LMH News

3 February 2012: Reading This May Save Your Life

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:47:00 +0000

Merseyside Fire Service home safety checks

LMH residents can access a free home fire safety check from Merseyside Fire Service which will include fitting smoke alarms, planning an emergency fire exit route and general advice about fire safety in the home.� To access this service freephone 0800 731 5958, quote ref 130 and an appointment can be made for the Fire Service to visit.�

Alternatively, visit their website at www.merseyfire.gov.uk/hsa and you will be able to complete an on line form.� You will be asked for some additional information regarding any disability/mobility issues etc for you or family members as this will have to be taken into account when putting together a safe exit plan in the event of fire.

Fire Service Safety Checks Leaflet

1 February 2012: Voluntary Work

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:47:00 +0000

What is voluntary work?

This is when you give you time and energy to benefit others without being paid.� Voluntary work can be in various organisations such as charities, community groups, small local businesses or social enterprises for example.�

Why should you volunteer?

Volunteering helps other people and can also help you in many ways.� It is a way of learning new skills and practising the skills you have.� It helps build confidence and you may meet people who can help you find paid work.� Volunteering is something very positive to put on your CV and any job application forms as this shows prospective employers that you are proactive, can keep to regular hours, commit to tasks and are prepared to give something to others and your community. �It is also a good way of getting references and filling employment gaps on your CV and job applications.

Volunteering is also a great way for you to do something you enjoy, find new interests, stay active and healthy and pass on your skills to other people.� It is also a good way of meeting people who you may not normally meet in your normal day to day routine.

What if I'm not working and receive benefit?

Volunteering can give you a much better chance of finding paid work but you must contact JCP to seek the proper advice and receive the correct information before you secure a placement.� If you are on JSA you must still actively seek employment and be available for job interviews and interviews with JCP whilst you are doing volunteer work.��

How do I get started?

There are many opportunities so it is worthwhile searching for something that's right for you.� If you are unemployed and looking for work choosing the right volunteer placement may enhance your employment prospects.�

The Volunteer Centre for Liverpool will have details of all the volunteer opportunities in the city and their offices are based at 151 Dale Street, L2 2AH.� You can contact them by telephoning (0151) 237 3975 or you can email them at enquiries@volunteercentreliverpool.org.uk; alternatively if you have internet access please visit their website www.volunteercentreliverpool.org.uk. Below, you will see some other useful websites that contain information regarding volunteering:

Directgov��
www.direct.gov.uk
Do-it Volunteering made easy����
www.do-it.org.uk
Volunteering England��
www.volunteering.org.uk/finder
MySignpost��
www.mysignpost.org

You can also call into the nearest LMH neighbourhood office to make enquiries or telephone LMH Connect on either 0800 678 1894 which is free from a landline or for mobile users call 0300 123 230 (small charge).� You can also contact the LMH Regeneration Team by telephoning LMH Connect or email LMHRegeneration@liverpoolmh.co.uk as there are a variety of roles within our organisation that maybe of interest to you.

1 February 2012: The Big Event - Apprenticeship Opportunities

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 11:46:00 +0000

Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service and Wates would like to invite you to a big recruitment event at:

Echo Arena, Kings Dock,

Liverpool Waterfront,

Liverpool,

L3 4FP.

Tuesday 7th February 2012

Open to the public 10.00am � 5.00pm

At the Big Event Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service and Wates want to hear from residents in Toxteth who would like to register for an Apprenticeship Opportunity in the construction industry. Successful applicants will be involved in building the Toxteth Fire Fit Hub. The Hub is a new fire station with youth, community and sporting facilities all on one site. Other providers and employers will be present to take your registrations for various opportunities across Merseyside.

Apprenticeship Leaflet

1 February 2012: Something GIANT is happening in Liverpool - 20-22 April 2012 - Save the Date

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 11:33:00 +0000

North Liverpool will take centre stage for the city's biggest ever outdoor event.

Giant fever is set to hit Liverpool from 20-22 April as the world's leading street theatre company, Royal De Luxe (RDL), presents Sea Odyssey � a magical story of how the human spirit triumphs over the Titanic tragedy - starring the 30 foot tall Little Girl Giant.

For the first time in the city's event history, around half the action will focus on North Liverpool.� It is hoped Sea Odyssey will be a transformational event for this part of the city, beginning to showcase its potential development and investment opportunities.��

The event forms part of the Liverpool Plan which aims to change perceptions of the city and have partners working together to promote the city in a positive way.� It also supports the high ambition of the area set out in the long term development framework for North Liverpool and South Sefton which seeks to unlock the potential in the area, enabling it to flourish and once again become a vital source of prosperity, enterprise and creativity.

It's estimated the event will attract an audience of around 250,000, and as a result engender pride among local residents, inspire creativity and build community cohesion.

The star of the show will wander around areas including Stanley Park, Walton Lane,�Breck Road, Everton and Anfield.� On her travels the Little Girl Giant will explore the areas around both football clubs, reflecting the importance of sport to Liverpool.��

And as North Liverpool is host to one of the most stunning vistas of the city, the beautiful marionette will take in the view of Liverpool from the�top�of Everton Park.

Liverpool city council's cabinet member for culture and tourism, Councillor Wendy Simon, said: "Sea Odyssey will be a seminal event for the city.� We want the occasion to not just be a huge success for the city in April, but bring a longer lasting legacy as a result of the area being placed in such a unique spotlight.

"Tens of thousands of people visit the north end for football matches, but rarely spend any more time there, so this is the perfect opportunity to show off the area and its potential, and as a result, hopefully encourage investment.

"Everton Park is a prime example of a significant city asset in close proximity to the city centre which some people, even Liverpudlians, may not be aware of � so it's a case of highlighting these hidden gems and transforming people's perceptions of the area.

"These will be the first steps towards significant regeneration and investment and the event will prove to be a real catalyst for positive change, not just for the area, but for the entire city."

