Without a long-term plan for supported housing, thousands of people could go without the support they need, costing the public purse and leaving people who could live independently with support facing extended stays in residential or institutional care or be at risk of homelessness. This year’s Starts at Home Day is a chance to tell the new government how they can deliver supported housing to our residents.

The government predicts that demand for supported housing in England will increase by 125,000 by 2030. As a sector, we have the capacity, drive and expertise to meet this need, but we need the long-term investment and political commitment to do so.

That’s why we’re calling on all political parties to consider long-term solutions. Our sector is uniquely positioned to guide decision-makers on how we can tackle the housing crisis together and build a promising future for everyone, including those in need of supported housing.

Stephen Ellis, a resident at one of our supported housing schemes explains:

“Supported housing has helped me improve my self-esteem and confidence to live independently whilst having the knowledge that the Supported team are available to help me if required with any personal issues.”

Supported housing provides an essential service to those who need it, not just those in society who need help but also those who may be lonely or isolated.

Our Supported team plays a pivotal role in our schemes, ensuring that every resident’s voice is heard and their feelings are validated in a supportive way.

Without these crucial services, our residents could be left without the support they need. This is why we are supporting Starts at Home Day 2024.

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This standard is designed to help the housing sector measure, report, and enhance its ESG performance in a transparent, consistent and comparable way. You can find out more about the SfH and SRS by clicking here.

This report sets out our performance for 2023/24, and it focuses on 12 key areas:

• Climate change
• Ecology
• Resource management
• Affordability and security
• Building safety and quality
• Resident voice
• Resident support
• Placemaking
• Structure and governance
• Board and trustees
• Staff wellbeing
• Supply chain

We are passionate about making our homes more energy efficient, and are committed to ensuring our homes have an EPC rating of C or above by 2023 and achieve net zero carbon by 2050.

We were awarded £1.4m in Wave 2.1 of the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund, which, when delivered, will mean that approximately 100 of our homes will be more energy efficient.

The health and safety of our homes, residents and teams remains a priority, and we’ll continue to invest in these areas.

What’s next

We’ll shortly be creating our first sustainability strategy, which will set out the roadmap for what we do and how we do it over the next few years. To create this, we’ll  be working with our residents, teams, and our board and committee members.

We will provide further updates on this over the coming months.

To read the full report, click here.

The post Our 2023/24 Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Report appeared first on Havebury Housing.

Kwajo Tweneboa is a social housing activist who fights for the rights of social housing tenants in the UK.

We also had a special Steve Arbon Award, in memory of our colleague and friend, who sadly passed away earlier this year. This award was for a technician of ours who goes above and beyond for our residents. Nominations for this award came from residents and the award was presented by Steve’s son, Nathan.

A huge well done to our winners!

Puts our residents first award – Karen, tenancy sustainment and hoarding officer

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Goes above and beyond for colleagues award – Katie Ives, logistics team leader

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Champions collaboration award – Scarlett Easdown, neighbourhood housing officer

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Champions our values (joint winners) – Louise Whatley (Cert CIH), neighbourhood & estates manager and Martin Wilson, voids inspector

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Special recognition award – Chloe Beeton, support team leader

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Team of the year – Supported team 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Steve Arbon award – Darren Byham, technician (carpenter)

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The post Our Customer Service Awards appeared first on Havebury Housing.

The theme of this project is “Wildflower Wonder”

Your sign should be hand-drawn and highlight that the area around it is a wildflower area, which is why it may not be mowed or look ‘unloved’. We want to encourage bees and other wildlife to thrive. We have included some examples below.

There are three age categories, 4 – 6, 7 – 9 and 10 – 12 and you don’t have to be a Havebury resident to enter.

We will select one winner from each age category, and they will each win a £20 book voucher and an art kit.

If you would like to send your entry via email, you can do this by emailing it to engagement@havebury.com or you can upload it directly to us using the form here.

If you would like to send it via post, please get in contact with the Engagement team at the same email address or by calling 0300 3300 900, entering extension number 7316 when prompted. The team can send out a Freepost envelope for you to send back your design.

Deadline for submissions will be Monday 7 October 2024. We look forward to seeing your entries.

