Working with Thrive Homes and the Housing Leadership Foundation, we have set up an exciting new business called Jobs at home.

Since January, Jobs at home has been providing our “two room decorations” service and from April it will offer a handyperson service too.

We are looking for tenants to benefit from these services, so contact us on 01923 209 000 if you need help with small repairs, odd jobs or decorating your home. You have to be over 60, disabled, vulnerable or on a low income to qualify.

Dazzling future for Harebreaks HubPage 3

How you can have a say in what we doPage 4

Benefit changes – how you could be affectedPage 6

Take part in our photo treasure hunt!Page 14

What’sinside

Jobs at home will also deliver aids and adaptations to our homes.

Pictured above are three of the new operatives, Luke Simpson, David Talbot and Jamie Bowen alongside Team Leader James Card.

Luke said: “I’m really happy to be back in the trade, which is what I always wanted to do. I’ve learnt a lot on the painting and decorating side and I’m looking forward to learning other skills too.”

David added: “It’s virtually unheard of to be given tools, a van, training, the chance to progress – and all in our own communities. I’ve been looking for this job for about three years.”

Jamie added: “Now I have a routine, job security, I’m working towards qualifications and I couldn’t be happier or feel luckier.

February 2013

Over the last few weeks you might have noticed a new name carrying out work in some of our homes.

New handyperson and decorations serviceTrust links up with Thrive to create

new jobs and opportunities...

Call us on 01923 209 000 if you need help with small repairs, odd jobs or decorating your property. These services are available to tenants who are over 60, or who are disabled, vulnerable or on a low income.

“Every one of us are hard-working, local lads who will go over and above to do a good job for the customers. I have got a smile wider than my ears right now.”

2

Improvement programme – the next stage...We are busy planning the next improvement programme which will start in April 2013 and run until 2017.An external contractor, Savills, has surveyed around 500 of our homes to check that the information we have in our systems is accurate and this will help us identify the homes that we need to place on our next improvement programme.

We will also be clubbing together with other local service providers to buy materials such as kitchen units, which means we can save costs while still installing high quality products. We hope this will also help smaller local contractors to carry out the work for us, which will increase employment opportunities in Watford and Three Rivers.

Look out for more information in future editions of Gateway News.

Gateway News

Chair’s welcome

Our cover story highlights our exciting new project with Thrive Homes and HLF – Jobs at home. Founding this new business means that

the Trust has delivered jobs for some of our tenants. The comments from some of the new recruits are heartwarming and I am proud that the Trust has made this possible.

April 1st will bring significant challenges for many of us as the changes to Welfare Benefits come into force then. You will probably have heard of the “bedroom tax” but there are other changes as well. If you are affected by these changes remember that you can get advice from the Trust to help you to deal with the impact. There is more information on pages 6 and 7.

April is also the time when our rents go up and this year will also see the introduction of service charges, see page 3. We know that in the present tough economic circumstances this may be difficult but it is necessary to ensure that we continue to provide good quality homes and services for you and your neighbours.

I was asked at a community event recently why we survey homes more than once. You’ll see some of the reasons across the page – another is that our lenders require it. So there is some good news for April, our next Improvement Programme starts.

Finally, see pages 4 and 5 – why not give some thought to joining in decision making at the Trust?

Diane Lee, Chair of the Board Watford Community Housing Trust

Welcome to the February edition of Gateway News.

You said, we did! Keeping an eye on contractorsPlease let us know if you have made an appointment with our contractors but they don’t show up or don’t do the job properly. We monitor all our contractors closely and will take action if they do not do what they are supposed to do. In January one of our contractors agreed to send someone to a property in Brett Place but the appointment was postponed and the job wasn’t carried out properly. The tenant reported this to us and we worked with the contractor to put it right. We found there was a problem with the work carried out by this particular employee, so the contractor removed him immediately and re-did the work he had done in other properties at no cost to the Trust.

Let us know immediately if you experience similar problems as it is important to us to get things right first time. You can call us on 01923 209 000, pop into the Trust office or take a look at our website, www.wcht.org.uk/feedback.

