At Home Spring 2015

/PooleHousing

INSIDENew look PHP website NICE projects Mend It Mike Winter warmers| | |

www.YourPHP.org.uk

Home88 | Spring 2015

INSIDE

The magazine for Poole Housing Partnership residents

FREE

INSIDE!

Your rent

calendar for

2015/16

Find out how the towncould look in the future

A planfor Poole

New homesfinishedResidents move intotheir new pads

Happysnapping!

Social media comes tophotographers’ rescue

Poole community hub launch Meet the Helpdesk Belmont’s new garden Mend It Mike| | |

WELCOME...to the Spring

edition of

As ever, there’s lots of news to share with

you which I hope you’ll find interesting

and entertaining.

We were delighted to welcome the first

residents to our Bearwood development,

where we’ve built six energy-efficient

family homes. With demand for affordable

housing at an all-time high, it’s with a lot

of pride that we handed over the keys

to homes that set a new standard for council-rented properties in Poole.

Read more on page 12.

You can also catch up on the latest news from our Sterte refurbishment

project (which is almost complete) on page 18 and learn about the

provision of extra care at the new Trinidad Village currently being

developed on Rossmore Road on page 14.

Plus all the usual features you expect from – advice from Your

Money Team, tips from Mend It Mike, and ways for you to get involved in

our activities!

At Home.

Joe Logan

Chief Executive

Alternative formatsWe can supply this information inlarge print, on audio CD or in yourlanguage. We can also send you amagnifier. Please call 01202 264436to discuss your requirements.

2 At Home | Spring 2015

At Homeis produced for Poole Housing

Partnership residents.

We would like to include your own news,views and articles in future issues of

. Please send them to theaddress below, call 01202 264436 oremail .

Poole Housing Partnership LtdBeech House28-30 Wimborne RoadPoole BH15 2BU

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Poole Housing Partnership and the

content should not be reproduced

without permission.

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CHANGES TOAT HOMEWe hope you enjoy this issue of

, which is designed to

keep you up to date with the

latest developments at PHP

and within your community.

The magazine is currently

produced three times a year:

once in the Spring (this issue),

once in the Summer and once in

the Winter. The format of the

magazine has worked well in

the past, providing a way of

distributing news to PHP

residents across Poole.

But with more people accessing

information via the internet, and

the rising popularity of social

media, we feel the time has come

to reduce the number of

magazines we publish. We’ve

therefore taken the decision to

focus on developing our online

content. But don’t worry, we still

plan to produce two editions of

a year: one in the

Summer and one in the Winter.

.

If you have any comments

about the future of ,

please contact us at

[email protected]

At Home

At Home

At Home

Cover image: Waynermills

3At Home | Spring 2015

WHAT’S IN Home

News

Bloom in June

Getting involved

Community hub

extra care

downsizing

untangling your debts

balconies

right connections

Disabled Information

Mend It Mike

Rent calendar

just in

Are you ready for ?

gets even better

launched at Beech House

What is ?

Have you thought about ?

Spotlight on

Bravo for

Finding the

Team

2015/16

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...........................................................................................................8

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...........................................................................................10

...............................................................................................................................14

..................................................................................................15

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...............................................................................................................................18

..............................................................................................................19

.................................................................................................................19

.......................................................................................................................................23

.........................................................................................................................24

Happy Snappers delightat local support........20

Youngsters build newBMX track ................11

A new-look Poole towncentre for 2031? ........6

First residents moveinto new homes .......12

Get to know PHP’snerve centre.............21

Sensory garden on theway to Belmont .......22


NEWS JUST IN

Spring into action at your

local garden

With warmer weather and lighter days almost here,

it’s a great time to get involved at one of Poole’s

community food-growing projects.

www.yourphp.org.uk/newroots

There are three PHP-supported gardens – in Turlin Moor,

Poole Town and Alderney West – which are open round-the-

clock for residents to enjoy gardening, grow their own food

and provide a chance to get know their neighbours.

During the week, we hold gardening sessions which are

open to all. Call into Turlin Moor Community Garden on

Wednesdays (3.15-4.45pm) and Fridays (1.30-3.00pm), Poole

Town Community Garden on Tuesdays (3.15-4.45pm) and

Alderney West Community Garden on Thursdays

(4.00-5.30pm).

But that’s not all. Turlin Moor Community Garden will host

an Easter-themed planting event on Sunday 12th April 2015,

while Poole Town Community Garden’s community planting

fun day takes place on Sunday 26th April 2015.

For more details, go to .

Get help working

things out

PHP is looking for community-minded residents

who would like to help us develop a brand new

mediation service for local people.

