Latest News
This section of the site will keep you informed of events that are happening in your local community. If you have any news from your area, or want to tell us about an event, why not send us an email?
PLEASE CLICK ON THE HEADING TO JUMP TO EACH ARTICLE.
CUSTOMER CONTACT CHARTER REVIEW
INSTEP TRAINING INSPECTION COURSE
FREE SWIMMING LESSONS IN SOUTH RIBBLE FOR 11 - 16 YEAR OLDS
TAKE PART IN THE LEYLAND CHINESE PARADE
IMPORTANT MESSAGE REGARDING
EXTREME WEATHER
TSA LAUNCH NEW LANDLORD COMPARISON SITE
FOUNDATIONS FEELING BLOOMING MARVELLOUS AFTER WINNING AWARD
MIDNIGHT LEAGUE IS A WINNER
GOT A BRIGHT IDEA? GIVE IT A GO!
GREEN FINGERED TENANTS BRIGHTEN UP NEW PROGRESS COMMUNITIES
HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT ABOUT BECOMING A MEDIATOR?
HELP DIRECT LAUNCHES NEW GUIDANCE AND INFORMATION SERVICE IN PRESTON AND SOUTH RIBBLE
FREE SKILLS WORKSHOPS FOR JOB HUNTERS
ICUSTOMER CONTACT CHARTER REVIEW
Our Customer Service Improvement Team (CIT) is currently reviewing our Customer
Contact Charter.
The Charter was developed and first published in 2006, following a consultation with staff and customers.
It is now time to review the Charter and ensure that it continues to reflect what our customers want.
The Charter aims to ensure our customers know what they can expect from us, to set out our targets and promises, to ensure a consistent service, to help staff understand the service level they need to provide, and to give us something to measure our performance against.
We would like to check the information is still valid by getting feedback from tenants, customers and staff on the five promises.
The Team, being led by Customer Services Manager, Mary White, started their review by speaking to customers throughout February. To find out more about the project and give us your views please take a look at talk2progress.co.uk or contact Mary on 01772 450 600 or mwhite@progressgroup.org.uk
INSPECTION TRAINING COURSE
Tuesday 16th March 2010 9.45-16.30
We are developing Tenant Inspection and have an exciting opportunity for those tenants already helping us do better or others wishing to become involved in our mystery shopping process.
An entertaining & informative "Tenants' Guide to Mystery Shopping and Being a Tenant Inspector" is happening at our Sumner House offices in Leyland. You will meet trainers with a national reputation and other tenants interested in the chance to help us do better.
We will look at different approaches to inspecting and why it is important and rewarding for residents to be involved in it. The day will give you the tools to give staff constructive feedback and help us do a better job
As an Inspector you can volunteer as much or as little time to suit your lifestyle and full support will be given throughout.
This is the chance for you as a tenant to really get involved and make changes to the services you receive and it could enhance your CV if you are looking for other voluntary or paid work.
Current inspectors tell us they find their role very interesting and rewarding and great experience to have.
Refreshments will be provided throughout the day and we will cover any reasonable travel and childcare cost and can arrange transport for you. Places are limited so to reserve your place on this exciting course please contact a member of the Community Investment Team on 01772 450842, text 07794 334071 or e-mail: community@progressgroup.org.uk
FREE SWIMMING ACTIVITIES FOR RESIDENTS OF SOUTH RIBBLE
Is it time you learned to swim?
If you are aged between 11 and 60+ years old, you can try free swimming activities at your local leisure centre. Phone 0800 14 222 14 for for more information.
FREE swimming activities
for those aged 11 to 60+
- 50+ Swimming Lessons
- Female Only Swimming Lessons
- Disability Swimming Lessons
- 50+ Swimming Lessons
- Adult Swimming Lessons
- 50+ Swimming Lessons
- Adult Swimming Lessons
- Female Only Swimming Lessons
- Swimming Lessons for 11 – 15 yrs
- Disability Swimming Lessons
- Aqua Fit & Snorkelling Sessions
TSA LAUNCH NEW LANDLORD COMPARISON SITE
Ever wondered if you are getting a fair deal from your landlord or how your landlord compares to others in the area? Well, help is at hand as the national social housing regulator, the Tenant Services Authority (TSA), has released a new free web portal. Launched today, the portal will enable all tenants, by simply entering their postcode, to compare the performance of housing associations in their area. The portal will be a valuable source of information for tenants and prospective tenants, local authorities, housing associations, councillors and MPs.
FOUNDATIONS FEELING BLOOMING MARVELLOUS AFTER WINNING AWARD
Staff and Residents at Foundations, a purpose-built housing scheme in Preston City Centre for young people and adults experiencing homelessness, are celebrating yet another prestigious award.
The scheme, part of New Progress Housing Association, has been awarded an ‘Outstanding Achievement’ award at the Britain in Bloom Neighbourhood Awards. This is the highest award available and tops the Merit award won by the scheme last year.
The Awards form part of the Department for Communities and Local Government’s drive for Cleaner Safer Greener Communities. They recognise communities that are taking responsibility and action to regenerate their local environment, and are specifically aimed at small groups of residents who are just beginning to ‘green up’ their local area.
Entrants are visited by Britain in Bloom experts who provide valuable feedback and helpful advice on how to develop and encourage on-going improvements. They are not judged against each other; instead each entry is presented with an Award of Improvement, Merit or Outstanding Achievement.
The Neighbourhood Awards aim to breathe new life into communities for the benefit of local residents.
Foundations Project Manager, Karen Little, said: “Participating in the Neighbourhood Awards has encouraged a real sense of ownership amongst the residents. The aim this year was to go one better than last. I am pleased to say that we achieved that aim and I am really proud of everyone involved.”