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February 2013

The centre, renamed Harebreaks Community Hub, has been refurbished by the Trust which has a 20 year lease on the building. This project is a big part of helping us achieve our goals of friendlier communities and creating a positive impact around Watford and Three Rivers. We will be providing a community facility which will offer people in the neighbourhood access to services, education, exercise and a meeting space right on their doorstep – plus we are looking for people to come

forward to promote additional ways of using the building.

The Dan Tien has moved into the ground floor of the building, and has contributed to the cost of it being specially fitted out as a performing arts space. The Watford Deaf Club will continue its long involvement at Harebreaks.

The formal reopening of the building, by Mayor Dorothy Thornhill and Tina Barnard, our Chief Executive, took place at an open day for the Dan Tien. There

were workshops, games, arts and crafts, and performances by Dan Tien students.

Tina said: “It’s been a fantastic day and it’s wonderful to see the space buzzing with so many people. We want this to be a space where the local community can come together and that’s exactly what’s happened today. Harebreaks Community Hub has a dazzling future and The Dan Tien couldn’t have given us a better start.”

A family fun day was held in January to celebrate the refurbishment of Harebreaks Community Centre and the opening of a new studio for The Dan Tien Performing Arts School.

“Dazzling future” for Harebreaks Community Hub

Interested in hiring a space at Harebreaks Community Hub? Call us on 01923 893 193

Your rent and service charges from April 2013This April we will again be increasing our rent using the formula set by the Government which is used by all social landlords (and which would have been used by Watford Borough Council if it still owned the housing stock).

We will also start charging tenants for our communal services from April. We will be introducing these service charges so that we are able to continue to provide good quality services in the future, and to continue investing in our homes and neighbourhoods. Your rent pays for the cost of repairs, maintenance and management of your home. The service charges are for the maintenance of the communal or common parts, for example cleaning or lift servicing.

Though our rents are still around half of what is charged in the private sector, we do understand that

the current financial climate is hard for many of you. That is why we are introducing the full service charge gradually over five years, from this April you will be charged 20% of the full charge. We will send you a service charge statement shortly.

We are holding a series of information meetings in the community about service charges – for the timetable of these meetings, see the back page.

If you think you may have difficulties paying your rent and service charges, it is important to let our Income Team know as soon as possible. They may be able to help you manage your money, or point you in the right direction for further advice. Contact our Income Team on 01923 209 111.

Gateway News

Discussion Groups: Tell the Trust!We hold regular meetings to hear your ideas about how we can provide better services.

We are looking at three topics: Communications, Communities and Making Membership Meaningful. All meetings take place at Gateway House in Clarendon Road. Please join us!

These meetings are open to all members of the Trust – if you are interested in coming along, please register by calling us on 01923 209 183 or drop us an email at communityempowerment@wcht.org.uk.

If you not yet a member it is easy and free to join, and you can do so using the contact details above.

Making Membership MeaningfulWe are next meeting on… Wednesday 6 March, 7pm

Come to this meeting if... you want to encourage other residents to join in with our work and decision-making.

At our last meeting we... came up with suggestions for membership incentives, looked at how we can get more members, and decided how to measure whether tenants find being a member to be of value.

CommunitiesWe are next meeting on… Wednesday 25 April, 7pm

Come to this meeting if... you are interested in how we manage our homes and look after our neighbourhoods.

At our last meeting we... talked about the new housing developments we are proposing to build, and looked at how we can make future projects accessible and close to local amenities. We also talked about changes to benefits and how this might affect our tenants.

CommunicationsWe are next meeting on… Thursday 2 May, 11am

Come to this meeting if... you want to help us provide clearer information through things like newsletters, text messaging, the internet, letters and face-to-face meetings.

At our last meeting we... discussed service charges. We agreed that the Trust needs to explain why we are introducing them, and that face-to-face meetings are more effective than letters.

Did you know...?That the Trust can provide all kinds of support to help you get involved in local meetings and our activities at Gateway House? We can provide safe transport to and from our meetings, and can also help if you need to arrange childcare. We can even help if English is not your first language or if you have difficulty understanding paperwork. To chat through your personal needs call the empowerment team on 01923 209183 or email communityempowerment @wcht.org.uk

Opportunities to join in our work and have your say...