The post Wildflower wonder – sign design competition appeared first on Havebury Housing.

You can continue to use myHavebury to report repairs, pay your rent and check your account online during this time.

Normal service will resume Monday 19 August, at 8.30am.

Thank you for your understanding.

The post Team training appeared first on Havebury Housing.

Seeing so many amazing entries and meeting some of the residents behind the creations was great. The judges, Amy St Ledger (assistant director of customer and housing services), Demi Flowers (customer experience administrator), Donna Loades (grounds maintenance scheduler), and Lorna Housley from Dobbies Garden Centre, scored our residents on things like best use of space, diversity of planting, how well maintained the area was, how healthy the plants were, and their overall impression.

Here are our winners

Best Garden – Nicholas Ellis

The judges were very impressed with Nicholas’s design and care in his garden. He used an incredible array of very healthy plants. His attention to detail around his borders and use of hanging baskets were real standout points for the judges. Nicholas scored 358 out of a possible 400.

Nicholas said: “I am really pleased to have won. I won Bury in Bloom when I lived in Bury St Edmunds. Winning Havebury in Bloom is just great. It makes all my hard work worthwhile”.

Best communal garden – Maple House

The judges were impressed with the variety of plants used in the area, which gave passers-by a pop of colour. All the plants used in the area were healthy and well-maintained; no weeds or leaves were around. The key standout of this communal garden area was the apparent effort from the residents involved in keeping and maintaining this space. Maple House scored 350 out of a possible 400.

Best Balcony – Deborah Walladge

The judges were blown away by Deborah’s ability to use this small area to her advantage and create quite literally a plant haven. Her use of colour and the plants’ wide variety and healthiness made this balcony stand out. Deborah also used a lovely mix of planters, ornaments, and mirrors, which added to the feel of this outdoor space. Deborah scored 367 out of a possible 400.

Best grow your garden – Thingoe Lodge

The judges were very impressed with the number of things growing in this incredible space. They noted how they liked using the greenhouse to keep the tomatoes flourishing and how the vegetable planters were spaced out with such a variety of available vegetables. A standout point for the judges was how involved the residents were in their garden and that the produce grown was used for the community to enjoy Sunday lunches. They scored 323 out of a possible 400.

“We are really pleased that we won; a lot of hard work goes on behind the scenes, and we love being able to grow our own food for Sunday lunches. Everyone gets involved.”

We will be looking to bring back Havebury in Bloom next year, so keep your eyes peeled on our website and social media channels for more information. Thank you again to everyone who got involved this year. It was really great to be in our communities celebrating all the hard work our residents do to keep their outside spaces looking amazing!

The post Havebury in bloom 2024 winners! appeared first on Havebury Housing.

We have put together a guide to summer events in the local community and places where children can eat cheaply.

If you know of anything else, please let us know and we can update our list.

Bury St Edmunds

 

Lackford Lakes holiday club

8 – 11-year-olds are invited to Lackford Lacks to join in some forest free play and nature-based activities. Lunch is included

Dates: 25 July, 1,2,8,9, 15,16,22,22 and 29 August

Times: 9.00am – 3.30pm

Price: FREE for those children who get benefit-related free school meals or £28 per child.

Find out more/book – https://www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org/upcoming-events-lackford-lakes

 

Strong girl club 

The Strong Girl Squad holiday club is for secondary-aged girls. Its mission is to help girls feel strong, mentally and physically, by teaching them about strength training in a female-led environment full of encouragement and fun.

Dates: 23, 25 and 30 July, 1, 6, 8, 13, 15, 20, 22, 27, 29 August.

Times: 11.30am – 3.30pm

Price: 12 FREE funded places for girls who get benefit-related free school meals or £24 per child.

Find out more/book – https://eequ.org/experience/7049/

 

Summer holidays in The Yard

Enjoy outdoor eco-activities next to St Edmundsbury Cathedral in Bury St Edmunds. Suitable for ages 11 – 18.

Dates: 21 and 31 July, 7, 14 and 21 August.

Times: 11.00am – 3.00pm

Price: Priority places and meal provided for children whose families get free school meals, pupil premium or an identified need.

