NEWs www.bykercommunitytrust.org Byker Family fun day – see pages 4-5 Investment update – see pages 7-10 Welfare benefit advice – see pages 12-13 Issue 2 - October 2013 usEful NumbErs Byker Community Trust Office Byker Community Housing Office (for all tenancy related issues) Adaptations Advice and Support Citizens Advice Welfare Benefits 0800 5335 442 NEIghbourhood WardEN sErvIcE shIft tImEs: 1.30pm – 10pm 0191 278 1555 Matthew Chadwick (Warden) 0191 278 3842 0191 278 1537 0191 290 3910 Warden Hotline 0191 277 3970 Elleena Faulder (Warden) 07867 966 307 Julie Gledson (Warden) 07717 427 450 07976 149 000 Community Care Alarm Service 0191 278 3842 local coNtacts Envirocall 0191 278 7878 ACANE Community Centre 0191 265 8110 0191 278 8740 Sure Start Family Sands Centre 0191 275 9636 Concierge Service (Byker Wall residents) HASBET (Housing, Anti-Social Behaviour Enforcement Team) Housing Advice 0191 224 4395 0191 277 1711 Housing Benefit / Council Tax (Switchboard) 0191 278 7878 Newcastle Furniture Service 0191 278 1888 Northumbria Police non-emergency 101 Newcastle Futures – James Malia 07814 439 986 YMCA Neighbourhood Youth Project 0191 276 6052 Byker Community Centre Byker Primary School St Lawrence Primary School East End Library and Pool 0191 265 5777 0191 265 6906 0191 265 9881 0191 277 4100 If you have a question about your tenancy (such as rent, housing applications or neighbour complaints) please contact: 0191 278 8633 †dvb K‡i Avcwb GKwU wjwLZ Abyev‡`i Rb¨ ej‡Z cv‡ib| Repairs Centre GB Z_¨ nj BDi †nvg wbDK¨vmj- 0191 277 8888 KvDw݇ji dvwb©Pvi mvwf©m mg‡Ü hviv †Ubv›U‡`i Ni evox mvRv‡Z mvnv‡h¨i Rb¨ wcastle Furniture Pvi mieivn K‡i| GB Z_¨ hw`0191 <evsjvq> A_ev Ab¨ †Kvb fvlvq cÖ‡qvRb nq Zvn‡j GB bv¤^v‡i †dvb Ki“bvice YHN Customer dvwb© Involvement 278 8720 0191 278 8633 (fvovi wnmve wbKvm) m¤^‡Ü| GB Z_¨ hw` <evsjvq> A_ev Ab¨ †Kvb fvlvq YHN Leasehold GB Z_¨ nj Avcbvi †i›U GKvD›U 0191 278 7725 t cÖ‡qvRb nq Zvn‡j GB bv¤^v‡i †dvb Ki“b- 0191 278 8633 airs bykEr commuNIty Young People’s Service 0191 277 1190 housINg offIcE – Your Choice Homes 0191 277 2020 0191 GB Z_¨ nj Avcbvi Ni evox †givgZ Ki‡Z PvIqv m¤^‡Ü|GB Z_¨ hw` 278 <evsjvq>1555 A_ev Ab¨ †Kvb fvlvq cÖ‡qvRb nq ent Zvn‡j GB bv¤^v‡i †dvb Ki“b- 0191 278 8633 这是有关您的租金账户的信息。如果您需要此信息的普通话版本或其它语言版本,请致电 0191 278 GB Z_¨ nj †Ubv›U‡`i KvDw݇ji Ni evox †Kbvi AwaKvi m¤^‡Ü| GB Z_¨ hw` <evsjvq> A_ev Ab¨ †Kvb fvlvq 8633 索取。 cÖ‡qvRb nq Zvn‡j GB bv¤^v‡i †dvb Ki“b- 0191 278 8633 epairs 这是有关要求维修您的住房的信息。如果您需要此信息的普通话版本或其它语言版本,请致电 ent 這是關於您的租金賬戶的信息。如果您需要此信息的廣東話版本或其它語言版本,請致電 01910191 278 †Kvb GB Z_¨ nj wbDKvm¨vj KvDw݇ji †Ubv›U wnmv‡e Avcbvi `vq `vwqZ¡ m¤^‡Ü| GB Z_¨ hw` <evsjvq> A_ev Ab¨ ancy 278 8633 索取。 This information is about Byker Community Trust. Your Homes provides a housing management service to Byker Community Trust téléphoner aunq 0191 278 pour obtenir une fvlvq cÖthe ‡qvRb Zvn‡j GB8633 bv¤^v‡i †dvb Ki“b-Newcastle 0191traduction 278 8633écrite. 8633 索取。 ight to Buy tenants. If you want 这是有关租客有权购买他们的市政房屋的信息。如果您需要此信息的普通话版本或其它语言版本,请致 information in your own language will arrange an Z_¨ interpreter to help you on 0191 ThiscÖinformation is GBthis Z_¨ nj Avgv‡`i †jwUs mvwf© m( fvovwe welqK) m¤^‡Ü|forGB hw` <evsjvq> A_ev Ab¨ 278 †Kvb8633. fvlvq ‡qvRb H epairs 這是關於如何要求維修您住房的信息。如果您需要此信息的廣東話版本或其它語言版本,請致電 0191nq 电 0191 278 print, 8633Braille 索取。 also available in easy read, large and0191 audio 278 tape. 8633 We can also arrange for you to see a British Sign Language interpreter. Zvn‡j GB bv¤^ v ‡i †dvb Ki“b278 8633 索取。 enancy 这是有关您作为纽卡斯尔市政租客所需要承担的责任的信息。如果您需要此信息的普通话版本或其它语 ewcastle Furniture informations concernent le mg‡Ü| serviceGes « mobilier » de Your Newcastle, quiBDi fournit du wbDK¨vmj, mobilier GB Z_¨ nj BDi †nvgm wbDK¨vmj Avgiv wKfv‡e `vwqZ¡Homes cvjb KiwQ †m mg‡Ü| †nvgm N + Ces ight general/Homes to Buy 這是關於租客有權購買他們的市政房屋的信息。如果您需要此信息的廣東話版本或其它語言版本,請致 言版本,请致电 0191 8633 索取。 dans leur logement. Si vous avez besoin de ces ervice aux locataires pour les278 aider à s’installer wbDK¨vmj wmwU KvDw݇ji c‡¶ KvDw݇ji Ni evox e¨e¯’ v cbvi `vwqZ¡ c Ö v ß| GB Z_¨ hw` <evsjvq> A_ev Ab¨ †Kvb ple 電 0191 278 en 8633 索取。ou dans une autre langue, téléphonez au : 0191 278 8633. CH 这是有关我们的出租服务的信息。如果您需要此信息的普通话版本或其它语言版本,请致电 0191 278 informations fvlvq cÖ‡qvRb nq français Zvn‡j GB bv¤^v‡i †dvb Ki“b- 0191 278 8633 8633 索取。 enancy 這是關於您作為紐卡素市政府租客所需要承擔的責任的信息。如果您需要此信息的廣東話版本或其它語 ent Ces informations concernent votre loyer. Si vous avez besoin de ces informations en français ou HN general / Homes + 这是有关代表纽卡斯尔市政府(Newcastle City Council)负责管理市政房屋的 Your Homes Newcastle 言版本,請致電 0191 278 8633 索取。 dans une autre langue, téléphonez au : 0191 278 8633. eople (您的纽卡斯尔住房)组织的信息,内容解释了我们是如何运作。如果您需要此信息的普通话版本或其 epairs Ces informations concernent les demandes de travaux pour votre logement. Si vous avez besoin de CH 這是關於我們的出租服務的信息。如果您需要此信息的廣東話版本或其它語言版本,請致電 0191 278 它语言版本,请致电 0191 278 ces informations en français ou8633 dans索取。 une autre langue, téléphonez au : 0191 278 8633. ht to Buy laNguagEs 8633 索取。 Ces informations concernent les droits des locataires relatifs à l’acquisition de leur logement social. 