PIONEER NEWS People making the news in the St. Peter’s area of Ashton-u-Lyne

Spring 2014

Inside...Universal Credit

UpdateMINTED Financial

ServiceTenant Satisfaction

SurveysAdullam Housing Floating Support

Design our 15th Birthday Cake

members and partners. Thank you for your support, contribution and encouragement to create and develop APH into the leading Community based Housing Association it is today.

Thank you. Tony Berry CEO

In the summer we are hosting a celebration party packed with fun on Richmond Park estate on Saturday the 16th August. We are looking for volunteers to help out on the day and also ideas for stalls and activities. If you would like to get involved please contact Nicola Woods on 343 8128.

Tenants Base Refurbishment

REACH have been based there for some time and now run weekly drop-in sessions on Monday and Tuesday afternoons, 1-4pm, where people can get on line help and use the internet for free. There will be a volunteer

on hand to help with job search, online forms and basic computer skills. In addition, Ashton Pioneer Homes Staff will be there Wednesdays and Fridays, 1pm-4pm. You can see a Housing

Officer as well as access the internet and support. Adullam will be on site on Thursday holding their drop in sessions. Please see the back page for the “What’s on Guide”. I hope you

agree that there is something for everyone.

Please feel free to call in at anytime, you will be made very welcome. We look forward to seeing you there!

You may be aware that over at Ryecroft House, the flat at the bottom, known as the Tenants Base, is used by several community groups. The Base had become so popular it was felt that the I.T Suite needed a face lift. As you can see from the pictures, the refurbishment has come along well and the Base is open 5 days a week.

Please Like us on Facebookwww.facebook.com/ashtonpioneer

and Follow us on Twitter @AshtonPioneer

EASTER CLOSING TIMES

The Main Office will close on

Thursday 17th April 2014 at

5.00pm and re-open on Tuesday

22nd April at 9.00 am.

For emergencies during

that period please

contact the

Neighbourhood

Services Team on

0161 339 9377.

APH CELEBRATES 15TH BIRTHDAYMessage from Tony Berry, Chief Executive at Ashton Pioneer Homes:

The 1st February 2014 was the 15th birthday of Ashton Pioneer Homes. The picture shows the celebrations in February 1999 when the final transfer of homes from Tameside Council took place.

A lot has changed in the 15 years, with properties demolished, major property and estate improvements and regeneration along with a large number of new build homes. I would to thank everyone who was with us from the start in 1999 or have joined our journey over the years, tenants, staff, Board

2 Pioneer News Spring 2014 3Pioneer News Spring 2014

Discretionary Housing Payments

FINANCIAL CONFIDENCE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

MiNTed 16-24 is a Big Lottery funded project which was setup by Tameside Citizens Advice Bureau in partnership with a number of local housing providers including Ashton Pioneer Homes.

We offer free, fun and interactive group or individual sessions covering a variety of topics such as making your money go further, bank accounts, saving money on your gas and electricity, savvy shopping, and managing your bills.

Through our relaxed and informal sessions we hope that you will feel more confident when it comes to making those all important financial decisions. Let’s face it times are hard so it’s important now more than ever to make sure your money stretches. We understand that talking about money can be daunting, that’s why our money mentors take a fresh approach to this important subject, making money matters fun.

HOUSING MANAGEMENT

Universal Credit is the new benefit that the Government has introduced to simplify the benefit system.

Between April 2013 and the end of 2017, Universal Credit will replace:

• Income-basedJobseeker’s Allowance

• Income-relatedEmployment and Support Allowance

• IncomeSupport

• WorkingTaxCredit

• ChildTaxCredit

• HousingBenefit

As a pathfinder Universal Credit was rolled out into our area (OL6, OL7, M43 & SK16) in April 2013.

Universal Credit currently affects single people of working age who haven’t claimed benefit for two weeks. From the summer of 2014 couples making new claims will be moved onto Universal Credit, followed by families in Autumn 2014.

We have had some residents

making claims for Universal Credit already, some people have found it easy, other residents have hit “teething” problems we think that it is a big learning curve for our residents, APH and the JobCentre Staff.

You can make a claim for Universal Credit online; you must make the claim as soon as you become unemployed.

www.gov.uk/universalcredit

If you do not have internet access you can use the computer in our office, at the tenants

base, the library and at Tameside Council Offices. Citizens Advice are able to offer assistance to help complete your claim, they are based in the Council Offices and are open from 9.30am to 12.30pm every day.