The free event takes place from Friday 20 to Sunday 22 April and is set to be the most complex event the city council has ever staged.� The full route and visited locations will not be released until a few weeks before the event, but along with North Liverpool, parts of the spectacular will also take place in the city centre.

The Sea Odyssey team at the city council has been working with local residents, businesses, cultural organisations and registered social landlords in the area to discuss the event and find out how they can make the most of the opportunities which will arise from the April extravaganza.

For more information check out the The Sea Odyssey website will go live at the beginning of February giantspectacular

30 January 2012: LMH Floating Support Service

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:49:00 +0000

LMH now has a Floating Support Service working with you to keep you in your home:

How we can help

We can help if you are an LMH tenant. �You can refer yourself, a friend or a neighbour and we can help with things like:

Having problems managing your home
At risk of losing your home
Need social or practical support to help you maintain your tenancy
A new LMH tenant struggling to set up home for this first time

You can make a referral online using our Floating Support Service form.

For more information download leaflet or tel 0151 235 2551 or email workingtogether@liverpoolmh.co.uk

24 January 2012: Everton and District History Group

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:54:00 +0000

Come along and join your local history group!

You are invited to attend the launch event of the Everton and District History Group.

Guest Speaker: Ken Rogers, Liverpool Echo writer and author of best-selling 'Lost Tribe of Everton' book. "Everton's remarkable heritage: Walking into history."��Includes photo presentation.

St George's Church,�

Everton Heyworth St

Northumberland Terrace�

L5 3QG

Saturday 4 February 2012 2pm

Admission Free.��

Refreshments available.

Event Poster

24 January 2012: Creative Researcher Opportunity

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:39:00 +0000

THE COTTAGE HOMES COMMUNITY PLAY�-�CARE TO REMEMBER SEEKS A CREATIVE RESEARCHER

For over 100 years the Cottage Homes have been a fascinating Fazakerley landmark. The 26 cottages and associated buildings have been a treasure trove of lives and stories, with deep roots into the local community both past and present. Built to provide a home for over 700 orphans and pauper children, the buildings have subsequently had many uses; often related to social and health care. While some of the buildings are still in use many have fallen into disrepair, but plans are now afoot to re-develop the site.

The Fazakerley Cottage Homes Community Play Project aims to record living memories, unearth hidden stories, celebrate heritage and look to the future. It will bring professional artists and the local community together to animate this remarkable space with music, light, film and performances.

They�are now looking to recruit a Creative Researcher to help capture stories, read through those already gathered and make sense of them in order to build a picture and timeline of the Cottage Homes Site over the last 100 years. Ideally the Creative Researcher will have a background and an interest in the field of Community Arts.

Specific duties include

meeting the team of volunteers already involved on the project to understand and share the work that has already been carried out.
preparing a timeline of stories gathered.
attending and documenting activities at community consultation days and workshops alongside volunteers and local researchers.
looking at the stories in the context of key national events and significant changes in health and social care and child welfare policy and attitudes to disability.
storing stories in a structured way to allow it to be understood by third parties.
contributing and sharing ideas and experiences.

The Creative Research will work directly with Eamonn Leavy who is heading up the project and they will be reimbursed for expenses as appropriate.

Time period; Starting asap.

To register your interest or to find out more contact:;

FSNP on 521 7569 0r fsnp89@hotmail.com

17 January 2012: Fuel Debt Advice Service

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 09:30:00 +0000

Help, support & guidance on managing fuel debt

Working in partnership with British Gas Energy Trust,

Local Solutions offers a Fuel Debt Advice Service

which provides free information and support to people

who may be suffering from fuel debt and hardship,

or struggling to pay their fuel bills.

Dealing with fuel debt
Bill queries
Accessing grants
Saving energy and money
Help with switching suppliers

T: 0151 705 2382 or freephone on: 0800 988 2655

E: fueldebt@localsolutions.org.uk

16 January 2012: Free access to the City's Lifestyles centres

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 15:16:00 +0000

We are pleased to advise that free access to the City's Lifestyles centres for the under 17's will return as part of the Future Lifestyles programme.�

FREE Access to All Lifestyle Centres
FREE Swimming All Year Round to Young People under 17
FREE 1 Month Pass to Lifestyle Gyms, �1 per session thereafter
FREE Court Hire (Book on the day)
FREE All Weather Pitch Hire (Book on the day)

Registered here:

Visit: www.liverpool.gov.uk/futurelifestyles

Phone: 0151 233 5433

16 January 2012: Food bank

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 10:28:00 +0000

Information on Liverpool's three food banks can be found on a website run by the Trussel Trust: �http://www.trusselltrust.org/foodbank-projects

The LMH Working Together Team currently hold vouchers issued by the North food bank and are in process of applying to Central and South to be named voucher holders.

If�you�have�any questions about the food bank please e-mail or phone: Georgina Towers �07795 827640 georgina.towers@liverpoolmh.co.uk

16 January 2012: Liverpool's Festival of Sport

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 10:11:00 +0000

Echo Arena

Sunday 22^nd January 2012

11am-5pm

This FREE event is the start of Liverpool's countdown to the Olympics & Paralympics and will feature 18 sports.

Families can watch elite performers play their sport and then will be invited to have a go themselves!

Meet Liverpool's former Olympians on the day:

Steve Parry, Swimmer

Steve Smith, Athlete

Beth Tweddle, Gymnast

16 January 2012: Apprenticeship chef Interview spaces available

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 09:59:00 +0000

Liverpool - De Vere Academy

There are still a few interview spaces left for the January the 30^th start date for both 16-18 years Chef and Customer Service (please note all 19-24 interview spaces are now filled).

Applications via "Apply" section of www.devereacademy.com
26 week programme � 30 hours a weeks paid at �78.00 a week (after 4 week induction period) � after April 2012 this will extend to 12 months, details to follow
During the 4 week induction phase young�person�will receive �30 expenses per week. If the young person is claiming JSA they may be eligible to remain on benefits for this four week period - details given when they attend interview.
Full Uniform & all learning materials provided.
Work placement sourced for them
Lunch provided whilst at the Academy
No previous work experience or specific qualifications required!