Mediation is a way of listening to both sides of a

dispute, and helping friends, neighbours and

colleagues find a mutually beneficial solution.

Volunteer mediators need to be thoughtful, have good

listening skills and be able to empathise with other

people’s point of view. They may have to cope with

people who are upset, vulnerable, angry or distressed.

Most importantly, mediators need to be able to deal

with issues without judging the person experiencing the

problem.

We hope to be able to train residents to become

professional mediators, but initially we’re inviting

residents to express an interest in coming along to a

“taster” session.

To find out more, please contact Sandra Willson on

01202 264422 or Lesly Curtis on 01202 264416 by Friday

24th April 2015.

Kids love getting involved at Poole TownCommunity Garden.

Mediators help people resolve their problems in arespectful way.


Tuck into the Big Lunch

Would you like to join your neighbours for an afternoon

of food, fun and friendship, organised with support

from PHP?

[email protected]

Our Resident Involvement Team would like to hold a

“Big Lunch” event in Poole Park in June this year. The idea

originally came from the Eden Project and has spread

nationally to encourage residents to socialise with people

living in their localities.

Since its inception in 2009, thousands of Big Lunches have

been enjoyed up and down the country. And in 2014, 4.83m

people took to their streets, gardens and community spaces

to join in the fun.

We want to hear from you if the event sounds like

something you and your local community would like to try.

We can help organise and promote your lunch. The most

important thing is that the lunch includes as many of your

neighbours as possible.

Get in touch by calling 01202 264422 or emailing

.

Big donation for baby Bobbyseveral times a month. He also needs

to be fed through a tube.

The generous donation will help

Bobby’s parents, Jamie and Leanne,

buy a head support for his wheelchair

and a special seat which will enable

Bobby to join the family round the

table at meal times.

“Because Bobby can’t sit up on his

own, little things like having a family

meal or going food shopping can be

a big challenge,” said Leanne, who

cares for her son full-time. “But our

life will be made that bit easier

thanks to the residents’ donation.”

Jamie added: “We’re really grateful

to all the residents at Dale Valley for

what they’ve done to support Bobby.

It means a lot to the whole family.”

Leanne, Bobby and Jamie Griffin

Fancy holding a Big Lunch in your community?Then get in touch!

Residents at Dale Valley sheltered

scheme have presented the

parents of a sick local child with

a £500 donation to help buy

specialised equipment.

As reported in the last issue of

, residents chose to support

21-month-old Bobby Griffin, who

suffers from Gastroesophageal Reflux

Disease, by donating proceeds from

their coffee mornings, bingo nights

and prize raffles.

The condition causes severe vomiting

and Bobby has to visit hospital

At Home


IT’S ALL PART OFTHE MASTERPLAN

Everyone’s talking abouta Poole “masterplan”but what exactly is it?

Ten years ago Borough of Poolelaunched a planning and designdocument to guide the rejuvenationand development of Poole town centre.

The guidance shaped several successfulprojects which you can see today,including the Twin Sails Bridge, ASDA,Poole Quarter and the new RNLIbuildings.

What will Poole look like in 2031?Following consultation with the local community,Borough of Poole has published a document whichsets out ambitious plans for the town centre’sdevelopment. Here’s a quick snapshot of how Poolecould look in the future…

Borough of Poole has since updatedthe document to bring everything upto date and provide forward-thinkingadvice up until 2031.

The plan is driven by some clearobjectives: to extend the heart ofPoole; improve connectivity acrossthe town; strengthen Poole’s uniquecharacter; and diversify the town’seconomic base.

What does the planaim to do?

In real terms, the plan recommends thedevelopment of 2,500 new homes, newretail and leisure facilities, improvedwaterfront access and public spaces,better pedestrian and cycle links, andmore links to Poole’s port.

Like a lot of towns, Poole’s landscapesuffers from poor integration betweenits historic landmarks and its moremodern, urban features. Architecturefrom the 1960s and 1970s, which wasconsidered attractive at the time,is now perceived as bland anduninspiring (the Dolphin Centre, trainstation and bus station being just a fewexamples).

Why have a plan forPoole? Isn’t the townokay as it is?

Up to 2,500 homes could be built in Poole over the next 15 years. Poole could benefit from moreretail and leisure units.


There’s generally a lack of good qualitypublic spaces in the town, a lot of thecurrent street furniture needsreplacing, and not all of the waterfrontis accessible. There’s a high number ofvacant retail units (16% in 2013).

Poole Town is the fourth most deprivedward in Poole, followed closely byHamworthy, so the plan aims to changethese areas for the better.

There are over 40 hectares of landwhich has development potentialwithin the town centre. Borough ofPoole has identified three “principleareas of change”, each with their ownstrengths and weaknesses:

What areas could benefitfrom development?