The most important piece of advice we can give is talk to us, please call into our office if you think you need to make a Universal Credit claim and we can give advice and signpost you on a one to one basis.

HOUSING MANAGEMENT

UNIVERSAL CREDIT UPDATE

Our Housing Officers will be providing a drop in service on a Wednesday afternoon for any of your housing related queries. A Housing Officer will be available between 1:00pm and 3:00pm at the base. On a Friday afternoon our

Housing Assistant will be at the base to assist residents using the computers to make benefit claims, register on the homeswapper service or help them get on line setting up email addresses and social networking.

To be eligible for consideration you must be entitled to:

• HousingBenefit,or

• Thehousing element ofUniversal Credit, and

• Require further assistance with housing costs

A Discretionary Housing Payment could be made to cover the following types of shortfall:

• Reductions in Housing Benefit or UniversalCreditwherethebenefit cap has been applied;

• Reductions in Housing Benefit or Universal Credit following the removal of spare room subsidy for tenants of Registered Social Landlords

• Reductions in Housing Benefit or UniversalCreditasaresultoflocal housing allowance restrictions;

• Non-dependantdeductionsinHB, or housing cost contributions in UniversalCredit;

• Rent shortfalls to prevent a household becoming homeless whilst the housing authority explores alternative options;

• Help with a lump sum cost associated with moving home, where the customer is yet to move and is entitled to Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit at the current address

Coming soon to the Tenants Base

Are you aged between 16 and 24? If so we could have just the service for you. MiNTed 16-24 offers a FREE service to help you feel more confident in managing your money, making the right financial decisions for you and saving money on a day to day basis.

If you are struggling to pay the shortfall in your housing benefit claim you can apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment to help pay your rent. Discretionary Housing Payments may be awarded, in addition to Housing Benefit, when the Council considers that a claimant requires further financial assistance towards housing costs.

A Discretionary Housing Payment is only a short term payment and the Council will decide who is eligible and how much they will pay based on each individuals circumstances. For further information and an application form please contact our office and we will be happy to assist you.

You can also contact Tameside MBC on 342 3708/3884 and Citizens Advice Bureau 342 5005 for advice.

If you want to know more about MiNTed 16-24 speak to your Housing Support

Officer or contact us directly on:

☎ 0161 711 0091 or find us online:

Twitter - www.twitter.com/mintedtameside

Facebook - www.facebook.com/mintedtameside.

FLOATING SUPPORT

Adullam saved my lifeHi my name is Phil and I’m 43 years old and this is my story. I feel I have lost the last 8 years of my life to Severe Depression and Self Harm. During these years there has been many times when I have seriously considered ending my life.

Then in August 2013 that changed as I was referred to Adullam’s Tameside Floating Support where I met Karen who became my Support Worker.

I had weekly support from Karen, who would visit me and with her help and support I started to get the old me back and my self-worth.

Over the last 3 months I started to turn my life around. Each week my life got better and better and I was no longer a shell of a man thinking it was the end of the road. I am now a proud man again and thinking of a brighter future.

It was at this point that Karen suggested that maybe I would like to try the Peer Mentor Course that Adullam run, so I decided to give it a go.

Since starting the course the tutor Chris has helped mould me back into the

caring man I once was and I have realised with Chris’ tutoring and support I now want to give something back and this has helped me realise that my future is brighter and what I also want to do.

Now I class myself as 100% better and I could not have done it without everyone at Adullam and all their support.

So thank you for giving me my life back. With Great GratitudePhil B.

Volunteering opportunitiesLife can be tough and for some difficulties have led to people being at risk of losing their tenancies. Adullam are currently recruiting Volunteer Mentors who may offer a listening ear to support such people who maybe experiencing distress.

Adullam offers an Open College Network (OCN) accredited Peer Mentor Training Course, where you learn new skills, expand your mind and build your confidence. The course consists of a 9 week training programme which covers things such as safeguarding, boundaries

prejudice, equality and diversity. This not only helps in a career but also in your personal life too.

Once qualified the opportunities to volunteer within Adullam are endless, you will come away with a renewed sense of wellbeing, enthusiasm and a qualification that looks good on your

CV! You will also gain experience in doing one–to-one support, help to develop and run our coffee.Please contact Chris Kennedy on: 0161 339 5450 or e-mail:ckennedy@adullam.org.uk for further details.