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February 2013

“The Trust belongs to us, so why not shape its future?” Our Gateway Leadership Team is elected to represent residents and feed your views into our decision-making. This team is made up of Avril Barclay, Shenaz Ghani, Mazie Gibson, Hope Isoka-Onwordi, Fatoumatta Jallow, Geoff O’Connell, Patricia Philips, Kara Smalley and Brian Trowbridge.

This is what Hope has to say about working with us:

“Someone needs to represent our interests to the Trust. My duty is to take our concerns to the Trust, and believe me, the Trust do listen within reason. For example, the recent service charge meetings with residents meant that the Trust will now have to phase it in over a five year period, so your voice does count.

“Remember, the Trust belongs to us, so why not help shape its future. Trust me, you really don’t have anything to lose but gain, like transferable skills.

“My membership entitles me to have a say on how the Trust delivers services to its members. I look forward to welcoming you onboard.” Princess Hope

We are looking for residents to stand for election to the Board and Gateway Leadership Team.Would you like to be part of the Trust as a tenant board member or member of the Gateway Leadership Team – and help make important decisions? We are holding elections in June and are looking for new people to join in.

Our Board sets the strategic direction for the Trust and works with the Executive Management Team to ensure that our aims and objectives are met. It is made up of tenants, independents and local authority nominees.

Our Gateway Leadership Team represents tenants, leaseholders and local residents. They help us improve our services by taking part in the three key programmes you can see on the opposite page: Making Membership Meaningful, Communities and Communications.

What is in it for you? As a Board member you will be part of our decision making body – working towards better homes, friendlier communities in Watford and Three Rivers. As a GLT member you will have valuable input into decisions which affect whole communities.

• Expenses paid, laptop and internet connection provided

• Hands on involvement in how the Trust is run

• Pick up valuable skills for your CV

• Get involved in decision making at a £25m business

Further information...If you would like to be involved in how the Trust is run and see the difference you could make to your local community, please contact Karen Airey, karen.airey@wcht.org.uk or 01923 209 061

Wanted: residents to be at the heart of decision making!

Gateway News

6

Changes to benefits – could YOU be affected?

You may have heard about the ‘bedroom tax’. It’s another name for the Government’s change to housing benefit coming into effect this April, which means you will have your housing benefit cut if:

• you have a ‘spare’ bedroom • you receive either full or part housing

benefit; and• you are under the age of 62

This has caused confusion for some tenants who did not realise they had a ‘spare’ bedroom. Under the Government’s rules, you will be seen as having a spare bedroom even if the following applies to you:

• you and your partner need to sleep in separate rooms because of a medical condition

• your children mainly live at another address but you have a spare room for when they stay with you

• you are a foster carer – foster children will not be counted as part of the household

• you have a disability and need your own room, no matter how genuine the need.

Under the Government’s rules, you will be entitled to one bedroom for:

• each adult couple• any other person aged 16 or over• two children of the same sex under the age

of 16• two children under the age of 10 regardless of

their sex• any other child• a carer (who does not live at the property) –

but only if you or your partner need regular overnight care and you qualify for ‘mid’ or ‘high rate’ care support through the Disability Living Allowance.

THE ‘BEDROOM TAX’

If you have one spare bedroom you will lose 14% of your total rent from your housing benefit.

So, for example, if your full rent is £100 per week, your housing benefit will be cut by £14 per week and this is the amount you will have

to pay towards your rent.

If you have two or more spare bedrooms you will lose 25% of your total rent from your housing benefit.

So, if your rent is £100 per week, your housing benefit will be cut by £25 each week and again, this would have to be paid by you.

“HOW MUCH HOUSING BENEFIT WILL I LOSE?”

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February 2013

“WHAT CAN I DO?”

You have options of course. You can apply to transfer to an affordable property that meets your needs, or stay where you are and pay the difference between the housing benefit and the rent. You might be able to apply for ‘Discretionary Housing Payment’, a payment from the council which is for people who are struggling to pay the difference between their benefits and their rent.

It might be hard to move because you have more complex family needs such as a child with

a disability or your property may have been adapted. Whatever the situation may be, the Trust is here to help and advise you.