De Vere Academy Kirkdale Stories

16 January 2012: Boxercise Class

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 09:53:00 +0000

Rialto Neighbourhood Council

John Archer Hall, Upper Hill Street, L8 8JE

�3 a session

Classes delivered by a qualified instructor. All welcome.

Find out more

9 January 2012: Musical Minis Coffee Morning

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:29:00 +0000

When

Friday 10^th Feb 2012 -�10 am to 12 pm at

Where

Stoneycroft Children's Centre Inigo Rd L13 6QJ.

�

Musical Minis Merseyside in conjunction with Stoneycroft Children's Centre and sponsored by Liverpool Mutual Homes is delighted to offer training and work experience based on the popular music group for babies and toddlers.� Participants will be invited to attend a day's training followed by work experience at weekly one hour sessions lasting ten weeks. The final session will include a graduation where participants will receive a certificate of attainment.

The course will offer people the chance to gain valuable, transferrable skills such as interaction with children and families/presentation skills and will cover aspects of health and safety and inclusion. We hope that participants will gain confidence whilst also having fun with activities based on child development through music. To find out more contact Cathie Flynn on 0151 486 4735 e-mail cathiebilly@blueyonder.co.uk

Musical Minis Poster

9 January 2012: Mentoring Support Programme for 18 year olds

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:14:00 +0000

Liverpool City Council�and�Liverppol�In�Work�are running an exciting new programme aimed at 18 year old, Liverpool residents who are unemployed and not in education or training.

The NEET programme aims to provide one-to-one mentoring support to 18 year olds to update their skills and improving their chances onto the employment ladder.

The programme runs for 12 weeks and during this time the Personal Advisors will help improve your employability and life skills by providing FREE courses (including travel expenses), both accredited and non-accredited, employability training and work experience tailored to suit you to help you change your life!

Interested?

Phone: 0151 233 1933 and ask for the NEET Team

Download the poster

6 January 2012: Free cat neutering service

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 11:29:00 +0000

Freshfield Animal Rescue are currently offering a subsidised cat neutering service to all tenants who have a cat. They will collect the cat, neuter them and then return the cats to the tenants. They are doing this to stop the cat population spreading and to help stop stray colonies forming.� For �tenants to register they can call 0151 931 1604 or 07789 624517 or email cattery@freshfieldrescue.org.uk.��The cost of this would be �10.00 for a male cat and �15.00 for a female cat.�

6 January 2012: Welcome packs for new communities in Liverpool

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 09:39:00 +0000

LMH is a member of the New Communities Forum Joint Action Group. This meets regularly to review issues arising from the new communities who have moved into Merseyside.

The Community Safety and Cohesion Service have just produced welcome packs for people moving to Liverpool � these are currently available on the Liverpool City Council website in the following languages:

Arabic
Bulgarian
Czech
Estonian
French
Greek
Hungarian
Latvian
Lithuanian
Polish
Romanian
Russian
Slovack
Slovenian
Spanish

Please click on the following link to access the packs http://liverpool.gov.uk/translations/welcome-packs/

Feel free to promote with customers and other stakeholders you may come into contact with.

If you need any more information about the packs or the work of the New Communities Forum JAG, please contact LMH Connect on 0800 678 1894.

4 January 2012: New videos: Energy Advice - Money Made Simple

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 15:21:00 +0000

We have added two new videos�to our website packed with plenty of help and advice on saving energy in your home and help with managing your money and finances.�

Video: Saving energy and money in your home

Click on the video to find out more about ways to save energy and money in your home

Video: Saving energy and money in your home

Video: Money made simple

Click on the video to find out more about managing your money and helpful tips.

Video: Money made simple

19 December 2011: Latest newsletters available

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 09:50:00 +0000

Our latest newsletter is now available to download:

LMH News Winter 2011

We have also launched a brand new publication for our younger customers:

LMH Youth Newsletter

16 December 2011: My Home Energy Switch

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 09:27:00 +0000

A new Federation service My Home Energy Switch�is now available. � The My Home Energy Switch site is designed to help all save money on their�energy bills. By following the simple on screen instructions you can compare prices from all UK energy suppliers.

Why use My Home Energy Switch?

There is no charge to use�the comparison and switching service
They�compare all UK energy suppliers
They�are completely impartial and strive to get the best deal
All tenants' need is their most recent energy bill
It only takes a few minutes to compare and switch
They�will�take care of all the paper work,�you can simply sit back, relax and enjoy cheaper energy bills!

To help get cheaper energy bills simply:

Visit www.myhomeenergyswitch.org.uk for more information or contact Emma Hodges on 020 7067 1089 or email emma.hodges@housing.org.uk to request more details.

14 December 2011: Liverpool PCT guide to the winter

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 15:56:00 +0000

Liverpool Primary Care Trust has put together this handy guide to help you access the right health advice and treatment over the holiday period.

Included is some simple advice on what to do and where to go should you or a member of your family become ill and need medical help.

Print this out and keep it in a safe place. This guide will make sure that you're ready and prepared for whatever Winter has in store for you.

Liverpool PCT Winter Information

14 December 2011: LMH Impact Days

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 14:34:00 +0000

As part of our programme of engaging with and involving our customers in service improvement and delivery, we held a number of Impact Days between April and October. Organisations�such�as�Merseyside Police, Fire and rescue service, Liverpool City Council and other partner agencies joined us on these days.

The Impact Days Map here shows you where each event took place. We are now looking to put next years programme together and we would welcome your suggestions as to where we could target next year and what you consider to be the main issues or problems in the area you suggest.

If you have any suggestions please send�them�to : LMHCustomerInvolvement@liverpoolmh.co.uk

20 October 2011: It's Not Gay to be Gay Campaign

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 15:03:00 +0100

LMH is supporting the Stop Hate UK campaign to raise awareness around homophobic language.