Ashton Pioneer Homes are fortunate to be involved in Partnership Working with the Tameside Floating Support Service. If you feel that you need any assistance managing your tenancy, are in danger of losing your home or have substance misuse issues please contact your Housing Officer who will be happy to complete a referral to the service, or you can contact them directly on 339-5450. A service user has kindly told their story below of how the Floating Support Service have helped them.

This service allows our tenants to register their interest in completing a Mutual Exchange with tenants of other registered social landlords across the country and with other Ashton Pioneer Homes tenants. If your current home is too big or too small for you this may be an easier way for you to move to the home that’s perfect for your family’s needs; especially with the future changes to Housing Benefit. HomeSwapper will find matching properties for you and either email or send you a text with the details.

If you don’t have access to the internet you can use the public library, the tenants base or come into our office to use the computer to register for HomeSwapper and to check your HomeSwapper account.

www.homeswapper.co.uk

Need to move to house? Ashton Pioneer Homes is a registered

partner of HomeSwapper

CUSTOMER SERVICES NOTICES

You can now follow APH on Facebook:

www.facebook.com/ashtonpioneer

You can now follow APH on Twitter

@AshtonPioneer

4 Pioneer News Spring 2014 5Pioneer News Spring 2014

CUSTOMER SERVICES NOTICES

In order to increase your chances of winning £25 of vouchers for a store of your choice in Ashton-Under-Lyne all you need to do is make sure you return the repair questionnaires that are sent to you when repairs are logged, here’s a few of our luckywinnersfromSeptembertoJanuary…

Our September winner was 16 Margaret House

Our October winner was 43 Margaret House

Our November winner was 14 Portland House

Our December winner was 21 Welbeck House

Our January winner was 27 Portland Terrace

Tenant Satisfaction Surveys…

Congratulations to you all!

Hi, my name is Asma Arshad, I started working with Ashton Pioneer Homes in December 2013 as Finance Assistant, covering for Manisha’s maternity leave. Prior to this I graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Accountancy and Finance and worked at the Co-Operative Bank in the Insurance Department. Away from work I enjoy going to the gym and spending time with my family and friends.

Congratulations to Manisha our Finance Assistant who recently gave birth to a daughter, Alysha. Best wishes to all the family.

NEW STARTER

In quarter two and quarter three Ashton Pioneer Homes have received a total of 25 stage 1 formal complaints. Of these complaints nine of them were found to be upheld, this is where the compliant is justified. We will then take the opportunity to learn from our mistakes. The complaints that we have received cover different service areas, which include, rent and repairs and maintenance.

If you would like to pay us a compliment or if you have a comment or a complaint to make, then please complete one of our three Cs cards or contact our Customer Services Team. Remember, we can’t work to change something that is going wrong, if we are not aware that it is!

3C’s Update

CongratulationsManisha!

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Repairs andmaintenance

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(Rechargedispute)

Housingmanagement

Rent Car parkingdispute

CustomerServices

NeighborhoodServices

Complaints April 2013- December 2013

Complaints Graph Upheld

Complaints Graph Not Upheld

Complaints Graph Partially Upheld

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Repairs andmaintenance

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CustomerServices

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Complaints April 2013- December 2013

Complaints Graph Upheld

Complaints Graph Not Upheld

Complaints Graph Partially Upheld The Pioneer People worked with the Cultural Service Teamand1stNewtonExplorerScouts. We used resources at the local archives to create an adventure in digital imagery called “Tameside Threads”.

This was displayed on Ashton Town Hall on the 9th of March. I must say it was an amazing experience andwasproud to be part of it .

ThenextshowwillbeheldatAlbert Square, Manchester on the 29th of March at 7.30. This is a free, family friendly

event that will light up Manchester Town Hall and illuminate Lloyd Street. Come and see the creativity and imagination of local people. If you would like to attend please contact Nicola as transport will be provided.

The Big Digital Project

The Big Digital Project gave a team of residents the chance to make and stage their own light show about the place that we live. Using custom designed, open - source software and multiple projects we had the chance to create our own response to a very simple question “What do you have to say?”