• (includingthe former power station site,former Sydenhams yard, landbetween Poole Bridge and Twin SailsBridge, land between Twin SailsBridge and the RNLI, Poole port,and Lower Hamworthy).

The regeneration area

• (including theDolphin Centre, Dolphin Pool,Kingland Road area, train station,Poole Stadium, and SainsburysGo Active area).

Town centre north

• (includingLifeboat Quay, area east of HungerHill, West Quay Road, Thistle hotel,and Lagland Street).

Rest of the town centre

Borough of Poole has identified lots ofpotential improvements that could bemade to these areas, from adding moretrees and green spaces, to building cyclepaths and underground car parks. You canread the guidance in full at Poole librariesand online at

.

www.poole.gov.uk/planning-and-buildings/regeneration/regeneration-masterplan

• Provide new facilities for Poole

Rowing Club and Poole Sea

Scouts.

• Provide 24/7 links through the

Dolphin Centre to connect the

High Street and High Street

North.

• Remodel or relocate the bus

station to create a high quality

waiting area.

• Provide a new or refurbished

train station.

• Provide a pedestrian link over

the railway line between

Kingland Crescent and

Sainsbury’s supermarket.

• Provide pedestrian connections

between Lagland Street and the

High Street.

HIGHLIGHTSOF THEMASTERPLAN

The masterplan recommendsthe development of a newpublic quayside.

An improved retail experience should be offered at the Dolphin Centre.

Principle areas of change in Pooletown centre.

Poole Housing Partnership Ltd


PHP’s gardening competition is making acomeback this year, and the time’s cometo get your entry in!

ARE YOU READY FORBLOOM IN JUNE?

Please enter me/us in the BLOOM IN JUNE gardening competition in the

following category/ies (you may enter more than one category)

Best front garden

Best back garden

Best pot/container or basket garden

Tallest sunflower (aged 15 and under)

Best display by a youth club

Best young gardener (aged 15 and under)

Best sheltered scheme communal garden

Best community vegetable garden

Best artistic interpretation of a garden e.g. painting, drawing, model or

photo

Name

Address

Tel

Email

Age (if entering sunflower competition)

Name of club or scheme (if entering on behalf of a community project)

Open to all

Open to young people and children

Open to community applications

Open to anyone who does not have a garden or who is unable to garden

(1st, 2nd, 3rd prizes of vouchers £25, £20, £15)

(prizes as above)

(prizes as above)

(1st, 2nd, 3rd prizes £25, £20, £15)

(a single prize of £50)

(1st, 2nd, 3rd prizes £25, £20, £15)

(1st, 2nd, 3rd prizes £25, £20, £15)

(1st, 2nd, 3rd prizes £25, £20, £15)

(a single prize of £20)

ENTRY FORM

If you read the last issue of , you’ll

know that our gardening competition – Bloom in

June – is back with a bang.

www.yourphp.org.uk/bloom

It couldn’t be easier to take part. Simply pick a

category, complete the entry form opposite and

send it to:

Alternatively, you can enter online at

.

The closing date for applications is Monday 1st

June 2015.

A judging panel will visit the gardens during the

week commencing Monday 29th June 2015.

(Please note if we have a large number of entries we

may need to extend this timescale!) Winners will be

announced in the next issue of and

entrants will be invited to a celebration event in

September when we will present the winners with

their prizes.

Good luck!

Resident Involvement Team

FREEPOST PHP

At Home

At Home


GETTING INVOLVEDGETS EVEN BETTER

We’ve introduced some fantastic new waysfor you to get involved in what we do.

Last year, the Resident Involvement Team

launched a document to give PHP residents more

opportunities – and more support – to work on

behalf of people in their communities.

www.yourphp.org.uk/involve

We rely on involved residents to distribute important

information, gather feedback on services, organise

events and help run estate inspections.

Many of these residents, who work on a voluntary

basis, attended our launch event, where we presented

certificates of achievement to recognise their valuable

contributions.

The new resident involvement guidance document,

which you can view at ,

describes the different ways you can have your say and

what you can expect from us in return.

Among the changes is the creation of four new panels.

These are groups that meet on a regular basis to

discuss different aspects of PHP’s work. They provide a

fantastic way for you to directly influence our services.

The panel relates to repairs and maintenance, major works,

decent homes, energy efficiency and adaptations.

The panel discusses empty properties, housing demand and

allocations, tenancy management, under-occupation and overcrowding.

The panel meets to talk about

complaints and compliments, community groups, engagement of under

represented groups, consultation at national and local level.

The panel is centred around grounds

maintenance, cleanliness of communal areas, fire safety, environment,

volunteering, anti-social behaviour, community events and sheltered

housing.

