- Salix Homes

limelight
AUTUMN 2015: Issue 34
Inside:
6
New vision
unveiled for tower
block trio
10
Funding boost
for 31 Salford
projects
12
Vote for your
Salix Star
Welcome to the autumn edition of Limelight
It’s now six months since we became a registered housing provider and
we’ll be marking the occasion with a special event at Ordsall Hall, where
as well as looking to the future, we’ll be taking a trip down memory lane.
We’ll be hosting a photography exhibition and family fun day on Friday,
October 30 celebrating Salford’s homes and communities in years gone by.
It’s also a great chance to see our exciting plans for the future.
The event is open to all of our customers so why not join us?
More details can be found on page 13.
In the last edition we highlighted the fantastic opportunities that are available
for you – our customers, to get involved. We’ve had a really positive
response in our search for new customer and independent board
members, and we’ll introduce our new members to you soon.
Finally, our Salix Stars Awards will be open for a public vote next
month. Keep an eye out on our website and Facebook page and
make sure you cast your vote and reward the true heroes of our
communities. Find out more on page 12.
Lee Sugden. Salix Homes chief executive
Contact Us
Contents
3
Apprentice Rachel
makes history
4
No laughing matter
4
News in brief
5
Cooking up a new career
6
New vision unveiled for
tower block trio
8
Court files
9
You’ve been framed
10-11
Your Salix, Your Say
12
Vote for your Salix Star
12
Shelagh Delaney
Day celebrations
13
Our Salford: Bygones
and New Beginnings
13
Win a framed montage
of old Salford
14
Money Matters
Find us on Facebook and Twitter
15
How are we doing?
15
New repairs service
coming your way
• Visit us on facebook www.facebook.com/SalixHomes
• Tweet us @SalixHomes
18
Looking for work?
18
Café Review Ordsall Hall Café
19
What’s on
2
Limelight Autumn 2015
Salix Homes One Call
FREEPHONE: 0800 218 2000
[email protected]
Help on hand for
7 homeless
armed
www.salixhomes.org
forces
Advice on benefits and Universal Credit
Call our freephone number above or email
[email protected]
Or why not visit our website:
www.salixhomes.org/yourfinances
16
Celebrating gypsy
roots
Bloom
17 Summer
winners announced
Resource Housing Reg. No. 2111
Apprentice Rachel
makes history
Apprentice
Rachel Howarth
A former nursery nurse who swapped the playroom
for the builders’ yard has become the first person in
the country to achieve a ground-breaking new
construction qualification.
Salix Homes apprentice Rachel Howarth, 25, has made
history after achieving an NVQ Level 3 in External Wall
Insulation at Salford City College – a skill that is designed to
make homes more energy efficient.
Rachel, from Lower Broughton, is one of very few women
working in the construction industry after starting out as a
plastering apprentice three years ago with our
contractor Emanuel Whittaker.
Rachel originally trained in childcare,
but decided on a career change after being
made redundant from her job as a nursery
nurse, but she’s more than happy to be
the only girl in the builders’ yard.
She said: “You soon settle in and end
up being one of the lads with all the
laughing and banter - I love it. I’d say
to girls who are thinking about
getting into the construction
industry to just go for it.”
She has been honing her skills
at our multi-million pound
improvement projects on tower
blocks across Salford.
The qualification is an advanced
apprenticeship that will provide
construction apprentices with the
skills needed to keep homes warm
- something that is currently lacking
in the UK building industry.
Mark Foster, our head of investment,
added: “Rachel is a fantastic role model
and a real ambassador for women in the
construction industry.”
Working with Salix Homes
Did you know you can find the latest
jobs and training opportunities on
our website?
We also advertise other jobs across
Salford. Check it out at
www.salixhomes.org/jobs
Turn to page 18 to read about some of
the latest opportunities available.
Limelight Autumn 2015
3
News in Brief
No laughing matter
Leaseholder insurance
An empty
laughing gas
cylinder
We have appointed Zurich
Municipal as our new insurance
provider for leaseholders.
All leaseholders should have now
received an information pack
outlining the benefits to you.