At APH we’re always looking at ways to improve the way we communicate with customers which is why we have been working hard to improve our website to make it more ‘user’ friendly. We want our customers to be able to access our services on line. Please take a look at the new website for information and regular updates on all our services. You can also report repairs, give us feedback and pay your rent. Test it out for yourself www.ashtonpioneerhomes.co.uk

New Website is launched!

6 Pioneer News Spring 2014

Join us in the Race for Life!

Pioneer People Stepping out into your local community

Trivia QuizWell it’s that time again for your little grey cells to be tested. Mr Holmes and Mr Poirot have got together and devised a quiz some are easy, the first five, and then they get difficult towards the end. As per usual no looking on the computer or reading the answers, ask your family and friends to join in. There is no prize, justenjoyyourself,relaxandpatyourselfonthebackifyougetall twelve right.

Good luck, here we go! Best of luck.

1. Which bird is associated with a pedestrian crossing?

2. In slang terms, £20 is also known as what?

3. Ryan Giggs has been a long serving member of which football club?

4. WhoplayedEliotNessinthefilmTheUntouchables?

5. Jim Kerr was part of which famous band?

6. What is Dr Watson’s first name in the Sherlock Holmes stories?

7. Who in Countdown’s dictionary corner, was known for his collection of interesting jumpers?

8. What was Richard Nixon’s profession?

9. What did great Wallenda’s do?

10. Where is Muckle Flugga?

11. What is Gregory Peck’s full name?

12. Who is Joanne Woodward’s husband?

13. What was the title of the famous train that appeared in the Agatha Christie’s Poirot?

Think you have solved them? Answers on page 9.

6

If you would like to join us in this fun event, please contact Nicola Woods on 0161 343 8128 or email nicola.woods@ashtonpioneerhomes.co.uk or call in to the office for a chat.

CancerResearchUKareworldleadersinfinding new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer. They want to create more tomorrows for more people and are determined to keep pushing forward to help beat cancer sooner. They receive no Government funding for research so need your support through events like Race for Life to help continue the groundbreaking work and help more people survive cancer.

Did you know that 80p in every pound you raise goes directly towards work to beat cancer?

Every two minutes someone in the UK is told they have cancer. As the population grows and ages, the number of cases continues to rise.

The Pioneer Panel are currently having a recruitment drive. We have already had two new members recently and would like to officially welcome Sue Carrigan and Mike Doyle to the Panel. We would love to give other tenants the opportunity to get involved in our work.

The Panel’s ethos is to CHALLENGE APH and ourselves to review the service tenants receive by focusing on areas that are important for APH and tenants. Through these reviews we aim to IMPROVE the standards of the services currently provided. We also look at areas where APH ACHIEVEexcellenceandmakerecommendationsfor further improvement.

We are currently working on a review of how APH manage tenant complaints. The Panel are working alongside APH to see whether the current policies and procedures that are in place allow our concerns to be addressed in the best possible way. We want to see evidence that APH use our complaints to improve the service in all areas of their responsibilities to us as our landlord.

If you would like to get involved with the Panel or to have more information about the work we do please get in touch with Helen, our co-ordinator, by email at pioneerpanel@talktalk.net or text /ring 07961 264 338. We would love to hear from you!

Spring Walks with The Rough

Diamonds Last year we had a lot of interest from local residents wanting to go outside and explore! Walking is simple, free and one of the easiest ways to get more active, lose weight and become healthier. It’s ideal for all ages and fitness levels. Regular walking has been shown to reduce chronic illnesses such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, asthma and some cancers. So what’s stopping you? Get in touch and let’s get out in the sunshine!

Please contact Martin Cone or Nicola Woods on 0161 343 8128 for more information

Author: Peter Glenn - Resident Reporter

Nicola Woods, Community Worker

News from the Pioneer Panel

7

Stepping out into your local community

This colourful, crunchy salad is perfect served alone, or stuffed into warmed wholemeal pittas.

Serves: 4 adults Preparation time: 15 mins Cooking time: 0 mins

Tip 1:

Use green cabbage instead of red, if you prefer.

Tip 2:You could use chopped ready-to-eat dried apricots instead of raisins or sultanas.

Tip 3: Keep any leftover salad in a sealed container in the fridge and use the following day.

METHOD:

1. Whisk together the lemon juice or vinegar and olive oil, then add all the remaining ingredients (apart from the pittas!) and toss together gently.