The Foundations scheme offers much more than just housing; it focuses on the welfare of its residents, helping and encouraging them to turn their lives around, as well as providing accommodation to a very high standard.
As part of the scheme, New Progress ensures that all residents are given support with most aspects of their life in order to get back on their feet sooner. This support includes help with managing finances and benefit claims, support with domestic and life skills, help in finding employment or pursuing further education and help with preparation for permanent housing.
MIDNIGHT LEAGUE IS A WINNER
A Midnight Football League, that took place on the Wade Hall estate, Leyland, in November and December, has been hailed a huge success by all involved, at a closing ceremony just before Christmas.
The initiative, funded by Lancashire County Council, ran from October 23 until December 18.
The project was lead by New Progress Housing Association, who teamed up with South Ribble Community Leisure, the Lancashire Football Association, Preston North End and local community policing teams.
Aimed at getting youngsters off the streets on Friday nights and onto the football pitch, the project aimed to show that through the development of multi-agency working, bringing together community voluntary, private, and statutory agencies, that football could become the focus of increased sports participation for young people.
It is hoped that this, in turn, will reduce crime and instances of anti-social behaviour and will support them to move on to other forms of education, training and employment.
The venue, on Royal Avenue, Leyland, provided a safe environment for young people to meet and take part in skills and fitness work as well as tournaments from 8pm until 10pm.
The partnership has plans to develop the scheme in other areas of South Ribble, including Kingsfold and Bamber Bridge.
GOT A BRIGHT IDEA? GIVE IT A GO!
Lancashie County Council is hosting a Give it a Go challenge - a new competition to find the most enterprising people and places in Lancashire. They have organised a series of workshops across the county to help people find out more about the challenge and pick-up tips for how local people could win up to £25k for a bright idea that can benefit their local community.
The South Ribble workshop is on Tuesday 1 December 2009 in the Cross Room at the Civic Centre, Leyland, PR25 1DH from 10.00 – 13.00. Places don’t need to be booked, just turn up on the day.
GREEN FINGERED TENANTS BRIGHTEN UP
NEW PROGRESS COMMUNITIES
New Progress Housing Association’s tenants have shown true fighting spirit this summer in beating the weather to produce beautiful garden displays for its annual gardening competition.
With six categories to enter, green-fingered tenants had plenty to go at in creating beautiful small and large landscapes, pretty containers, window boxes and hanging baskets and tasty home-grown fruit and veg.
Mr and Mrs Crossley, of Churchill Court, Burneside, were double award winners winning the Home Grown Fruit and Vegetables category and gaining second place in the Large Gardens category.
Marie Goodier of Old Mill Court, Bamber Bridge, wowed judges with her beautiful display of containers and hanging baskets to win first place in her category whilst residents of Foundations, a purpose-built housing scheme in Preston City Centre for young people and adults experiencing homelessness, were successful with their entry in the non sheltered communal areas category.
The kids’ sunflower growing competition ran for a second year, and was won by Henry Hodson from Euxton with his enormous 9 foot 1 inch entry!
The popular competition is organised every year by New Progress to recognise tenants who make a positive difference to their neighbourhoods with their gardens.
All winners and runners-up receive garden centre vouchers and certificates in recognition of their hard work from New Progress Managing Director, Bernie Keenan, at a special awards ceremony.
He said: “We know that many of our residents take great pride in tending their gardens. They show fantastic talent and creativity and their efforts help to brighten up all our lives. The awards are just a small way of saying thank you for their hard work.”
“The standard of entries has yet again been exceptional. I know the judges had a hard time picking the winners.”
HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT ABOUT BECOMING A MEDIATOR?
SOUTH RIBBLE KEY is currently looking for volunteer mediators. No experience is needed as full training will be provided.
KEY is a registered Charity that has been operating for the last 14 years and works with young people who have housing issues. Two years ago KEY set up a family mediation project to try and prevent young people becoming homeless as a result of family disputes. KEY Mediation has now worked with over 70 families, helping them to live together in harmony.
If you think you are a good listener; are able to remain impartial; non-judgmental; have time on your hands and would like to help young homeless people, this could be the role for you?
For more information or an application pack you can contact Fran on 01772 623893.
KEY is situated at Leyland Youth and Community Centre.
(Training is scheduled to start early autumn)
HELP DIRECT LAUNCHES NEW GUIDANCE AND INFORMATION SERVICE IN PRESTON AND SOUTH RIBBLE
The new Help Direct information and advice service, available to everybody over the age of 18 in Lancashire, is now up and running. The service aims to reach out to those people most in need of some support, providing them with information and advice as well as helping them to access practical support and community services in their district. It has been designed to provide this extra support to help people remain independent.
You can drop in and meet the Help Direct team at South Ribble Borough Council Civic Centre between 9am – 5pm Monday to Thursday and 9am – 4.45pm on Friday, or telephone them on 0303 333 1030.
On Saturdays the service is delivered from various locations throughout South Ribble. For more information telephone 0303 333 1030.
FREE SKILLS WORKSHOPS FOR JOB HUNTERS
Looking for a job? Runshaw College is holding free skills workshops to help with CVs, interview techniques, maths and English skills, application forms and job searching using the Intermet. Click here to find out more or visit www.runshaw.ac.uk
GET INVOLVED
If you would like to get involved and have your say, why not sign up for one of our tenant forums? Meetings are held regularly at our Head Office in Leyland (Sumner House, King Street), and are open to anyone interested in joining.
To find out more about how you can get involved, click here.
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