Winter 2013

CBHA
NEWS
The magazine for CBHA residents
Autumn/Winter 2013
Supporting the wider
community
NEW JOBS FOUND
FOR RESIDENTS
TWO RESIDENTS
JOIN BOARD
REPAIRS TEAM
JOINS GROUP
NEW WEBSITE
GOES LIVE
CHAIR’S BLOG
Gonul has been a Walthamstow
resident for many years and I know
she is particularly keen on CBHA’s
work relating to youth issues. Having
brought up her son, who is now at
university, and her own work at the
primary school and in the art club,
drama and homework clubs there,
she has plenty of knowledge to bring
to our Board meetings.
I am delighted to welcome two
residents to the CBHA Board.
Congratulations to Gonul Kole and
Omeco White who have taken the
places vacated by Robert Ogle and
Mr Perwez. It has been good to start
getting to know them.
Their varying experiences will bring
some fresh perspectives to our
work as a Board and their induction
meeting was this month.
We had a significant number of
applicants for the roles, so a big thank
you goes to all our residents who
were keen to participate in CBHA’s
work. Some of the applicants are now
getting involved in other ways.
CONTACT CBHA
CBHA News is published on paper
from sustainable sources three times
a year for tenants and leaseholders of
CBHA.
Written and edited by Debbie Watkins,
Purple Publications. Designed and
printed by Gemini Press.
02
University lecturer Omeco has
experience on two other Boards and
has been a satisfied CBHA Chingford
resident. She says she is ‘absolutely
looking forward to it’. It will be good
to have them along on the Board
away day. You can read more on
Gonul and Omeco on page 4.
Caring this winter
As in the past, I am sure CBHA
residents will continue to look
out for their elderly and less able
neighbours, particularly as we head
into the colder months. And, as
Christmas approaches, I would like
to wish all our residents Season’s
Greetings.
Debbie Griggs.
LOOK OUT
FOR ANNUAL
REPORT
The Annual Report will
be out soon, giving
residents detailed
information about how
CBHA has performed
in its services.
it will be available for
download on our website:
www.cbha.org.uk.
Alternatively, if you would
like a printed copy, please
contact us on 020 7922 8500.
AWAY DAY
The Board’s away day in early
December is a chance for us to
look at business priorities for
the next year. If there are any
issues residents feel the Board
should focus on, please let
us know as soon as possible.
You can contact resident
involvement officer Matthew
Weekes on 020 7922 8553.
Contact CBHA for all four areas on our one central number:
0207 922 8500.
Or email us at:
Services @cbha.org.uk
Send your comments, suggestions
and letters for CBHA News to:
CBHA News, Central Office, 433-443 High Road,
Leytonstone, London E11 4JU.
WELCOME
MAINTENANCE TEAM JOINS THE
PEABODY GROUP
CBHA repairs and maintenance contractors TMA
have now joined the Peabody Group. Their new
name is Peabody Group Maintenance Ltd (PGM).
They have become a Peabody subsidiary with a
contract to provide full maintenance services to
around 1,500 CBHA properties.
Residents will see the same familiar, friendly faces as they continue
to maintain CBHA homes to a high standard but may have noticed
the different vans around the areas.
The cost-effective and efficient repairs and maintenance service
meant an outstanding 97% satisfaction last year in completed
repairs.
PGM managing director
Jason Munford
CBHA chief executive Jude Leighton said: “It has been great
working with them on joining the group as they are so enthusiastic
about providing great services to CBHA residents.”
PGM managing director Jason Munford said: “We are happy to
have joined the Peabody family and look forward to making PGM
an ever more successful venture.”
The Peabody Group has other plans to grow and is in talks with
Gallions Housing Association which owns 6,500 homes, based
mainly in Thamesmead in south east London.
(Cover image: Eosief Loumbas and Michael Anderson with one of the
new vans.)
PGM operations director
Terry Anderson
GAS SAFETY
Free potentially life-saving gas safety
checks could save your life. By law CBHA
must carry out a gas safety inspection
every year – and last year achieved 100%.
