http://www.housemark.co.uk/hm.nsf/Housing+news?ReadForm If you are involved in influencing your landlord's services, you will want to know how other landlords deliver effective services. So if your landlord is a member of HouseMark, why not ask them if you can have a password to HouseMark's online knowledge base which provides a wealth of good practice examples. Meanwhile, here's a selection of the latest articles. en-gb Copyright 2009 HouseMark Ltd. All rights reserved. liz.kenny@housemark.co.uk rdunn@housemark.co.uk 60 http://www.housemark.co.uk/hmresour.nsf/resourceslookup/HMGPTAROE.gif/$File/HMGPTAROE.gif http://www.housemark.co.uk/hm.nsf/Housing+news?ReadForm http://www.housemark.co.uk/hmkb2.nsf/1/713C99E05F94A4BB802579AB003321C4?opendocument City South Manchester Housing Trust's employability and financial inclusion strategy has made a vast difference in improving the life chances of its customers. Published: 22/02/2012 http://www.housemark.co.uk/hmkb2.nsf/1/D7C4A32E7FA8564F802579AB00364A4E?opendocument The 'Computers in Communities' programme was established to address the digital exclusion of residents, seen as a key way of tackling a range of linked socio-economic issues. Published: 22/02/2012 http://www.housemark.co.uk/hmkb2.nsf/1/88839C9D37545A1B802579AB0038B4F2?opendocument Tristar Homes works with a small community based charitable organisation to maximise engagement opportunites with residents and target support where it is most needed. Published: 22/02/2012 http://www.housemark.co.uk/hmkb2.nsf/1/272A7776BF395ADF802579AB003BC360?opendocument RCT Homes' Grow Enterprise Wales initiative helps young local people get closer to the employment market through the provision of real work experience in real jobs. Published: 22/02/2012 http://www.housemark.co.uk/hmkb2.nsf/1/D3F354C076E39B22802579AB003EABFE?opendocument City West Housing Trust's 'Skills programme' and social enterprise schemes address the 9.6% of unemployed and unskilled people in West Salford. Published: 22/02/2012 http://www.housemark.co.uk/hmkb2.nsf/1/FB2EA5C8D850D3B0802579AC003A0EDE?opendocument St Vincent's Housing Association's 'Positive Futures project' provides tenants who want to get back into work with a one to one tailored employment service in their own homes. Published: 22/02/2012 http://www.housemark.co.uk/hmkb2.nsf/1/A8B2E5003061482B802579AC003D4246?opendocument Salix Homes' 'Making difference count' project brings together communities that may not easily be heard and puts them at the heart of tackling equaltiy and diversity issues. Published: 22/02/2012 http://www.housemark.co.uk/hmkb2.nsf/1/96F413AF14D92E8E802579AC003E737F?opendocument Cestria consistently work towards excellence in equality and diversity and have delivered a programme of change resulting in better informed teams and excellent customer service. Published: 22/02/2012 http://www.housemark.co.uk/hmkb2.nsf/1/7F62B23964E01FFD802579AC004050BE?opendocument Tower Hamlets Homes 'Somali Financial Inclusion project' involves extensive engagment and outreach work with Somali tenants and has resulted in a GBP 12k reduciton in rent arrears. Published: 22/02/2012 http://www.housemark.co.uk/hmkb2.nsf/1/33D76C362AA13011802579AC004997F6?opendocument South Tyneside Homes has worked to establish a culture within the organisation which values and embraces the principals and ethos of equality and diversity. Published: 22/02/2012 http://www.housemark.co.uk/hmkb2.nsf/1/872731059702221C802579AC004D0BD6?opendocument Bolton At Homes' Lunch and learn sessions provide an opportunity for staff and others to learn about and discuss a range of Equality and Diversity issues. Published: 22/02/2012 http://www.housemark.co.uk/hmkb2.nsf/1/9570B4F94D9A01B38025798F0050BF43?opendocument Northwards Housing has introduced a multi-purpose smartphone app which gives tenants an easy way to report repairs and anti-social behaviour, take part in competitions, set rent reminders and budget their living costs. Published: 21/02/2012 http://www.housemark.co.uk/hmkb2.nsf/1/428B4ABE54F5E7C9802574030034D292?opendocument This table sets out where the 22 Welsh authorities are in relation to their overall approach to achieving the Welsh Housing Quality Standard as at February 2012. Published: 20/02/2012 http://www.housemark.co.uk/hmkb2.nsf/1/6457EBF4EC1A2A8B802579A00034EF74?opendocument Wulvern Housing worked in partnership with other agencies to regenerate a housing estate within