Over the last few years Orwell has been working with groups of interested tenants to try and improve the services we provide.

This work has had some success but to really make sure we understand what customers need and want from us we are taking to the road in 2010 and bringing the office and Orwell members of staff out to you!

The “Let’s Talk” Roadshows will be at:

Felixstowe Area	29th June 2010
Woodbridge Area	8th July 2010
Lincoln Court and Kessingland	14th July 2010
Lowestoft Area	22nd July 2010
Lowestoft Sea Front	27th July 2010
Great Yarmouth	4th August 2010
Norwich, Chedgrave and Beccles Area	18th August 2010
Cockfield, Woolpit, Elmswell, Hessett and Shimpling	5th August 2010
Stowupland, Needham Market and Claydon	2nd September 2010
Sudbury, Clare and Glemsford	7th September 2010
Rural Areas of Mid Suffolk	10th September 2010
Leiston, Walberswick and Reydon	14th September 2010

Most roadshows will run from 11am to 7pm but exact times and locations will be sent out with a reminder letter to residents 2 weeks before every roadshow.

Please come and see us for a tea or coffee and a chat and let us know what we do well and what can improve.

The roadshow will be staffed by members of Orwell’s Management Team as well as your Housing Officer and a repairs team member as well as other members of staff who can provide you with benefit advice, support services and perhaps discuss any disabled adaptations you need done to your home.

An Orwell repair person will be available to carry out small repair jobs that you may need doing during the time that the roadshow is visiting your area.

All the feedback received from customers will be fed back to the Association’s Board and will be used to develop a plan to help us improve in 2011 and beyond.

Please use this chance to have your say as you can really influence decisions about your home and estate.

During the day we will be knocking on residents doors to encourage you to come to the roadshow or we will happily talk to you in your own home if you prefer.

All Orwell staff will identify themselves by carrying ID cards.

"Let’s Talk"
See you there!!

If you are unable to attend then you can still let us know what you want by emailing letstalk@orwell-housing.co.uk

Two new homes are now available at Cross Street, Hoxne (Tudor Close.)

1 x 2 bedroom and 1 x 3 bedroom New Build Homebuy Units. Priced in the region of £130,000 for 2 bedroom and £150,000 for 3 bedroom.

Along with the Homebuy properties, the Association has also developed 9 Flats and Houses for Affordable Rent.

New Build HomeBuy (previously shared ownership) is a low cost home ownership scheme that aims to help people who want to become homeowners but cannot afford the cost of buying a property outright. 

For a chance to discuss this in more detail, please contact us on the numbers below.   Shares of these properties are available from 25%. A local connection to Mid Suffolk District Council is required to be eligible for these properties. For further information contact Karen Suddes ksuddes@orwell-housing.co.uk 01473 228604. 

From 5th July 2010 Orwell's Head Office will open from:
8:30am to 5:30pm Monday to Thursday &
8:30am to 5:00pm Friday

New Repairs Number

The repairs hot line number has changed to:

0345 60 100 30

Calls to this number are cheaper from mobiles, BT and non BT landlines.

22 June 2010

The Government has announced that the Saving Gateway is not affordable given the need to reduce the deficit.

The launch of the Saving Gateway - which was planned for July 2010 – has been cancelled.

If you have any questions in relation to this message, please contact saving.gateway@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk

The former site of a sheltered housing scheme has been rejuvenated thanks to the collaborative working partnership of local businesses.

Orwell Housing Association was selected by Ipswich Borough Council to re-develop the land of the former sheltered housing scheme, which has been derelict for more than 15 years.

The development consists of a mix of house types with a range of two, three and four bedroom houses, one five bedroom house and a number of apartments. Constructed using highly sustainable timber frames and high performance building materials, the development has achieved an excellent Code for Sustainable Homes Level 4.

Wendy Evans-Hendrick, Director of Development and Property Services at Orwell Housing Association said that the scheme was an important regeneration project for the region. "This is a great achievement on the part of Orwell Housing Association, Ipswich Borough Council, ISG Jackson and all the other organisations that have been involved in making these homes a reality, Wendy commented. “ We believe in delivering innovative affordable and comfortable homes and creating sustainable homes for the future.”

Local construction company, ISG Jackson secured the project with Orwell Housing Association to build the scheme. Michael Manning, director of ISG Jackson's Living division, commented: "The Clump Field development represents an excellent example of collaborative working between the client, council and contractor to deliver an important regeneration project that raises the standards for the local built environment. The scheme has been designed to invoke a real sense of community and sustainability lies at the very heart of the development, minimising the overall environmental impact of the new homes, whilst helping to reduce running costs for residents. It's an extremely impressive result and ISG Jackson is delighted to have played an important role in bringing the aspirations of both Orwell Housing Association and Ipswich Borough Council to fruition."