這是關於 Your Homes Newcastle(您的紐卡素住房)機構的信息,內容解釋了我們代表紐卡素市政府 Si vous avez besoin de ces informations en français ou dans une autre langue, téléphonez au : (Newcastle City Council)負責管理市政房屋以及如何運作。如果您需要此信息的廣東話版本或其它 0191 278 8633. 語言版本,請致電 0191 278 8633 索取。 @ói@óäbîŠbïäaŒ@ãó÷@m‹ Šòì@óÜ@çbmŒóyŠó ó÷ @Nen óäbmóØòìíäb‚@ñòìó䆋ÙØbš@üi@ðîŒaí‚a†@ðmóïäüš@ói@pòŠbió@óäbîŠbïäaŒ@ãó÷ enancy Ces informations concernent vos responsabilités tant que locataire de la municipalité de Repairs YHN general / Homes + Ninformations ç‹i@ñ‡äòí—q@ 0191 8633@ðäüÑïÝm@òŠbàˆ@ói@óîóè@óÙî†@ðÙ—äbàŒ@Šóè@bî@ñ†ŠíØ@ðäbàŒ Newcastle. Si، ﺎﺳﻞ vous avez besoin de cesاﻳﻦ en278 ou une autre langue, ﺳﺎزﻣﺎن از ﺳﻮى ﺷﻬﺮدارى ﻧﻴﻮﻛ .ﻋﻤﻠﻜﺮد آن اﺳﺖ وfrançais «ﻧﯿﻮﮐﺎﺳﻞ درdans ﻫﺎى ﺷﻤﺎ ﺧﺎﻧﻪ » ﺳﺎزﻣﺎن اﻳﻦ اﻃﻼﻋﺎت درﺑﺎره People téléphonez au ﺗﻠﻔﻦ : 0191 278 8633. @ói@óäbîŠbïäaŒ@ãó÷@m‹ Šòì@óÜ@çbmŒóyŠó ó÷ @NòŠb’@ñaŠü’@ðäbØòìíäb‚@î ‹Ø@üi@çbåï“å–‹Ø@Àbà@ói@pòŠbió@óäbîŠbïäaŒ@ãó÷ ﺷﻤﺎره ﺑﺎ دﻳﮕﺮ ﻫﺎى زﺑﺎن ﻳﺎ ﻓﺎرﺳﻰ زﺑﺎن ﺑﻪ اﻃﻼﻋﺎت اﻳﻦ ﺑﻪ ﻧﻴﺎز ﺻﻮرت در .دارد ﻋﻬﺪه ﺑﻪ را دوﻟﺘﻰ ﻣﺴﺌﻮﻟﻴﺖ اداره ﺧﺎﻧﻪﻫﺎى <português> Right to Buyou noutra língua, queira ligar para o 0191 278 8633. CH Ces informations concernent notre service de location. Si vous avez besoin de ces informations en @ðäüÑïÝm@òŠbàˆ@ói 0191 278 . ﺗﻤﺎس ﺑﮕﻴﺮﻳﺪ٠١٩١٢٧٨٨۶٣٣ ent Esta informação refere-se à sua renda. Nç‹i@ñ‡äòí—q@ Se precisar desta 8633 informação em@óîóè@óÙî†@ðÙ—äbàŒ@Šóè@bî@ñ†ŠíØ@ðäbàŒ <português> ou noutra françaisqueira ou dans une autre langue, au : 0191 278 8633. @m‹ Šòì@óÜ@çbmŒóyŠó ó÷ @Nóîa‡Ý—bØüïä@óÜ@Šb’@ñaŠü’@ðÙ—åï“å–‹Ø@íØòì@òí—÷@ðäbØóïmóîb‹qŠói@ói@pòŠbió@óäbîŠbïäaŒ@ãó÷ língua, ligar para o 0191 278téléphonez 8633. Tenancy HN general / Homes + Ces informations concernent Homes Newcastle : qui estcasa. chargé gérer les logements sociaux epairs Esta informação refere-se aoNYour pedido de reparações em sua Sede precisar desta informação em ç‹i@ñ‡äòí— q@0191 278 8633@ðäüÑïÝm@òŠbàˆ@ói@óîóè@óÙî†@ðÙ—äbàŒ@Šóè@bî@ñ†ŠíØ@ðäbàŒ@ói@óäbîŠbïäaŒ@ãó÷ eople au nom de la ou municipalité de Newcastle et comment nous procédons. Si vous avez ói@ besoin ces ãó÷ <português> noutra língua, queira ligar para o 0191 8633. @Šóè@ bî@ ñ†ŠíØ@ ðäbàŒ@ ói@ óäbîŠbïäaŒ@ ãó÷@ m‹ Šòì@ óÜ@ 278 çbmŒóyŠó ó÷ @ Nóîóá—÷@ ð–‹Ø@ ðäbØómóà‚@ pòŠbió@de óäbîŠbïäaŒ@ YCH ght to Buy Esta informação refere-se direito oslangue, inquilinos têm de comprar a sua social. Se informations en français ouao dans uneque autre téléphonez au : 0191 278 habitação 8633. ight general to Buy / Homes + HN eople enancy CH pairs HN general / Homes + eople ght to Buy nancy H N general / Homes + ople 2 ç‹i@ñ‡äòí—q@ 0191 278 8633@ðäüÑïÝm@òŠbàˆ@ói@óîóè@óÙî†@ðÙ—äbàŒ precisar desta informação em <português> ou noutra Nlíngua, queira ligar para o 0191 278 8633. @òìóÝ—bØüïä@ñŠb’@ñaŠü’@çóîý@óÜ@óØ@óîóØó䆋؊bØ@ðmóïäüš@ì@ Your Homes @ói@pòŠbió@óäbîŠbïäaŒ@ãó÷ Esta informação refere-se às suas responsabilidades como inquilino socialNewcastle em Newcastle. Se YHN general / Homes + precisar desta informação em <português> ou noutra@NpbÙi@ðmóîaŠóiòí–Šói@Šb’@ñaŠü’@ðäbØòìíäb‚@óØ@òìaŠ‡—q@ñòìó÷@ðØŠó÷ língua, queira ligar para o 0191 278 8633. @ðäbàŒ@ói@óäbîŠbïäaŒ@ãó÷@m‹ Šòì@óÜ@çbmŒóyŠó ó÷ People idioma, llame al refere-se 0191 278ao 8633. Esta informação serviço de arrendamento. Se278 precisar desta informação em Nç‹i@ñ‡äòí—q@0191 8633@ðäüÑïÝm@òŠbàˆ@ói@óîóè@óÙî†@ðÙ—äbàŒ@Šóè@bî@ñ†ŠíØ Ésta es información sobre cómo pedir que seorealicen reparaciones en su casa. Si necesita esta <português> ou noutra língua, queira ligar para 0191 278 8633. Esta informação refere-seoàen Your Newcastle, a organização responsável pela gestão da información en español otroHomes idioma, llame al 0191 278 8633. habitação social em nome Município dede Newcastle, e a nossa situação actual. Se precisar desta Ésta es información sobredo los derechos los inquilinos a comprar su vivienda municipal. Si necesita informação em <português> ou queira ligar para o 0191 278 8633. esta información en español o noutra en otrolíngua, idioma, llame al 0191 278 8633. Ésta es información sobre sus responsabilidades como inquilino municipal de Newcastle. Si necesita esta información en español o en otro idioma, llame al 0191 278 8633. Ésta es información sobre nuestro servicio de adjudicación. Si necesita esta información en español o en otro idioma, llame al 0191 278 8633. Ésta es información sobre Your Homes de Newcastle, que es la responsable de gestionar las viviendas municipales en nombre del Ayuntamiento de Newcastle, y sobre nuestra manera de hacerlo. Si necesita esta información en español o en otro idioma, llame al 0191 278 8633. Byker Community Trust, 23 Raby Cross, Byker, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 2FF. Printed by: Mosaic Print Management. Page 4 - 5 Fun in the sun MP launches £1m COMMUNITY BUDGET scheme Page 6 - Page 7 - 10 Concierge Review Investment update A fresh lick of paint for Clive Place and Low Fold Page 11 - Youmake decide Helping Byker cleaner and safer Page 12 Page 13 - who gets the cash. Andrew Young - Credit