Office closes at 2pm on Christmas Eve for festive break

Please note that our office will close at 2pm on Christmas Eve, re-opening at 9am on Thursday 6th January 2022. Our Freephone emergency repairs line will remain open as usual on 0808 202 6565. The Board and staff at SHA would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Health and safety precautions during service delivery

With the rapid spread of the new Covid variant, we are looking for cooperation from our customers to protect their own health and safety and that of our customers and staff.  Please note the following precautions that we will take to protect you, and precautions that you can take to protect our staff/contractors:

  • Our staff will carry out a Covid test (lateral flow) each day prior to coming into work
  • We will continue to carry out Covid screening checks with you before any staff/contractors visit your home.  We ask that while our staff/contractors are in your home, please wear a mask, socially distance, sanitise and ventilate your homes by opening windows as appropriate
  • You can contact us by phone /e-mail at any time during office hours and still visit the office to speak to staff in person on an appointment only basis.  If coming into our reception area you must wear a face mask, sanitise your hands, and observe 2m social distancing.  You must NOT visit the office if you have Covid symptoms, have had a positive Covid test, or have been in close contact with anyone in the last 10 days who has tested positive for Covid

Please be assured that your health and safety, and that of our staff and contractors, is our main priority and any restrictions that we bring in are for your protection.  We will continue to monitor the situation and adapt our services as needed.

Shettleston HA starts work on landmark family home development

Construction work is now underway on an exciting new 44-home, family friendly development for Shettleston Housing Association.

Paisley based construction firm, The JR Group, has commenced site preparation and construction works on the former St Mark’s school site on the edge of Tollcross Park. Work is expected to be completed over a 16-month period and all the family homes should be ready for new residents by early March 2023.

The 44 new high-quality homes for social rent will provide a mix of eight cottage flats, 17 family homes, and 19 flats arranged across the two parts of the development. Private and communal gardens, parking and amenity space will also be delivered as part of the contract.

All homes have been designed to achieve Glasgow City Council’s Gold Hybrid standard of energy efficiency and this will ensure homes are warm, comfortable, and easy to heat.

As part of this project The JR Group will provide a range of community benefits, including local employment and training opportunities, and the team is already working to assist local community organisations in the area.

Funding for the project has been secured through Glasgow City Council’s Affordable Housing Supply Programme and from the Association’s own loan finance via Royal Bank of Scotland.

Chair of Shettleston Housing Association, Lesley Scoffield, said: “We’re delighted to see this significant family development get underway. Shettleston needs more good quality family homes, and we are pleased to be able to deliver this highly energy efficient development in an ideal location next to Tollcross Park.”

Andrew Dallas, Projects Director for The JR Group, said: “We are delighted to start work on this development and working alongside Shettleston Housing Association to deliver a mix of much-needed family homes for the area whilst repurposing the former St Mark’s school site.

“We always make the commitment to invest in the communities we are working in, and this case is no different, through employment and training opportunities. We are also speaking to a number of community groups to consider how we might support them over the duration of construction.”

SHA and Upkeep closed on 17th December, from 12.30pm

Please note that both Shettleston Housing Association and Upkeep will close on Friday 17th December, from 12.30pm, re-opening on Monday 20th December, at 9am. During this time, you will be able to contact the repairs line to report repairs as normal. Our freephone repairs line can be reached on 0808 202 6565.

Free Bus Travel for under 22’s

From 31st January 2022 all young people in Scotland aged 21 or younger will be able to enjoy FREE bus travel.

Anyone aged 11 to 21 can get free travel by using their Young Scot National Entitlement Card. More information can be found here: https://www.transport.gov.scot/…/young-persons-free-bus-tr…/

Money Advice Day on Thurs 11th November at the Pantry

Shettleston Does Digital is hosting a Money Advice Day on Thursday 11th November, 10am – 3pm, at the Pantry, 981 Shettleston Road. This event is held in collaboration with Tollcross Community Trust to support residents with their financial and digital needs. Book your one to one appointment by calling 07598 728 156 or you can email sdd@fuseonline.org.uk

Office now open twice a week!