The new panels will be up and running from April, so if you’d like to become

a member, or just find out more information, please contact the team on

01202 264422 or email .

And if you would like to keep in touch with the work we’re doing, and what’s

happening in your neighbourhood, please let us know and we will add you

to our resident involvement mailing list!

[email protected]

Home

Tenancy

Tenant Involvement and Empowerment

Neighbourhood and Community

Advice about housing, banking, debt,unemployment and volunteering isavailable all at the same place forthe first time in Poole.

Beech House is nowhome to several of Poole’s mostuseful and sought-out local organisations.10 At Home | Spring 2015

The Worshipful Mayor of Poole, Cllr Peter Adams, has

officially launched a “one stop shop” for residents needing

advice about housing, banking, debt, unemployment and

volunteering.

www.yourphp.org.uk/communityhub

Offices at Beech House – PHP’s HQ since 2004 – have been

transformed to provide new homes for some high-profile and

well-recognised local organisations, including Sandbourne

Housing Association, Poole Citizens Advice Bureau, Coastal

Community Savings & Loans, Poole Council for Voluntary

Service, and Poole Well-being Collaborative.

The ground floor and reception area has been fully refurbished

and reconfigured, new meeting spaces added on all floors, and

a brand new residents’ resource centre, where members of the

community can access IT facilities and the internet for free, set

up on the top floor. (They can also enjoy fantastic views of Poole

Harbour!)

PHP took over the head lease of the Wimborne Road site in

2013 and we will continue to operate much of our activities from

our current offices. Our search for “partners” which would

complement our services started last year, and it is hoped that

residents will now be able to make use of several of the

organisations during a single visit to Beech House.

Su Spence, PHP’s Director of Finance and Resources, who led

the refurbishment project, said: “We are really pleased to be

able to launch the new community hub, which will add real

benefit not just to PHP residents but to the whole community in

Poole. We have already seen real improvements in the services

we offer and things can only get better in the future.”

Find out more at .

COMMUNITYHUB LAUNCHEDAT BEECH HOUSE


Local children have got stuck into

redeveloping a recreation area to

make it more inviting for all residents.

The old BMX area at Haskells Recreation

Ground used to be detached from the

main recreational space, which boasts a

well-used football pitch and play area.

But following consultation with local

residents, including many young users of

the area, the BMX section has now been

re-modelled and re-landscaped.

Initial works included the removal of

fences and the thinning of the woodland

to allow better views of the BMX dirt

ramps and surrounding areas. In addition,

the existing BMX ramps needed attention

as they had become overgrown and were

unsuitable for use to all but the most

daring of riders. There are also plans for

new steps and a gravel path to be

installed.

NEW LEASE OF LIFEFOR BMX TRACKBMX dirt ramps have received an overhaul thanks tohelp from youngsters living in Newtown.

Youngsters work with staff fromBorough of Poole to redevelop

Haskells BMX track in Newtown.

Approximately 30 young people came

forward after last year’s public

consultation, wanting to get involved

with saving and improving this space.

In January this year, they took part in a

council-led “design day” where the views

of all users were listened to and plans

were made. Youngsters worked with

council officers and contractors to

re-shape the soil mounds and create a

much improved layout of ramps and

jumps.

Wheelbarrows, spades and shovels were

wielded by the young people in tandem

with the excavators and dumper trucks

shifting large loads of top soil. They even

had the opportunity to test the new ramps

and jumps as the works were taking place.

Local resident Joe Dowty said:

“Once you put your back into

the work that you wanted to

accomplish, it was amazing to see what

can be achieved. The end result is really

rewarding.”

Councillor Xena Dion, Cabinet Portfolio

Holder for Parks and Open Spaces,

Borough of Poole, said: “It is great to see

the local residents playing such a huge

part in breathing new life into an

important area of their community.

“They are a credit to their generation

and they should feel really proud of their

achievements.”

The BMX works, with a budget of

approximately £10,000, are being funded

by developer contributions and are part

of a wider scheme to improve the open

spaces and play areas in Newtown.


Delighted residents now have “a lovely

place to live” after the Mayor of Poole,

Cllr Peter Adams, welcomed families to

the first set of new, energy-efficient

council homes to be built in the town

for two decades.

Borough of Poole, PHP and construction

firm C.G. Fry & Son have worked together

to transform a previously underused site

at Bearwood into a development of six

modern, family homes. Each home

benefits from three bedrooms, a back

garden and an allocated parking space.

The site was identified as having excellent

potential for redevelopment, particularly

as the new homes, which have taken just

12 months to build, set a new standard for

council-rented dwellings in Poole.