Union Welfare update A new initiative giving Byker residents Social Fund Pay your rent ... andthe win power to decide how to spend a £1m budget was launched by Page 14 Newcastle MP Nick Brown on 20 JunePage 15 Byker lads Prize during a visit to the estate. Callum and wordsearch Alan start Every household has received a leaflet apprenticeships on the estate about the Participatory Budget Scheme explaining how you can Welcome be involved. to the summer Changes to housing management services Launch of the £1 Pagewith 16 - (l-r) George (BCT Chair), Jill Training courses and Nick Brown Officers, a Newcastle Ci Byker ward Councillor w edition of the applications. Byker Community Trust newsletter. Funding can be for projects which Residents will have the It’s been a very productive summer for the Byker Community Trust. The Investment address for anthe array ofisneeds in the– Avondale Housefavourite projects. This w Programme estate well underway has been transformed into housing for ex-servicemen and women and it’s fantastic box, to seetext the Armed community. and telephone Forces Veterans Estates Launchpad project begin to take shape with the veterans website. moving to their new You can read on page 10. The in deadline forhomes. applications for more about thisBCT how important bidders your the first £200,00 of funding wasI can’t 9 emphasise enough Successful will t individual views are to us. This is because how we all August and 23 applications were look at and judge any situation basedgo on our own to de have isthe ahead individual past experiences and our own individual received. A scrutiny panel madefuture up expectations, somonitoring process will without your input we can’t improve things for you in Byker. of four tenants including two Board panel to ensure project l With that in mind, let me leave you with a great members, Byker Community Trust regular intervals quote by Oscar Wilde which considers how people with up in the same situation can view Officers, Your Homes Newcastlethings in very differentmilestones. ways: Keepmoat will start the external refurbishment of Our Family Fun Day took place in July and there was a tremendous turn out of over 900 Byker residents. The feedback we received told us the day was a huge triumph and we hope that you all enjoyed it. If you haven’t already done so, please do let us know what you liked about the day, what could be improved, and also what you think about holding other such events for the whole community to enjoy. You can read more and see pictures on pages 4 and 5. the Byker Wall in the autumn. The programme will include the replacement of all external windows and doors, the roof and much more. We’re also going to review the concierge and cleaning services for the Wall, which we very much want residents to be part of. Find out more about this on page 6. “Two men looked out through prison bars, one saw mud and the other saw stars”. Jill Haley, Chief Executive Hobby Rooms could have 3 Fun in the sun for Byker residents! We were thrilled to see so many of you at our first Family Fun Day on 24 July. Over 900 residents gathered in the heart of Byker to enjoy the sunshine and take part in the fun day, which brought the community together to celebrate the first year of the Byker Community Trust and to talk about future plans for the estate. Children of all ages were entertained with tea cup rides, bouncy castles, magic shows, fancy dress and even an exotic petting zoo with animals including alpacas. There were also free hotdogs, ice-creams and ice-lollies – which proved very popular in the hot weather! 4 Our fun day was supported by partners including Newcastle City Council, Keepmoat, Newcastle Futures, Your Homes Newcastle and Bell Group who helped out on the day giving out goody bags. Kieran (4), James (4) and Logan (4) had a great time and loved the tea cups. Tracy Carr was the lucky winner of the signed NUFC shirt. Jill Haley, Byker Community Trust’s Chief Executive, said: “It was a fantastic day and a great opportunity for people in Byker to get together. We were delighted at the turn out and it has really demonstrated the strong community spirit we have here on the Byker Estate. “It was a great opportunity to talk to our residents about schemes such as our Participatory Budget – which gives them the chance to have their say about projects which they wish to see on the estate.” Caitlin (5) with Snow White, Belle and Minnie Mouse (Jackie Savoury, Lindsey Leitch, and Emily Jude, resident liaison officers with Keepmoat). 