If you want to make a claim
or have any questions call
0870 241 8050 or email
[email protected]
If you’ve not received your
information pack, call us on
0800 218 2000 or email
[email protected]
Potentially lethal
laughing gas cylinders
discarded by drug
users have been
transformed into a
community art project.
Bogus caller warning
We have received reports of bogus
callers posing as Salix Homes’
employees trying to gain access
into people’s homes.
All our employees and approved
contractors will never ask you for
money and they always carry official
identification, which you should ask
to check before allowing anyone
into your home.
If you are unsure or concerned about
a visitor to your home, please
contact us on 0800 218 2000.
Fire Safety
Customers are reminded not to
tamper with their smoke alarms.
We’ve had a several reports of
tenants removing the batteries or
taking their smoke alarms down.
Smoke alarms are there to save lives,
so please do not remove them.
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue
Service carries out free home fire
safety checks. To book yours call
0800 555 815.
4
Limelight Autumn 2015
Salix Homes has teamed up
with police and Beechfarm
Residents Association to run
an art project for residents
living on the Poet’s Estate in
Swinton using hundreds of the
discarded cylinders.
Police have been collecting the
drug paraphernalia left behind on
the city’s streets and parks in a bid
to teach young people about the
dangers of the ‘legal high’, which is
also known as nitrous oxide and
can cause can cause dizziness,
nerve damage and even death
when inhaled.
the remnants of drug abuse to
good use.”
The project was funded thanks to a
£750 grant from our ‘Your Salix,
Your Say’ fund, which provides
funding to projects and initiatives
that will help improve
neighbourhoods.
A fun day was held at community
green Margaret’s Garden, on
Kingsley Road, when children and
their families used the laughing gas
cylinders to create decorative tiles
to brighten up the estate.
Lee Sugden, our chief executive,
said: “Drug abuse causes a
blight in our communities and the
mis-use of laughing gas is a big
problem at the moment, so we
hope this arts project will make
young people aware of the
dangers and help us turn a
negative into a positive by putting
PC Iain Fletcher with one of the decorative
tiles that were made
Turn to Pages 10-11 to find out
which other projects received ‘Your
Salix, Your Say’ grants this year.
Cooking up a new career
We will be running another six
week cooking course at the
Naz Community Hall, Lower
Broughton starting Monday,
21 September.
To book your place call
0161 779 8989 or email
[email protected]
Charmain Green with her son
Ethan, 11
An aspiring chef is cooking up a new
career for herself thanks to a helping
hand from Salix Homes.
work placement at the Deli Lama Café in
Islington and is hoping to go on to secure
a permanent job in the catering industry.
Tenant Charmain Green, 34, has got her
sights set on a career in the catering
industry after taking part in a family
cooking course we’ve been running with
food charity Fareshare.
She said: “I’d always done a lot of
cooking at home and it is a passion and a
hobby of mine anyway, so when I saw the
cookery course with Salix Homes I
thought I might as well give it a go and try
and make something of it.
The project aims to teach tenants and
their children how to prepare healthy
meals on a budget.
Charmain, from Charlestown,
attended the cookery sessions
at St Sebastian’s Community
Centre with her 11-year-old
son Ethan and has now got
the cooking bug.
Charmain Green
When she signed up for
the course she was
unemployed, but
thanks to the new
skills she’s learnt,
she’s secured a
12-week voluntary
“I really enjoyed the cooking sessions
and learnt a lot about making fresh food
from scratch – it’s really inspired me to
work in this industry when I get my
cooking qualifications.”
Sue Sutton, our executive director of
operations, added: “Charmain is a real
ambassador for the benefits of this project
and we are very proud to be playing a role
in her development. She has picked up
some new skills which will hopefully help
her secure employment and help her build
a bright future for her and her family.”
Check out the Salix Homes Facebook page for all
the pictures from our cooking course.
Limelight Autumn 2015
5
This is what Mulberry, Magnolia and
Sycamore Court will look like
New vision unveiled for
tower block trio
The first artist’s impressions for a multi-million
pound transformation of three ageing Salford tower
blocks have been unveiled.