The properties benefit from a

contemporary internal and external

design, attractive landscaping, and

FAMILIES MOVEINTO NEWPHP HOMESResponding to the demand for more affordablehousing in Poole, we’ve turned a former garageblock site into six splendid family homes.

exciting energy-efficiency measures

designed to reduce carbon emissions and

help residents save money on their energy

bills.

The Mayor of Poole handed over the keys

to the first family – Rebecca Lennard, 33,

and her children Keeleigh, 12, and Oakley,

11, during a special launch event. Cutting

the ribbon, Cllr Adams said: “What is

important is not the houses but the people

who now have a lovely place to live,

provided by Borough of Poole and PHP.”

Joe Logan, Chief Executive, Poole

Housing Partnership, said: “These

fantastic homes set a new standard for

council-rented properties in Poole. Built to

a high specification and featuring state-of-

the-art energy efficiency measures, the

homes have been developed with a

sustainable future very much in mind.

The project is just the start of an exciting

programme to bring more much-needed

affordable housing to Poole.”


•

•

•

•

There’s air-source heat pump technology (above) in each

home which provides heating and hot water

The homes all meet “Code 4” of the government’s national

standard for the sustainable design and construction,

meaning they have been built above the current minimum

standards.

The homes have been thoroughly insulated to minimise heat

loss and carbon emissions.

We’ve installed good-quality fencing, ground anchors and

potting sheds to enhance the living environment.

BEST BITS

PHP has worked with the community to minimise the impact

of the building works. Following consultation with local people

in late 2013, the plans were revised to incorporate more parking

spaces to satisfy the needs of new and existing King John

Avenue residents. Residents were also invited to an exclusive

“open house” event to see inside the new homes, meet the

project team and tell us about their experiences during the

build.

Watch the build from start to finish on our website:

www.yourphp.org.uk/newhomes


If you’ve driven down Rossmore Road

recently, you’ll have noticed a lot of

activity on the Trinidad House site.

The bungalows and common room

facing the main road have been

demolished and the first bricks will soon

be laid for what will become a 54-unit

extra care facility called Trinidad Village –

a project developed by Borough of

Poole, PHP and the Homes &

Communities Agency.

Extra care offers enhanced support and

facilities to older people and adults with

care and support needs to live

independently in a home of their own.

It brings together services offered in

residential care with the accommodation

and lifestyle provided by traditional,

good-quality housing. Its focus is on

quality of life, as well as quality of care.

With the number of older people living

in Poole rising, and an increasing number

of very elderly people requiring higher

levels of care, Trinidad Village will provide

the level of support needed to enable

these residents to remain part of their

community.

Trinidad Village is due to welcome its

first residents in Summer 2016.

You can stay up to date with the project

at .www.yourphp.org.uk/trinidad

As work continues on the new Trinidad Villagedevelopment, we take a look at the need for extracare housing in Poole.

WHAT IS EXTRA CARE?

Trinidad Village will enable residents to live independently in a home of their own.

Extra care:

• Enables residents to continue to

self-care and enjoy their

independence.

• Offers privacy but still provides

access to other services and

facilities.

• Offers a preferable choice to

residential care.

• Helps residents take care of

themselves for longer, and medical

care is brought in when needed.

• Provides facilities, including a

restaurant, spa and outside spaces,

which both residents and the wider

community can enjoy.

At Home | Spring 2015 15

We can help residentsmove to smaller homes.

HAVE YOUTHOUGHT ABOUTDOWNSIZING?

In the last 12 months, the Transfer

Enablement Scheme has supported

residents across Poole to downsize to

a more suitable home of their choice.

Set up following changes to welfare

benefit, and to prevent residents falling

into rent arrears, we’ve helped 54

households move to more manageable

homes, including moving from a one-

bedroom general needs property to

sheltered accommodation.

Our tenancy support officer can help

residents with:

The Dorset HomeChoice application

process.

Monitoring of the application and

the bidding process.

Once a home has been allocated,

support will be given with:

Planning the move.

Informing utility companies.

Change of address forms.

Payment of removal costs.

Each transfer is tailored to the resident’s

needs, and we can visit you at home to

go through the process with you.

•

•

•

•

•

•

Feedback from residents:

Mr & Mrs Harris said: “We had a four-bed

home which was far too big for us to

manage, so we received help moving to

sheltered accommodation. The support

was wonderful and there was no hassle at

all. On the day of the move, the company

we used was very kind understanding

and professional throughout. We love

our new flat and it is great to be able to

join in with the activities on site. Our way

of life has improved 100%!”

Miss Cooper said: “I received help with

the application and then the bidding

process, once allocated a flat of my

choice. I had help with packing up and

the removal costs were paid for. This is an

absolutely great service I would not have

had the confidence to move without it.”

