselves and others.

Whether your concerns are about childcare, education, healthor even domestic violence - the Cheshire East Children andYoung People’s Trust is there to work together to make sureChildren and Young People are healthy, feel safe, can achievetheir potential and are able to feel part of where they live.

The leaflet was created following consultation with Childrenand Young People - the authority is keen to hear from peoplewho have found the information useful or have want to beinvolved in the improvement of services provided to Children,Young People and their families by emailing:[email protected]

Leaflets are now available, across Cheshire East, inCouncil buildings, health clinics, GP surgeries, children’scentres, colleges and Connexions centres.

CrimestoppersCrimestoppers is an independent charity helping to find criminals and help solve crimes.

If you need to report a crime or have information to pass on about a crime but want to do so anonymously, you can contact Crimestoppers’ anonymous 24/7 phone number on 0800 555 111. Alternatively you can send information anonymously via the website www.crimestoppers-uk.org


Plus Dane UNiTY 23

Tributes to ‘saint’ GeorgeThe D-Day veteran and painter, who lived in George Cross Court, a Plus Dane development named after him, was believed to beLiverpool’s oldest man.

Apart from his war exploits, George wasfamous for his paintings of the city’slandmarks, which were compared to the style of the great LS Lowry.

The former mill worker, started painting in his 60s. He then went on to exhibit hisworks and have books publishedillustrating his paintings. He was alsoknown for his work in the community andfor charity, for which he was honoured bythe city of Liverpool with a Certificate ofMeritorious Service in 2002.

George is described as a caring, happy,temperate and compassionate man,almost saint-like in his ways, who loved his city, his family and friends and hisChristian faith. He was affected deeply bywhat he saw during war-time, especiallythe landings on Juno beach during D-Day.He saw the bodies of comrades fall besidehim and at one point had to dig graveswith his hands. He was shot in the legsduring the push into France and broughthome to recover.

However, typically of George there werelighter moments during the conflict. Duringa lull in the D-Day fighting, George foundhimself in a village where, incredibly, ashop was open selling photographs andpostcards, which he purchased. One ofhis claims to fame was that he must havebeen the only soldier who went shoppingin Normandy on D-Day.

Family friend Tony Taylor describedGeorge as a mentor and said there were scores of people in the city who had been helped by him.

“He was a great man and we feel his loss enormously. In 58 years I never saw him lose his temper, swear or drink alcohol. He loved life and he loved his Lord. He always had a smile on his face and worked very hard for others.”

And Tony described how a chance request to paint an illustration for a jumble sale changed George’s life.

“He was in his 60s when he started to paint. He never realised that he had this natural talent until he held a brush in his hand. His paintings wereacclaimed and he painted more than 140 before he died.”

Some of George’s pictures featured in a book on his work, which George wrote aged 98.

A Liverpool lad throughout his life, George lived in the Welsh Streets area of Liverpool 8. Although happy there, hewas pleased to be offered a new PlusDane home in 2008 and delighted whenthe development was named GeorgeCross Court in honour of his life and work.

George is survived by a daughter JoyceAtherton. His wife Ivy died in 2000.

War hero George Cross has died aged 102


This document is available in other languages, on audio format, in largeprint or in Braille by request.

SGS-COC-005062

CONTACT UScustomer contact centres: (has emergency 24 hour repair line)t: 0800 169 2988 (Merseyside)t: 0500 026 079 (Cheshire)

repairs email:[email protected]

general information email:[email protected]

write to us:Merseyside172 Park Road Liverpool L8 6SJ

www.neighbourhoodinvestor.com

If you have any comments about UNiTY magazine, please let us know. We also welcome any ideas for stories that you mighthave, and would love to talk to people who would like to take part in our regular columns or have news to share. You cancontact us in the following ways:

Call our Communications Team on 0151 522 1349, or write to usvia Sarah Moston, Plus Dane Group Communications Team,Plus Dane Group, Rialto Buildings, 90-94 Upper ParliamentStreet, Liverpool, L8 7SY. You can also e-mail us [email protected]

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9 1

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1 7

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95

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UNITY SUDOKU

How to play Sudoku: Complete the grid so every row, every column and every 3x3box contains the digits 1-9. You won’t need maths but youwill need a flexible brain!

8

6

UNITY CROSSWORDACROSS7 Surrounding area (13)

20 Financial backer (8)

DOWN

DOWN (cont.)

Thank you for all those who entered ourcrossword competition in the last issue. The

winner is Ms Letitia Bannister.

The £25 prize for the winner of this competition will be the first entry drawnout of the hat which completes the crossword and correctly enters theanswers to clues in the yellow coloured boxes provided below.

Clue: What Plus Dane’s brand is?

CompetitionTime

© 2011 This publication has been written & designed by Plus Dane Group’s Knowledge, Innovation and Performance Team working alongside the Tenant Communications Group.

CheshireShepherds Mill Worrall Street Congleton CW12 1DT

PRIZE CLUES (fill in answers.)

7 Across

20 Across


art250_unity10

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