With normality gradually returning to most things, we’re pleased to announce that our office will open from next week on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons, 2pm – 5pm.  Appointments are still available to visit the office out with these times, and these be arranged by contacting us. To ensure that we continue to look after the health and safety of our customers and staff, there will be some precautions in place when you visit the office:

  • You must wear a face mask and not visit the office if you have any Covid symptoms. When you press the buzzer at the reception entrance, staff will run through some basic Covid screening questions with you
  • There will be a limit to how many persons can be in the reception area at any time and this may mean that you are asked to wait outside for a short while
  • We will not be accepting any payments at the office, therefore please continue to make your payments as you have been doing during the pandemic.  If you are unsure of how to pay, please ask a staff member and we would be happy to help

You can still contact us by phone, email, text message or by post.  Our services continue to operate fully and we will keep you informed via our website and Facebook page of any changes.

Benefit payment dates over Christmas and New Year

The Department for Work and Pensions has confirmed the dates that certain benefits payment will be paid over the festive period.

Universal Credit payment dates:

  • Payment due on Thursday, December 24: No change
  • Payment due on December 25, 26, 27 or 28: Thursday, December 24
  • Payment due on December 29: No change
  • Payment due on December 30: No change
  • Payment due on December 31: No change
  • Payment due on January 1, 2021: Thursday, December 31
  • Payment due on January 4, 2021: No change

Child Benefit payment dates:

  • Payment due on Monday, December 28: Thursday, December 24
  • Payment due on Tuesday, December 29 : No change
  • Payment due on Monday, January 4 2021: Thursday, December 31, 2020
  • Payment due on Tuesday, January 5 2021: Wednesday, January 6, 2021

Tax Credit payment dates:

  • Payment due on December 25: Thursday, December 24
  • Payment due on December 28: Thursday, December 24
  • Payment due on January 1, 2021: Thursday, December 31, 2020
  • Payment due on January 4, 2021: Thursday, December 31, 2020

Other DWP benefit payment dates:

These payment dates cover other benefits including PIP, Employment Support Allowance (ESA) and State Pension:

  • Payment due on Thursday, December 24: Wednesday, December 23
  • Payment due on December 25, 26, 27 or 28: Wednesday, December 23
  • Payment due on December 29: No change
  • Payment due on December 30: No change
  • Payment due on December 31: No change
  • Payment due on January 1, 2021: Thursday, December 31
  • Payment due on January 4, 2021: Thursday December 31

Scottish Child Payment bridging payments

Earlier in the year, the Scottish Government announced additional payments for school aged children.  £160 was paid per child to eligible families on 8th October and a further payment will be made in December for each P1 to S6 pupil who is entitled to Free School Meals due to their parent/guardian being in receipt of low income or a qualifying benefit. The payment can be used by families for any purpose as they see fit.

This payment is in addition to support delivered through the continuation of Free School Meals over the school holidays and the £130 Low Income Pandemic Payment.

Who will receive the payment?

  • Children in P4-S6 who receive Free School Meals will be eligible for the payment.
  • Children in P1-P3 who are eligible due to low income or qualifying benefits only.  Children in P1-P3 who receive universal Free School Meals, and who do not meet the financial qualifying conditions for Free School Meals, are not eligible for these additional payments.
  • Pre-school aged children are not eligible for this additional payment. The Scottish Child Payment is available for children under the age of 6.

Is the payment per family or per child?

  • A payment of £160 will be made for each eligible child in the household.

How will I receive the payment?

  • Payment will be made automatically for all children entitled to receive Free School Meals and meet the criteria detailed above.

When will I receive the payment?

  • Eligible children would have received the October payment on 8th October and the next payment will be in December.

For more information about this payment, please contact our welfare rights officers David and George on 0141 763 0511.

New Rules approved at SGM and Board Members elected at AGM on 21st September

The Association held a successful Special General Meeting (SGM) followed by an Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Tuesday 21st September. It was held at the Shettleston Juniors Club to allow for social distancing at a larger venue than the reception area in our office. Thanks to all those that made the effort to come along and take part in both meetings.

At the SGM, Tony Teasdale, CEO, presented proposed changes to the Association’s Rules for members to consider and approve. The Rules were approved by at least 75% of the members present at the meeting. A copy of the new Rules can be viewed by clicking here.

The AGM followed immediately after the SGM, at which James McBride of auditors Azets spoke about the annual accounts – these can be viewed here. The meeting then considered the nominations that had been received to the Board. Lesley Scoffield, Christine Thomson and John Morrison were re-elected and new recruits Brian Barclay, Hugh McIntosh, Edward Robertson and Chloe Park were elected to the Board.

The Office Bearers were elected at the first Board meeting after the AGM, and they are Lesley Scoffield (Chair), Christine Thomson (Vice Chair) and Elizabeth Battersby (Secretary). The new Board can be viewed here.