If you would like to know more about

how the scheme works please contact

Jane Holloway on 01202 264424 or

07500 669037 (Jane works Tuesdays,

Wednesdays and Thursdays).

PHP is running a schemeto help residents moveto smaller, more suitablehomes.


SPOTLIGHT ONUNTANGLINGYOUR DEBTSAre you struggling to manage your debts?Do you want to get it sorted but don’t knowwhere to start? Then we’re here to help!

Access free debt advice

•

•

•

•

PHP’s Your Money Team can help you to take your first steps to

becoming debt-free. We can help to untangle your debts, and

find the best solution for your needs, by putting you in touch

with a FREE debt advice agency. It may be that you start with

£1 offer letters to your creditors and move on to a longer-term

solution where you pay the debt agency, which shares all your

money among your creditors (be aware that there are many

debt agencies that charge a fee and only part of your payment

actually goes towards your debts).

Examples of free debts agencies are:

0800 138 1111

(freephone, including many major mobile networks)

0800 280 2816

(mobile calls may be cheaper on 020 7760 8980)

0808 808 4000

(freephone, including many major mobile networks)

0800 328 0006

(visiting service provider)

Stepchange

Payplan

National Debt Line

Christians Against Poverty

“THE RESTART SCHEMEENABLES YOU TO PAYYOUR CURRENT YEARCHARGES AND AT THEEND OF YEAR ONE,WESSEX WATER WILLREDUCE YOUR DEBTBY AN EQUIVALENTAMOUNT.”


Are you experiencing water debt?

Have you considered a Charis Grant?

•

•

•

•

•

Water debt is very common but there are schemes available

to help you. If you have a meter and use a lot of water you

may be entitled to a reduction in your bill via WaterSure, a

scheme which caps your bill. To be eligible, you must be on

a certain benefit and either receive Child Benefit for three

children, or suffer from a medical condition that means you

use a significant amount of water. Find out more at

.

Wessex Water’s TAP assistance programme could help you

if you are struggling to pay your water bill. There are a few

schemes to choose from, depending on your situation.

For example, the Restart Scheme enables you to pay your

current year charges and at the end of year one, Wessex

Water will reduce your debt by an equivalent amount.

Then, in year two, if you continue to pay your current year

charges, Wessex Water we will clear your remaining debt

and you will be back on track. Please call 0345 600 3 600

to talk to a Wessex Water advisor.

Need help with utility debt, other essential priority bills or

household items?

There are some grants available to pay off some or all of

your debts (depending on what they are) – however, these

schemes are designed to help those who most need it and

whilst you can apply, it doesn’t mean you will automatically

be successful. Charis Grants work with the following

companies who provide the help:

Online applications can be completed for some of the above

please search for “Charis Grants” for more details or contact

Your Money Team directly.

www.wessexwater.co.uk

British Gas

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Remember:

Your Money Team is here to help you to take control of

your money. If you need support with benefits, budgeting

or managing your debts, please contact us on

01202 264400, or .email [email protected]


Happy Sterte residents now have access

to brand-new, fully enclosed balconies,

marking one of the final stages of PHP’s

major refurbishment project.

The balconies, which were once bleak

and cramped, have been replaced with

comfortable and attractive “outdoor”

living spaces. Each balcony boasts almost

10m of space (which is about enough to

create an extra room!)

The spacious enclosures also protect

the tower blocks from the effects of poor

weather by addressing a problematic cold-

bridge area in each flat. As a result, the

temperature of the rooms is likely to rise by

several degrees.

Almost all residents will be able to use the

extra room throughout the year. The units

all drain down to the ground through

channels in the corner posts, while

residents can also fold back the upper

section to ventilate the space and keep

the enclosures clean.

2

BRAVO FOR BALCONIESAs the Sterte refurbishment nears completion, the first residents celebrategetting the keys to their new balconies.

The whole site at Sterte is being cleared

as our contractor, Keepmoat, makes the

final touches to the refurbished blocks.

Work is due to start on the surrounding

outside space, which faces Holes Bay

Road, using a design chosen by Sterte

residents. The landscaping work is

expected to be complete in April 2015.

PHP’s New Roots Co-ordinator Clare

Sutton will also be working with residents

to develop their own community food-

growing project (similar to the PHP-

supported garden in Alderney West),

with raised beds for growing fruit and

vegetables.

Clare said: “All residents will be very

welcome to come along to weekly

gardening sessions, which PHP will

support, or take part in whatever way

suits them. We also plan to sow the

wildflower meadow areas as part of a

community project and, again, we very

much hope lots of residents will want to

be involved in this.”

