Office Opening on Monday 21st February 2022!

We are pleased to announce that our office will open from next Monday (21st February 2022) to the public again.  We will be closed for lunch between 1-2pm.

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 – please ensure we will do our best to deal with your query as quick as possible.
  • We will not be accepting any  payments at the office in the interim, 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. 

Bike for good

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.

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…/

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.

Joinery apprenticeship opportunity at Upkeep – apply now!

Our subsidiary, Upkeep, is currently recruiting for a positive and enthusiastic Apprentice Joiner to join their team, based at their Culrain Street office.

The successful candidate will secure a four year trade apprenticeship comprising on site practical training as well as college based theory and practical examinations to provide them with the knowledge and skills to become a qualified Joiner.

The successful candidate will also have excellent prospects to secure permanent employment within the business, upon the successful completion of their training.

No previous experience is necessary but an interest in working in a fast paced trade environment and a keen eye for detail are advantageous.

For an informal chat about the position or to find out more information please contact Neil Ferguson on 0141 7643793 or email your C.V to enquiries@upkeepglasgow.org.uk

The closing date for applications is Friday 3rd September 2021 at 12.00pm.

ice box construction

Icebox Challenge Glasgow

Shettleston Housing Association are delighted to be one of the sponsors of the Ice Box Challenge Glasgow. This event is being hosted by Glasgow City Council in conjunction with the Passivhaus Trust and will highlight the benefits of energy efficiency in buildings ahead of the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference.

The Ice Box Challenge is a contest and practical experiment to demonstrate the thermal efficiency of buildings and how this can be improved through energy efficient design. Architecture students from Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen won a competition to design two Ice Boxes, one of which will be built to current Scottish Building Standards and the other to the Passive House Standard. The boxes will be left outside for two weeks, each holding an equal amount of ice. When opened, the amount of ice left in each box will be measured. How much ice remains will demonstrate how well each icebox keeps out the heat. The results of the experiment will help show how energy efficient construction can reduce carbon pollution and ensure buildings are healthier, more comfortable and more economic to run.

The event will run from 23rd July to 6th August in St Enoch’s Square and is open to the public. You can find more information on the official Icebox Challenge Glasgow site: https://iceboxchallenge.org/