2. Warm the pittas in a toaster or under the grill. Split open and stuff with the salad. Serve at once, or wrap and keep cool until lunchtime.

enjoy!

INGREDIENTS:

• 2tbsplemonsjuiceonly• 1tspoliveoil• ¼smallredcabbagefinely shredded• 1carrotgrated• 1smallredonionthinlysliced• 1mediumapplecoredand chopped• 20gsultanas• 50greducedfathardcheese cut into tiny chunks• 1pinchgroundblackpepper• 4wholemealpittabreads

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION:Peradultportion(i.e¼recipe)238kcal/996kJ13g protein39g carbohydrate of which 12g sugars4g fat of which 1.5g saturates6gfibre312mg sodium equivalent to 0.7g salt

The Rough Diamonds Skill Sharing Afternoon

by Nicola Woods, Community Worker

Every Monday afternoon The Rough Diamonds meet at the Tenants Base at 1pm. We have plenty of equipment there to keep us busy. What we do need are some new members to share skills with. We welcome anyone to come and join us and everything is free. We have sewing machines, needles and wool, cross stitch, arts and craft materials. We just need more people to join us and share ideas and skills. We are a very friendly group so why not call over for a brew and a biscuit. We also meet every Thursday evening after 6.30pm. This is a very social group where games are played or if you don’t want to join in the games, we offer great conversation and a good laugh!

REACH are pleased to announce the refurbishment of the Tenant’s Base in

Ryecroft House is now completed and we are open again. As promised before

Christmas we are now open two days every week - Monday and Tuesday 1 - 4pm.

We have bought two new laptops which are to be used alongside the desktops,

so whichever machine you prefer to use is now available. The sessions will be delivered byJenny,PeterandAndywhowillhelpyou with basic use of the internet for beginners,

job search, completing on-line forms etc. We are a friendly group and everyone will

be made very welcome, so call in for a chat and see what we can offer you.

For more information please ring Jenny 07551 606001, Peter 07531 235705 or email us at reachtameside@gmail.com

There is one town I love the most. I’d like to explain why without having to boast.

Every town has something unique, that’s what make Tameside complete. Denton has a Garden Show, young and old come to bloom and grow.

Mossley has pretty houses upon the hills, Stalybridge has rich historic Mills.

If you are angry and sparkling like a flame, take a relaxing walk by the River Tame.

Hyde has farms and houses on Red Pump Street but now it’s where Traders meet.

Dukinfield is where brides are taken in their carriages, in 2001 there were 411 recorded marriages! But this is not important to me.

Even though Oldham boomed during the Revolution of Industry. My favourite town is not pastel green with lambs, we have a museum and a tram. It’s not glitzy with Hollywood style. But you can feel the life within for 100 miles.

What am I trying to say on the whole, my favourite town may not have extended wealth. We have inner beauty and soul. We are not Celebs but we have our health, this is the gentle but lively town I am growing up in, Ashton under Lyne!

Why I LoveASHTONBy Rebecca Sullivan

Pioneer People

Saying good bye is always a sad moment, that

feeling of insecurity that stays with you for a while, and is replaced with the desire to be on your way, and do what must be done. You look back to say that final farewell that last wave of the hand, that hurt smile that tells a story. And

so on to another day with lots of challenges on the way, the unknown just

waiting, adios.

They come and go, little things set them off, a smell, a colour, a face, a clue of the past, a name

that will only last, in the pictures that live in the mind. I have few regrets and rich memories to hold me up when i could fall.

As i get older the hills are harder to climb, the tide of life harder to swim against,

the nights seem longer. Memories to make me smile or choke back a tear, memories are to cherish and share

them with your children and history is born.

AdiosBy Martin Cone

MEMORIESBy Martin Cone

8 9

WHAT SUPPORT DO THEY PROVIDE?We can support you with a wide range of issues such as help with claiming benefits, budgeting, liaising with landlords if you have fallen behind with your rent. Support with debt issues, signposting you onto other support services such has drug, alcohol and mental health issues. Also sometimes people circumstances change so we can help people to apply to be rehoused. Also if you have just moved into your property and are struggling to find furniture or don’t know how to set up your utilities we can help with this.

HELP GETTING BACK INTO WORKWe also help people get ready to get into work, we provide a number of training courses including the programme which may help improve your skills; the programme also sets up work placements which give you real hands on experience which employers are looking for. We can also help you access other agencies that can provide extra support around improving your

CV and interview skills and other training courses which you are interested in.