Sterte residents can now enjoy acomfortable “outside” space.

Susan Young receives the keys toher new balcony from Keepmoat’sJoe Southwick and Clair Gaylard.

DisabledInformationTeam (DIT)

Do you have a physical disability?

Are you looking for supportor a sympathetic ear?

The Disabled Information Teamcould help you.

To find out more, please call .01202 888255

DIT is a group of residents with disabilitieswho are able to help people who sufferwith mobility, sight, hearing or mental

health issues.

The team is accredited through the CitizensAdvice Bureau and will do their very best to

advise and guide you through any problems youmight have.


Poole Well-being Collaborativecan help direct you to sources ofhelp and support in Poole.

FINDING THE RIGHTCONNECTIONS

A new service aimed at sign-posting residents tosources of help and support has just launched in Poole.

Do you know someone who couldbenefit from access to non-medicallocal activities, social groups andadvice?

www.pwbcollaborative.org.uk/psps

Poole Well-being Collaborative is alocal organisation which could pointyou in the right direction. Its newinitiative, Poole Social PrescriptionService, provides free and confidentialsupport based on the needs andinterests of Poole residents, makingit a personalised experience.

The service is aimed at those whofeel socially excluded, are out of workor unable to work due to sickness,experience high levels of anxiety orsuffer from low confidence or self-esteem.

It aims to reduce pressure on busyfamily doctors and find alternatives tohelp people experiencing depressionand bereavement, among other issues.

Poole Social Prescription Service isopen to anyone who lives in Poole,following referral from their GP, socialworker, health care professional,housing officer or family member.You can also self-refer to the service.

To find out more visit.


A camera club has expressed its

delight at the success of a social media

campaign to help replace equipment

stolen during a pre-Christmas break-in.

Members of the Happy Snappers club, all

aged 60 and over, were left devastated

after their shared computer – containing

many irreplaceable photographs – was

stolen from the common room at PHP’s

Cinnamon Lane sheltered scheme.

The 12-strong group get together on a

monthly basis to critique their work, and

mount and display their favourite shots for

fellow residents to enjoy. But the meetings

were temporarily interrupted following

the theft of the laptop, which wasn’t

insured as it was stored in a communal

area.

When news of the break-in reached PHP,

Community Involvement Officer Claire

Wade wasted no time in reaching out to

POOLE PAPS BACKSNAPPINGCamera-clicking residents receive new laptop – thanks to Facebook!

the local community for help getting the

club up and running again.

Claire’s crowdfunding project attracted

significant interest on social media,

eventually leading to a meeting with IT,

media and marketing company 2xStream,

which offered to donate a refurbished

Apple laptop, preloaded with image-

editing software, free of charge.

Claire said: “The camera club provides a

fantastic opportunity for older people to

get together and enjoy sharing their

passion for photography, so having

their laptop stolen was a massive blow.

But thanks to the support we received on

Facebook and Twitter, the message soon

spread and the club now has the use of a

superb new piece of kit.”

Chair of Happy Snappers Cliff Densley, 82,

said: “Happy Snappers has been running

since 2005 and this was the first time we

experienced having any of our equipment

stolen. We’re delighted that the club has

returned to business and usual.”

Happy Snappers is open to all Poole

residents over the age of 55. The club

meets every month and doesn’t charge

any fees to attend.

To find out more please email Claire Wade

or call 01202 264310.

Claire Wade presents the Happy Snappers with their new laptop.

TABLE TOP SALEGet down to Cinnamon Lane on Saturday 18th April 2015 from 10am for brick-a-brack,

refreshments and a prize raffle. For details please call Jean May on 01202 674682.

The nerve centre of PHP is a group of hard-working, committed andknowledgeable members of staff who are dedicated to giving residentsthe best customer service experience. Meet PHP’s Helpdesk team!


Who works on the Helpdesk?

What does the Helpdesk do?

Our friendly team is made up of Customer Service Officers

(CSOs) Abbey, Becky, Clare, Stacey, Elaine, Abi, Natasha,

Rachael, Jen and Caroline, and Senior Customer Service Officer

Angie. Each CSO is also a trained receptionist, so

the team is based both on the Helpdesk and on Beech House

reception.

The team acts as a first point of contact for residents and people

who work with PHP to provide help, support and assistance on a

huge array of issues. From logging repair requests, to arranging

inspections, processing orders and directing enquiries to

relevant PHP departments, there isn’t much that the Helpdesk

doesn’t get involved with!

An important part of the CSO’s role is to keep up to date with

developments within PHP so residents benefit from a “one stop

shop” when they call up or visit us for help.