You can also get information and advice from:

Watford Borough Council – 01923 226 400

Three Rivers District Council – 01923 773 138

Citizens Advice Bureau – 0844 411 1444

HOW THE TRUST HAS ALREADY HELPED

Our Under Occupancy Officer, Michelle Ewing, has already heard back from over 70% of tenants likely to be affected.

• 86 households have decided to stay in their properties and pay the difference

• 21 households are currently registered for a housing transfer or an exchange

• 7 households have already transferred to smaller properties

• 37 households have been referred for Discretionary Housing Payment due to severe disabilities, major adaptations to their properties or because they have been disadvantaged by the Government’s changes

• 10 households have taken benefits advice and seven households have asked for help with finding paid employment.

• 10 households are considering taking in a lodger.

The majority of people affected do not want to move. Maybe they have been in their homes for many years or don’t want to move away from friends and family. It can be a daunting prospect.

However, if you cannot afford to stay where you are then this needs some serious thought. The last thing we want is for our tenants to lose their homes because they can’t afford to pay the shortfall between the housing benefit and the rent.

If you are affected by the Government’s changes and need to find out more, don’t put it off any longer. Like it or not, this isn’t something that can be ignored and it is up to you to decide what you can do about it – most importantly to make sure you have somewhere affordable to live where you can have security and peace of mind.

Not been in touch yet and want some information or advice? Give Michelle Ewing a call on 01923 209 014 or email michelle.ewing@wcht.org.uk.

Gateway News

8

Did you know that there are currently 850,000 people over the age of 65 years who are living with a dementia in the UK? This is due to increase sharply to 1.4 million people within the next 12 years (Alzheimer’s Society 2010). Although dementia is not age-related the longer we live the more our risk increases, most of us will live into our 80’s and currently 1 in 4 people in this age group are receiving a diagnosis of dementia. There are believed to be 15,000

people under the age of 65 years living with dementia, so dementia care really is everybody’s business. On Monday 18th March Watford Community Housing Trust is holding a Dementia Awareness Day at one of our sheltered schemes. This invitation is open to all in the community who have an interest in understanding, or meeting the needs of a person with dementia.

Andre Best Flexi Support Worker for the Trust said: “People’s awareness and understanding of

dementia needs to be improved and the stigma associated with it addressed.”

Our supporters attending on the day will be Hertfordshire Partners Dementia Nurses, Alzheimer’s Society, Carers in Herts and more.

The event will take place at Horwood Court, Hillrise Avenue WD24 7NG. Light lunch will be provided from 1pm followed by presentations from 2-4pm.

In January we presented £46,276.45 to the Peace Hospice – the total to date we have raised from our fifth anniversary celebrations, which included the Munden View abseil.Huge thanks to everyone who donated or raised sponsorship for this very important cause. It’s an amazing amount and it looks like there might be even more to come.

Hospice Corporate Development Manager, Rachel Fowler said: “I took part in the abseil myself and it was one of the most terrifying experiences of my life, but I am delighted that it has accomplished so much for the

Peace Hospice. It was a fantastic day and there was a real feeling of community and excitement throughout the day. The Peace Hospice needs to raise £3.8 million in charitable income each year to run our free of charge services. Events like these play a vital role in helping to meet this target.”

The Peace Hospice cares for people living with a life limiting illness and supports their families from across South West Hertfordshire.

If you are interested in donating or finding out more about their work, go to www.peacehospice.org.uk.

Trust raises over £46,000 for the Peace Hospice

Dementia awareness day 1pm, 18 March 2013 Horwood Court

If you need further information regarding this event, contact Andre Best on 07823 771 289 or Vanessa Wright on 07850 206 188.

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February 2013

If you are leaving your property…We will ask you to allow us an early viewing with the new tenant so they can decide if it’s where they want to live. We can also plan any repairs and gas safety checks so we can handover the home more quickly.

If you are waiting for a new home…We will advise you early about any repairs or decorating that are

Trust gives away refurbished computers to 25 lucky tenantsTwenty-five lucky tenants have claimed free refurbished computers after winning a competition run by the Trust.

The Trust ran a prize draw for the PCs after linking up with Eco Computer Systems Ltd, a social enterprise which specialises in recycling computer equipment and gives all its profits back to community projects.