These 3D drawings show how Mulberry, Magnolia and
Sycamore Court in the heart of the Pendleton
regeneration area will look after a £7m facelift.
Salix Homes is currently working alongside contractor
Seddon to transform the high-rise buildings as part of a
wider £22m investment in social housing across Salford
over the next two years.
striking shades of green and grey chosen by
the residents.
Following the transfer of 8,500 homes from Salford
Council to ourselves earlier this year, we will carry out
much-needed improvements to 2,200 homes in Salford
over the next two years.
Check out our website to find out about the
latest improvements in your area
www.salixhomes.org/improvements
The first phase of improvements began on Magnolia
Court in April and the three blocks are expected to be
completed by spring 2017.
Mark Foster, our head of investment, said: “We
have worked very closely with the local community
and our partners to develop a design and colour
scheme that will transform these ageing tower
blocks into modern, stylish homes that will vastly
improve the quality of housing in the area and stand
proud on the skyline for generations to come.
“We are confident that our final designs will
complement the wider regeneration projects
currently underway in Pendleton and help create a
vibrant and desirable community where people are
proud to live and work.”
As part of the improvement work, 281 properties
across the three 17-storey tower blocks will be
fitted with new kitchens, bathrooms, windows
and doors.
Externally, the greying blocks are undergoing a
dramatic facelift and will be completely
rendered, cladded and painted in
6
Limelight Autumn 2015
A new-look
Magnolia Court
Caroline Devine credits
Salford’s Supported
Tenancies Service for
transforming her life
Homeless support services in Salford have
reported an increase in ex-service men and
women needing their help.
Salford’s Supported Tenancies Service, which is now
managed by Salix Homes, has seen an increase in
ex-military personnel falling on hard times.
One former service woman who found herself
homeless in Salford is Caroline Devine who joined the
Army in 1978 at the age of 19. She was a Senior
Private in the RAOC Regiment and served in
Northern Ireland.
The mother-of-three left the Army in 1982 and
eventually settled with her family in Little Hulton, but
after the breakdown of her marriage and a battle with
depression she found herself homeless in 2006.
She said: “I had gone through a really bad couple of
years and I had a breakdown. I got into rent arrears
and I ended up losing my home.
Need housing support?
Salix Homes is now providing a number of additional
housing support services on behalf of Salford
Council. We now manage Salford’s Housing Options
service, which includes homelessness, tenancy
support and disabled adaptations.
Help on
hand for
homeless
armed
forces
“It was a very difficult time in my life, I’d gone from
always having a roof over my head to not knowing
where I was going to sleep at night. Thankfully I never
actually slept on the streets, but I spent five years
sofa surfing between my friends and family.”
Caroline, 55, was eventually referred to the
Supported Tenancies Service, which helped find her
a flat and get back on her feet.
She said: “When I moved in I had nothing, so the
Supported Tenancies Service helped me get things
like a bed, a cooker and a washer so I could get my
life back on track.
“When you get out of the army you just don’t know
where to turn, and if it wasn’t for the Supported
Tenancies Service in Salford who knows where I
would be today – it would be a very different story.”
Mike Wright, head of housing choice at Salix Homes,
said: “Our Supported Tenancies Service helps people
from all walks of life, who have for one reason or
another fallen on hard times. I would urge anyone
who is struggling to get in touch with us.”
To contact any of the services call 0800 218 2000.
Limelight Autumn 2015
7
The Court Files
Community safety is a priority for Salix Homes and we take all reports of anti-social behaviour and breaches
of tenancy extremely seriously. We will always look to take action where necessary to protect customers
living in our communities.
Injunction for
teenage girl
A teenage girl who attacked her neighbour has
been hit with an injunction.
Melissa Doherty, 18,
has been served with a
six-month Injunction
Order which prevents
her from harassing or
threatening violence
towards a neighbour at
Duchy Road Caravan
Park.
Salix Homes, which
manages the gypsy
site, sought legal action
against Doherty after she attacked another resident
on the site.
The first incident occurred on February 15 after
Doherty launched an attack on one of her neighbours
and her visitors.
At the time Doherty was served with an emergency
injunction preventing her from harassing or attacking
her neighbour or entering her plot.