HOW DO YOU GET HELP?There are a number of ways you can get help. You can phone up the office and ask for help, you can send us an e-mail. You can call at the office and staff can book you an appointment or you can speak to your housing officer or any other agency you work with.

WHERE DOES SUPPORT TAKE PLACE?We currently provide a drop in session at Rycroft House, Park Street, Ashton, (the pink block of flats) on Thursday at 10 till 4pm specifically aimed at Ashton Pioneer tenants. We also provide other drop in’s at various locations across Tameside. If we feel you need a lot of support you may be allocated a support worker who could visit you at home.

Other drops in across Tameside: Every other Monday - Audenshaw 38 Rowcon Close, Audenshaw10.30 till 1pm.

Every other Monday - Cavendish Mill Cavendish Mill Resource Centre, Ashton-Under-Lyne1pm till 4pm.

BME - Monday – The Healthy Living Centre, ( Hyde Community Action), Great Norbury Street, Hyde 10.30 till 12:30 appointment only.

Tuesdays - The Women’s Centre, Cavendish Resource Centre, BankStreet,Ashton-Under-Lyne-everyweek 1pm till 3pm – appointment only.

Wednesday - New Charter Community Hub, Grosvenor Street, Stalybridge, every week 10am till 12pm

Thursday - Rycroft House, Thetenant’sbase,Ashton-Under-Lyne.Every week appointment only.

Friday - Portland House Richmond Suit, Portland Street, Ashton-Under-Lyne. Every Friday 10am till 3pm, appointment only.

Friday - Hattersley Hub, John Kennedy Road, Hattersley Every other Friday 10:30 till 1pm.

CONTACTING US FOR HELPTameside Floating Support are based in an office in The Portland House block of flats, you access us around the back (not the main entrance). You can call or text the office on 0161 339 5450. Or call at the office and book an appointment.

Are you struggling with your tenancy? Or have you just moved in and struggling to find furniture or on a low income and struggling to pay the bills? Has the welfare Reform/bedroom tax affected you? Adullam Housing provide specialist support to people who maybe struggling with tenancy related issues, they work across Tameside and provide the Floating Support Service. They have services across Greater Manchester, including Bury, Salford and Trafford; they have projects all across the North West, The Midlands and Derbyshire

Do you feel you need some help but don’t know where to go?

Ashton Entertainment

in bygone yearsBy Resident Reporter

Peter Glenn

Design our 15th Birthday Cake

It seems hard to remember the amount of cinemas, theatres and other forms of entertainment that Ashton-Under-Lyne had to boast. Nowadays the buildings have either been demolished or converted into shops; take for example on Old Street thePavilion with its grand exteriorwas so posh, they even had doormen to open the main doors for you. Then there was the Ashton Empire Hippodrome Theatre, where they showed not only films but opera’s and during intervals an organist would take requests; all for the bargain price of 1 shilling 9 pence or 2 shillings 6 pence.

On Church Street was the Star Cinema locally known as the Bug Hut, due to the fact you would always leave with something you hadn’t brought in with you. Kids were treated at the weekend with the Saturday kids club, where films such as Flash Gordon, Buck Rogers and cartoons were shown in the morning and afternoon. It seems a shame that due to technology we have lost these great entertainment establishments and have to travel as far as Manchester or London to enjoy a performance.

All the years of collecting memories, building a life, changing direction.

On reflection, “not bad”, on inspection it could have been better or worse!

Almost a pattern forming but it’s not written in stone, the circle almost complete, perhaps

we will land on our feet and know the cost of love, or throw caution to the wind and let

life take us where it will, and then at the end we can honestly say we did it our way.

LIFEBy Martin Cone

APH is 15 Years old and to celebrate we are having a massive party this summer! If you came to the 10th Birthday Party you will remember the cake pictured with this article. ThisyearweareinvitingYOUto design the 15th Birthday Cake. Send your design in to APH to be entered in to the competition. We look forward to seeing them!