Councillor Richard Pope, Housing portfolio-holder for Ipswich Borough Council, said: "We are pleased to see the Clump Field development complete and open. These 36 homes mark a new chapter for a site that was an eyesore and a haven for anti-social behaviour. This also helps to demonstrate the Council’s commitment to affordable housing and we will continue to work hard with our partners to develop high quality affordable housing for the people of Ipswich. We are proud to have worked on this important project with Orwell Housing and ISG Jackson.”

 

   Photo shows left to right:

Liz Harsant, Ben Gummer MP, Richard Pope, Mr and Mrs Hunt (Tenants) Joe Hawath, Tom Griffin and Wendy Evans-Hendrick, Director of Property and Housing Services, Orwell Housing Association

A campaign to crack down on tenancy cheats, to recover up to 10,000 council and Housing Association homes fraudulently sublet, has recently been launched by the government.

On many occasions, a tenant who has been living in a property but no longer needs to live there, instead of handing in their notice, fraudulently lets the property to someone else, often at a profit. Those occupying these properties may not know about the fraud or that they are unlawfully occupying the property and thus depriving someone who is in real need from getting an affordable home.

Public tip-offs are vital to tackling the fraudsters - half of all homes recovered from cheats are after tip-offs from neighbours. Reducing unlawful subletting helps tackle other social problems - such as prostitution, cannabis factories, fraud and antisocial behaviour - as well as helping provide a home to someone who may be in very great need.

If you suspect that a property in your neighbourhood is being illegally sublet, call your Housing Officer today, in confidence, on 01473 218818.

Imagine a summer's day on which millions of us, throughout the UK, sit down to have lunch together - in the middle of our streets, around our tower blocks and on every patch of common ground. The food, entertainment and decorations we will have grown, cooked or created ourselves. It'll be a day to break bread with our neighbours, to put a smile on Britain's face.

Well, imagine no more. It's called The Big Lunch and this is your invitation to join the fun.

The Big Lunch is inviting you and all 61 million people across the UK to sit down and have lunch with your neighbours, in the middle of your street on Sunday 18th July as a simple act of community.

An Eden Project initiative, The Big Lunch encourages communities to come together through growing food and flowers; creating street music, art and theatre; dressing the street and, of course, cooking and eating together.

It took place for the first time last year and there were over 8,000 lunches in every kind of community all across the UK. Up to a million people took to the streets in the biggest set of street parties since the Golden Jubilee, and 80% said they felt closer to their neighbours as a result.

"What a fantastic idea. It really brought our community together and I am sure will have done the same throughout the country."

You can get involved by:

Organising a Big Lunch

It's really easy. The Big Lunch website is packed full of information to help kick start your planning step by step. We've got the tools, inspiration and resources to make it as simple, and fun, as possible. Search for existing Big Lunches in your street or area or add your own using our special Big Lunch map.

Spreading the word

Tell your friends, family and colleagues about The Big Lunch and encourage them to get involved. We have leaflets and posters to download from our website to help and you can join us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and be inspired by Big Lunch stories on our blog.

To find out more visit www.thebiglunch.com. Have a chat with the team on 0845 850 8181 or email info@thebiglunch.com

It is now possible to apply online for job vacancies with Orwell Housing Association. Our new website form allows applicants to submit their details quickly, directly to the Human Resources Team. For applicants who would prefer not to apply online, applications can still be submitted by printing and completing a downloadable form or by requesting an application pack.

Orwell Housing Association is continually expanding and developing new and exciting opportunities. Currently we employee in excess of 400 staff in a wide range of roles throughout the Association.

If you are interested in being part of our team, click here to view our current vacancies.

To apply online, select a vacancy and choose the 'Click here to apply online' option.

To print an application form, choose the 'Click here to download an application form' option.

Alternatively, for an application pack, contact the Administration Team on 01473 218818 or text 07843 328243. You can also call our answer phone on 01473 228672 or email persadmin@orwell-housing.co.uk.

Those of you who live on larger estates may be familiar with the idea of an estate ‘Walkabout.’ Walkabouts are when a group of tenants gets together with their Housing Officer, Caretaker (where present) and occasionally external organisations such as the local Police or Council Officers.

The purpose of the meeting is to walk around the neighbourhood, identifying problems that need addressing and talking to other residents about any neighbourhood issues they may have noticed. Officers can identify work that needs to be done on the estate. Dates, times and meeting places are listed below. For more information contact your Housing Officer.