Over 100 tenants entered the draw, which was advertised in the last Gateway News and in a text messaging campaign.

Shah Ata, a tenant of one of the Trust’s sheltered housing schemes, was one of the winners. He said: “This was such a good thing for the Trust to do, to help us like this. I have a computer but it was getting

Moving in: what to expect

your responsibility and give you much more time to clear rubbish out of lofts and sheds. (If you can’t do this yourself you can pay us to do it.) This means you will be ready to take up an offer of a new home straight away. Otherwise the Trust will refuse the transfer until the property is back in reasonable condition.

What you have told us…You expect tenants to look after their homes properly and pay

for any damage they cause, such as replacing broken doors. The Trust spends over £40,000 a year clearing up rubbish left behind by irresponsible tenants and it’s not fair if other tenants end up paying for it. So we will now take much stronger action to re-charge such costs.

What we promise to new tenants…We will hand over a home which has passed all the safety checks, is clean, clear of rubbish and with fixtures and fittings in good working order.

Each year about 300 of you will move home so we have 300 properties to get ready for new tenants. This year, we plan to do this more quickly and give you better value for money.

old and in need of replacement, and they are so expensive. I need one for my work so I’m very pleased.”

Gateway News

10

It’s always an exciting time when there are lots of new projects taking place and our New Business team is helping to meet the targets of better homes and friendlier communities. Our 2012-2017 Business Plan aims for 500 much needed new homes in Watford and Three Rivers, and we are already planning for these.

Work at Croxley View on the Holywell estate began in January for 16 new homes and we have also received planning permission for 27 homes at The Queens Drive, Mill End. These projects are providing a mix of 1,2, 3 and 4 bedroom homes which will meet a variety of needs and are energy efficient so they are not only affordable to rent but to keep warm too.

We are also consulting with residents about regeneration at Boundary Way off Horseshoe Lane which will give the environment a much needed lift and provide more new homes.

New homes, new community hubs, new training opportunities!

But it’s not all about houses and we are also working on Community Hubs – spaces for local people to come together and access activities and services. As you saw on page 3 we have refurbished Harebreaks Community Centre, which is now renamed Harebreaks Community Hub, to make it much more suitable for a range of community uses. We plan to commence work on Leavesden Green Community Hub in March 2013 for a September completion.

Last but not least, employment and training is a big focus for our New Business Team. This

This will help to reduce energy bills for residents, lower carbon emissions, and will also be part of the visual transformation of the estate.

In addition, residents of the Boundary Way Action Group

along with the Trust are pleased to announce the arrival of a new Recycling Clothing Bank in Boundary Way, close to the Community Hub. It is a joint venture with Planet Aid, a non-profit organisation which collects and sells unwanted clothes to support people in developing countries.

Together we have successfully applied for £327,000 in government funding for the project, which will be combined with investment from the Trust to externally insulate homes on the estate.

Boundary Way goes green!

means that we have been able to support local businesses which provide opportunities for local people, like the Green Canteen and the Watford Cycle Hub.

We have also teamed up with Construction Gateway to help local residents build a new career in the construction industry, offering a four-week full-time course at Leavesden Green Community Centre which provided apprenticeships working on our improvement programme. For more on this see the article about our Community Maintenance Team on the opposite page!

The Trust is joining up with Watford Borough Council, Three Rivers District Council and National Energy Action on a £1.1m project to improve insulation at the Boundary Way estate.

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February 2013

We have created a new social enterprise known as the Community Maintenance Team to give experience to local apprentices while improving our properties.

The Community Maintenance Team has provided employment and training opportunities for six paid apprentices – three of them from families of our tenants, and the other three from the Watford area. They have started work on a small programme of kitchen and bathroom replacements on Gammons Lane.

Apprenticeships and training opportunities

The team will be working towards Level 2 and 3 qualifications in construction skills and improving their employability. The Trust has committed to providing packages of work for the Community Maintenance Team for a period of 18 months. If the project is a success, we can continue to provide similar opportunities for our tenants’ families.

Look out for further information about the Community Maintenance Team in our next edition.