Demi Munford and Terry Anderson go
through some repair requests
The inspection could also save you money on
your heating by ensuring your boiler is working
efficiently.
NEWS UPDATE
03
RESIDENTS OMECO AND GONUL
JOIN CBHA’S BOARD
A big welcome goes out to CBHA’s
two new Board members as their
appointments are made official.
Omeco White, 30, from Chingford, and Gonul Kole,
51, from Walthamstow, join the resident-led Board
and have already attended their first meetings.
Having lived in Chingford for 10 years, Omeco said
she had always wondered how things were done
at CBHA and wanted to give something back to
her community.
04
“I have also gained knowledge about social
housing through the university Board.”
Meanwhile, Gonul has tremendous knowledge and
experience of the issues affecting local people of
all ages as she has lived in the area for 35 years.
Gonul said: “I work at Thomas Gamuel Primary
School teaching English to children for whom it is
a second language. I know many of the adults and
children here. I seem to have a rapport with the
youths and some respect, probably because they
knew me as children at the school.”
Omeco, who works as a lecturer in biomedical
sciences at the University of Westminster, said:
“I am on both the Research Committee Board
and the University Board so I have experience of
Board membership. I am used to reading Board
documents and financial papers and understand
that it is serious to make decisions that can have a
big impact on residents.
“I am focused on improving life in the
communities. A happy community is really what
matters,” she added.
Omeco White
Gonul Kole
INVOLVEMENT
CUSTOMER SURVEY COMING SOON
In 2014 CBHA is moving to an annual
customer survey in which 25% of residents
will be contacted by telephone with
questions on their satisfaction with
services. CBHA is in talks with independent
marketing company Voluntas and hopes to
begin the survey in the spring.
Chief executive Jude Leighton said: “Last time
we were proud to achieve 90% overall landlord
satisfaction and 73% satisfaction for residents’
views being taken into account so we are hoping
to build on this success.”
The results and feedback will help CBHA further
improve its services to residents.
NEW WEBSITE IS LIVE
CBHA has now launched its new
interactive website.
Residents can use the online account to book
repairs, set up a direct debit to pay their rent and
report anti-social behaviour.
In addition, the new neighbourhood pages and
events calendar mean residents can see what is
happening in their local area as well as any CBHA
events. They can add their own notices too.
MAZ AND MARCIA JOIN VIVIENE READY TO
TEACH
DRESS-MAKING
SCRUTINY PANEL
The Scrutiny Panel has two new members
– Maz Siddiqi from Leyton and Marcia
Goodison from Chingford.
They will be helping the panel look at CBHA’s performance
and customer satisfaction in key areas and be part of
decision making.
The panel is about to start examining CBHA’s services
around mutual exchange.
Anyone else who is interested in sharing their ideas,
contributing to their community and further improving
CBHA services can contact resident involvement officer
Matthew Weekes on 020 7922 8553.
Chingford resident Viviene Lewis has
just qualified as a ‘Preparing to Teach
in the Lifelong Learning Sector’ (PTTLS)
instructor. She had not been working due
to ill health and needed to return to work.
With her PTTLS qualification, Viviene, 61, plans to
teach dress-making to people in the community.
She said: “It was very hard for me as I have been
out of learning for a long time. Roz Gordon and
Sheila Gammans were both really helpful to me
as I went through the course and guided me if I
was a bit stuck.”
05
JOYCE OFFERED SO MANY JOBS!
Doreen Capstan House resident Joyce Mutungwa has been inundated with job offers
and secured employment, following a revamping of her CV by CBHA employment
and training adviser Sheila Gammans.
Registered nurse Joyce, 63, was unable to work
from 2005 due to medical problems but started
looking for work again in 2009.
“I was applying everywhere, sending off my CV
and applying online but I could not find a job.
Then I went to Sheila at CBHA who helped me
bring my CV up to date,” said Joyce.
Since then, she has had numerous job offers.
“Some have offered me work on the strength of my
CV alone, without even interviewing me!”
Joyce accepted a part-time position as a nurse at
Forest Care Village nursing home. She is also now
registered with an agency to cover hospital shifts.