Doherty breached the terms of the emergency
injunction during another incident in April when she
was caught on CCTV entering her neighbour’s plot.
During a court hearing in May, the judge granted a
six-month Injunction Order with power of arrest
against Doherty.
Under the conditions of the injunction, Doherty is
banned from harassing, abusing or threatening
violence toward her neighbour or her neighbour’s
visitors. She is also banned from entering her
neighbour’s plot on the site.
Abusive tenant served
with injunction
An abusive tenant who threatened housing workers
has been hit with an injunction.
Salix Homes sought legal action against Aaron Marshall,
of Fitzwarren Court, Pendleton, on the grounds of his
aggressive and threatening behaviour towards members
of staff.
Marshall, 29, made threats to members of our 1st
Response 24-hour security team during an incident at
Fitzwarren Court tower block in April.
During the incident, Marshall was in a lift at Fitzwarren
Court with two Salix Homes’ employees when he
repeatedly hit the wall of the lift and made threatening
remarks, including shouting that ‘someone is going to
get it’.
Later the same day,
Marshall made
threats to another
Salix Homes’
employee and was
caught on CCTV
gesticulating
offensively at the
camera in the lift.
Limelight Autumn 2015
rshall
Under the conditions of the six month Injunction Order
imposed by the courts, Marshall is banned from
harassing any employee of Salix Homes, using abusive,
insulting or threatening behaviour against any members
of staff or engaging in conduct which could cause
nuisance or annoyance to our employees.
Report ASB online at www.salixhomes.org/report-anti-social-behaviour
8
Aaron Ma
You've been framed
Here are some of the community highlights over
the last few months, showing some great Salford
spirit and fantastic initiatives. Remember you can
share your snaps with us via our Facebook or
Twitter pages.
David Oldroyd proudly
shows off the new bee
hive at the
Grow in Brought’on pro
ject
dsall Festival
Families enjoyed the Or
back in July
Celebrations were not dam
pened by the rain at the ann
ual
Peel Park Pink Picnic
WINNER! The lucky recipient of the signed Salford Lads Club
t-shirt is Jonathan Petrolino from Ordsall. He answered
correctly the question 'Which Smiths album was the famous
photo of Salford Lads Club used?' The answer is of course...
'The Queen is Dead'. Well done Jonathan!
Check us out on
Facebook and Twitter!
The sun shone at the annual Salfordian
garden party
Limelight Autumn 2015
9
St Joseph’s School gardening
Club were delighted to receive
the most votes.
The SAYO FC footballers
Funding boost for 31
Salford projects
A total of 31 projects and initiatives
picked up a share of £37,500 during
our ‘Your Salix, Your Say’ event,
which provides funding to help
finance worthwhile initiatives to
improve communities, as chosen
by the public.
St Joseph’s School Gardening Club
in Ordsall picked up the most votes
scooping £1,110 to purchase a
much-needed greenhouse for the
children to grow fruit and vegetables
all year round.
In the young people’s category,
aspiring footballers SAYO FC, who
10
Limelight Autumn 2015
train at Fit City Clarendon, picked up
the most votes winning £428 to go
towards paying for transport for
away games.
Other winners included the Grow in
Brought’on project, which received
£2,550 for an observational bee hive
at their community growing site on
Heath Avenue, Lower Broughton,
and the Seedley in Bloom group
which received £3,500 for their
annual floral display.
The ‘Your Salix, Your Say’ funding
pot comes from savings made
within the organisation, as well as
external sources, and empowers
communities to decide where the
money should be spent.
Lee Sugden, our chief executive,
said: “The fantastic thing about this
grant is it allows the people of
Salford to decide where the money
should be spent, which is something
we believe in wholeheartedly.
“We are very proud to hand over this
well-deserved funding which will
help sustain projects and initiatives
that can make a real difference to an
area and the lives of residents.”
The full list of
winners were:
•
•
•
•
Apphia and Naomi Stacey were
representing the Grow in Brought'on
bee project
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Cash-strapped
community projects in
Salford are celebrating
after scooping
thousands of pounds
worth of funding from
Salix Homes.