VintecOur asbestos services contractor Vintec has recruited two trainees from the local community recently: Christopher Winder and Joanna Cox. They are both working towards recognised qualifications from the British Occupational Hygiene Society, while learning the basics of the trade and helping to carry out asbestos surveys and air monitoring. They are both enjoying the challenges their new role provides.

Vintec is looking to recruit a further asbestos trainee over the next few months, so if you think this is a career you would like to be a part of please email a.stirrat@vinteclabs.com with your CV or post it to Vintec Laboratories Ltd, First Floor, Building 9, Building Research Establishment, Bucknalls Lane, Garston, Watford WD25 9XX.

The position will involve general admin duties relating to everyday asbestos/office work, helping with onsite asbestos surveying and monitoring, completing paperwork and compiling asbestos survey reports.

If you are interested in a career in horticulture, speak to the Job Centre about local apprenticeships. Opportunities are also advertised on the Capel Manor College website at www.capel.ac.uk/apprenticeships.htm.

John O’ConnerJames Bloye was working in the petrol station at the Dome Roundabout Sainsbury’s but he had always wanted to work outdoors. His mum contacted John O’Conner, the company that currently provides the Trust’s grounds maintenance services, about an apprenticeship with them.

Although James had no previous experience the company took him on as part of their apprenticeship programme. He is now helping to maintain green areas throughout the Trust’s community areas, including Radlett Road, Edward Amey

Close, Croxley View, the Meriden estate and our sheltered schemes. He is carrying out a variety of tasks while studying for a Level 2 Diploma in Amenity Horticulture.

“I really enjoy it,” says James. I like the freedom and variety, it’s better than being stuck inside doing the same thing all day.”

Paul Miller, contracts manager at John O’Conner, says there are other apprenticeship opportunities with the company: “Our managers and supervisors started in this way and we are looking for the next generation.”

Our new Community Maintenance Team

James Bloye, apprentice with John O’Conner

Gateway News

12

The Green Canteen is a new social enterprise developed by Herts Mind Network and the Trust. They are looking for people to get involved and volunteer to help grow vegetables and plants, create recycled products, natural crafts, and become involved in the development of this exciting horticultural project. The produce is then sold to the local community, with all proceeds reinvested back into the project.

Volunteering opportunities Green Canteen

• Do you enjoy fresh air and have time to spare?

• Do you want to share your knowledge and support others?

• Do you want to learn new skills and enhance your CV?

• We are looking for volunteers that are committed, reliable, trustworthy and non-judgemental.

These figures are taken from October – December 2012.

Satisfaction with our services: more than 8 out of 10 of you are satisfied with our services

Satisfaction with repairs: more than 9 out of 10 of you are satisfied with repairs

Time taken to complete repairs: we aim to complete non-urgent repairs within 20 days. Our average was 15 days.

First-call resolution: our customer services team resolved nearly 70% of your calls first time (this means they dealt with the call without having to forward it or raise a repair). Our target is 65%.

Performance snapshot

Please contact Caron Brennan on 07554 428 928/01923 805 741 or at caron.brennan@hertsmindnetwork.org to find out more or arrange a visit.

You will be responsible for supporting the gardeners at the Green Canteen who may be tenants and other residents of Watford and /or individuals experiencing mental ill health.

Gardening knowledge is desirable but not a requirement for this role!

A message from Disability Watford Hello, this is just a short item to say although independent from the Trust we now have our office at Gateway House. Those of you that aren’t sure what Disability Watford does as a Group – we have various services that we will tell you about in future issues. Briefly, we advise local authorities and service providers to help make sure their services and premises have good accessibility for those with a disability.

Currently our time is being taken up by putting together a campaign to stop the proposed charging for blue badge holders parking at our local hospitals.

If you would help us by volunteering then give us a call on 01923 245 944, or email us at info@disabilitywatford.org.uk.

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February 2013

Save energy – save money!

Attention leaseholders: looking for an easy way to let your property?If you own your home and are thinking of letting it out to tenants, try Easy Let to make the process easy and trouble-free.

We’ve teamed up with Three Rivers District Council to offer this service, which takes all the stress out of private letting. Easy Let is looking for properties throughout Watford and Three Rivers. Check the terms of your lease to make sure you are able to let your property.