She added: “I am ever so grateful to Sheila for her
help. I would recommend anyone looking for work
to get the support that CBHA is offering.”
SIGN UP FOR JOB SEARCH HELP
Anyone looking for work or training opportunities can benefit from
our experts’ help. Sheila Gammans and Khalid Fysal can help you
find employment, give you tips on interview skills, and help with job
searches and CV writing.
They are based at
CBHA’s Digital Learning
Centre, 7 Saxon Close,
Walthamstow, London,
E17 8LE and can be
contacted on 0207
922 8500 (option
4) or by emailing
Khalidf@cbha.org.uk or
Sheilag@cbha.org.uk.
Sheila
Khalid
DAN FINDS WORK
Former security guard Dan
Rampadaruth has now also started
a new job, again thanks to help from
CBHA. Khalid Fysal helped Dan, 70,
secure a position at a children’s nursery.
Sheila Gammans
06
JOBS NEWS
Khalid said: “He was employed during the Olympics
but had been looking for work since then. Now
he is responsible for reception, the security of
the building and children at the nursery. He is
delighted.”
Khalid Fysal
SUCH A HIGH CALIBRE OF APPRENTICES
Three new CBHA apprentices are
all settling in well into their new
business admin roles. All will do
a one-year apprenticeship whilst
attending college once a week.
Walthamstow resident Denny Smith is
working at the Children’s Centre, Leytonstone;
Chingford resident Luka Wells is at Peabody
Group Maintenance; and Walthamstow
resident Daryl Penney is based in CBHA’s
revenues team at the Leytonstone office.
Employment and training adviser Sheila
Gammans said both the volume and standard
of applicants was exceptionally high so Denny,
Luka and Daryl did really well to secure their
places.
“We gave all those selected for interview oneto-one sessions covering CV advice, interview
techniques and role playing.”
As the calibre was so high, Sheila and Khalid
Fysal continued working with the remaining
apprentice candidates to secure them
employment or training. Thanks to them, Sade
Humphrey, of Walthamstow, is now working
at the high-street shop in Walthamstow
as a seasonal sales assistant. And Aaliyah
Joseph, of Leytonstone, is working at a
clothing manufacturer whist doing a business
administration qualification at City and
Islington College.
Meanwhile, the two-year apprentices who
are now in their second year continue to
stay on target to achieve their qualifications.
They are Sam Bassett (trainee surveyor with
CBHA), Myles Augustin (trainee surveyor with
Lakehouse), Shane Sinclair (multi-trades with
LB Newham) and Eosief Loumbas (PGM).
In addition, the previous one-year apprentice
Claire Hawkins is at LB Islington in business
admin and Jade Pascal is an administrator at
Lakehouse.
Luka Wells
Daryl Penney
Denny Smith
TIPS ON A JOB-WINNING CV
Having a professional, readable CV can make such a difference
to the chances of being called for an interview by a prospective
employer (as the story on Joyce on page 6 demonstrates) so CBHA’s
employment advisers have put together some tips.
Feedback on your CV
Keep in mind that an employer will spend only 20-30 seconds
taking in the information on your CV. To help you with this:
Layout
Maximise your use of space, make the content clear and concise to
balance the content while using white space for ease of reading.
Look at your bullet points and paragraph length.
Content
Emphasise the return on investment to the potential future
employer by quantifying each of these areas: your skills,
achievements, qualifications and experience. Also ensure you
have the right amount of summarised and detailed content.
Language
It is important that your CV is written in the first person in all areas,
ensuring what you have written is not in a complex structure,
These sentences need to be simple so that your point is clear and
easy to digest.
Overall
Your experiences should really stand out from the crowd and
improve your interview opportunities, focus on the structure
of your language and get the right balance of summarised and
detailed content.
Good luck!
JOBS NEWS
07
SUPPORT FOR RESIDENTS – BUT
TOUGH WHEN NEEDED
While CBHA continues to take tough action on residents who fail to pay their rent,
the money advisers can support and advise residents in difficulties.
Here to help
CBHA’s money advisers available
to support residents with money
management, debt issues, and
can advise on welfare benefits.