•
•
•
Laura and Sophie Kendall from
Ordsall Community Arts
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
The ladies from Claremont and Weaste
Opportunities Club
St Joseph’s Gardening Club
Health Action Team
Grow in Brought’on
bee hive project
On Your Doorstep
gospel Zumba
Rialto Gardens
Ordsall Community Arts
Spike Island After School Club
Barr Hill Football Club
Seedley in Bloom
Poet’s Garden Club
Larkhill FAST programme
Beechfarm Residents Group
art project
Duchy Clean-up Programme
Queen Alexander Gardens
social activities
Friends of Ordsall Park
Southgarth Area Residents
Association
Heraldic Court social activities
Just Youth CHRISP project
Charlestown Community
Camera Club
Women In Stitches craft club
Rainbow Pathways craft
workshops
Claremont and Weaste
Opportunities Club
Canon Hussey Court
Patio Project
SAYO FC
Friday Night Project youth club
Summer Fairtrade
Sports Festival
Larkhill Sports Leaders
Bin-it Broughton
Wednesday Night Project
youth club
Bee Garden Newsletter
15th Higher Broughton
Brownies
Total: £37,500
Check out all the pictures from the day on our Facebook page.
Limelight Autumn 2015
11
Vote for your
The search is on to find community heroes in
Salford and we need you to vote for your favourite.
Once again we’ve been scouring the city to look
for those unsung heroes for our annual Salix
Stars Awards.
The nominations are in and the judges will be
choosing their three finalists in each category, but this
year we want you to vote for your winner.
The categories are Aim High Star, Best Green Star,
The Shelagh Delaney Creativity Award and the Spirit
of Salford Star.
A big thank you to all our sponsors including main
sponsor A Connolly Ltd and award sponsors Procure
Plus, Travis Perkins, Seddon and Emanuel Whittaker.
Our chief executive Lee Sugden said:
“We’ve had some truly inspiring nominations in this
year and it’s very humbling to hear of all the wonderful
work that is taking place in our communities.
“Now it’s over to you the public to vote for your
winners, so make sure you cast your vote.”
We will be announcing the shortlist on
October 5 when voting will open. To cast your
vote go to www.salixhomes.org/starsvote
or call Sarah McNally on 0161 779 8028.
Shelagh Delaney Day celebrations
Salford’s most famous female
playwright will be celebrated
once again to mark Shelagh
Delaney Day.
It promises to be an action packed
line-up of music, theatre, poetry and
art to celebrate the work and life of
Shelagh.
After the success of the inaugural
event last year, Shelagh Delaney
Day is making a comeback and
celebrations will be held throughout
November.
Last year Salix Homes unveiled a
plaque on her childhood home in
Duchy Road, which we now own.
The main celebrations will take place
at Salford Arts Theatre in Pendleton,
where Shelagh’s most famous play
A Taste of Honey will run from
November 11 – 14.
There will also be celebrations at the
arts theatre on Wednesday,
November 25 and Thursday,
November 26 when organisers are
hoping to stage the world premiere
of Shelagh’s modern melodrama
‘All About And To A Female Artist’.
Salix Homes will also be presenting
the Shelagh Delaney Creativity
Award at the Salix Stars Awards on
Friday, November 27.
12
Limelight Autumn 2015
To find out more about this year’s
event, which is supported by Salix
Homes, go to
www.salfordartstheatre.com/
shelagh-delaney-day
For tickets call the Box Office on
0161 925 0111.
Shelagh Delaney with her daughter
Charlotte as a baby.
We’ve got five pairs of tickets to give away for the
Shelagh Delaney Day celebrations at Salford Arts
Theatre on Wednesday, November 25.
To be in with a chance of winning, answer this question:
Which road in Salford did Shelagh Delaney grow up on?
WIN
TICKETS!
Email your answers to [email protected] or post to Hayley
Collins, Salix Homes, Diamond House, 2 Peel Cross Road, Salford,
M5 4DT. The deadline for entries closes on Friday, November 6.
Our Salford: Bygones and
New Beginnings
Old pictures like this one of the
tower blocks in Greengate will be on
display (credit Salford Yesteryears
Facebook Group)
Join Salix Homes for a trip down
memory lane as we celebrate
social housing in Salford.
