TENANTS NEWS. Meeting the Leader. Voice of the Wolverhampton Federation of Tenants Associations. Summer What s Inside

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1 Summer 2013 TENANTS NEWS Voice of the Wolverhampton Federation of Tenants Associations Meeting the Leader What s Inside Pages 2 & 3 Decent Homes ASB Session Welcoming Cllr Lawrence Pages 4 & 5 Introduction of PIP Meeting the PCC Pages 6 & 7 LGBT Pride Bilston Fun day Midland Heart Event Page 8 What s on Help desk Pictured above is Cllr Roger Lawrence Leader of the Council talking to our members about his plans for the City at our meeting on 5th August More on page 3.

2 Decent Homes update Wolverhampton Homes (WHs) have now improved 18,564 homes under the Decent Homes contract. So far this year, they have improved 110 homes. The new Strategic Construction Partnership with Bullock and Wates is due to start in August and the number of homes in which WHs are working will then increase. Wates are carrying out some initial work in one tenanted home and some empty homes so that WHs can monitor their work and they will understand the quality that is required for the tenants. Wodensfield Tower and William Bentley Court The work at the high rise blocks is continuing, with the rendering going on, balcony handrails and roof membranes being added. Almost 40 tenants have moved permanently within the blocks and 80 tenants have moved to a temporary flat while their flat is improved. New tenants have started moving in as well. Work improving the communal areas also continues. Grosvenor, Lathe and Gregory Courts The final empty flat to be improved was completed at the end of May and the work to convert space on the ground floor of Lathe Court to three additional flats is progressing well. The external insulation and rendering work is now well underway. The work is due to be completed in November and then WHs will landscape the areas around the blocks. Low Hill Residential Repairs The second pilot project has started. It is initially restricted to two empty houses in Fourth Avenue. WHs are working with Bullock trying different methods of installing a new bathroom while keeping the existing bathroom in place. If successful, this will mean a lot less inconvenience to the tenants while the work is carried out. Upcoming Get Together dates Wolverhampton Homes are holding their next round of Get Together events in September. The dates and venues are: Wednesfield - Thursday 12th September 2013 at St Patrick s Church 6-8pm Low Hill - Thursday 19th September 2013 at Low Hill Community Centre 6-8pm Low Hill - Wednesday 25th September 2013 at St Joseph s Church Hall 3-5pm Bilston - Thursday 26th September 2013 at the Bilston Academy 6-8pm If you would like to attend or require further details, please contact Wolverhampton Homes Tenant Engagement Team on or Page 2

3 ASB session On Friday 17th May 2013, we held an event about Anti-social behaviour (ASB) to introduce tenants and residents to the new ASB team for the City that will bring staff from Wolverhampton Homes and the City Council together as one unit. Nigel Homer from Wolverhampton Homes and Jo Mason (pictured here on the right) from the City Council led the session and updated attendees about the proposed legislation. The session was very well attended by tenants from both council and housing associations, residents and local neighbourhood officers with lots of discussion from the participants. We were pleased to welcome Cllr Roger Lawrence to our meeting recently. He spoke about the Council s plans to reinvigorate the City by attracting business and bringing new jobs to the area. Welcoming Cllr Lawrence He expressed his concerns about how the welfare reforms will impact on residents and spoke about the work council officers are doing to give advice and support to people that need it. The Council s welfare reform helpline is Have you any outstanding issues - you haven t been able to get resolved at a local level? We meet regularly with officers from Wolverhampton Homes so let us know if you have any particular issues or concerns (that you, our members, have not been able to get resolved with officers at a local level) and we will be happy to raise them. We have to stress that you must first try and resolve matters with your local housing officers, but if this has not been possible, please get in touch and we will see what we can do to help. Contact Lal or Lorraine on or WFTA@live.co.uk Page 3