Any residents who are facing
difficulties can contact Sandie
Stocker or Nigel Harrison to
book a one-to-one confidential
appointment.
Sandie
ACTION ON
DOWNSIZING
DISCRETIONARY
HOUSING PAYMENTS
CBHA is taking action to help residents
affected by the ‘bedroom tax’. More
than 200 CBHA residents are having
their benefit cut by 14% for one spare
room or up to 25% for two.
The money advice team has offered
to help residents affected by the
bedroom tax apply for a discretionary
housing payment – but only a
small proportion have taken up this
opportunity.
Whereas previously residents were eligible
for a transfer if their rent account was clear,
CBHA is now saying rent arrears will no longer
automatically disqualify you from moving.
Any residents in arrears but wanting to downsize
because they are under-occupying, should
contact Leticia Addo on 020 7922 8579 to discuss
their individual case.
08
Nigel
YOUR MONEY
These are payments awarded by the borough
to deserving residents based on individual
circumstances and for rent payment.
If you have been affected by the bedroom tax,
please contact Sandie or Nigel to discuss if
you could apply for this payment.
TOUGH ON RENT ARREARS
With Christmas coming up, some residents may be tempted to spend their rent money on
presents, but CBHA urges you not to do so.
Rent arrears issues are taken very seriously and residents can be evicted for non-payment of rent.
CBHA is continuing to work with Waltham Forest Credit Union to support residents.
WINTER FUEL PAYMENTS
People born on or before 5
January 1952 can get a Winter
Fuel Payment of between £100
and £300 tax-free to help pay their
heating bills.
Most payments are made automatically
between November and December. You
should get your money by Christmas.
You usually get a Winter Fuel Payment
automatically if you get the State Pension or
another social security benefit (not Housing
Benefit, Council Tax Reduction or Child
Benefit).
If you qualify but don’t get paid
automatically, you’ll need to make a claim.
How much you get depends on your
circumstances during the qualifying week.
The qualifying week for winter 2013 to 2014
is 16 to 22 September 2013.
Any money you get is tax-free and won’t
affect your other benefits.
** Benefits: Pension Credit,
income-based Jobseeker’s
Allowance (JSA), incomerelated Employment and
Support Allowance (ESA),
Income Support
*** Your partner getting the
benefit will get the Winter Fuel
Payment on your behalf
Circumstance
Born on or
before 5
January 1952
Aged 80 or over
in the qualifying
week
You qualify and live
£200
alone (or none of
the people you live
with qualify)
£300
Circumstance
Aged 80 or over
in the qualifying
week
Born on or
before 5
January 1952
You qualify and get
£200
one of the
benefits listed**
£300
You live with someone
under 80 who
also qualifies
£100
£200
You live with someone
80 or over who
also qualifies
£100
£150
You qualify and live
Nil***
with your partner or
civil partner and they
get one of the
benefits listed**
Nil***
You qualify but live in
a care home and don’t
get one of the
benefits listed**
Nil***
Nil***
CBHA’S money advice team is here to help you
with welfare benefits and debt issues.
For an appointment, call 020 7922 8500 option 3
9
SGT TONY GIVES OUR AREA ARREST!
Sergeant Tony Howe, who many
Chingford residents will know, is leaving
the CBHA area to work elsewhere in
Chingford.
Tenancy support manager Michala Jervis said: “Tony
has worked with the Safer Neighbourhoods team and
with us for many years, solving crime, working on our
biggest cases and supporting and helping residents.
“He is brilliant at relating to the residents and people
really trust him. They give him information because he
is friendly and offers support and advice, particularly
if someone is starting to go down a bad road. Often,
they would then engage with him rather than getting
into trouble.”
He won an award in connection with his work on the
Kickz project, a partnership between the Metropolitan
police and the Premier League, which aims to divert
young people from crime.
Michala added: “We wish him all the best in his new
role.”
250 AT MUTUAL EXCHANGE EVENT
Local people were queuing in the rain to get into CBHA’s Mutual Exchange Fair at the
Epicentre, Leytonstone. Other housing providers mounting stands there included
Asham Homes, L and Q, East Homes and Waltham Forest Housing Association.