Homophobic bullying & abuse is wrong and could be a Hate Crime.

Report Hate Crime when it happens.

Make a difference: DON'T use the word 'gay' in a negative way

CHALLENGE your friends if they do REPORT Hate Crime

Find out More

27 January 2011: WETRA Estate Video

Thu, 27 Jan 2011 13:38:00 +0000

A pilot project aimed at empowering local residents to make their community a safer and more desirable places has been launched in Liverpool by LMH.

The Home Office's Neighbourhood Agreement Pathfinder was introduced on Monday 25th October at Liverpool Mutual Homes' Westminster Estate in North Liverpool.

The pilot sees LMH, Liverpool City Council, Merseyside Police, the Westminster Estate Tenants and Residents Association (WETRA), and the local Rathbone Youth Outreach group joining forces to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour, improve housing and the environment, and engage the wider community.

The launch sees agencies and tenants signing a Neighbourhood Agreement, which commits them to a range of conditions and responsibilities in order to raise the standard of living in the area with the groups holding the other accountable.

This video shows all of the hard work that WETRA, LMH and our partners have put in to cleaning up the estate. WETRA members are the eyes and ears of the community and the first point of contact for other residents.� Using the support and advice available from the partner agencies, they are encouraged to initially resolve issues in their neighbourhood.

14 December 2010: Steve Coffey Podcast - LMH Corporate Planning Process

Tue, 14 Dec 2010 13:33:00 +0000

Watch the latest video podcast from the Chief Executive of LMH Steve Coffey speaking about the impacts of the Coalition Government's Spending Review on LMH and begining the process of shaping a new five year Corporate Plan for the period 2011/12 � 2015/16.

Find out more about the LMH Corporate Plan Consultation

10 November 2010: LMH Beechwood Garden Clear Up Project video

Wed, 10 Nov 2010 10:20:00 +0000

In October 2010 volunteers who transformed a communal garden in Aigburth by removing over 40 tonnes of debris handed the site back to housing tenants after completing the three-week clean-up operation.

Youngsters from the Prince's Trust also raised money to organise a community lunch at Beechwood Gardens after Liverpool Mutual Homes joined forces with Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, Merseyside Police and local affordable housing specialist Lovell to improve the area.

LMH provided equipment such as protective clothing and gloves, as well as donating a �500 grant from its Community Fund to tenant Karen Bell, who has a horticultural degree, to maintain the garden and offer green-fingered advice to others once the project has finished.

As part of its improvement project, LMH staff removed graffiti and also took the opportunity to carry out tenancy enforcement work at homes that are not being maintained to the necessary standard.

Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service were on hand to offer tenants fire safety advice and install fire alarms where needed.

Merseyside Police used the innovative SmartWater crime reduction technology to help protect tenants' property from thieves.

Lovell arranged for eight skips to be delivered to site to collect and remove the rubbish, and organised garden tools including strimmers and hedge cutters for the volunteers to use. The tools were donated by the company's equipment supplier, Speedy Hire, free of charge. In addition, Lovell site manager George Shaw and apprentice carpenter Dalton Hallal joined the rest of the volunteers to help dig the existing garden, create pathways and erect new fencing.

Watch this video to see the handover event at the end of the project and hear from Lisa Smith from Merseyside Fire Service - Prince's Trust Team Leader and from the volunteers from the Prince's Trust and LMH who worked so hard on the project.

10 August 2010: LMH Focus Awards 2010 video

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 14:42:00 +0100

Tenants and staff who have worked tirelessly to improve their communities were recognised at our annual focus awards ceremony this year.

Liverpool Mutual Homes' Focus Awards event at St Georges Hall paid tribute to the hard work and commitment of tenants who have given their time to improve the lives of others across the city.

The coveted Neighbour of the Year award was won by Peter McKenna for his work in and around the Fountains Estate in North Liverpool where he lives.

Peter's ceaseless energy sees him running every-day favours and errands for elderly residents, working with support groups to tackle community issues like crime and anti-social behaviour, and helping LMH formulate local and city-wide policies.

The Tenant Group of the Year award was won by FACT which recently celebrated its 21st birthday.

The volunteers have worked closely with LMH's North team, contractors, architects and planners at each stage of the improvement programme and have been superb ambassadors for LMH when hosting visits from the Tenant Services Authority and other VIPs including senior Government officials.

The other award winners were:

Unity Award for a group of organisation: The Intensive Community Payback scheme
Unity Award for an individual: Dave Doran � Joiner at Kinetics
Best Value for a group or organisation: Take Parts
Best Value for an individual: Claire Hogan � Safer Estates Officer
Team of the Year: Gas Servicing
Team Leader of the Year: Mike McDonnell � North West Area Housing Manager
Partnership Award: Mitie
Staff Member of the Year: Tony McEvoy � Facilities Manager
Improvement Award for a group or project: Allocations and Lettings Service
Improvement Award for an individual: Neil Prowse � Project Officer

Watch this film to see how the evening went. Watch our award winners collect their awards and hear comments from our partners and sponsors who helped make the awards evening possible.

8 April 2010: Latest Podcast - Tenants' Conference 2010

Thu, 08 Apr 2010 14:59:00 +0100

Friday 26th March 2010 - LMH hosted our second Tenant and Leaseholders' Conference at St Georges Hall, Liverpool.

LMH staff were on hand to answer any questions about our achievements and plans for the future, talk to tenants about neighbourhoods and safer estates, explain more about how tenants get involved in LMH decision-making, give advice on rents, benefits and other issues.

As part of the day residents also had the chance to, give us their views in our video diary room, see displays and exhibitions from our suppliers and other organisations, enjoy specially arranged entertainment throughout the day and talk with us and other visitors over refreshments.

Watch this film to see how the day went out what our staff and the tenants thought of our annual conference and open day.