5 Concierge Service review The Concierge Service looks after safety, security and cleaning for residents of the Byker Wall. We’ve asked Gentoo to carry out an independent review to make sure residents are getting the best possible service. The areas that Gentoo will be looking at include the door entry and intercom system, cleaning services, camera surveillance equipment, and the services you receive from your concierge team. If you receive a concierge service you should have been sent a questionnaire so you can tell us your views. Your feedback is really important to us, and will help shape the future of this service. Over the next month, you may also receive a home visit from a Gentoo representative to get your views on the concierge service. All staff carry identification cards – please do not let anyone into your home if they don’t have ID. If you have any questions you can contact the Gentoo Team on 0800 5335 442 or email research@gentoogroup.com A fresh lick of paint for Clive Place and Low Fold Residents of Clive Place and Low Fold will soon start noticing a difference to the outside of their home as an external painting programme begins. We’re working with Bell Group UK and YHN to repair and paint the outside of the properties and communal features. As part of this Bell Group will also be carrying out external timber repairs. A consultation event was arranged at the Chevron Hobby Room so residents could give their views and opinions and have any queries answered. Mr Reed (pictured left ) who attended the consultation, was the lucky winner of the prize draw winning a pair of tickets to see Newcastle United. Bell Group has also been working with local children to teach them about the dangers of construction sites and how to remain safe. Bell Group is part of the Considerate Constructor scheme and Ivor Goodsite visited children to explain the dangers of playing on construction sites and how to play safely on and around the estate (pictured left). 6 The painting programme started on 12 August and is expected to last 16 weeks. £7m Refurbishment of the Byker Wall set to start Hundreds of tenants are set to benefit from improvements to their homes after a contract was awarded to Keepmoat to refurbish the Byker Wall. Community regeneration and housing specialist Keepmoat has been appointed to carry out extensive refurbishment work on 400 flats and maisonettes in a two year programme. Although we had hoped to start the work in October 2013, this has now been slightly delayed due to finalising technical details and getting planning and listed building consent. At this stage it is now planned to start the project early in the new year. Residents will benefit from new windows, doors and a new roof. Improvements will also be made to communal stairwells, entrances, deck access walkways, a new communal aerial system and a complete repaint in line with the original colour scheme. Keepmoat was selected after a competitive tender process and the company will be working with local contractors to provide training and employment opportunities during the works, including nine apprenticeships. Any site vacancies will be advertised locally before external applications are considered and anyone interested should register with Newcastle Futures. Chief Executive Jill Haley, said: “The refurbishment of the wall was one of our key promises to the people of Byker when we asked them to vote on how the estate should be owned and managed. “It will be the most significant investment made to the Byker Wall in its history and will make a real difference to the people living within the wall – as well as the many who like to admire its fantastic design from a distance! “The improvements we are making to the wall will mean increased energy efficiency for residents with minimal disruption; we are looking forward to the end result adding to the legacy of the Byker Estate.” Keepmoat and Your Homes Newcastle will have dedicated Resident Liaison Officers working on the project keeping residents up to date on progress and supporting community initiatives. Consultation events will also be arranged for residents and everyone affected by the work will receive a home visit. They will also visit local schools before and during the construction works, with events at Byker Primary School and St. Lawrence’s RC Primary School to help educate children about construction and building site safety. Graham Scanlon, Business Development Director for Keepmoat North East, added: “We have a strong history of working in Byker and look forward to continuing our involvement in the physical, social and economic improvements of the area.” 77 MP launches £1m COMMUNITY BUDGET scheme You decide who gets the cash. A new initiative giving Byker residents the power to decide how to spend a £1m budget was launched by Newcastle MP Nick Brown on 20 June during a visit to the estate. Every household has received a leaflet about the Participatory Budget Scheme explaining how you can be involved. Funding can be for projects which address an array of needs in the community. The deadline for applications for the first £200,00 of funding was 9 August and 23 applications were received. A scrutiny panel made up of four tenants including two Board members, Byker Community Trust Officers, Your Homes Newcastle Launch of the £1m Participatory Budget Scheme with (l-r) George McLanders (tenant), Jim Coulter (BCT Chair), Jill Haley (Chief Executive of BCT) and Nick Brown MP. Officers, a Newcastle City Council Officer