TRIVIA QUIZ ANSWERS

1: PELICAN 6:JOHN 11: ELDRED GREGORY PECK

2: A SCORE 7: GYLES BRANDRETH 12: PAUL NEWMAN

3: MANCHESTER UNITED 8: LAWYER 13: THE ORIENT EXPRESS

4: KEVIN COSTNER 9. CIRCUS PERFORMER

5: SIMPLE MINDS 10: THE SHETLAND ISLES

HOW DID YOU DO?1-3

POOR3-6

NOT BAD6-9

GOOD9-12

VERY GOOD12-13

EXCELLENT

You can now follow REACH on Twitter

@ReachAshton

You can now follow APH on Facebook:

www.facebook.com/ashtonpioneer

How did you hear about The Rough Diamonds?

I attend a coffee morning at Adullam and they told me about it.

What made you want to join in?

I wanted to keep busy and push myself to do more rather than sit at home. I also wanted to learn new things.

What have you got out of the sessions?

I have met lots of new friends and learnt new skills. I enjoy knitting and the arts and craft and I now have a social life!

What would you say to anyone thinking about joining?

It’s a great way to make new friends, everyone is nice and will make you very welcome. I really look forward to the Monday sessions. Thursday nights are a good laugh and everyone enjoys each other’s company and playing games and chatting.

What’s the most important thing you have gained from joining this group?

I would have to say confidence. At first i was quite shy but the group really helped me. My 2 sons and daughter also come on the Thursday night and we all really enjoy it. We have planned a meal out for my birthday which is lovely. Thank you Rough Diamonds!

THEROUGHDIAMONDS

SOCIALGROUP Interview with Sandra Browne, member of

The Rough Diamonds

Pioneer People Stepping out into your local community Stepping out into your local community

Pioneer People

10

REPAIRS & MAINTENANCE

With Spring fast approaching Ashton Pioneer Staff are looking for residents who need a hand to tidy up their gardens. Staff will leave the office and don their wellies on Wednesday 16th April 2014. If you, or members of your family wish to take part in this project, or know someone who needs some help, please contact the office on 0161 343 8128. Tasks to be completed include weeding, clearing winter foliage and hoeing. We are particularly trying to encourage children to join in the fun!

An evaluation process is currently underway prior to awarding a tender for rendering works on the tower blocks on the West Park Estate. Works will commence during the spring. In relation to Margaret House works to the rendering will commence once the weather improves.

Residents may be aware that over the last few weeks Engineers have been working on the car park gates. It is hoped that the reinstatement works will be completed shortly.

A programme of gutter clearing will shortly be commencing in the Victoria Street area. Residents will be advised of the timetable in due course and details will be available on facebook.

A big thank you goes to Alistair and Jake from the Maintenance Team, who as part of their apprenticeship training programme, undertook the refurbishment works to the Tenant’s Base at Ryecroft House. Jake was responsible for the joinery with Alistair taking on the role of Picasso.

As reported in the Autumn edition of Pioneer News, the programme for condensation prevention has now been successfully completed on the Richmond Park estate and work has commenced in the Victoria Street area, prior to moving onto the Courts.

This year’s painting programme will include the Foyers in all the tower blocks across the estate, together with repainting theexternalwindowsonBrookStreetEast.LookoutforPauland Alistair on Brook Street East in April and in the Foyers during August.

STEAMING AHEAD

VEHICLE GATES

GUTTED

Painting Programme

WELLY DAYS

Tenant’s Base

RENDERING WORKS

11Pioneer News Spring 2014

A CRACKDOWN to tackle people who are spoiling their

neighbourhoods with dog fouling and litter is gaining

momentumTameside Council has further stepped up action against irresponsible owners who fail to clear up after their dogs or keep them under control in public spaces as well as people who drop litter. In the last two weeks alone, nine fixed penalty notices have been issued for dog fouling, nine for dropping litter and three for breaches of dog control orders.

Staff have been acting from tip-offs from members of the public to investigate and catch offenders. The push to tackle the problem will continue over coming weeks with further covert operations.

Executive Deputy Leader Cllr John Taylor: “A small minority ofresidents still think it is acceptable to leave their dog’s mess behind or to drop litter. It is not acceptable and most residents find it totally disgusting. We have officers gathering evidence and targeting hot-spot areas and they will be issuing on-the-spot fines to culprits. We are also working closely with local communities to identify these people who are making a mess of Tameside. Attitudes are changing, people of all ages are taking more interest and pride in their environment and becoming less tolerant of those that drop litter or allow their dogs to foul our streets and parks.”