the 10 per cent most deprived wards in the country that was in crisis. Published: 15/02/2012 http://www.housemark.co.uk/hmkb2.nsf/1/A8523D3A61B1EA37802579A3003C2272?opendocument Fabrick Housing Group worked in partnerhsip with other agencies to regenerate sites that had been home to prefabricated bungalows at the end of their useful life. Published: 15/02/2012 http://www.housemark.co.uk/hmkb2.nsf/1/E5D6372A6B305AF1802579A3003F628C?opendocument New Fylde Housing carried out a GBP 10 million transformation on a tired old former council estate providing a boost for the community by creating much needed affordable housing. Published: 15/02/2012 http://www.housemark.co.uk/hmkb2.nsf/1/ADF16C51E3D6EB6A802579A4003945DC?opendocument GHA's social housing investment programme has seen a massive improvement in the quality of social housing in Glasgow and has improved the green spaces around its communities. Published: 15/02/2012 http://www.housemark.co.uk/hmkb2.nsf/1/2320F929BFF88B4B802579A0003AA7F2?opendocument Redcar and Cleveland BC transformed one of the areas most rundown estates providing 300 replacement homes, 100 of which were secured as social housing provision. Published: 10/02/2012 http://www.housemark.co.uk/hmkb2.nsf/1/86128ED725064999802579990039D49A?opendocument The hugely successful 'Skills for life' programme offers free training and learning opportunites for customers and has resulted in increased customer representation at meetings. Published: 08/02/2012 http://www.housemark.co.uk/hmkb2.nsf/1/4838B7FB94379D0E80257999003CF32E?opendocument Tower Hamlets Homes has tailored its services to achieve true localism, each neghbourhood now has its own visible housing team to deal with all housing management issues. Published: 08/02/2012 http://www.housemark.co.uk/hmkb2.nsf/1/16FB6FC9F174667380257999003F8441?opendocument Marches Housing Association has introduced a hugely successful free Handy Person Service which has benefited hunderds of elderly and vulnerable tenants. Published: 08/02/2012 http://www.housemark.co.uk/hmkb2.nsf/1/1525F9A330E444B08025799900416B71?opendocument The 'Think Smart Recycle' scheme helps customers experiencing financial or social difficulties have more successful tenancies by providing them with free household items. Published: 08/02/2012 http://www.housemark.co.uk/hmkb2.nsf/1/A5FA6323A1BAE1438025799D0032A114?opendocument Aldwyck Housing group's scheme enhancement projects help communites and individuals in deprived areas to bring about the changes required for communities to thrive. Published: 08/02/2012 http://www.housemark.co.uk/hmkb2.nsf/1/6801924089D2A22B8025799D0036379B?opendocument RCT Homes' innovative partnering approach to the procurement process for its Major Improvement Program involved tenants at every stage. Published: 08/02/2012 http://www.housemark.co.uk/hmkb2.nsf/1/8FAF2049F5C5FC9B8025799D00389D78?opendocument Your Homes Newcastle run a variety of volunteering programmes that give tenants the chance to increase their skills and engage with their local community. Published: 08/02/2012 http://www.housemark.co.uk/hmkb2.nsf/1/0A6BEE0EC8419A4E8025799D003CD0C6?opendocument The 'lodge scheme' is a revolutionary service that provides 3 star hotel-type accomodation for London's long-term entrenched rough sleepers. Published: 08/02/2012 http://www.housemark.co.uk/hmkb2.nsf/1/2D5CAB1F27FE4E3C8025799D003EB6F9?opendocument ExtraCare’s 'Enriched Opportunities Programme' is a new way of supporting older people with dementia to help them live independently for longer in their own homes. Published: 08/02/2012 http://www.housemark.co.uk/hmkb2.nsf/1/62502B035869B6778025799D00404D79?opendocument The Link Group's 'Older People's Advice Service' helps tackle the issue of benefit under-claiming amongst older people by providing a holistic income maximisation service for those aged 60 or over. Published: 08/02/2012 http://www.housemark.co.uk/hmkb2.nsf/1/FC50B733073869FB8025799D00419D80?opendocument South Northants Homes undertook a radical staff training programme, refurbishment, community development activities and IT training to radically improve the quality of its retirement services. Published: 08/02/2012 http://www.housemark.co.uk/hmkb2.nsf/1/2E16DC0765E42AED8025799E003BE8F3?opendocument RCT Homes evaluate the needs of its sheltered tenants and enables them to contribute in designing major investment and improvements to their homes. Published: 08/02/2012