Our customers are invited to a
photography exhibition and family
fun day to celebrate Salford’s homes
and communities in years gone by
and to have a sneaky peek at some
of our exciting plans for the future.
The free exhibition is called
Our Salford: Bygones and New
Beginnings and will take place
at Ordsall Hall on Friday,
October 30, focusing on homes
and communities in the past,
present and future.
It promises to be a fun day
out for the whole family with
halloween-themed children's
activities, kids fancy dress
competition, an interactive exhibition
and your chance to chat with us
about our exciting investment plans
for your homes and communities.
Lee Sugden, our chief executive,
said: “Salford’s strong-knit
communities, past and present,
make this city what it is today, so
we’d love our customers to join us
for a nostalgic trip down memory
lane to look at some of our homes
and estates in years gone by and
celebrate the next stage of Salford’s
exciting future with us.
“We’ve got some fascinating old
photographs showing just how
much Salford has changed over the
Win a framed montage of old Salford
WIN
years and we’re now in the midst of
another pivotal era for the city, so
come and celebrate the changing
face of Salford with us.”
The exhibition, which includes a
selection of images from Salford
Local History Library, will run from
11am to 2pm on Friday, October 30
and everyone is welcome.
To find out more go to
www.salixhomes.org/ordsall-hall
To celebrate our exhibition
Our Salford: Bygones and New
Beginnings we are giving away
a montage of old Salford images
to one lucky customer.
To be in with a chance of winning
you need to identify the street in
this fantastic old picture sent to us
by Philip Loudon, from Claremont.
If you think you know where it is,
email your answer to
[email protected] or
post your answers to
Hayley Collins, Salix Homes,
Diamond House, 2 Peel Cross
Road, Salford, M5 4DT.
Do you recognise this street?
(credit P.Loudon)
The competition closes on
Wednesday, October 28 and the
winner will be unveiled at the event.
Limelight Autumn 2015
13
Money Matters
Don’t let Christmas shopping get the better of you
Here are some tips to help you be a smart shopper…
Shop smart online
A quick internet search will come up with price
comparisons of thousands of products, and
give you details of which retailers stock them
the cheapest.
Share the cost of Christmas lunch
If you are inviting friends and family over for
Christmas lunch or a new year knees-up ask
everyone to bring a dish.
Get on eBay
No, not to buy presents – to make room for
them! Selling your old things could generate
quite a bit of money for the Christmas kitty.
There’s also Amazon if you want to sell books.
Local internet forums are worth a look too,
as many let you list items for free.
Make it a discount code December
Check out
www.moneysupermarket.com/vouchers
for discounts on attractions, gifts and meals
out around Christmas and the new year.
Click and collect
Save on delivery charges by using the click and
collect facility. Some online stores will deliver to
a store or local shop near your home free of
charge.
Beware of borrowing
If you can afford to pay for something outright
then do it. But if you cannot avoid borrowing
use the creditor with the lowest interest rate
(APR)+.
Shrink your gift list
Set a price limit for family presents, have a
‘children only’ rule, or set up a Secret Santa
where you draw names out of a hat so that
everyone has to buy only one gift (and then
guess who it is from!)
Points make prizes
Use your accumulated reward and loyalty
points. If you’ve been building up rewards
points from various retailers throughout the
year, what better time to put them to good
use?
Don't buy too much food
If you don't want to waste food – or the money
you've spent buying it – look at
www.lovefoodhatewaste.com, which has a
portion calculator. If you're catering for a party
that's going to last two hours, it calculates that
you'll need seven party food nibbles per
person.
Budget for bills too
Don't forget the everyday bills. Remember that
rent, utility bills, food bills, rates and other
existing debts still have to be paid - and the
consequences can be severe if they're not.
Keep some money back to pay the bills in
January too, which is a long month whichever
way you look at it.
What is APR?
+
Want to know where to get
free internet access in Salford?
Just contact 0161 779 8834
or email
[email protected]
for a free guide to Wi-Fi
access points in Salford.