and a Byker ward Councillor will soon start shortlisting the applications. Residents will have the opportunity to vote for their favourite projects. This will include an event, ballot box, text and telephone voting and voting via the BCT website. Successful bidders will then be informed they have the go ahead to deliver their projects.A monitoring process will be managed by the scrutiny panel to ensure project leaders report back at regular intervals with updates, outcomes and key milestones. Hobby Rooms could have new role Some of Byker’s Hobby Rooms could soon be transformed into social enterprise units for local residents. A feasibility study last year into the 64 hobby rooms, originally designed by architect Ralph Erskine to provide a variety of places where community activity could take place, found the vast majority were used as either community facilities or for storage purposes. This follows enquiries by 11 residents and local organisations regarding the availability of social enterprise units within the Byker estate. Four further hobby rooms have also been located, which appear to have been former architect’s offices integral to a stairwell in the Byker Wall, and surveys are to be carried out on them. A £210,000 budget has been identified for From community buildings to underground investment in the hobby rooms as part of the units, they are used for everything from pottery estate’s regeneration scheme over the next classes to photography groups. five years. We have now asked for further information on both current and potential uses to assess the possibility of converting a small number of currently empty hobby rooms into social enterprise units for let. 88 Once the surveys are undertaken and the proposal completed, a recommendation will go to the BCT Board for consideration. Cheaper energy bills soon to become reality Cheaper household energy bills will soon become a reality for all Byker residents with an overhaul of the district heating systems and a new charging policy. Savings will be achieved by a number of measures being undertaken by Byker Community Trust. They include: • Usingwoodchipasafuelaswellasgas • Sellingelectricitygeneratedbyoneofthe new boilers to the National Grid continued efforts will be made to buy in gas and woodchip as cheaply as possible. Next Spring will see the start of a series of works to improve efficiency, which will include a two year programme to renew 4km of underground mains, a seven month project to overhaul nine heat transfer stations, and a two year scheme of internal improvements to residents’ homes. These will include, where required, new radiators, pipework and thermostatic valves, • Continuedeffortstobuyingasandwoodchip and the installation of controls to enable more cheaply residents to regulate their own energy use. • Upgradestopipework/infrastructure None of the internal or external works will take • Internalimprovementsinindividualproperties place during the winter months, to minimise disruption. • Bidsforexternalgrantfundingfor Environmental improvements to follow improvement works completion of district heating works • ReviewofchargestomaximiseHousing Meanwhile plans continue to be developed for Benefit eligibility the long term environmental improvements The newly installed one megawatt biomass to the estate. These will include new fencing, boiler which burns woodchip will make money improvements to car parking, refuse and for the BCT as it generates a subsidy for using recycling management, shrubbery and tree this type of fuel. improvements, new play areas and improved street lighting. Improved competition in the market means Home improvement works COMPLETE for tenants who missed out Tenants who missed out on the Modern Homes Programme of internal home improvement works delivered before the launch of Byker Community Trust have benefited from recent improvements to their home. new contract to have their home modernised internally. We appointed housing regeneration firm Galliford Try to carry out the works. Surveys were arranged for the properties to develop kitchen designs and to establish requirements for those requiring a temporary move. Records indicated a number of current residents had not been included in the Modern Homes Programme delivered by Your Homes Newcastle for various reasons including serious The residents who opted in for the new modernisation scheme have now benefited medical conditions. from the improvement work to their homes. Nineteen residents have been included in a 9 New apartments for rent accommodation by a Community Mental Health Resource Service. But residents will soon be moving into their new purpose built accommodation at Scrogg Road. Plans are being developed for the conversion of Chirton House to provide new flats for rent. We will shortly be issuing a design brief for contractors to tender for this work. Subject to grant funding applications it is hoped the refurbishment will start early next year. We have identified a need for one and two bedroom accommodation