Estate	Time	Meeting Place	Dates 2010
Adastral Close	11am	Meet by recycling bins	30th Apr 25th Jun 27th Aug 29th Oct 17th Dec
Brookwood	11am	Meet outside front of block 10-36 Woolverstone	27th May 29th Jul 30th Sep 25th Nov
Chedgrave, Mallard Close & Hurst Rd	10am	Brian Clarke Memorial Hall	2nd June 1st Dec
Lincoln Court	10am	Entrance to Lincoln Court	21st Apr 14th Jul 20th Oct
Lone Barn Court & Sapphire Close	10am	Car Park between Sapphire & Lone Barn	12th Apr 13th Jul 12th Oct
Newnham Court/St Catherine’s Court/Woodlark Close	10am	Corner of St Catherine’s Court	27th Apr 25th May 29th Jun 27th Jul 24th Aug 28th Sep 26th Oct 30th Nov
Orwell Gardens	10am	Meet in car park	29th Apr 3rd Jun 1st Jul 5th Aug 2nd Sep 7th Oct 4th Nov 2nd Dec
Orwell Heights	10am	Meet in car park	27th Apr 22nd Jun 10th Aug Oct 5th
Post Mill Close		First Car Park	19th May 14th Sep
Reydon mews	2pm	Communal area of grass	7th Jul 20th Oct
West Lodge		Car park at Front of building	24th May 27th Sep
Whiting Road	3pm	Meet at notice board	7th Jul 25th Aug 20th Oct 15th Dec

Bold denotes a change of date

Over the last few years Orwell has been working with groups of interested tenants to try and improve the services we provide.

This work has had some success but to really make sure we understand what customers need and want from us we are taking to the road in 2010 and bringing the office and Orwell members of staff out to you!

The “Let’s Talk” Roadshows will be at:

Woolverstone Close, Shotley Close & Pinmill Close	15th April 2010
Burlington Road/Broad Oke/ St Annes / The Pines	20th April 2010
Orwell Gardens, Talmash Gardens & Belstead Road	28th April 2010
Orwell Heights, Ipswich	5th May 2010
Gainsborough Sports Hall	14th May 2010
Lone Barn Court Estate	18th May 2010
Davey Close, Childers Court & Bridge View	27th May 2010
Emily Bray House & Post Mill Close	3rd June 2010
Newnham Court, Clump Field, St Catherine’s Court & Woodlark Close	11th June 2010
St Raphael Court, Troon Gardens & Woodbridge Road	15th June 2010
On the Cornhill in Ipswich town centre	21st June 2010

Dates for Lowestoft, Great Yarmouth, Bury St Edmunds, Sudbury, Felixstowe and our rural homes will be published shortly. Most roadshows will run from 11am to 7pm but exact times will be sent out with a reminder letter to customers 2 weeks before every roadshow.

Please come and see us for a tea or coffee and a chat and let us know what we do well and what can improve.

The roadshow will be staffed by members of Orwell’s Management Team as well as your Housing Officer and a repairs team member as well as other members of staff who can provide you with benefit advice, support services and perhaps discuss any disabled adaptations you need done to your home.

An Orwell repair person will be available to carry out small repair jobs that you may need doing during the time that the roadshow is visiting your area.

All the feedback received from customers will be fed back to the Association’s Board and will be used to develop a plan to help us improve in 2011 and beyond.

Please use this chance to have your say as you can really influence decisions about your home and estate.

During the day we will be knocking on residents doors to encourage you to come to the roadshow or we will happily talk to you in your own home if you prefer.

All Orwell staff will identify themselves by carrying ID cards.

"Let’s Talk"
See you there!!

If you are unable to attend then you can still let us know what you want by emailing letstalk@orwell-housing.co.uk

Early this year the Association carried out a survey of all tenants to ask you how you would like our service to you to change.

We had an excellent response with over 800 people taking the time to fill in their form and send it back to us. We will now be able to provide those people with a service better tailored to their own needs.

If you didn’t return your form it is never too late. Copies of the questionnaire are available from our office receptions in both Lowestoft and Ipswich. A summary of what you told us is below:

Contacting Us

The majority of people either wanted us to contact them by letter or phone, with a small number preferring a home visit, an email or text message. Where you have told us your preference we will always try and use your preferred method of contacting you.

How often do you want us to visit you?

Most people only wanted us to visit when they asked us, but over 300 people did say they would like either an annual, or more frequent, visit from the Association and we will try and arrange that.

Estate Visit

A number of people felt that an Estate Visit was welcomed at least twice a year, with a slight majority wanting a visit 4 times a year. Currently the Association carries out Estate Visits with tenants on larger estates four times a year and we will look at ways of extending this to some of the smaller estates at least once a year.

Where would you prefer to see us?

When asked where you would like to meet Officers from the Association when you needed to see them a large majority stated they preferred to have us visit you at home, with a few asking for a local surgery. Where a number of tenants in one location have requested a local surgery we will look at ways this might be achieved.

Reporting a Repair

Most people told us they used the repairs Hotline Number 0845 6010030 to report their repairs. A few people said they preferred to report them to the office at Ipswich or Lowestoft or to their Housing Officer, Sheltered Housing Officer or Scheme Manager. Whilst the Association is happy for people to use whichever method they prefer to report repairs, by using the 0845 6010030 number we are able to provide you with an appointment for your repair and tell you the response time when you call.