Executivemember for health and neighbourhoods Cllr Lynn Travissaid: “It’s important that we reduce the number of people dropping litter on the streets, not least because we don’t have the resources that we had in the past to deal with it and clean it up. Littering and dog fouling place a financial burden on residents and discourage investment at a time when it is most needed. The council monitors hot-spot areas for dog fouling and littering and it is important that our communities help us by providing us with information on where and when it is happening and, if possible, who is responsible.”

Court action will be taken against offenders who do not pay the fines.

Anyone wishing to help reduce the problem can contact the council call-centre on 0161 342 8355.

Pioneer People Stepping out into your local community

12 Pioneer News Spring 2014

RESIDENT INVOLVEMENT

Pioneer News is published by Ashton Pioneer Homes, Margaret House, Margaret Street, Ashton-under-Lyne OL6 7TH

Before I joined the team, I was very nervous even after the coffee morning, where I was waiting to find out if I got a place on the team.

There are certain things before my first day, such as the interview (this shows where they can help you and what you can achieve). We all first met at the coffee morning, where we did team building which shows the leaders that you are willing to join in, how we got on with each other and that we get our point across. They then took a photo for ID and after that we found out if we had been accepted. I was full of joy that I had been accepted and was so happy to be part of the team. On my first week we did a lot of paperwork and did our Food Hygiene level 1, Manual Handling Course, also Health and Safety level 1. We talked about our residential week and what we needed to take. The second week was our residential week

Neonatal Knitters are a community led group who knit and crochet beanie hats, blankets and cardigans for the neonatal unit of Saint Mary’s hospital, Manchester.

We meet every Wednesday in the Pavilion, Oxford park, 11am - 2pm and everybody will be made very welcome. We are a friendly group and have a laugh while doing our knitting and there is always somebody on hand to help with any knitting problems. If you want to join in with us but not attend the knitting group we can let you have the patterns you need and arrange to collect the finished items from you. We have knitting and crochet patterns, along with a limited amount of wool of which has been

at the Lakes. We did a night walk, orienteering, rowing, tight rope walking, played games, raft building, puzzle solving and lots of team building. During the rest of the course, we did a lot of different activities which included first aid course, drug and drinking awareness course, firefighting training, community project, working withAGEUK,bagpacking(fundraising).Other things we did were a two weeks work placement. On the last week of the course, we had a presentation night where we received our certificates. I thoroughly enjoyed the Course and learnt quite a few new skills and made new friends.

donated by our members. If you cannot knit or crochet then you can help us by either donating baby wool in double knit or 4ply or liking and sharing our page on Facebook. PLEASE NOTE THAT WE DO NOT ASK FOR ANY MONEY DONATIONS. This is an extremely worthwhile and rewarding way to help the babies and parents. Some of these babies do not make it home and the parents are able to keep the items of clothing that their baby has worn. For more information please contact us as below or just drop in to the group on Wednesdays.

Email: neonatalknitters@outlook.com or phone Sue: 07582151600 or Jenny: 07551606001.

MY EXPERIENCE AT ‘THE PRINCE’S TRUST’

Phone: 0161 343 8128 Text: 07624 802412

Email: aph@ashtonpioneerhomes.co.ukTo get this newsletter in

Braille, large print or on tape:

Goodbye to P.G.Tips

Sad news that ‘P. G. TIPS’ Gardening group have now folded due to the lack of interest. As one of the last remaining members, I wish to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has been involved with the group, which include all the previous members, APH, Lloyd and Jones, Greenscape, all of theTenants who enter our competitions and joined in our planting events. Thank you once again.

by Dee Wilson

by Abbey Wilson

Neo-natal Knitters

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DAY ACTIVITY TIME/PLACE

MONDAYREACH

Free Internet Support Drop In1 pm – 4 pm

IT Suite

MONDAYThe Rough Diamonds

Skill Sharing1 pm – 4 pm

Community Room

TUESDAYREACH

Free Internet Support Drop In1 pm – 4 pm

IT Suite

WEDNESDAYAshton Pioneer Homes

Officer Drop In1 pm – 4 pm

IT Suite

THURSDAYAdullam

Appointments Only10 am – 3 pm

Community Room

THURSDAYThe Rough Diamonds

Social Group6.30 pm – 8.30 pmCommunity Room

FRIDAYAshton Pioneer Homes Free

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