on the estate due to the recent welfare reform changes (mainly the bedroom tax), and initial layouts for Chirton House show that a conversion could be achieved to create this type of accommodation. Chirton House was originally built by Newcastle City Council as a care home and is currently being used as temporary FORCES VETERANS move into Avondale House The first tenants are moving into Avondale House following its transformation into a transition housing facility for Armed Forces veterans. After the completion of a four month refurbishment by Keepmoat, the Grade II listed building now boasts 34 affordable housing units and a range of facilities including office space, a lounge, kitchen, large enclosed communal garden and a laundry. We are working with the Armed Forces and Veteran Estates organisation to develop Avondale House into a hub for the local and the veteran community, with the provision of support networks, a drop-in centre and a comprehensive range of advice services. The new facility is designed to help ex-servicemen and women readjust to independent living before moving on to long-term homes, with access to services that help improve health and wellbeing, literacy, employability and financial management. 10 Lee Swift: Avondale House Manager. Ex-serviceman Lee Swift, who served around the world for 22 years in the Army with roles including managing a 30-strong engineering section, is the new live-in Avondale House Manager. He is currently interviewing prospective tenants and the first five flats have already been let. Lee, who has also worked with the United Nations, on the Newcastle Building Schools for the Future programme and as an NHS health trainer, said: “I am delighted to be appointed as Avondale House Manager. This is a very exciting time to help support veterans and their integration with the Byker community, as we move forward together.” Helping make Byker cleaner and safer YHN carried out a survey of Byker residents before the estate was transferred to the Byker Community Trust. The main things you said you were concerned with were fly tipping, rubbish and litter, graffiti and dog fouling. We’ve listened to your concerns and are working with Newcastle City Council to improve environmental standards across Byker. In the next few months a new Rapid Response Team will work in Byker to respond quickly to problems that can make a place look untidy or make it feel unsafe. The Rapid Response Team will sweep streets, remove litter and graffiti, and collect bulky items free of charge to reduce fly tipping. How clean an area is makes a huge difference to the quality of life of local people. We all want to live in places that are clean, green and safe, and we’re confident the Rapid Response Team will make a big difference to Byker. Report it to the Wardens! Neighbourhood Wardens are out on patrol in Byker tackling environmental crime, criminal damage, and anti-social behaviour (ASB). They can also help reduce the fear of crime. You can report ASB, estate management or environmental problems to the Neighbourhood Wardens by calling the hotline 0191 277 3970 or emailing wardens@newcastle.gov.uk Pay your rent… and win! There are lots of ways you can pay your rent: •In person – at the East End Customer Service Centre at 83-85 Shields Road •By swipecard – at any Post Office or PayPoint outlet •By Standing Order – speak to the Byker Community Housing Office for more information •By phone – call 0191 278 7878 – make sure you have your 11 digit reference number and a valid debit or credit card •Online – follow the ‘Do it online’ link at www.newcastle.gov.uk If you pay your rent by Direct Debit you could win £50 in a monthly prize draw. Entry is free as long as you pay by Direct Debit. Sign up is easy, just call 0191 278 7749. Your chance to win £250! If you pay your rent on time and have a clear rent account you will automatically be entered in a £250 free prize draw, which runs every three months. A tenant from Byker won the last £250 prize. They said: “I’ve been a Byker tenant for a long time and pride myself in always keeping my rent account up to date. It was such a lovely surprise to win £250 and I’m looking forward to treating myself with it!” 11 Welfare benefit advice – update from Andrew Young I’ve been working with Byker Community Trust residents for six months now, and the demand for welfare benefit and money advice is growing day by day. Since January 2013, I’ve seen 148 residents with issues ranging from Employment and Support Allowance appeals and backdating requests, to general benefit checks and budgeting advice. During this time, I’ve secured over £32,000 in benefits, including grant funding, backdating following appeal successes, Discretionary Housing Payments and unclaimed benefits. Some of the biggest changes in Welfare Reform have already been introduced but there’s still more to come in the form of the Benefit Cap and Universal Credit. It’s vital that if you have any doubts at all about your benefits, if you would like