The Association has had a texting service in place for repairs reporting for many years. Some people replying to the survey indicated they would like to use this service. If you would like to do so keep a note of our repair line text number 07843 328160. Repairs can also be emailed to repairs@orwell-housing.co.uk or reported through our website.

Appointments

Over 500 people told us they were happy with receiving a morning or afternoon appointment for repairs to be carried out. A number preferred an enhanced service, which gave a 2 hour banding for the appointment say 8-10, or 11-1pm. We will be trialling this enhanced appointment service over the next few months to see if we can make it work.

Where people indicated that we always needed to avoid school drop off and pick up times we have noted this on their details.

Repair Reminders

The majority of people thought that a text or phone call reminder about their appointment a day before would be useful. We are discussing this with our contractors to see if we, or they, are able to do this for you.

Office Opening Times

The overwhelming majority were happy with the Association’s offices opening from 9-5.30pm. A number of people did favour a late night opening until 8pm and we will be contacting those tenants to see what services they would want available in the evening before we look at what we can put in place.

Payment of Rent

Many people preferred to pay their rent either by standing order or Direct Debit. The Association has just finished putting Direct Debit payments in place and we will now be able to offer this service in the future. A small number of people expressed an interest in paying their rent at the Post Office or by PayPoint and we will look at these systems to see whether they are something we can offer.

Rent Statements

Currently the Association sends out rent statements quarterly and the majority of people who sent in their survey agreed with this.

Thank you!

Finally a big thank you to those of you who took the time to fill in the questionnaire. Miss D from Lowestoft was the lucky winner of the £100 shopping vouchers. Although the prize draw deadline has passed please complete a questionnaire if you can find the time. The information will help us provide you with the service you want.

Don’t miss your chance to have your say!

As part of our commitment to listening to the views of our residents, Orwell Housing Association has asked the National Housing Federation's Feedback Services to carry out a postal survey on our behalf to find out how satisfied you are with your home and services that you receive from us.

Time is running out to give us your feedback! If you haven't sent us your response yet - it's not too late! Complete the questionnaire sent to you in the post and return it to us in the pre-paid envelope. There are some very good reasons for helping us.....

Why complete the survey?

The information that Orwell gathers helps us to compare how good or bad services are compared to other Housing Associations and helps to identify where more work needs to be done in the future. So please do take a few minutes to fill in this survey and help make sure that the Association has an accurate idea of how tenants feel.

Prizes!

We appreciate that asking you to fill out yet another survey is a job you could do without but in doing so you will automatically be entered in a draw to win some fantastic prizes of £500, £250, £150 and £100. Four questionnaires will be drawn randomly at the end of the survey period.

What do you do with the results?

Do you ever wonder what Orwell does with all the information from surveys like this one? Believe it or not, ticking a few boxes is actually really important in understanding how good or bad services are. The results of the survey will be published in the Orwell Newsletter but no information will be released in a way that allows it to be traced to an individual.

Queries?

If you have any queries concerning this survey please contact Rosie Wagstaff (01473 228651) or email rosiew@orwell-housing.co.uk or any member of Customer Services (01473 218818) who will be happy to help you.

Shared ownership provides an ideal solution for first time buyers who struggle to save the sizeable deposit required for traditional home ownership.

In a first for the region, Ipswich Building Society has teamed up with Flagship Housing Group, Orwell Housing Association and Bedfordshire Pilgrims Housing Association (bpha) to offer an exclusive new shared ownership mortgage which will help more people take up the shared ownership option and get a foot on the housing ladder.

Under shared ownership, the purchaser buys part of the home and then pays a subsidised rent on the rest to the housing association. Over time further shares in the property can be purchased until the home is owned outright.

To help would-be home owners take their first step, the Ipswich is offering buyers the opportunity to borrow funds for up to 95% of the share they buy in their new home.

The exclusive mortgage is only being offered in conjunction with Flagship, Orwell and bpha, and boasts an attractive 3 year fixed rate of 6.75% until 31 August 2013. Each housing association will pay up to £500 of the buyer’s legal costs – subject to terms and conditions.

Ian Brighton, General Manager (Business Services), Ipswich Building Society, said: “In developing this shared ownership mortgage we listened carefully to what our customers were saying about difficulties in getting on the housing ladder. We have considerable expertise in shared ownership mortgages and we are delighted to work with Flagship Housing Group, Orwell Housing Association and bpha to deliver this special offer.”

Stephen Javes, Chief Executive of Orwell Housing Association said: “It was pleasing to both work with a local building society and provide help for local people to gain access to the housing market.”