1 April 2010: Steve Coffey Podcast - Neighbourhood Plans

Thu, 01 Apr 2010 08:47:00 +0100

Watch�the�latest�video�podcast�from�the�Chief�Executive�of� LMH�Steve Coffey.

To make our podcasts and videos accessible to everyone, we also provide a text version which is available below.

Text version of the video

The Neighbourhood Plans have been launched here at the Tenants Conference. They bring together a whole range of activities that we do to affect not only people homes, but also the environment, opportunity for employment, dealing with worklesness, addressing the demands and needs of young people so that we can pull together on the education agenda, and our neighbourhood plans are the vehicle we are using to pull all these things together. We can deal with things like our contribution to climate change agenda and a whole range of other issues which are brought together in our Neighbourhood Plans as a living document that show how we are going to intervene in the various neighbourhoods in all of those issues.

I think that this is a big step for LMH to move beyond it's initial work around the improvement programme into those other areas that affect peoples lives on a day to day basis. We are delighted we have been able to launch the plans which we hope people will read, we hope people will understand, and give us some feedback because we can do lots of things better and we want to learn how we can do it better and we want to have a better impact on peoples lives.

1 February 2010: Steve Coffey Podcast - Communal areas

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 09:04:00 +0000

From day one at LMH we started delivering on our improvement programme. Which focused on doors, windows, kitchens, bathrooms and all these issues that the transfer document had said that we needed to deliver on and we have said on many occasions about the quality of products and the standards that we're putting in our homes and that's right, that's the best standard that I've ever seen in social housing, but its not just about what's inside your front door its also about what is outside your front door and environmentally we needed to do lots of work around our communal areas. Whether that's internal communal areas or external communal areas and those surrounding areas and so we recently carried out an environmental focus day. That focus day involved all of our staff, whether you're a housing officer on the patch or a finance officer at the head office we had everybody right across the organisation going out and we did an audit and inspection looking at all of our communal areas right across the city and coming up with a priority order of where we need to invest. We have come up with a product for our communal areas which will see, and is already seeing, massive changes in these areas because that needs such a big investment and that focus day will transform the quality of our flatted accommodation and will see that over the next six to twelve months where all of these areas are transformed.��This will generate a much better neighbourhood and a much better environment for most of our customers to live in and that's the next stage that we're stepping up to,�to�move beyond our initial investment requirements.

18 January 2010: Steve Coffey Podcast - Anti Social Behaviour

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 08:54:00 +0000

Anti Social Behaviour is a key issue for our customers and our tenants. Clearly, they live in the communities and for those customers and tenants who are suffering from Anti Social Behaviour � it's a blight on their lives. At LMH we take a very firm line on these instances, but also we recognise that not every young person, for instance, is guilty of Anti Social Behaviour and young people are just young people. We need to facilitate them to have something that can play a positive part in our communities � but we do take ASB very seriously. One of the first things the Board did at LMH was to make resources available to recruit 5 extra Safer Estates Officers who deal with those very difficult Anti Social Behaviour cases and again we are reaping the benefits of that investment that the Board made there. Recently we have had a visit from Louise Casey who is the Government's Advisor on Anti Social Behaviour and who specifically asked to come and look at our Westminster Road estate where we have done lots of work with the Community Justice Centre in North Liverpool. We have had a community payback scheme, where people who are offenders put something back in the community � restorative justice � because they see then that for the offences they commit in the community they need to put something back in that community.

We have engaged and worked with the Probation Service and the Community Justice Centre to actually put something back in that neighbourhood and that has been recognised by Government. Louise Casey specifically came and was delighted with the work and the way agencies have joined together at a very local level. The Louise Casey visit wasn't coming to see me, or Senior Officers, or Board Members, it was to see a number of local people and our local staff in that area because they are the people that make the difference in that area. Very positive things are going on in North Liverpool.

Likewise, we very recently in South Liverpool carried out an Injunction and achieved an Exclusion Order in relation to somebody who was making the lives of some of our tenants and residents in the area a complete misery � and was actually picking on, and focusing on, some very vulnerable tenants one of whom was none speaking and deaf for instance. Clear behaviour which was just not acceptable so we took a firm stand, we got the injunction and an exclusion order which meant that that particular perpetrator spent almost a week in custody waiting for that to happen. That shows the very firm line we will take at LMH but also we will be very fair with people and support and help people, and help young people to find positive things to do in our communities. So Anti Social Behaviour moving forward is a big issue for LMH.

18 December 2009: LMH Focus Awards Video

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 11:03:00 +0000

Watch the video of the 2009 LMH Focus Awards. Held at the Liverpool Town Hall, attended by staff, board members, partners and guests the LMH Focus Awards are a celebration of the many good things that are happening at LMH and in our neighbourhoods. The night was hailed a great success and promises to be even bigger and better in 2010.

16 December 2009: Steve Coffey Podcast - Florence Melly Estate Improvements

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 13:45:00 +0000

Watch�the�latest�video�podcast�from�the�Chief�Executive�of� LMH�Steve Coffey.

To make our podcasts and videos accessible to everyone, we also provide a text version which is available below.

Text version of the video

Our first year or so at LMH saw us embarking upon our Daneville project and that was immensely successful in terms of turning that neighbourhood around, reducing the void levels on the estate and changing people's lives who live there � creating demand for that neighbourhood that just wasn't there in the past. Whilst that was very successful and got recognition at a national level with a number of awards such as at the Housing Excellence Awards being selected as the Regeneration Project of the Year and the Home and Communities Agency Low Carbon Project of the Year. So lots of recognition for that project, but LMH wants to improve constantly, so we don't want to rest on our laurels. We want to deliver better products, better projects and better solutions moving forward, so we have now moved onto our Florence Melly estate which is adjacent to Daneville and has got lots of similar issues around structural defectiveness etc.

