From 26 December, as we are returning to level 4 restrictions, we will only be able to carry out essential repairs. We will return to normal repairs service when restrictions are eased again. Essential repairs are those that affect tenant safety / security of the property. We will continue to undertake gas and electrical safety checks.
Please note that our office will close at 2pm on Christmas Eve and will remain closed until 9am on Wednesday 6th January 2021 (office will still be closed to the public with most staff working remotely). Our emergency repairs line will remain open during the festive break on 0808 202 6565. The Management Committee and staff would like to wish you all a very happy Christmas and new year!
Residents would have received a copy of our brief performance report with our winter newsletter. The We would appreciate your feedback on how we reported the information to you as this will be taken into account when producing next year’s report. Please note that this year’s report was shorter than usual due to the timing of the report’s publication and in a bid to keep costs down.
The performance report can viewed by clicking here.
The survey will only take a couple of minutes to complete and your feedback will help us to improve what we do. To complete the survey now, please click here (this will open up a secure new page outside of our website).
We received our seventh landlord report from the Scottish Housing Regulator (SHR), at the end of October. This repot can be accessed by clicking here.
The timing of reporting and receiving the report was delayed due to the pandemic, however, we are very pleased to note that once again the Association has demonstrated good performance against the majority of indicators during 2019/2020. The Regulator measures the performance of all social landlords in Scotland, in areas including homes and rent, quality and maintenance, neighbourhoods, tenant satisfaction and value for money. Performance is then set against the Scottish average for each indicator, allowing tenants and others to see how their landlord compared to the Scottish average.
For further information about the Association’s performance, please contact Anne McAlpine, Director of Customer & Community Services on 0141 763 0511.
Today we will begin contacting some tenants by telephone to carry out a short survey to find out what you thought of the Association’s services during the pandemic, what we could have done better and what your future needs may be. The survey will be carried out by an independent company called IBP Strategy & Research. The survey is optional and you don’t need to take part. However, we’d love to hear your views so that we can make improvements where needed and learn from your feedback. Anything you tell IBP interviewers is fully confidential. The surveys will be taking place over the next two weeks. Please call us on 763 0511 if you have any questions about the survey.
Shettleston Does Digital – NEW skills training from Shettleston Housing Association, delivered locally in partnership with Fuse Youth Cafe, was launched today. This FREE skills training will help residents to make the most of their digital devices such as smartphones, laptops, and tablets, and also teach folk how to use the internet safely and how to connect online with family and friends. The training, funded by Glasgow City Council, will be delivered on a one to one basis (complying with government restrictions), three times a week. It is open to anyone in the community aged over 16 years.
The training will be delivered as follows:
Mondays 10am – 3pm, from Fuse Youth Cafe at 1567 Shettleston Road
Tuesdays 10am – 3pm from The Pantry at 981 Shettleston Road
Thursdays 10am – 3pm from The Pantry at 981 Shettleston Road
To find out more or to make an appointment, please call 07598 728156 or email sdd@fuseonline.org.uk. You can visit Shettleston Does Digital’s facebook page for regular updates at www.facebook.com/shettlestondigital.
From 1st December, your local pantry on 981 Shettleston Road will be open on Wednesdays, 10am – 3pm, and on Fridays, 10am – 1pm. Please note that it will no longer open on Tuesdays. The pantry will continue to offer a fantastic range of food items from a variety of food groups for a low cost of £2.50. All you have to do to take advantage is visit the pantry during opening hours, and the staff will take care of the rest.
Due to the latest Scottish Government guidance we will be providing a reduced repairs service inside tenants’ homes. Until 11th December this will be restricted to emergency or very urgent repairs which pose a danger to residents’ health, the property or which make your home insecure. These will include:
We will continue to try to take any particular individual circumstances into account and, for example, may replace light bulbs for elderly tenants.
We will also be continuing with our programme of gas and electrical safety inspections and with any follow up work identified as necessary.
We are aware that the Council’s pest control service has been suspended. Our emergency pest control contractor will attend to treat an infestation of rats, mice, squirrels only where these are within your property.
We aim to ensure that such repairs are attended to within our usual target response wherever possible. Our emergency contractor will attend and make safe and undertake what work they can to complete the repair and restore lost service. In some cases this may mean a temporary repair, providing this leaves your home safe and secure and will not affect your occupation of the property.
Where you can please email a photograph of the affected area to repairsteam@shettleston.co.uk to help our repairs team accurately assess the work required.
What is the Scottish Child Payment?
It’s a new payment for families on certain benefits or tax credits to help towards the costs of looking after a child. £40 is paid every four weeks for each child under six.
It opens on Monday 15 February 2021 but applications are being taken now to help manage demand.
Who can apply?
You can apply for Scottish Child Payment whether you are in work or not.
You may be eligible if you, or your partner, are the parent or full-time carer of a child who will be aged under six on 15 February 2021 and if you receive certain benefits or tax credits.
(Child Tax Credit, Income Support, Pension Credit, Working Tax Credit, Universal Credit, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)).
How many children can qualify per household?
Every child under six in a qualifying family will receive a payment.
How to apply
You can apply online at https://www.mygov.scot/scottish-child-payment/ or via the freephone helpline on 0800 182 2222, or by post.
Why are people being asked to apply now?
There is expected to be a huge demand for this new payment. Encouraging people to apply now means that Social Security Scotland can check that they have all the information and evidence needed to make a decision once the benefit starts on Monday 15 February.
What evidence will be required?
You will need to provide evidence that you are responsible for a child under six, usually through the child being named on a benefits claim. If more than one person applies for the same child, a process is in place for deciding who gets the payment, and the person who the child lives with for the majority of time will be prioritised.
Kinship carers can demonstrate responsibility for a child with a legal order or letter of support from a local authority.
If any of our tenants or factored owners have had a positive COVID-19 test, or are self-isolating because you’ve been asked to by NHS Test & Protect, and you have no support network then Glasgow Helps could assist you. They can help with things like shopping and collecting prescriptions.
You can contact Glasgow Helps by texting 07451 289255, lines are open Mon – Fri, 9am to 5pm. If you have no credit on your phone but can get online, you can contact Glasgow Helps at https://www.glasgowhelps.org/
If you are struggling financially and a Foodbank referral is needed because you’re self-isolating, this can be arranged through Glasgow Helps. Glasgow Helps will arrange for the food parcel to be delivered.
If you’re self-isolating and can afford food, but are unable to use online shopping, Morrisons offer a Doorstep Delivery Service by phone. To arrange this please call 0345 611 6111 (Option 5). Your order will be taken over the phone and delivery arranged. Payment will be taken by Contactless or Chip & Pin when the shopping is delivered. If you are elderly or vulnerable, there is no charge for delivery.