Because we are not motivated by financial profit, our charges are lower than local private agencies – and you will benefit from our wealth of experience in managing local homes.

Go to www.easyletherts.co.uk for more information, or call Easy Let on 01923 776 611.

Saving on your gas and electric bills is not just about switching to a cheaper supplier or tariff, but also how much you use. Saving energy is a mix of big and little things.

Below are a few key questions and answers.

Can the heating be left on low all day or the thermostat turned up and down?

A: Money and energy will only be saved by having the heating on when required. Using the programmer is recommended as the thermostat is designed to switch the system off to keep the house at the temperature it is set to.

Can I turn individual radiators down at the valve or will it only make a difference if controlled via the main thermostat?

A: Your room thermostat only switches your heating off when the set temperature has been achieved, so turning your valve down will mean your radiators will not get as hot and will gently heat your home to the set temperature.

If you have them on high, your radiators will emit a lot of heat until the set temperature is met.

By turning your radiators down or off using the valves on the side of them, or by reducing your room temperature with a thermostat, you reduce the amount of heat your heating system has to generate.

Can the hot water boiler be left on all the time, or on and off as needed?

A: If you have a gas central heating system, it is always cheaper to time the system so the hot water comes on only when required.

However, if you have an electrical immersion heater and have an Economy 7 tariff (where energy is cheaper at night), it’s cheaper to heat the water during the night. Make sure your tank is well insulated to prevent it cooling during the day.

Do appliance chargers like phone/laptop still use electricity when they’re plugged in, but not connected to the device?

A: Unplug chargers when not in use. A lot of devices draw power when plugged in and not in use. This can be easily avoided by switching devices off at the wall and unplugging them.

Should I run appliances at night?

A: If you’re on an Economy 7 tariff, you’ll pay less during the night, but a higher rate than average during the day, so yes you should. But if you’re on a standard tariff it doesn’t make any difference. (To find out what tariff you’re on check bills or call your energy supplier.)

Gateway News

14

The Trust is supporting a new community business called Watford Cycle Hub. If you’ve got an old bike in need of care and attention, Watford Cycle Hub can restore it for you or recycle it to give it a new home.

Watford Cycle Hub also sells reconditioned bikes, with children’s bikes from as little as £40 and adults’ bikes from £75.

The business aims to get people cycling for the sake of their health and the environment, and it offers a wide range of bike-related support. This includes maintenance courses, cycle training, local cycle maps, news about locally led rides and advice on bike parts.

Watford Cycle Hub is based in the Pavilion at Holywell Community Centre. For more information visit their website at watfordcyclehub.org.uk or contact them on 01923 223 994.

We would like your help with a project to tell the town’s story in photographs.

Firstly, we are working with Watford Museum to compile historic photos of Trust areas, so we are looking for any old pictures you might have. The Museum has many pictures of central Watford in its collection, but it is looking for pictures of other parts of the town – so we would love to find pictures of areas like the Holywell, Meriden, Radlett Road and other neighbourhoods. We also want to hear the stories behind those photos. Above you can see pictures of Sandringham Road during World War II, and Callow Land Farm which was off Leavesden Road (reproduced with permission of North Watford Historical Society).

Secondly, we are asking young people to take pictures of Watford today. We are looking for photos

that represent what it’s like to be growing up in the area in 2013. As with the older photos, we also want to hear the stories behind the pictures.

When we’ve got all the photos together we want to display them side by side in a special exhibition, showing the difference between yesterday and today.

Everyone is welcome to send in their photos. We will make sure you are properly credited if your picture is used, and if you are worried about sending the original pictures we can always scan them and return them to you.

We are also looking at holding some workshops for 12-19-year-olds who are interested in learning more about photography – watch this space for more details soon!

If you are interested in finding out more, contact Ed King on 01923 209 279 or at edward.king@wcht.org.uk.

Wanted: budding photographers and historic pictures!

Get on your bike this Spring!

Just for fun – another look at our homesOur Estate Services Officer Jane Pursey was out and about taking pictures of some work that needed doing on one of our estates and ended up with this arty-looking shot.

Can you guess where it is? Send your guesses to communications@wcht.org.uk!