The big difference on that estate is the number of owner occupiers. There is a large proportion of owner occupied properties on that estate, so we have taken that on board, and have linked with the owner occupiers to come up with a solution where they can tap into our project to get the similar solution to their homes as well as ours. We recognise that LMH does not exist in a vacuum, we are trying to create communities as well as create homes and trying to get a solution that generates real community ownership regardless of the tenure of the property � whether it's a social home or owner occupier � to improve the lives of the people living in that particular community.

We have linked in with the City Council and with other agencies; with our energy partner EDF, to facilitate a low cost solution not just for our own properties but also where owner occupiers can buy into that project at very minimal, if any, cost and there is grant support available to help facilitate that.�

I think that is an excellent project and will make a big difference to that part of the city. To that extent we have recently hosted a visit from Joe Montgomery from the Government's Communities Department who is a Senior Civil Servant in that department and who specifically asked to come and look at what we have done in Daneville and the solution we are putting forward in Florence Melly. Once again, a recognition that the project is moving forward and helping us engage with other communities and people within our communities.

11 December 2009: Steve Coffey Podcast - Status Survey and performance

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 10:41:00 +0000

Watch the latest video podcast from the Chief Executive of LMH Steve Coffey.

To make our podcasts and videos accessible to everyone, we also provide a text version which is available below.

Text version of the video

LMH has carried out its first status survey since it took the transfer of the housing stock from the City Council and we have seen a massive increase in satisfaction. Our satisfaction levels have gone up to 75.6% and whilst in the overall scheme of things compared to other landlords that's not a massive figure when you look at prior to transfer the City Council did a similar survey and satisfaction levels were 54%. Now that in itself in such a short space of time since transfer shows the massive improvement that we have had already, although we have still got lots to do and that's fair to say. Nevertheless, that's the biggest increase I have ever known in social housing and in many cases satisfaction tends to drop a little just after transfer. So all in all that's very good performance and something we should be proud of but no way should we sit back and rest on our laurels because we still have a fair way to go to get up to top quartile performance.

In terms of performance, we have also seen lately that we have turned the corner to some extent on some performance. Prior to transfer there were lots of areas where we needed to significantly improve and some of those have now seen dramatic improvements. The plans we put in place right at the beginning are coming through to fruition now. For instance, we have now cleared the backlog of repairs that we inherited prior to transfer and with our poorly performing contractor in the first year. All those repairs are now done and we have got a clear baseline to move forward.

Likewise, when we transferred we had in the region of 500 void properties. Empty properties that people couldn't live in and that were unsafe or just not fit for habitation. That level has now come under the 300 mark and that's a massive reduction already with plans to significantly reduce that further but its a big physiological barrier to get under that 300 and lots of work has been done to achieve that � it's something we should certainly be proud of.

The other area where we have seen significant improvement is that we have now, cumulatively, hit the 100% mark on our rent so we are now actually collecting more rent than is due so we are eating away at the backlog of arrears that we inherited at transfer as well. Again, that should not be underestimated how big a step that is to achieve. It is very high levels of performance when you compare it to everyone. So, all in all, whilst we have lots to do and tenants and customers expectations are increasing dramatically, we are now seeing headway being made to address those areas of historic poor performance and really showing that we are moving toward that quality organisation we want to be.

3 December 2009: Steve Coffey Podcast - Rent

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 11:33:00 +0000

Watch the latest video podcast from the Chief Executive of LMH Steve Coffey.

To make our podcasts and videos accessible to everyone, we also provide a text version which is available below.

Text version of the video

In the social housing sector we have had recent notification of the Government's proposal, or direction as its called, in relation to our rents for next year and beyond. Because of the recession, that rent figure is linked to the retail price index, or RPI as it is known, and RPI in September was running at -1.4% so we will see effectively 1.4% less of a rent increase than what there would have been if the retail price index was positive.

In essence that will mean that rent will be cut, if they were all at target rent by 0.9% and that is a big issue for LMH, as it is for all social landlords, because that in effect is taking �750k out of our income next year and every year in the future which is a big challenge for us and something we need to address.

That won't be easy to do because our business plan is already based on us getting better, more efficient at making savings and now we have got this other obstacle that we need to overcome. Will we overcome it � of course we will, will we still improve services � of course we will, will we deliver our promises set out in the offer document � of course we will, and those things are not negotiable.

But things will be much more difficult because of less resources we are going to receive and I think it is inevitable that we will need to look at where we spend money and whether we can do that more efficiently but also whether we can do it more fairly. I think whether its employee costs, repairs and maintenance, whether its overheads, we will be looking at all those costs to make those efficiencies. To try and close that gap so that we can continue to improve, and continue to get better, and continue to invest, but we will do that fairly, equitably and on a common basis to everybody.

30 November 2009: A message from the South Area Office

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 14:34:00 +0000

Watch the introduction to the South Area Office from the manager Bob Siner.

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My name is Bob Siner and I am the area manager for LMH's South team, we are based at Smithdown Place, near penny Lane.

We actually manage a large geographical area but the properties that we do manage are confined to very small locations, they are :-

Woolton
Allerton/Springwood
Hunts Cross
Cressington

Since we started here we right away started on the improvement programme. That improvement programme initially concentrated on renewing the windows, installing double glazing and pvc doors, renewing the front and rear doors and providing central heating where no central heating previously existed. Since then the programme has developed quite considerably. So we are now in a position where we can start improving the inside of the properties which includes, kitchens, bathrooms and some of our properties are about to be re-roofed. We have recently embarked on a programme were we are improving the communal areas to our blocks and the rear garden areas to the blocks. These are quite comprehensive improvement programmes using high calibre materials so that the whole environment of our properties and blocks will improve in one go.

We also recognise that to build sustainable communities we need to build on partnerships. These partnerships are working with a number of people working in the same area as ourselves although they are coming at it from a different angle. Recently we have embarked on a partnership with Merseyside Police and the city council's neighbourhood management team to improve a number of different areas with our management team to improve a number of different areas within our management area. They have involved � environmental works, clean ups, painting and general improvements to the areas to make them a much better place to live and visit. I think some of the benefits of this are cross party workmanship are that we actually work with our colleagues so that collectively we can provide the service that we would like for our tenants. That service involves delivering something to them that makes the whole environment and where they live a much better place to be, so that not only do they enjoy living there but that they want to continue to live there and encourage other people to and become part of the LMH community and to live in properties that are sustainable.