INTRODUCING…THE HELPDESK

To facilitate this, each member of the team spends time working

alongside colleagues in our Technical, Neighbourhood, Support

and Sheltered teams to build their knowledge so they can answer

residents’ enquiries quickly and efficiently.

When you call us, a CSO is likely to be the first person you speak

to. Similarly, if you visit Beech House, a member of the team will

be working on the reception desk and will be happy to help you.

You may also hear from a CSO if we need to arrange a visit to your

home – for example, a contractor to carry out any repair work.

It couldn’t be easier to get in touch with a member of the

team. You can call 0800 652 3900 or 0300 200 3900 (from

your mobile phone). Alternatively, you can email the team at

or call into Beech House [email protected]

When am I likely to see or talk to a

member of the Helpdesk?

How can I get in touch with the Helpdesk?


Work is underway to turn Belmont

Court’s garden into a pleasant outside

space to support rest, relaxation, fun

and friendship.

Residents and staff at the extra care

facility in Parkstone have been involved in

planning the sensory garden, which will

include a range of structural elements

and types of planting – all designed to

take people on a journey and create

opportunities for stimulating

experiences.

The existing outside space is made up of

a simple hard-standing landscape which

encircles the perimeter of the sheltered

scheme. Residents and visitors currently

use this path as a pedestrian circuit.

BELMONT’S NEWBACK GARDENResidents at Belmont Court are set to benefit from anexciting new sensory garden to enjoy and explore.

But the new designs aim to enliven and

inspire by dividing the garden into four

distinct sensory zones, each with its own

theme and distinct features.

At the front of the building, seating areas,

raised beds, trellis and evergreen

planting will be introduced to enhance

the existing open, avenue-like

environment.

A “wildlife walk” area, which will provide

an elevated look-out so residents can

enjoy spectacular views of Poole

Harbour, will be developed at the north

west side. We hope the woodland feel

of this space will continue to attract

squirrels, birds and other wildlife!

The garden will also bring the sights and

smells of the Mediterranean to Poole by

offering a new courtyard with a pergola,

formal planting and small seating area.

Evergreen pines, rosemary and

euphorbias will produce attractive smells

reminiscent of summer holidays.

The main focus of the work, however, will

be to build a wheelchair-accessible south

garden which will benefit from a rose

garden, vegetable plot (for residents to

grow their own food), summer house,

BBQ seating area, green lawn and insect

garden.

The first phase of the sensory garden is

expected to open for residents to use in

late Spring 2015.

How BelmontCourt’s new sensory

garden could look, withpathways, vegetable plot,

summer house and BBQ area.

MEND IT MIKEPHP’s Director of Technical Services helps you get togrips with maintenance issues around your home.

If you have any maintenance problems you’d like solved please email us at

[email protected] and we’ll forward them to Mend It Mike!

If water is not coming out of all the holes in your

shower head, it’s probably because limescale is

building up inside it. Try rubbing the surface of

the shower head to remove any limescale on the

outside. If this doesn’t solve the problem, you

may need to descale the inside. Here’s how:

1 If possible, unscrew the hose attachment from

the shower head. There may be a retaining

screw in the centre of the rose.

2 Soak the parts in a descaling agent or white

vinegar in a bucket overnight.

3 When soaking is complete, run the shower to

waste for one minute.

4 Re-assemble the parts, checking that the

rubber washer for the hose is in place.

This seals the joint and prevents it leaking.

Mike/

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Rent calendar 2015/16Payment due dates

Rent free week(NB If you have arrears you need to maintainyour payments during these weeks.)

Payment Amount Date Payment Amount Datedue date paid paid due date paid paid

06/04/2015 05/10/2015

13/04/2015 12/10/2015

20/04/2015 19/10/2015

27/04/2015 26/10/2015

04/05/2015 02/11/2015

11/05/2015 09/11/2015

18/05/2015 16/11/2015

25/05/2015 23/11/2015

01/06/2015 30/11/2015

08/06/2015 07/12/2015

15/06/2015 14/12/2015

22/06/2015 21/12/2015

29/06/2015 28/12/2015

06/07/2015 04/01/2016

13/07/2015 11/01/2016

20/07/2015 18/01/2016

27/07/2015 25/01/2016

03/08/2015 01/02/2016

10/08/2015 08/02/2016

17/08/2015 15/02/2016

24/08/2015 22/02/2016

31/08/2015 29/02/2016

07/09/2015 07/03/2016

14/09/2015 14/03/2016

21/09/2015 21/03/2016

28/09/2015 28/03/2016

Refer to this list to see when you need to make your rent payments, and tick themoff once made. Please ensure you keep your receipts safe.

At Home Spring 2015

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Transcript of At Home Spring 2015