15

February 2013

Hillside Residents’ Association, which applied to the Trust’s Better Communities Fund for the investment, is leading a consultation with the community on how the space should be improved.

Options may include wild flower meadows, play facilities for young children and meeting points for the local community.

Residents have been invited to have their say at meetings organised by the Residents’ Association. The improvements

Trust works with Hillside Residents’ Association on £60k revamp of green space

Garage update We have started work on site to improve the garage spaces at Aldbury Close, Fay Green, Haines Way, Hudson Close and Woodgate. We will also be carrying out work at:

• Sheriff Way and Forest Road (Sherwood)

• Bowmans Green, The Phillipers, Ivinghoe Close, The Pelhams, Gadswell Close, Foxtree House and Whitwell Road (Meriden)

Despite the wintery weather we are making good progress and should complete the works to all these sites by the end of March.

If garages are in a reasonable condition and are popular with residents we will generally be refurbishing them to bring them into good condition.

However, some garages are in a poor condition and are unpopular, often because they are unsuitable for modern cars.

If this is the case we may decide to demolish some or all of the garages and provide additional parking facilities where possible. In these cases we will consult residents before starting work.

Residents in Hillside, Abbots Langley, are discussing how £60,000 in funding from the Trust should be used to transform School Mead Green.

are being delivered by Groundwork Hertfordshire, a community charity that has previously worked with the Trust on the transformation of Croxley View in the Holywell.

Euan Barr, the Trust’s Head of New Business, said: “As we saw at Croxley View, when you get the local community involved in a project like this you can achieve really fantastic results. We will be working closely with residents to deliver the improvements they want to see.”

And finally… a money-saving tip to save you a headache!Did you know you can save money by buying own-brand alternatives to painkillers like Nurofen and Anadin? For example, a pack of 16 Tescos own-brand paracetamol capsules costs 45p, but a 16-pack of Anadin paracetamol costs £1.10… and they both have the same active ingredient!

How to contact the TrustIn person or write to us:Gateway House, 59 Clarendon Road, Watford, Hertfordshire WD17 1LA

Telephone us: Customer Services 01923 209 000Email us: enquiries@wcht.org.ukVisit the website: www.wcht.org.uk

Useful contacts

General Enquiries: 01923 209 000

Repairs Freephone: 0800 218 2247

Repairs line: 01923 209 247

Contact us

Don’t forget you can check your account online. Simply go to www.wcht.org.uk and click ‘See my account’.

Gateway News

Rent enquiry: 01923 209 111

Disabled adaptations: 01923 209 220

Home ownership: 01923 209 216

Community empowerment (resident involvement): 01923 209 183

Neighbourhood team (tenant issues): 01923 209 148

Grounds maintenance (communal areas): 01923 209 055

Anti-social behaviour: 01923 209 222

Information meetings about service chargesOn page 3 you will see an article about the service charges statement we will be sending to you soon. We are holding meetings in each of our local community areas in March where you can meet our staff and ask questions about your statement. This is the timetable for these meetings:

Date Time Local Community Area Location/Venue

Mon 4th March 5.30pm – 7.30pm Harebreaks/Foxhill Harebreaks Community Hub

Wed 6th March 5.30pm – 7.30pm Holywell Cussans & Colborne House

Thur 7th March 10.00am – 12.00pm Rookery & Oxhey Eastbury Court

Thur 7th March 3.00pm – 5.00pm Leavesden Green Kingswood Baptist Church

Thur 7th March 7.00pm – 9.00pm Garston & Meriden Treebridge House

Fri 8th March 11.00am – 1.00pm Radlett Road Centrepoint Community Centre

Sat 9th March 10.00am – 1.00pm Central Gateway House

Mon 11th March 4.00pm – 6.00pm Hillside Hillside Baptist Church

Tues 12th March 10am – 12.00pm Sherwoods Dale Court

Wed 13th March 10.00am – 12.00pm Tudor Horwood Court

Thur 14th March 11.00am – 1.00pm Holywell Summer Place

Fri 15th March 2.00pm – 4.00pm Boundary Way & Woodside Boundary Way Community Room

Sat 16th March 10.00am – 1.00pm Meriden and Edward Amey Meriden Estate Office