4 Personal Independent Payments There have been many changes to welfare benefits in 2013 so we have put together a simple guide for those affected by the introduction of Personal Independent Payments or PIP. What is PIP? PIP is a new benefit for people who need help taking part in everyday life or who find it difficult to get around. It replaces Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for claimants aged 16 to 64 and there is no automatic transfer from DLA to PIP. When will PIP start? New claims for PIP were piloted in Merseyside, North West, Cumbria, Cheshire and the North East from 8th April 2013 and came in for the rest of the country from June DLA claimants who either report a change in their health condition, reach the end of their current award or they are approaching the age of 16 will be invited from October 2013 to start a claim for PIP. From October 2015, the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) will start to contact everyone else who receives DLA and by May 2018, all disability benefits awards will be under the PIP system. What will happen next? A new claim for PIP will be scored on a points system by using a questionnaire followed by a face to face consultation with a healthcare professional. Like DLA, there are 2 components; the Daily Living component (which replaces the care component) and the Mobility component. If your PIP claim is successful, you will be sent a letter outlining your award and for how long it will be and this might be for a short period such as 1 to 2 years or for a longer period of 5 to 10 years. PIP will only be awarded indefinitely for those with a condition felt unlikely improve in the future. What if my claim is unsuccessful? You may wish to start an appeal by downloading a SSCS1 form from or alternatively you could call your local HM Courts and Tribunals Service and ask for a form. For further assistance and advice, contact your local Citizens Advice Bureau or call One Voice on Welfare Reform session You are invited to attend our upcoming session on the Welfare Reforms that will be led by One Voice, an organisation who represent the interests of disabled people in Wolverhampton. This session will take place on Friday 6th September 2013 at Coven Lodge, Spring Valley Estate, WV10 9AX, am until 3.00 pm with lunch provided. If you would like to attend, please telephone Lal Salter on or info@wfta.org.uk Page 4

5 Meeting the Police Crime Commissioner We were pleased to welcome Bob Jones, the Police Crime Commissioner for the West Midlands (pictured here on the right), to a meeting on Monday 3rd June We were interested in what he had to say and his plans for the area. We were also very encouraged by his emphasis on the importance of listening to local people in order to understand the needs of the community. Working Together 2 You are invited to attend our event Working Together 2 the sequel to our successful session that we held in It will be bring together housing providers within the City and their tenants to look at issues facing tenants in the present economic climate. This event will take place on Monday 23rd September 2013 at The Molineux from am until 3.00 pm and lunch will be provided. If you would like to attend or require further information, please telephone Lal Salter on or info@wfta.org.uk Page 5

6 LGBT Pride We were proud to support the 2nd Wolverhampton & Black Country LGBT Pride on Sunday 28th July 2013 where we held an information stand in the Health and Wellbeing area. Talking to us at the recent LGBT Pride, pictured from right to left, the Mayor and Mayoress of Wolverhampton Cllr Milkinder Jaspal and Cllr Jasbir Jaspal, Cllr Ian Claymore and John Pemberton from the Federation. It was a great event that started off with a parade through the City Centre. There were guest speakers and entertainment throughout the day, and there were information stalls. We are already looking forward to next year s event! Fun at Bushbury Hill Campaigning & Lobbying session Bushbury Hill Estate Management Board held their annual Community Fun Day recently where there were lots of activities for all the family including rock climbing, face painting and a chance to meet some exotic animals from around the world. The day was a great success with a fantastic turn out from local residents. The weather was lovely too! We are holding a session on getting your point across and making your voice heard on Friday 11th October 2013 at Coven Lodge, Spring Valley from 10 am until pm, followed by lunch. If you would like to attend, please call Lal Salter on or info@wfta.org.uk Page 6

7 Bilston Fun Day Our members Daniel Steadman, Adam Dewitt-Bukater and Megan Fitzgerald brought the carnival atmosphere back to Bilston in June starting with a parade through the town centre, followed by a family fun day at Hickman Park. The event was officially opened by local MP Pat McFadden and there were lots of activities and games for all to enjoy. Also.. Big congratulations to Adam (pictured left) and Daniel (right) on winning Outstanding Residents of the Year at the National Federation of ALMO awards recently. Well done guys! We took part in the Midland Heart Housing Association Customer Carnival in Dunstall on 13th July 2013 where we talked to tenants about what we do. The event provided visitors with the opportunity to find out more about the organisation s services and access free advice on welfare reform, benefit entitlement and financial budgeting. Midland Heart event Face-painting, games and arts and craft activities were just a few of the attractions at the free event. Anikah Miller-Ryan, a customer involvement officer for Midland Heart said This year s event was a great success and the weather played its part as we had a record turnout. Pictured left are Midland Heart tenants (left to right) Marcia Reid, Mark Bradley and Angela Hopkins. Page 7

8 WHAT S ON - dates for your diary These dates were correct at time of print but maybe subject to change 6th September 2013 at 10 am 9th September 2013 at 7 pm Welfare Reform session Coven Lodge, Spring Valley Federation Meeting Coven Lodge, Spring Valley 16th September 2013 at 9.30am Wolverhampton Homes Board Board Room, Hickman Avenue 23rd September 2013 at 10 am Working Together 2 The Molineux, Waterloo Road HELP DESK Do you have any particular problems on your estate or do you need any advice, support or practical help with running your tenants group or would you like help to set up a new group in your area or would you like to become a member of the Fed (we have group membership, individual membership and we have associate membership)...then contact the Federation at 142a Chetton Green, Wolverhampton, WV10 6ER or telephone or WFTA@live.co.uk or for advice & information contact our web site at