Inspired Livingmaking your area a great place to live FEBRUARY 2013

As part of the Oldham PFI regeneration, the Inspiral partnership aims to help local people back into employment, education or training... introducing Building Futures from Wates Living Space.

This fantastic initiative is headed up by a dedicated employability co-ordinator for the area, who works with partners to make sure that the community is informed of vacancies.

There are lots of great success stories including Vince (pictured right), a Chadderton resident who was unemployed for over a year, but found work with Astley Facades as a labourer, but is starting his site supervisor training soon.

If you would like more information, please contact employability co-ordinator Angela Hough on 07899 998 683 or email angela.hough@wates.co.uk

Oldham residents get back into the job market

Introducing Cultural ElevationThe Cultural Elevation team (pictured right) is currently working with Great Places over the next three months, providing support to develop the most effective ways to run spaces within the new community centres.

The team will be out and about over the coming weeks to find out what types of facilities and services you’d like to see in your community centres.

Friday 22 March will play host to their exciting community question time event. This brings multi media, communities and debate to life. The event is designed for you to explore and ask Great Places, the local authority, public services and each other important questions.

This is an opportunity want you to use this as a launch pad to build sustainable relationships and a strong leadership group which will develop the business plan to run your business enterprise from the two spaces.

For more information please contact Robert Croll at Cultural Elevation at culturalelevation.c.e@gmail.com or Great Places, oldhampfi@greatplaces.org.uk. Alternatively, you can ring 0300 123 2003 and ask for Dan Baker or Jan Wade.

News in briefFOLLOWING a special meeting in December, a new committee has been elected. Primrose Bank Estate Tenants and Residents’ Association (PETRA) will be working with partners to improve the community, and set up activities for all ages.

LOCAL Jobcentres are offering half price travel throughout February and March, which will make jobhunting easier for all. If you’ve been claiming benefits for at least 13 weeks and you’re over 18, you’ll be eligible to apply. For more information, get two passport pictures and fill a form at your local job centre.

CHADDERTON Library Work Club is open for business every Wednesday from 12.30pm to 3pm to help you find the right job for you. It is a FREE service which will help you identify your skills, complete application forms, creating a new CV, as well as helping you prepare for interviews.

For further information contact Joyce Ward on 07890 501 961.

PLEASE be aware that there are always bogus callers targeting vulnerable. Remember all Wates Living Space, Great Places and other contractors have ID badges. So, if you have any doubts, don’t let them in and ring the police.

WE are disappointed to report that there has been various incidents of flytipping around the Primrose Bank estate. Removing this is very expensive and unfortunately will result in less money spent on improving your community.

If you see anyone dumping rubbish inappropriately, please contact Great Places’ customer access team on 0300 123 2006.

Oldham’s changing landscape

How your concerns were dealt with

WalkaboutResidents, staff and partner agencies walk around the area every month to point out concerns.

Crossley• Action plan from public residents’ meeting -

meetings and walkabouts have taken place with issues resolved

• Three street lights on Kent Avenue were not working - Wates has instructed EON to repair

Primrose Bank• Litter and weeds at the corner of Jackson

Street/Florida Street - cleared by Great Places’ caretakers

• Litter in the alley between 261 and 263 Lee Street - cleared by Great Places’ caretakers

CROSSLEY

Parks and Street Scene1. Grass cutting has finished for

the winter months2. Street Scene has started on

their winter maintenance programme

Councillors 1. Car parking in the area generally

has become problematic since the Metro opened. Councillors are aware of the possible problem and are looking at options.

2. Councillors had a meeting with Eon and Oldham Council’s Street Lighting department.

3. There are about 50 or 60 new street lighting columns on the estate.

4. Columns can no longer be put on the edge of the kerb, they

have to be at the back of the path

5. They have been moved away from pods to design out crime and ensure the whole area is lit.

6. Wates is in dialogue with Eon to get lights connected as soon as possible

7. Following on from the public meeting in October, an action plan was produced that outlined the main points

Wates Living Space1. Respect workshops are now

taking place for all Wates operatives

2. Police are working with Christ Church school regarding the traffic issue

Great Places1. Neighbourhood surgeries are

running every week on Tuesday

morning between 10am and 2pm at 16 Lansdowne Court

PRIMROSE BANK

Wates Living Space 1. New tenants will be moving into

their properties from the end of January

2. First Response will shortly be providing security on Primrose Bank

3. Residents were advised to work closely with the security guards, as they are the eyes and ears on site

Great Places1. Neighbourhood surgeries are

held every Monday morning, 10am – 2pm at the tenants hall

What’s happening in your area

Crossley Social GroupTuesday 12 February, 2pm at the ROC

Primrose Bank estate forumMonday 18 February, 6pm at Primrose Bank Tenants’ Hall

Crossley litter pick, followed by arts and craftsTuesday 19 February, 2pm at the ROC

Primrose Bank litter pick, followed by arts and craftsWednesday 20 February, 2pm at Primrose Bank Tenants’ Hall

Crossley estate forumThursday 21 February, 6pm at St Saviour’s Church off Denton Lane

Dew Way drop inMonday 25 February, 2pm to 3pm at Dew Way site office

Crossley estate walkaboutTuesday 26 February, 10am at Kent Avenue shops

Primrose Bank estate walkaboutThursday 28 February, 10am at Primrose Bank Tenants’ Hall

Primrose Bank neighbourhood surgeryEvery Monday at Primrose Bank Tenants’ Hall, 10am to 12pm (Great Places), 12pm to 2pm (Wates)

Crossley neighbourhood surgeryEvery Tuesday at 16 Landsdowne Court, 10am to 12pm (Great Places), 12pm to 2pm (Wates)

Table TennisEvery Tuesday and Friday, 6pm and Sundays at 5pm at Primrose Bank Tenants’ Hall

Bangla

Urdu

It’s easy to get in touch...

call 0300 123 2003text 07797 870 731oldhampfi@greatplaces.org.uk

8am to 6pmMon-Fri

What’s on!

Help is at hand for those with rent issues

We can work it out!

Great Places evicts only a handful of tenants for anti-social behaviour related issues. This is because most cases are resolved through mediation - where neighbours talk about their problems and come to an agreed solution.

So what is mediation all about?

Mediators don’t take sides, blame anyone or tell anyone else. If they think another organisation could help, they ask you first before they contact anyone.

You are always asked to adhere to some ground rules when you work through mediation, like being open, honest, as well as agreeing to listen to try and understand the other side of things. This helps everyone feel confident and safe enough to voice their feelings and concerns.

Once mediators help residents solve and situation, they will then follow up to see how everyone is getting on.

If you feel you have an issues, which would be resolved better with a mediator, call Great Places’ customer access team on 0300 123 2006.

If you’re worried about what’s happening with the government’s welfare reforms, don’t despair as the help with rent team’s mobile advice centre will be at Oldham Spindles Centre from Monday 25 to Wednesday 27 March.

The service aims to help residents who live in a housing association home, who will be affected by the bedroom tax, as well as giving a helping hand to those whose benefits will be cut due to benefit caps and universal credit. If you’d like more information, please contact Stuart Perry on 07800 618842, 0161 474 3270. You can also visitwww.helpwithrent.org.uk, or follow @helpwithrent on Twitter.