14
Limelight Autumn 2015
APR stands for the Annual Percentage Rate of
charge. You can use it to compare different credit and
loan offers. The APR takes into account not just the
interest on the loan but also other charges you have to
pay, for example, any arrangement fee. All lenders
have to tell you what their APR is before you sign an
agreement. It will vary from lender to lender.
How are we doing?
Figures from end July 2015
We measure our performance across different areas of the business. Below are some of the key
performance measures which affect both you, your home and where you live.
Things that affect you
and your home
89%
95%
71%
79%
Above/On Target
Things that affect the
areas where you live
82%
56
100%
93%
of customers
satisfied with the
service we provide
of customers satisfied
with their community
as a place to live
of repairs we
complete
right first time
customers supported in
employment / training /
volunteering
of complaints we
successfully resolved
after investigation
of tenancies
sustained for longer
than 24 months
of properties meet
the Decent
Homes standard
Slightly Below Target
of customers satisfied
with the outcome
of their ASB case
Below Target
Find out how we’re performing in other areas by visiting www.salixhomes.org/our-performance
New repairs service coming your way
From October 5, you can look forward to a new
repairs service from us.
For the first time, we’ll be providing your repairs service
directly, rather than through separate contractors,
giving us much greater control over the service and
standard of repairs you receive.
A lot of the operatives who work for our current
repairs contractor - Mears - will be joining
us, so you will still have those familiar
faces you may know if you have had
a repair in the past. They will
however be in Salix Homes
vans, uniforms and
importantly carry a Salix
Homes ID badge.
You will also continue to
report any repairs you have
in the same way: online,
over the phone, or by
popping in to our office.
Report your repair quickly and easily online.
Visit www.salixhomes.org/repairs
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15
Celebrating gypsy roots
Salford’s gypsy
community have
been celebrating
their heritage.
This lady dons traditional
gypsy costume
The food was cooked around
the campfire
June was Gypsy Roma Traveller
History Month and we teamed
up with our partner agencies to
organise a celebration event at
Duchy Road Caravan Park.
The community came together to
listen to traditional Irish music
and enjoy some authentic gypsy
cuisine around the campfire.
We have also been running
cooking sessions at the caravan
park to teach tenants the benefits
of healthy eating.
Shania gets to grips
with cooking
The children loved the cooking
workshops
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Limelight Autumn 2015
William Roughley’s garden in Kingsley
Road, Swinton is awash with colour
Summer
Bloom
winners
announced
Hazel Beard wowed the
judges with her hanging
baskets and tubs
David Oldroyd
impressed judges with
his vegetable patch
The winners of our annual
Summer Bloom gardening
competition have been
announced and all the
entrants impressed judges
with their blossoming blooms
and floral displays.
Lee Sugden, our chief executive,
said: “Congratulations to all of the
winners and of course to everyone
who entered. We are so proud of
each and every one of our tenants
who put so much time and effort into
making sure our neighbourhoods
look blooming marvelous for the
benefit of the whole community.”
Pat Ruscoe has picked up the accolade
seven times
Jan Johnson, pictured with her
granddaughter Tori Connor, 15, loves
spending time in her garden
For the full list of winners go to
www.salixhomes.org/summer-bloom15-winners
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17
Looking for work?
Did you know we advertise a range of jobs, apprenticeships, volunteer roles, courses, training and more on
our new website? Check it out at www.salixhomes.org/jobs
Below are just some of the current opportunities:
The Broughton Trust is looking
for volunteers to spare a few
hours a week to support
people in the local community
who may need help.
Full training provided.
Interested?
Contact: julie.stewart@
thebroughtontrust.org.uk;
Brush up on
your English
skills
FREE
COURSE
Free sessions to help you brush
up on your literacy skills.
Starting September 7, 2015 to
October 19, 2015 12-3pm at
Saint Martins, M7 4UH.
For more information contact
Cath Walton on 0161 779 8021
or email catherine.walton@
salixhomes.org
or call: 0161 831 9807
or 07841 604 066.
Café Review -
Ordsall
Hall Café
Ordsall Hall is a fabulous Grade
1 listed Tudor manor house
which has been home to
everything from farmers and an
artist to a priest and even
several ghosts too!