Find out more/book – janedow@stedscathedral.org

 

Swim and lunch

Come and swim at your local leisure centre and enjoy lunch afterwards. Available in Sudbury, Bury St Edmunds, Hadleigh, Haverhill, Mildenhall and Newmarket

Dates: 22 July – 31 August

Times: Times vary

Price: FREE swimming spaces including lunch to support children and their families who are entitled to free school meals and/or through discretionary places.

Find out more/book –  https://www.abbeycroft.org.uk/HAF/

 

Bury Rugby Club multi-sport camp

Get fit and active at Bury rugby club and take part in a variety of sports. Suitable for ages 5 – 12. All activity’s are aimed to be active, fun and inclusive as well as teaching the core values of sport and exercise.

Dates: Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday through the summer holidays

Times: 8.45am – 4.30pm

Price: FREE places available to those entitled to free school meals or pupil premium.

Find out more/book –  https://eequ.org/experience/7244

 

Curve motion

Take part in either roller skating or soft place throughout the summer holidays. Available for children ages 5 – 18. Booking is essential.

Dates: Varying dates in July and August

Times: Varying times

Price: Fully funded admission throughout the summer holidays for those who get free school meals/pupil premium.

Find out more/book –  www.curvemotion.uk/holiday-activities-fund

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Thetford

Family fun

Coming to Thetford Market Place and The Carnegie & Guildhall Complex this summer!

Head back to those Nostalgic Summer Holidays, with a selection of events and activities for all to enjoy.

With family events running on Thetford Market Place as well as ticketed experiences and events in The Carnegie and Guildhall Complex, there’s something for everyone!

Dates: 15 August – 17 August

Times: 10am – 3pm

Price: Free

Find out more: https://thetfordtowncouncil.gov.uk/town-events/

 

Free family disco

Join in an evening of dancing and fun for all the family at the Market Place in Thetford.

Dates: 17 August

Times: 7.30pm – 9.30pm

Price: Free and refreshments will be available to purchase

Find out more: https://thetfordtowncouncil.gov.uk/town-events/

 

Sandpit and much, much more

Roll up roll up to The Market Place in Thetford to join in some summer fun.

Dates: 18 August

Times: 10.00am – 3.00pm

Price: Free

Find out more: https://thetfordtowncouncil.gov.uk/town-events/

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Haverhill

Haverhill in the park

Haverhill in the Park is back with an exciting number of musical acts coming to Haverhill Recreation Ground! A free event for all the family.

Dates:  16 – 17 August

Times: Times vary

Price: Free

Find out more: https://haverhill-tc.gov.uk/haverhill-in-the-park/

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Newmarket

 

A creative summer at the National Horseracing Museum

Free family drop-in workshops every Wednesday and Friday Donations are welcome. Get creative! T-shirts, print making, pasta making and more.

Dates:  24 July – 30 August

Times: 11am – 3pm

Price: Free

Find out more: https://www.nhrm.co.uk/events/summer-holiday-fun-at-the-museum/

 

Memorial Gardens summer entertainment:

Whether you need to entertain the children or grandchildren, there are lots of free things to do in the Memorial Gardens and it is jam-packed with exceptional creative activities.

A weekly festival where kids can try out arts activities with professional artists and enjoy a wide range of fun free activities, including magic shows, art and circus workshops, face painting, storytelling, animal experience, theatre performances and as always, your favourite free inflatable fun.

Dates:  23 July, 3, 10, 17 and 24 August

Times: Times vary

Price: Free

Find out more: https://www.newmarket.gov.uk/event/memorial-gardens-summer-entertainment/

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Brandon

Brandon Country Park’s summer holiday trail

Head to Brandon Country Park to follow the trail, solving clues along the way. If you find the special word you can collect a small prize. Just head to the cafe to pick up your trail sheet for £1.50.