There are many different things that you can find here on our website. There is an easy to use navigation function that enables you to explore and find anything that you may need to know about LMH. For example if you want to find out what neighbourhood you live in and what improvement works are going to be carried out. So I would encourage you to explore this site and get as much information of it as possible.

30 November 2009: A message from the West Area Office

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 14:17:00 +0000

Watch the introduction to the West Area Office from the manager Viv Carlson.

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We cover Liverpool 8, Dingle and Granby area, Colthart Estate, Greenheys Gardens, we also cover parts of Liverpool 3, Liverpool 1 and parts of L17.

I have got a staff of 22 people. I was born in the area, worked all my life in the area, a lot of my staff were either born in the area and have got relatives living in the area, so we all want the very best for the area.

We provide a variety of services here. Firstly the main interest for most of the tenants is the repairs. People can phone the repairs through or they can come into the office at the public counter. We cover rents, so to be able to carry out improvement work and repairs we need to get the rent in. Most people pay their rent. If however you are having problems paying your rent and if you fall into arrears for any reason, we are here to help you. The first thing to do is come and talk to us about it. Don't be afraid, we are sympathetic and we try and resolve your problems, we can refer you for benefits advice. Ultimately if people don't pay their rents we do need to take actions against them and this can result in eviction. Now we don't want to evict people, it is the last thing we want to do but ultimately we do need to have some sort of ultimate action if people are refusing to pay their rent. We also allocate vacant properties. We don't have an awful lot of vacant properties in this area. At any one time we have only got about 10 properties empty and ready to let. We have got a housing waiting list with thousands of people on, so unfortunately people applying for housing wait a very long time for this area and most areas of Liverpool. We are part of Propertypool where people can get on our waiting list but they can also apply for housing belonging to the other housing associations, such as, Plus Dane, Riverside, LHT and all the other housing associations that operate in the area.

One of the other things that we do is the Gas Safety certificates. It is a legal obligation that every tenant needs to have a gas safety certificate once a year. The reason for this is for your own safety and that of your neighbourhoods. If you don't get your gas safety check done and there is a problem with your gas there could be an explosion, you could be killed, your neighbours could be killed, so we need to chase people up for this. Really all of our tenants get this done as soon as possible as soon as the person calls to do it. But some don't and some people refuse to do it or don't respond to letters. Again we have to take them to court and this can involve very high court costs for people. We had someone who had to pay over �900 last year because he didn't get the gas safety check done until it was the very last minute and if he hadn't had it done then he would have been imprisoned as a result of it. We have to take this seriously obviously as it is about your own safety but also about the safety of your neighbours.

Another issue that is very much on the tenant's minds is anti social behaviour. We work closely with the police and with tenant and resident groups where anti social behaviour occurs. This can obviously be noise, it can be drug dealing, a whole range of issues. We take action on this, we can take legal action. We try firstly to help people if they have got a problem that can be solved, the first thing that we would do is we would talk to them, we would try to help and get it resolved, but ultimately again this can lead to eviction and we have had to evict a few people in the past over this because to be fair to neighbours everybody should be able to enjoy peace and quiet living in their own home.

I want the very best for the area and I think the area we do work in is one of the best ones you could. It is very varied, varied in the population, varied in the type of properties, varied in terms of the parks we've got, the cathedrals we've got, the mosques we've got. So we have got one of the very best areas to work in and although we often deal with problematic tenants we also know that the vast majority of tenants are just good decent people who just want to peacefully live their lives and we want to provide the best homes that we can for them.

30 November 2009: A message from the East Area Office

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 13:46:00 +0000

Watch the introduction to the East Area Office from the manager Ray Ellison.

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My name is Ray Ellison I am the area manager for the East Team of LMH. We look after about three thousand five hundred properties ranging from the Knowsley boundary - Cantrall Farm to the city centre and between West Derby Road and Wavetree Road.

Improving the homes that the real people are living in gives you a real kick, it really makes the job worthwhile. We are a tenant led organisation and I think its really good that we are doing things for the tenants now. We are doing the things the tenants actually want us to do. Now that we're not a local authority we can tap into other funding streams which enables us to do other things, we are not constrained by the pressures that are put on by local authorities.

We provide a full range of housing management services and tenancy management. We have an open counter so people can come and see us and we have officers who go out and visit people. In terms of what we do, we do the main landlord functions, we enforce tenancy conditions and tenancy management, we pursue rent arrears and collect rent when required.

We deal with lots of small scale anti social behaviour in the area, this area is not too bad for ASB, there is pockets of it in different parts of the area but basically it is a good stable community with lots of sustainable properties.

We also provide a lot of signposting to other agencies and organisations and we are about to start embarking on something that's reasonably topical at the moment and its called Workless ness. We are going to act as a sign posting agencies to point people in the right direction of where to find employment hopefully and again to find sustainable jobs for the future.

I have always enjoyed my job. I know that some may say that's a little bit sad, but I have always worked in housing. The fact that I have been here for 35 years must say something about that, but yes, I do, I enjoy every aspect about it, every day is different.

I think the fact that we are a tenant led organisation is our biggest strength and I think we proved that before we even became LMH we have taken our customers and tenants all over the country to choose the materials and contractors that we are still using today and they're at the heart of everything we do, they have been involved in developing and reviewing all of our policies and procedures. Customer involvement is a real major part of what we do today and it is just nice to keep the tenants on board and from what I am hearing from tenants is that's what they want.

What I would like people to do is when we ask people to be involved, I would really like them to be involved! Because we are not asking it to tick boxes we are asking it because we really mean it, because we want to provide the service that you want us to provide and not the service that we think you want.

