January & February 2007

A special community event is being held in Firvale to help raise awareness of healthy living amongst senior residents.  Wensley Tenants and Residents Association (TARA), the Primary Care Trust and Age Concern are working together to encourage local people to think about leading an active and healthy lifestyle.  The event will look at topics such as healthy diets and nutrition, and Activity Sheffield will be on hand to demonstrate a range of light exercise techniques and will offer advice about keeping fit.

 

Hundreds of elderly people feel safer and warmer this winter thanks to new windows fitted under the Decent Homes programme.

 

Residents on the Longley Hall estate in Sheffield are delighted with the first part of a modernisation scheme to bring their homes up to a decent standard.

The next Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) Tenants Forum is being held on Thursday 22nd March, 5pm to 8pm at Sheffield Wednesday Football Club.  This informal event aims to provide local BME tenants and residents with an opportunity to learn more about Decent Homes, meet contractors and take part in interactive workshops.  Visitors to the event can also use the forum to ask senior staff from Sheffield Homes about a range of housing issues.

Young people from the north of Sheffield were celebrating last night after being honoured at a special New Year Awards ceremony.  The Southey & Owlerton New Year Awards, which were organised by Sheffield Homes, Owlerton/Southey Green Area Panel and SOAR (Southey & Owlerton Area Regeneration), acknowledged the different ways that young people have made a difference to communities in the north of Sheffield.

 

Sheffield Homes has been awarded a prestigious national quality standard for excellence in customer service.  Charter Mark recognises public sector organisations like Sheffield Homes, that show a commitment to developing services.  Not only has Sheffield Homes achieved this standard but the company has been put forward as an example of best practice to be included on the Cabinet Offices’ Charter Mark good practice database.

Sheffield Homes is warning tenants to be on their guard after incidents of suspected bogus callers have been reported in Gleadless Valley, Foxhill and Manor areas of Sheffield.

At a Sheffield jobs fair next week you can find a whole range of career opportunities in housing under one roof.  Sheffield Homes – one of the leading housing organisations in the country – hopes this event is as successful as one it held in October, which attracted around 1,000 people and resulted in 430 completed job applications.

Sheffield Homes has launched a single contact telephone number for customers accessing housing services on the south side of the city.  The new ‘golden number’ – which is 205 3333 - aims to make it easier for tenants to contact us and get a prompt, helpful response to all housing enquiries, except repairs.

Community-minded staff from local housing firm Lovell and Sheffield Homes joined forces to raise £1,200 for the Weston Park Hospital Cancer Appeal.

Sheffield Homes tenants have been working ‘undercover’ to evaluate local housing services – with impressive results!  A 13-strong team of mystery shoppers carried out 155 telephone enquiries and 24 in person office visits late last year, using scenarios that tested every part of the housing service.  The first mystery shopping exercise in 2005 set high standards but these results have brought further improvements.

A plot of unused land at Holberry Gardens has been given a new lease of life and is being converted into an impressive community garden thanks to local residents and Sheffield Homes.

A tree-planting scheme is launched in Stannington tomorrow (Wednesday 17^th) as part of a project to maintain Sheffield’s reputation as the greenest city in the UK. Over 40 new trees will be planted In the North West of Sheffield this year, covering an area from Lodge Moor up to the Stannington and Langsett estates. 

Plans to make Sheffield’s community gala ‘Bands & Blooms 2007’ bigger and better than ever has got off to a flying start thanks to a grant from the National Lottery Big Lottery Fund. The event is jointly organised by local residents through Tenants and Residents Associations (TARA’s) from Angram Bank, Mortomley and Lane End, and the Area North Sheffield Alliance.  Sheffield Homes are also providing support and advice for the event.

Parents who get their baby weighed at Hillsborough First Point next Tuesday (16^th January) could be adding up the pounds in an altogether different way! Sheffield Homes – which runs the First Point on behalf of Sheffield City Council – is promoting National Child Trust Fund Week to parents who may not be aware of the scheme.

Sheffield Homes has today welcomed the Government’s announcement to give ALMOs extra powers in the fight against anti-social behaviour. However, the ALMO, which tackles around 8500 complaints of anti-social behaviour every year in partnership with Sheffield City Council, said it remains committed to using legal action as a last resort.