Dates:  20 July – 2 September

Times: 10am – 4.30pm

Price: £1.50 per trail sheet

Find out more: https://www.whatsonwestsuffolk.co.uk/whats-on/details.cfm?id=810947&ins=1394592

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Kids eat for free or at a discount during the summer holidays

• Asda – Kids eat for £1 all day every day
• Sainsbury’s – Kids eat for £1 with the purchase of an adult main from 11.30am every day
• Pausa café @ Dunelm – Kids get one mini main, two snacks and a drink free with every £4 spent after 3pm.
• Travelodge and Premier Inn – Buy one adult breakfast and two kids can eat breakfast for free
• Sizzling pubs – Monday – Friday 3 – 7pm kids mains are £1 with every adult meal.
• Morrisons – spend £4.49 and get one kids meal free all day every day.
• Tesco cafes – one free kids meal with every 60p spend from 22^nd July.
• Whitebread inns – Two kids under 16 eat for free with every adult breakfast purchased.
• Hungry Horse – Kids eat for £1 on Mondays
• Dobbies Garden Centres – for every adult breakfast or lunch purchase, child eats free

The post Summer Holiday activities 2024 appeared first on Havebury Housing.

The Resident Experience Committee is a sub committee of the Board. Its purpose is to ensure the customer voice is heard and influences what we do in delivering our services.

The committee is made up of residents, as well as independent and Board members. They hold us hold us accountable for our performance, whilst also ensuring we are doing what we say we will when it comes to providing services.

Andrew grew up in Icklingham, near Bury St Edmunds, and worked on farms over a 30-year period.

Coming from an agricultural background, he usually got a home with his job. When he decided to leave his last position, it also meant leaving the home he had with his family.

Andrew and his wife used Home-link (the choice-based letting system for the area) to bid for homes, and he was on the list for around a year.

In 2015, Andrew was offered a home in Haverhill, an area they knew well, as his wife had grown up there. Andrew’s wife was delighted when they were offered the home: “We felt as though we had won the lottery.”

Andrew felt fortunate to get a home with Havebury, and when the opportunity to join the Resident Experience Committee came up, he wanted to take it with both hands.

“It was actually my wife who encouraged me to apply. It was my opportunity to give back and help improve services for fellow residents.”

Andrew understands that sharing experiences and your voice might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but this was something he was keen to do.

“I have had mental health issues due to my previous job, including anxiety and depression. I have also had financial struggles and hope to be relatable to other residents and share their experiences through my own. I have been at the bottom and worked myself back up again.”

Andrew comments that, in his experience, there are few other landlords willing to invest in and involve their residents. “If you want to improve your neighbourhood for yourself and others, this is the best way forward. You’re as valid at the table as the next person, and it’s not as daunting as you think it might be”. He adds, “I would tell anyone else to apply for a role on a committee or Board when they come up. Havebury has been so supportive, and there has been no pressure.”

If being a member of our Board or our committees sounds like something you would enjoy but you aren’t sure if you have the right skills yet, our Havebury Academy has been set up to give residents the tools to be able and feel comfortable to apply for positions on Board or the committees when they become available. To find out more about any of our committees, you can email governance@havebury.com

 

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Sarah and Steve have lived in Suffolk for over 13 years and had spent the last 19 years renting. They felt they were not able to buy a home, as they couldn’t afford to save for a deposit.

Sarah’s dad was kind enough to give them some money a couple of years ago, enabling them to have a small deposit.

Sarah and Steve spent time looking at their options and decided to sign up to the Share to Buy website to look for homes. They researched the pros and cons of shared ownership as they didn’t know anyone who had done it before and it was a whole new process for them.

Sarah admits there was a small amount of time when they wondered if they were doing the right thing, as it was a big commitment, and they worried about not owning all of their home. After months of research and discussions, they decided that shared ownership would be the right opportunity for them.

“We had a small amount of money, but we wanted to make sure we used it for a good reason. We wanted to have something to show for it and try and get on the property ladder.”

They had initially found a resale property they were interested in, but due to circumstances beyond their control, this purchase fell through.

“The bottom fell out of our world when we lost that home. We were absolutely devastated.”

Sarah said she felt so deflated that she didn’t think she could continue looking for a new home, only to be disappointed again.

However, fate was on their side when this home in Trimley-St-Martin became available on the Share to Buy website, one of only six available at the time. From there, the process went quickly, and they attended a viewing at the home the next day.