Martin Aust, Flagship’s Strategy and Development Director, said: “With the majority of first time buyers finding it difficult to secure a mortgage and realise their dream of home ownership, this exclusive product offered by Ipswich Building Society through the shared ownership scheme will give first time buyers a real opportunity to step on to the property market in Norfolk and Suffolk.”

John Cross, bpha’s Chief Executive, said: “With house prices increasing and families needing over 10 times the average income to purchase a home in the East of England, shared ownership is an attractive option for families who cannot afford one outright. We are very pleased to be part of this exclusive scheme that should help more first time buyer’s access affordable home ownership.”

Ipswich Building Society, one of the few lenders operating in shared ownership, takes pride in offering simple, transparent mortgages. This new, exclusive mortgage complements the Ipswich’s current range of mortgage products and comes on the back their highly successful standard 3 year fixed rate Affordable Home Loan for shared ownership purchases.

For further information about the new shared ownership mortgage, contact the following:-

Ipswich Building Society 0845 230 8686 or www.ibs.co.uk 
Flagship Homes 01603 255444 or www.flagship-homes.co.uk
Orwell Housing Association 1483 218818 or www.orwell-housing.co.uk 
bpha’ specialist sales arm Keyhomes East on 0845 4566757 or www.keyhomes-east.org.uk 

Specialist housing scheme scoops a national award at the Elderly Accommodation Counsel Housing for Older People Awards 2010

One of Orwell Housing Association’s Very Sheltered Housing Schemes has scooped a national award at the EAC Housing for Older People Awards, which was recently held in London.

For the very first time residents of retirement housing, sheltered housing and assisted living have been able to nominate and vote for their scheme through a newly launched award. EAC Housing for Older People Awards’ first ceremony recently took place at the Lords Cricket Gound in London. This was supported by the Department for Communites and Local Government and sponsored by many large organisations – notably Legal and General and the Nationwide Building Society.

The aim of the awards was to celebrate the best in specialist housing for older people and to engage thousands of residents in identying what contributes to their quality of life.

Steeple View, in Stowupland, was entered into the awards by the residents, and was delighted to receive a silver award for the best UK housing with care scheme, category 30 to 44 properties. The award was sponsored and presented by McCarthy & Stone and was received by Steeple View residents who travelled to the London Awards Ceremony.

Paul Kingston, Director of Housing and Care Services at Orwell Housing commented: “We are absolutely delighted to have won this award, congratulations have to go to the staff at Steeple View and to the residents for taking the time to enter the awards. We were the only scheme in Suffolk to win an award, so this is a huge acheivement for us all here at Orwell Housing.”

Click here to read more about the Steeple View scheme

It’s a dilemma that many elderly parents caring for a disabled child will have to face sooner or later – what will happen to their precious charge should they become too ill or infirm to cope any longer? Who will look after their adult child after they are gone?

Of course, it’s a similar dilemma to that faced by those who care for a husband, wife or partner suffering from dementia. What happens when they, too, need help and assistance as the years advance? Will one have to go into care while the other struggles on at home alone? Who will take over should the carer die first, as so often is the case?

Well, new thinking among the providers of care facilities is offering a fresh approach that could help lift the burden for those who worry about what the future might hold. Across East Anglia, extra care housing projects are now being built that not only include one-bedroom flats for elderly people, either singles or couples, but also a number of two bedroom flats in which an elderly parent can continue caring for a disabled child.

Not only can the parent call upon whatever assistance they need as they themselves get older and more infirm, but they also have the assurance that, after they are gone, their child can continue to live and be cared for in surroundings with which they are already familiar, comfortable and happy, among people they know.

In the meantime, residents can be as independent as they wish. “By keeping their independence, they feel they are in control of their lives, which can be a great boost,” explains Trish Barton, scheme manager at Steeple View, an extra care housing project in the Suffolk village of Stowupland, near Stowmarket.

What’s more, at Steeple View, there’s no age limit. “Our oldest resident is 98, while the youngest is 34,” says Trish. “The different age groups make a much better community. People do get on, they complement each other.” In the case of a married couple, where one is suffering from dementia while the other may be perfectly fit, they can both move in together in the knowledge that assistance is always on hand when needed, adds Trish.

Steeple View, with 36 flats for rent, was completed about three years ago in partnership with the social services, Mid-Suffolk District Council and Orwell Housing Association, which today runs the scheme. There are 28 one-bedroom flats, including a wide hallway to cope with wheelchairs, a spacious living room, large bathroom/wet room and kitchen, as well as eight two-bedroom flats available to elderly parents with a disabled child, or perhaps a couple of elderly friends, who want to continue sharing, but can no longer cope on their own at home.

“At the moment we have 41 residents. Some are receiving housing benefits, while others have sold their homes and are renting a flat here,” explains Trish. Care facilities are available 24 hours a day for those who need it, either because of physical disability, learning difficulties, infirmity or dementia. There are also call buttons in all the rooms, so that help can be summoned in an emergency. “We have a staff of 38, mostly parttime including a gardener and handyman,” says Trish.