30 November 2009: A message from the North Area Office

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 11:17:00 +0000

Watch the introduction to the North Area Office from the manager Janet Calland.

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Hi my name's Jan Calland and I'm and area housing manager for Liverpool Mutual Homes. I am responsible for the North Area team which is based on Falklands Approach in Norris Green and my responsibility is for delivering a high quality housing management service to all of our tenants and customers.

The service we provide includes dealing with tenancy and estate management issues and that covers a wide and diverse range of issues. It can be anything to do with the tenancy agreement itself, the actual property, or things that may be going on outside the property and the neighbourhood, so for example it could be anti social behaviour. We are also responsible for managing the housing register, dealing with vacant properties and all the re letting process. We also deal with repair reporting and the gas servicing programme and what that basically involves is ensuring that all of our tenants allow us into their homes every year so that we can undertake the gas safety test. Which is really important for the tenants and also for the neighbours that we maintain their health and safety. We are also responsible for collecting the rents here, really important to LMH as a business if we want to be able to deliver the services that we said we'd deliver and also to keep our promises to the tenants, the promises we made through the stock transfer. We are also involved in helping to deliver the improvement programme and that is something that attracts a great deal of interest from our tenants understandably and it is something that we are really proud of here at LMH. The quality of the kitchens and bathrooms that we are using are absolutely fantastic and the tenants are delighted with the choices that they are able to make. Since the transfer we have actually completed over 500 new kitchens and bathrooms, 1200 gas central heating systems have been installed into the homes and we have done 1400 new windows and doors.

We are also using energy efficient products in all of the projects, so that is really helping to contribute to prevent heat loss from the properties so lots of other benefits there too as well for our tenants.

One of the major projects has been the Daneville Estate in Walton and the achievements that we have made there have been widely recognised in terms of good practise across social housing and since Daneville we have already moved into the Anfield area and last month we started to undertake major improvements to homes in the Florence Melly estate in Walton. If tenants haven't already been along to the open days and seen some of the improvements that we are making they can come along to the area office and we will show them what we are doing. We are also now in a position to tell all of our tenants and basically give them an idea as to when we will be doing improvements on their areas and in their homes.

30 November 2009: A message from the Northwest Area Office

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 11:17:00 +0000

Watch the introduction to the Northwest Area Office from the manager Mike McDonnell.

To make our podcasts and videos accessible to everyone, we also provide a text version which is available below.

Text version of the video

I am Mike McDonnell the area manager for the North West Office for Liverpool Mutual Homes. I have been here for twelve months, I was previously in the West area and moved here lastOctober.

We are based in Mark Street which is Liverpool 5 off Netherfield Road. Our area runs from the city centre up to the Bottle boundary and easterly as far as Anfield. Most of our properties are in the Kirkdale and and Everton wards. But we have got some in County and Anfield as well. We manage about 3800 properties. We have got a staff of 30 people working in this area including caretaking staff as well as our management team. We are working closely with the LHT to deliver the improvement programme. We have so far put new windows and doors in a thousand properties and that'll be two thousand by the end of this financial year. We've installed 300 new heating systems and by the end of the financial year there will be one thousand new bathrooms and kitchens in the area as well.

We have been involved in a number of clean up days in the area and Respect weeks along with the city council, police and other partner agencies. We have done that in County ward, west Everton, Queens Road area and Anfield. They involve general clean ups of the area, general awareness sessions talking about anti social behaviour and usually end up with a fun day for the residents.

Another initiative in the North West area is the Westminster Road estates neighbourhood agreement. We're working closely with the tenants association there who are very active and excellent team of people. We're looking to involve tenants more in the management of their estate. We're working with the police, youth development and again other partner agencies. We think it's important that people who live in the estate have more input about what goes on there. We are developing that on a daily basis and as it proves successful we'll roll it out to other areas in the North West.

In the North West we have been heavily involved in the community payback system. That is a system of people who have committed offences in the area outing something back into the area. We have worked firstly with the local residents who were at first a bit apprehensive because we are talking about somebody with a criminal record going into your neighbourhood, but they have actually done a great job doing clean ups on the estate, graffiti removal, they themselves have welcomed it, the communities did in the end, certainly we have and it's been in the national press.

26 October 2009: Improvement programme video: Introduction

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 23:42:00 +0000

This short film is an introduction to our five year improvement programme. It is designed to act as a guide to what the improvement programme actually means to the customer, how it came about what it will undertake.�

There are accompanying videos for each area of the improvement programme scheme. All customers will be receiving a full copy of the Improvement Programme DVD as and when they are scheduled for work to be done.�

This DVD is also available upon request subtitled in various languages.

26 October 2009: Improvement programme video: Meet your CLO

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:42:00 +0000

This video explains what the role of the Customer Liason Officer (CLO) is and how they are there to help the customer every step of the way through the improvement works.

26 October 2009: Improvement programme video: Bathrooms

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 20:42:00 +0000

If you are having a new bathroom fitted this video will tell you what to expect, what choices are available to you and how we will do the works.

26 October 2009: Improvement programme video: Kitchens

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:42:00 +0000

If you are having a new kitchen fitted this video will tell you what to expect, what choices are available to you and how we will do the works.

26 October 2009: Improvement programme video: Central heating

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:42:00 +0000

If you are having your central heating replaced this video will tell you what to expect, what choices are available to you and how we will do the works.

26 October 2009: Improvement programme video: Windows and doors

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 17:42:00 +0000

If you are having your windows and/or doors replaced this video will tell you what to expect, what choices are available to you and how we will do the works.

26 October 2009: Improvement programme video: Electrical rewire

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:42:00 +0000

If you are having an electrical rewire to your property this video will tell you what to expect, what choices are available to you and how we will do the works.

26 October 2009: Improvement programme video: Exterior works

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:42:00 +0000

If you are having exterior work done to your property this video will tell you what to expect, what choices are available to you and how we will do the works.