It was open to residents of
any social housing landlord
looking to move but the main
aim was to give residents
affected by the ‘bedroom tax’
the chance to find a smaller
home. About 250 residents
came to browse the property
options available, most
hoping to downsize to avoid
paying for an extra unused
bedroom in their home.
Lettings officer Leticia Addo
said: “Residents at the mutual
exchange fair told us they
were very impressed with
how the event was delivered.”
See the mutual exchange
table on the back cover for
a selection of some of the
properties CBHA has available
for swapping.
10
NEWS UPDATE
DIRECTIONS FOR
YOUNG PEOPLE!
YOUTH LEADERS
Youth development coach ‘Mr Sat Nav’
is working with CBHA young people to
help their entrepreneurial skills.
He is running sessions in CBHA’s Leytonstone Board
room to guide the young people who may be
interested in working for themselves. This work is
being funded by LBWF’s Enough is Enough gang
prevention programme.
CBHA youth workers Douglas Muhammed and Judy
Griffiths enjoy supporting young people
PARADOX NEWS
• Regular roller discos are to be held at the Paradox,
Chingford. Let’s Roll will run children’s parties and
discos, suitable for age six and above.
• A community lunch is held at the Paradox on the
first Monday of the month but in December it will be
on the 16th. On this special Christmas community
lunch, food will be served by young people. There
will be a performance, music and a tea-dance.
• Circuit training on Sundays from 10am to 11am for
over 16s is available for over 16s at the Paradox. Just
drop in.
• Zumba will be starting at the Paradox soon.
• The Paradox has been repainted by ex-offenders.
BLACK HISTORY
Young people in the four areas created
an arts and crafts exhibition based on
ancient Egypt to mark Black History
Month. They used clay to make
pyramids and a desert scene, complete
with palm trees and a sphinx.
The exhibitions, which were held at Leytonstone and
Chingford, also included food and a documentary on
black history.
To hire the Paradox for your event, please contact
Jade Armstrong on 020 7922 8500.
MIRROR IMAGE
CBHA’s Mirror Image at Rush Croft College,
Chingford, continues to be successful, with positive
changes in girls’ attitudes and behaviour being
reported by the school.
SPOOKY FUN
Ghosts and ghouls turned up for a Halloween party
at Langthorne Park, Leytonstone, for CBHA young
people.
COMMUNITY NEWS
11
SOME CBHA TENANTS WANTING TO MOVE
Are you looking to move? If so, perhaps one of the properties below, which
represent just a selection of those available, will suit you.
Current
Want to exchange to
Chingford
3 bedroom house
2 bedroom house / ground floor flat in Essex, Clacton on sea
3 bedroom house
2 bedroom house in Chingford
3 bedroom house
4 bedroom house in Chingford
Leyton
3 bedroom house
1 bedroom ground floor property in Leyton
3 bedroom house
2 bedroom house in Leyton
2 bedroom house2 bedroom house / flat in Walthamstow
3 bedroom house2 bedroom house in Leyton
3 bedroom house2 bedroom house in Leyton
3 bedroom house2 bedroom flat in Leyton
Leytonstone
3 bedroom house
1 bedroom flat in Leytonstone
3 bedroom house
2 bedroom house in Leyton / Leytonstone
3 bedroom house
2 bedroom house in Leytonstone
5 bedroom house
3 bedroom house in Leytonstone
2 bedroom ground floor flat
1 bedroom flat in Islington
3 bedroom house
2 bedroom house or flat in Leytonstone
Walthamstow
1 bedroom 1st floor flat
2 or 3 bedroom house or ground floor flat in Chingford, Walthamstow
1 bedroom ground floor flat
2 or 3 bedroom house, maisonette, bungalow in Stratford, Leytonstone, Leyton
Hackney
2 bedroom Split level conversion3 bedroom house, maisonette, bungalow in Redbridge, Hackney, Waltham
Forest, Enfield, Haringey, Chingford
Full details of these and other homes available from Leticia Addo at the Leyton office on 020 7922 8579 or
email leticiaa@cbha.org.uk.
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www.cbha.org.uk