Steeple View is a sprawling, modern building, overlooking Stowupland’s extensive playing fields and the village’s tree-lined recreation ground. A view of the village church, with its pretty spire, provides the name. The building is light, open and airy, with wide corridors and spacious reception areas including a large communal lounge/dining area with French windows opening on to a paved courtyard, where residents can sit and enjoy the sun.

Well tended gardens, including a wildlife pond and extensive walkways, surround the building and residents can potter about securely. Adjoining the main lounge is a large, communal kitchen, where those who don’t want to cook and eat on their own can prepare a meal, with staff assistance if required, and share it with friends in the dining area.

There is also four other smaller, more intimate lounges, one with computer, jigsaws and books, another for games and two for simply “chilling out” and chatting. Each of these lounges has its own mini-kitchen for tea and coffee making. There is even a hotel-like guest suite, so visiting friends or family can stay overnight.

The residents’ association organises a full calendar of activities, including exercise and craft sessions, DVD evenings, quizzes, cream teas, fish and chip suppers and even Wii games, to name but a few. Fundraising within Steeple View helps pay for, or subsidises, activities and outings.

Click here for more details on Steeple View, Stowupland.

Twelve more affordable homes are helping local families stay in the Babergh district thanks to strong partnership working.

The new tenants celebrated the official opening of a £1.35m affordable housing scheme in Ipswich Road, Holbrook alongside representatives from Holbrook Parish Council, Babergh District Council and Orwell Housing Association.

The brand new homes were developed as a Rural Exception Site – which means only people with a strong connection with the village will be eligible to live there.

Holbrook Parish Council worked closely with Babergh and Orwell to secure the development after a housing needs survey showed there was a demand for affordable homes for local families who wanted to stay in Holbrook.

The parish council were instumental in helping to find appropriate land for the scheme to be built. Marion Leeson, former Chairman of the parish council, in particular championed the need for local, affordable housing, helping to approach land owners and farmers in the area for suitable land.

Simon Page, Chairman of Holbrook Parish Council, said: “Holbrook Parish Council is pleased to see the result of many years hard work by Orwell Housing Association and Babergh in the provision of much-needed affordable housing to meet the needs of genuine Holbrook families. The site is already starting to blend in with the local surroundings and the families there are absolutely delighted with their new homes.”

“It is our intention to work with our partners again in the future to determine whether any further housing of this type is needed for the area.”

Ian Tippett, Babergh's Strategic Housing Manager, said: "Babergh's villages and communities are the lifeblood of our district and only by ensuring that everyone can access good quality affordable homes can we ensure their future and sustainability.”

"Babergh is delighted the development in Holbrook will help people with a strong connection to the village find a home that may have otherwise eluded them. These excellent homes are a result of strong partnership working between us, the parish council and Orwell Housing Association."

The scheme was designed by local architects Rees Prior and built by contractors Elliston Steady Hawes.

“The Association is committed to working with local people to provide a solution to the lack of affordable housing in rural areas. The new homes at Holbrook are all built to very high standards of energy efficiency and will provide warm, comfortable, and affordable home for local people for many years to come” said Wendy Evans-Hendrick, Director of Development and Property Services at Orwell Housing Association.

“We have looked carefully at the surrounding area and have chosen the design, scale and materials of this scheme to sit sympathetically alongside the other properties in the village.”

Martin Bennett, Chairman of Orwell Housing Association, said: "The success of schemes, such as Ipswich Road, in enabling families to remain in rural communities demonstrates just what can be achieved when there is strong partnership working”

He added: "I am delighted to be opening this much-needed rural development in Holbrook. I am particularly pleased that the homes are targeted at local people wishing to remain in the village who otherwise may be priced out of the housing market and have no option but to move away.”

The residents of Steeple View, one of our very sheltered schemes, entered their scheme for the above competition

A goup of for staff and four residents travelled to the Lords Cricket ground in London where they received a silver ward for the best UK housing with care scheme, category 30 to 44 properties.

The award was sponsored and presented by McCarthy & Stone and was received by residents John and Claudette.

We were the only scheme in Suffolk to win an award and there were 23 entrants into the category overall.

Congratulations to Tricia and her team st Steeple View and a big thank you to the residents for taking the trouble to enter the competition

The official opening of a £3.15 million 'Aspire Young Persons Centre' for homeless people took place on Tuesday September 15th to celebrate the first centre of its kind in Great Yarmouth.

Led by Great Yarmouth Borough Council, the project has brought together 12 partners and funders including Orwell Housing Association and The Benjamin Foundation, a charity based in North Walsham that manages the building and provides around-the-clock support.