Today, it is an engaging heritage
site open to visitors five days a
week throughout the year.
Surrounded by landscaped
grounds, it boasts hands on
exhibitions and a small café which
we road tested for a spot of lunch.
In the historic wood beamed
surroundings, the café offers a
haven of peace and quiet to enjoy
a light lunch or a cuppa and cake.
It has a selection of packaged
sandwiches (we chose the
chicken, lettuce and sweetcorn on
brown) which are priced from a
purse friendly £1.99.
The selection of cakes made our
choice a hard one, but in the end
we went with a belt busting
chocolate and vanilla marble cake
which was rich and gooey and
proved a great sharing option.
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Limelight Autumn 2015
Job opportunity
at Salford CVS
JOB
Salford CVS is the
leading infrastructure organisation
for Salford’s diverse community
and voluntary sector.
They are looking for a part-time
administrator with a meticulous
eye for detail to join their team.
Salary £17,714 - £19,742 (pro rata).
Closing date September 25, 2015.
For more info and to apply visit:
www.salfordcvs.co.uk/job/
salford-cvs-administrator
The café also has a variety of ice
creams, tiffin and traditional ginger
cake, all from the same local
suppliers as the Salford Museum.
We washed it all down with a
proper roasted coffee and a soft
drink, the price coming in at just
over a fiver each for our tasty
lunch – great value for money.
Ordsall Hall Café, 322 Ordsall
Lane, Salford M5 3AN
Tea or Coffee & a cake for £2.95
Cut me out and take me to the
Ordsall Hall Café before Thursday
1 October to get a tea or coffee and
a slice of cake for £2.95.
Terms and Conditions:
1 voucher per person, vouchers
can only be used once, expires on
Thursday 1 October 2015, not to
be used in conjunction with any
other offers.
✃
VOLUNTEER
✃
Volunteer to
help a
vulnerable
neighbour
Tick to be added to the Ordsall
Hall and Salix Homes email list.
Your email:
........................................................
........................................................
For more local events visit the events
calendar on our website
www.salixhomes.org/events
What’s On
River View Garden Club
Every Thursday during term-time, straight after-school until 4.30pm.
(22 September, 29 September, 6 October, 13 October, 20 October)
FREE
River View Primary, 1 Wheater's Street, Salford M7 1QZ
Calling all parents with children at River View Primary School Salix Homes is working with Garden Needs to deliver weekly after-school
sessions to get your little ones growing and cooking.
This club has been running for three years so there’s lots of growing space
for you to get involved with.
For more information contact Georgina Neild on 0161 779 8989
or email [email protected].
Free family cooking
Learn to cook tasty meals for your
family on a budget.
FREE
Starting Monday, 21 September
for six weeks, 3.30pm-5.30pm.
The Naz Community Hall, Great Clowes
Street, Lower Broughton, M7 1ZQ
Places are limited so contact Georgina Neild to
book – 0161 779 8989 or
email [email protected]
FREE
Halloween Spooktacular
Seed Saving
Workshop
FREE
Sunday, 4 October,
1.30-3.30pm
Ordsall Hall, Ordsall Lane,
Salford M5 3AN
Learn how to plan for seed
saving, what to save and what
not to save, how to clean seed
and store it. In partnership with
the Garden Organic Heritage
Seed Library.
Wednesday, 28 October, 1pm-5pm
Buile Hill Park (via entrance on
Eccles Old Road)
Enjoy free spooky family fun with frightful face painting, gruesome glitter
tattoos, pumpkin piñata, special effects make up, balloon modelling, giant
games, Halloween style bushtucker trial, bouncy castle, skull coconut shy
and scariest pumpkin competition. Food and refreshments available.*
* Please note small charges will apply for some activities.
You will need to bring your own pumpkin readily prepared to enter the competition.
Get discounted tickets at The Lowry
‘Our Lowry’ is free to anyone with a Salford postcode,
giving you access to a range of free and discounted
tickets at The Lowry throughout the year. It’s simple to
apply, just visit www.thelowry.com/about-the-lowry/
our-lowry for a membership form or call 0843 208 6000.
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