“We loved it the minute we saw it; we knew this had to be our home, but I didn’t want to get too excited because of what had happened before.”

Sarah and Steve quickly completed the necessary paperwork, and a few days later, they had the call to say it was theirs if they still wanted it.

The process was brief and straightforward and took around nine weeks, which Sarah credits to the Home Ownership team here at Havebury and the solicitors they had working on their purchase.

“Havebury has been absolutely amazing. They have really rooted for us during this entire process and couldn’t have been more helpful. The customer service has been the best, even after we moved in.”

Steve went on to say: “When we moved in, we had an issue with a leak, but that was sorted three hours after we reported it; they went above and beyond for us.”

Sarah and Steve couldn’t be more grateful for the place they get to call home, they feel like they are part of one big community and say everyone has been so welcoming and friendly.

“Everyone takes pride in where they live, which is so lovely.”

When asked if they would recommend shared ownership, Sarah said she would recommend people look at their circumstances to see if it suits them and, if it does, to go for it.

“We have security, in our own home, I don’t think we could be happier.

Sarah and Steve are already looking ahead to the summer and enjoying their new garden. “We may not own all of it now, but we are determined to make this house our home. We will look to staircase in the future, but for now, we are enjoying every minute of being homeowners – one step at a time.

Find out more about shared ownership with us here.

The post Meet our shared owner, Sarah appeared first on Havebury Housing.

We want to ensure that you know how to contact us if you are struggling with your finances. Our team will always provide the most up-to-date information about any benefits or additional help that may be available to you.

To help you keep a track of your incoming and outgoing spends, we’ve created an income and expenditure form, which you can find here.

Moving from tax credits to universal credit

If you receive tax credits, income support, housing benefit only or job seekers allowance, you may receive a letter from the DWP or HMRC, referring to ‘managed migration’.

This letter will explain that you will need to move from tax credits to universal credit (UC) within three months. When you claim, you will get ‘Transitional Protection’ to top-up your UC payments. This ensures that no one will be worse off when moving over.

If you need help understanding why, how, and when you need to move over to UC, our Financial Inclusion team is on hand to help. If you want to discuss your options, please call the team on 0300 3300 900 extension 7305 or email myadvice@havebury.com

Our advice

Our advice around the cost of living plays an important role in supporting our residents facing financial challenges. Our support fund is there to help you cope with the rising expenses associated with housing, utilities, and other essential needs.

It’s open to residents and shared owners who are struggling with their finances. It provides temporary relief from genuine hardship and is not intended as a means of long-term support. There are specific criteria that need to be met.

In 2023 – 2024 our support fund helped 1,556 residents, equating to just over £250,000. This money has helped with:

• Fuel and energy costs
• Food/supermarket vouchers
• Purchasing appliances and furniture
• Support with tenancy sustainment

We are making some changes to our support fund for 2024/2025 and we will update you on these on our website and social media. In the meantime, please give our Financial Inclusion team a call, to discuss your eligibility.

How our support fund has helped you

Mr G was previously homeless and in temporary accommodation.  He is an amputee and therefore had an increased risk of falls. He also needed help with carpeting his home £600 was given to cover carpet and fitting.  We also worked with him to apply to his Local Welfare Assistance scheme to help purchase a new cooker. We are continuing to work with him to maximise his income going forward.

Miss L contacted us for help with food as her maternity pay had ended, We conducted a full welfare assessment, as she was struggling with her finances. We were able to give her a £200 Argos voucher which was used to purchase items for her baby and a £275 supermarket voucher to help her free up some money so she could catch up on bills.

Mr H was in an unfortunate bike accident in 2023 which left him needing treatment to his teeth. He was very distrusting of professionals and was reluctant to engage. We offered him £150 of shopping vouchers to help him with food and we completed a welfare assessment at his home. We gave him a £200 voucher to help purchase rugs for his home, as well as continuing to work with him to maximise his income. We were also able to refer him to a dentist, for which he has now received an appointment, as well as helping him with his Home-Link application.

“We can’t thank you enough for your help. We have now been able to put our gas back on and do a big food shop. Thank you for helping me make this situation a bit easier.” – Anonymous resident

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