Set up to help young people aged 16 to 25, Aspire supports people who cannot live at home for a variety of reasons including those previously living in care, sleeping rough, sofa-surfing or staying in temporary bed and breakfasts.

It is the first time there has been specialist provision in Great Yarmouth to provide young, homeless people with accommodation and support to help them eventually move on to their own home. And it's clearly a much-needed facility as Aspire's seventeen bedrooms were full within just a fortnight of opening.

The centre provides a supportive environment, which empowers residents to gain a better future. All young people are given a support plan, which outlines skills needed to gain employment or access training opportunities.

Residents are also provided with practical skills in order to keep their own home including healthy eating, cooking, cleaning, managing a budget and maintaining a tenancy.

The Aspire building originates from 1830 and was given a new lease of life by Great Yarmouth Borough Council after standing empty for over 15 years.

The name 'Aspire' was chosen by one of its residents, Stacie Raspison, following a competition to name the building, which was originally called Bretts after the previous owners' business.

A former council-run building in Sudbury, Suffolk, used as temporary accommodation for homeless people has been remodelled and opened officially in October.

Warner Place - which used to be Stour House, on the corner of Stour Street and Gregory Street, Sudbury - has undergone a 12-month renovation programme and has been transformed from single rooms with shared communal facilities into 11, self-contained flats.

Orwell Housing Association, on behalf of Babergh District Council, which now owns and manages the site, has carried out the comprehensive renovation works.

Ian Tippett, Babergh's Strategic Housing Manager, said: "Babergh has a relatively low amount of people who find themselves homeless through no fault of their own but it is vital that Babergh provides good quality accommodation for these people when required.

"This isn't a hostel - it is self-contained temporary housing - and all sorts of people for many varying reasons may benefit from this quality development.

"The old Stour House was dated and not really fit for today's modern society so it was decided to renovate the property and - together with Orwell - this has been done and Babergh is delighted with the results."

Warner Place also includes a five-unit scheme called Mulberry House where Orwell has also been appointed by Suffolk Supporting People as its care provider.

A pilot scheme was launched today at a local primary school in Ipswich, aiming to teach children healthy lifestyle options.

The campaign is aimed at children in Key Stage 2 and beyond, and hopes to engage, empower and teach them about making healthier decisions from an early age.

The project, which is a joint collaboration between Orwell Housing Association, Suffolk County Council Extended Schools, East of England CO-OP, Suffolk Young Chamber and 1st Question Trainers, was launched to children at Ravenswood County Primary School in Ipswich.

Richard Stewart, Financial Inclusion Officer at Orwell Housing Association, said: "The idea is to launch a campaign and create an educational programme that is fun for the children to take part in, but one that also has an underlying message to promote healthy lifestyles from an early age. Something we hope will continue with them through their life journey." He added: "Healthy Choices is is a long-term strategy to support children and help young people make healthy choices. Open up the lines of communication so children understand that a healthy diet is about healthy children and feeling better and doing better. Poor diet can have a real impact on people's health. We want people to have the best possible opportunity to eat healthily. But for families in low income households, this is sometimes easier said than done."

The new scheme will not only encourage healthy eating, but the children will also be taught about budgeting for food, how much food actually costs, to enjoy cooking, learning about what is in food, 'the traffic light system' and learning about saving for the future. Ravenswood School will even be setting up a savings club to encourage the children to save.

Marilyn Such, Headteacher at Ravenswood Primary school commented: "The school is pleased to be involved in this exciting and worthwhile project. It is a new initiative, which involves pupils working with people from other areas of life. It is important for pupils to gain experience of talking to other adults other than school staff as it gives them an understanding of the world of work. Encouraging pupils to think about healthy choices in their lives is really invaluable and this project provides opportunities for families to talk together and make decisions, which may have long-term benefits. The pupils have really enjoyed being involved in this project. It has developed their cooperative skills as well as making healthy choices and team building."

"It is a fantastic project and East of England Co-operative Society is delighted to be part of it, promoting active healthy living for young people" said Pam Walker, Education Development Officer for EECS.

"1st Question East Co-operative Ltd commented: "We are pleased to be delivering this project - our work is all about encouraging young people to work co-operatively and improve life skills" said Andrea Coptcoat, Administrative Officer for 1st Question.

The school is also hoping to produce their very own recipe book, aptly named 'Recipe for life'. A charity auction was held last Friday night at The Raven Public House to help raise funds to enable the book to be produced.

"All of the hard work in staging the evening paid off when the net proceeds amounting to £750.00 was announced." Said Richard Stewart. "The atmosphere in the pub was fantastic, with everybody joining in, even the customers who had just turned up for a quiet drink!! Special thanks have to go to the management and staff at The Raven for providing the venue, all of the local businesses that donated items and above all, all of the customers, who bid so enthusiastically on the night. The idea of producing a 'recipe' book from the children's recipe ideas is now very much a reality".