any reassurance that your benefits are correct, or you want to discuss the upcoming changes, that you contact me now, so that we can spend time looking at your individual circumstances. Andrew Young - Welfare Benefit Caseworker, Byker Community Trust Phone: 0191 290 3910 Email: andrew.young@newcastlecab.org.uk Changes to the Social Fund Newcastle City Council has introduced two new schemes to replace the Social Fund: Supporting Independence Scheme (SIS) Crisis Support Scheme (CSS) Replaces the Community Care Grant scheme. This can help if you are on a low income and need to resettle in the community after a stay in an institution; remain in the community rather than enter an institution, or set up home in the community, as part of a planned resettlement programme, following an unsettled way of life. Replaces the Crisis Loan scheme. This can help if you have suffered a disaster or crisis and there is a risk to your (or a member of your household’s) personal health and safety. The CSS is a cashless grant and provides food, fuel for home heating, clothing and travel costs in emergency situations. Find out more by requesting a copy of Newcastle City Council’s Replacement Social Fund leaflet. Call the Active Inclusion unit on 0191 277 1707 or visit www.newcastle.gov.uk/sis 12 Credit where credit’s due Would you like to start saving for a holiday, Christmas or a special occasion? Joining a credit union is a great way to save, and they also offer affordable loans. Credit unions are small non-profit financial organisations set up by members with something in common (like living in the same town or working in the same industry) to benefit their community. They are owned and controlled by their members, so they have no outside shareholders to pay. Instead of earning interest on your savings you receive a share of the credit union’s annual profits. Moneywise is Newcastle’s local credit union. It’s free to join and is a good way to save if you can only afford to put a small amount of money away each week. You can save as little as £1 per week, and you can withdraw your money at any time. Saving with Moneywise is safe and secure, and some employers will let you to pay into your savings directly out of your wages. You can also borrow money at a much lower interest rate than doorstep lenders or pay day loans, with no hidden fees or charges. For more information about Moneywise and how you could start saving with a credit union, drop in to the office at 187 - 189 Shields Road, between 10am 4:30pm Monday – Friday, visit www.moneywise.org.uk or call 0191 276 7963. Changes to housing management services – tell us what you think Your Homes Newcastle delivers housing management and related services to Byker Community Trust residents on our behalf. YHN is currently looking at how they can change the way they provide these services to better meet your needs, in light of the government’s welfare benefit changes. Before the Byker Community Trust Board considers the proposals we would like to get your views. YHN is looking to change their approach to housing management, where residents will receive a more specialised and expert service. Rather than dealing with one YHN Housing Officer for everything to do with your tenancy, you would contact specific teams. So, for example, if you had any questions about your rent account, it would be easier for you if you could contact a team that specifically deals with rent. The same would apply for anti-social behaviour or for residents who wanted to move home. You might deal with more than one Housing Officer, but YHN’s aim is that you’ll receive an improved, more dedicated service. These proposed changes won’t take place until April 2014 and will be discussed at our Board meeting on 24 October. We’d like to hear what you think. You can email us at enquiries@bykerct.co.uk, call free on 0800 5335 442, or drop into our office at 23 Raby Cross with your views. 13 Alan (left) and Callum are enjoying their new jobs working on the Byker Estate. bykEr lads callum aNd alaN start apprENtIcEshIps oN thE EstatE Callum Bailes and Alan Brodie have started plumbing apprenticeships with the Building and Commercial Enterprise section of Newcastle City Council. Both live on the Byker Estate and are already proving to be excellent additions to their team. The four year apprenticeship will see Callum and Alan developing skills in a number of areas connected to plumbing – from more general ones associated with residential kitchens and bathrooms to highly technical skills relating to repairs and maintenance of Byker’s district heating system. They will also attend college and study towards an NVQ, Key Skills and a technical certificate. Callum and Alan were up against over 100 applicants for the apprenticeships, and celebrated their job offers by leaping around their living rooms. Callum had applied for more than 100 positions before securing the apprenticeship. He said: “I was originally interested in becoming an electrician but after applying for so many