Orwell Housing Association will be operating normal opening hours until Christmas Eve (Thursday 24th December), when the office will be closed at 3.30 pm.

The office will re-open again on Monday 4th January 2010 with the normal opening hours.

If you have an emergency during the office closure please call the 24 hour hot line on 0845 6010030.

We are pleased to announce that following a visit by the Audit Commission in August the Association received a clean bill of health and were exceptionally pleased with the Audit Commission’s assessment of our services. We hope that their report is very reassuring to our Tenants and Service users.

Inspections from the Audit Commission are very nail biting occasions, particularly nowadays when all the notice you receive is 5 days. The inspection came at a difficult time for us in August when many staff were on holiday but the staff coped admirably well considering the pressures they were under.

The whole organisation was a beehive of activity on the lead up to the inspection and during. The inspectors were challenging but fair and their feedback, we consider, is a good reflection of both our strengths and weaknesses.

The Audit Commission have written a letter to all of the residents (Please click here to view the letter) and we are encouraging you to feed back any comments you wish to make about the inspection and its results by Emailing Jane Greer:janeg@orwell-housing.co.uk, calling on01473 228602 or by completing our online form by clicking here.

We have had a look at the Audit Commission’s website and have noticed that we have one of the highest marks awarded by the Audit Commission in the country to date which should be even more reassuring to our tenants.

We have placed a picture of fireworks on the front cover of our new edition of Orwell News as a demonstration of our success. If you would like to read the full report, please click here.

The report contains a number of recommendations which we are in the process of implementing and there will be more details of our Action Plan on the Associations website and in future editions of Orwell News.

Stephen Javes leads the tributes for Jim Hehir who sadly passed away. Both myself and colleagues at Orwell Housing were shocked and saddened by the news. On a personal level James was a great ally and someone who always helped make things happen. He was also a great champion of the Association's work. My thoughts, sympathy and condolences go to his family. A truly great man who will be missed.

Stephen Javes Chief Executive, Orwell Housing Association

To view additional tributes for James Hehir, please use the links below, please click here.

Orwell Housing is undertaking a census of all its tenants and service users.

Why a Census?

While we already have information about you and your household, our computer systems are based on what you told us when you first moved into your home. Updating our records is very important to ensure the information we have our system is still up-to-date. It is also a good opportunity to inform us of any changes or special requirements - all feedback received will help us provide even better Customer Service.

What kind of questions are you asking?

The Census aims to capture general information about you and your household. It also includes a small section on financial inclusion. The government are keen to encourage as many people as possible to have bank accounts. We have therefore asked some questions that will help us gauge whether we need to provide more advice and support to people about financial matters.

Please be assured that this information is strictly confidential and will not be shared with other companies or associations. The Census is also protected by the Data Protection Act legislation and will be used to make sure Orwell does not discriminate against anyone.

If you have any questions, click here to view our FAQs page or call us on 01473 218818.

Getting Started

Click here to start filling in your Census form online.

If you would prefer to fill out a paper version of the Census please call us on 01473 218818 and we will happily send one.

Orwell Housing Association recently underwent an inspection by the independent government regulators the Audit Commission. The Audit Commission are responsible for inspecting housing associations to check that good services are being delivered to customers.

The team of inspectors looked at the following services:

• Major works
• Empty Properties
• Gas Servicing

For those areas of service the inspectors also had a look at:

1. Access and Customer Care - how easy it is for customers to use our services and how good is our customer service ?

2. Diversity - what we do to make sure that all our customers - regardless of their age, gender, disability, ethnic group, sexuality and faith - get a good service.

3. Value for money - are we providing a quality service that is cost effective? The Audit Commission has now published their report which includes ratings of how good our services are.

A summary of the results is shown in the table below.

How Good is the Service?	Assessment
Access and customer care	Strengths outweigh weaknesses
Diversity	Strengths outweigh weaknesses
Value for Money	Strengths outweigh weaknesses
Major Works	Strengths and weaknesses in balance
Empty homes (void) management	Strengths considerably outweigh weaknesses
Value for Money	Strengths considerably outweigh weaknesses

We are delighted that the Audit Commission has judged some of the Associations services as Excellent and a number as Good however, whilst the Audit Commission did identify our strengths, there is always room for further improvements.

We are currently developing, in consultation with our customers, an Action Plan to address the areas that we can improve on. There are still opportunities for you to get involved in helping us do that. Please click here to have your say.

The full report is available on the Audit Commission website. You can view the complete report by (clicking here)

Need a clearout? Need to make some cash?

How about having a stall at our Tabletop Sale?

Pinewood Community Hall Saturday 21st November

Stalls £5 (including use of a table).

All funds raised will support the work of the Pinewood & District Community Hall Association (PDCHA) which helps fund the Community Hall project. Advance booking is essential!

To book, please call Mary on 01473 422366