roles without getting anywhere I spotted the plumbing apprenticeship online and decided to give it a go. I can’t believe how much I’ve learnt in the short time since I started the role – I knew nothing before and I’ve already learnt loads of new skills. I just couldn’t be happier to have this opportunity.” Alan was recently made redundant from a similar role. He said: “I was absolutely over the 14 moon when I heard I’d got the apprenticeship. It’s brilliant working on my own estate, I literally live just round the corner from the depot and helping in people’s homes in my own community is excellent too, I’m really enjoying meeting everyone.” Jill Haley, Chief Executive of the Byker Community Trust, said: “We are thrilled to have two lads who live here directly helping their neighbours with issues in their homes and dealing with maintenance across the community. “The apprenticeships demonstrate very clearly that the people of Byker are at the heart of everything we do. We hope other young people who live on the estate will see how proud Callum and Alan are to be working in their local area and consider applying for similar opportunities in the near future.” Need help or support getting into work or training? Call James Malia at Newcastle Futures on 07814 439 986. £25 prIZE WordsEarch Complete the wordsearch to win a £25 Eldon Square voucher to spend on whatever you fancy! E M P L O H O T E L I T Y A L W C S N T P E E G N I G I L Y H T L A W H E N E N S T P E W N K S H K R A I Y R H T F A U N E C T I C I A H L M S G E S L E T B L M I A M O L H N B E Y V S U N S H I N E T L M W O O L L F S E U D E Z E B I E S Q I F W E R O R N G M A N K U A E S G A W V D U G E I I N M A E M I I N O R A S O O N T P E B E E N R A I T U R L T N C I L P Y C T N R E S O R T N K A S G H P A O T Y E A A N K K F X I I O N T D H W G B C N L N E R E W N M R W A N A H W R A L W P T E A T G L A N B I Y A D I L O H C O Q T P R R E I N V R I O T I B E D T R E M M D L A U T L L H C A L C U L A E T O N S R S A N D C A S T L E S H H A M I G T Aeroplane Beach Fete Happiness Holiday Hotel Parks Resort Sandcastles Strawberries Summer Sunbathing Sunshine Swimming Travel Walking Warmth Wimbledon Name: Address: Postcode: ✁ Ms Andisen was the lucky winner of last issue’s wordsearch competition. Ms Andisen (pictured with BCT Chief Executive Jill Haley) wins a £25 Eldon Square voucher – congratulations! Daytime telephone number: Send your completed puzzle along with your name, address and a daytime telephone number to: Byker Community Trust News competition, Byker Community Trust, 23 Raby Cross, Byker, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 2FF by 29 November 2013. Please note: competitions are only open to tenants and leaseholders with no rent arrears. 15 Free training courses Introduction to computers and the internet Gardening/Community Environmental This one day course will build your confidence and give you the basic skills to use a computer or the internet. Learn the basic skills and knowledge about gardening and community environmental work with this two week course taking place early next year. On completion of the course you’ll be guaranteed an interview for a six month paid placement at YHN. The course will cover: introduction to computers •Basic Typing •Settingletters up e mail accounts •Basic skills to use the internet. • Applicants must be over 16 Jamie Oliver’s Ministry of Food Learn to cook recipes from scratch and develop the all important cookery skills needed to follow practically any recipe. The 90 minute course will run once a week for eight weeks and is suitable for absolutely anyone. You’ll learn about food, nutrition and health, and at the end of each class you’ll have cooked a meal for two that you can take home and enjoy. At the end of the course you’ll receive a certificate in food hygiene through Newcastle College. Applicants must be over the age of 16 and wanting a career in catering and hospitality Want to book a place or find out more? Please contact Jill Davie by: •Phone: 0191 278 8723 •Text: ‘Training’ with your name and address to 0781 578 4037 •E mail: getinvolved@yhn.org.uk Training courses are open to all Newcastle City Council tenants and leaseholders. We can offer support to help you attend our courses like signers and interpreters. If you feel you need any additional support, just ask. handling •Manual first aid •Emergency SHARPs and asbestos awareness •Dealing with difficult situations •Entry level 3 IT qualification •Health and safety awareness •Green Deal energy efficiency awareness. • Applicants must be over 19, unemployed and in receipt of benefits National Careers Service This half day course will be held in the city centre and will help you: •Write a CV that stands out from the crowd you identify the different skills you can •Help offer an employer •Research jobs that suit you your confidence, communication •Improve and motivation skills. 23 Raby Cross Byker Newcastle upon Tyne NE6 2FF Tel: 0800 5335 442 email: enquiries@bykerct.co.uk