In early April, Debra received a call from a lady who had been signposted to our digital support service by a local Library. She shared that she had previously received support from Rotherham Digital and was eager to continue building her digital skills to increase her employability.
She was paired with our Digital Champion, Brigette, who was impressed by the learner’s motivation and foundational knowledge. Brigette committed to continuing their work together for as long as needed.
During a follow-up call to check on her experience and resource needs, I mentioned a vacancy at Rotherfed and offered to pass along her details if she was interested.
We’re thrilled to share that she was successful at interview and has now joined us as a colleague on the MOMGF project.
This month Rachel attended the TPAS Northeast Members event along with Nicola Harper and Jordan Hart, both council tenants, this was held and hosted by Connect Housing in Dewsbury. It was a good turnout with over 40 attendees from as far at Newcastle in the North to Hull in the East, it was a good mix of tenants and landlords. Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council, Wakefield Metropolitan District Council and Hull City Council, who were also there, all have received the Exemplar TPAS Accreditation.
The event started with a TPAS Talk, this was news for their members and a roundup of what is happening nationally, and the training TPAS has to offer.
Sally Butterworth from Regulator of Social Housing then gave an informative and insightful presentation on the latest regulatory developments and people were given an opportunity to ask questions.
The landlord host, Connect Housing, gave us a unique insight their successful engagement practices. This included a “Boot Camp” session they held which expanded on their scrutiny panel and how they got other people involved.
After lunch we participated in an interactive session where we shared success stories from different organisations and shared challenges i.e. engaging hard to reach communities, digital barriers etc. This session really made us realise the fabulous work we already do, the success of it and how it makes a difference.
Stop Social Housing Stigma then spoke about the latest progress and upcoming initiatives and explained how to get involved. They are working with other organisations including TPAS and have launched a Tackling Stigma Journey Planner. Many tenants feel like second class citizens and this needs to change. They would like to get as many members as possible signed up to support this.
To finish the event there were some Engagement Heroes Recognition Awards to celebrate the incredible achievements of those volunteers making a different in tenant engagement. It was fabulous to hear that both Nicola and Jordan had received an award, which was very much deserved for them both.
It was great event very informative and beneficial; we were glad we had attended and look forward to the next one.
Dawsons Close art club is still going strong. Neelam has checked with the lead resident of the club how they are doing with supplies, and they said they still have enough. The group is enjoying learning how to do animation art. They find it a good alternative to going out and trying to find something to do. The resident who is teaching the rest of the group, really enjoys this as he uses to do this for living before, he retired. Everyone else finds it a good use of time and loves learning from him. This is a great good news story to show how Making Our Money Go Further can help people in many different ways. Not only is the group saving money by being able to do this activity, but it is also tackling isolation, as well as making use of the centre.
There is a memorial site in East Dene on Park Road, that marks a significant chapter in the town’s history.
Over time this area has had little attention paid to it, has become a target for litter and has become obscured by overgrown weeds and vegetation.
Volunteers at Rotherham District Civic society dedicate themselves to preserving local heritage and led the call to arms on social media asking for people to help out at the site.
The team that came together included the local RMBC neighbourhoods’ team, RotherFed, Volunteers from the Civic Society and a resident who was excited to be involved in a local initiative as he “usually misses these types of things on Facebook because I don’t see them”. Equipment for the clean-up was provided by the civic society volunteer and RMBC “Love Where You Live” initiative.
Volunteers spent the afternoon clearing overgrown vegetation, remove debris, and restored the site’s dignity. The Cholera Burial Site was transformed from a neglected space into a clean and respectful memorial.
The restoration of the Cholera Burial Site serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of preserving local history. The project demonstrates the positive impact of community collaboration and the power of social media to mobilize volunteers. It reinforces the value of civic engagement and the dedication of organizations like the Rotherham District Civic Society.
The dedication of local organizations and individuals is essential for maintaining the historical and cultural fabric of a community, and even small amounts of community activity can have a significant impact.
A group of twelve dedicated tenants have recently collaborated with Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council and Rotherfed to develop an Individual Needs Framework, aimed at revolutionising how council services are delivered.
The individual needs framework will outline the Councils commitment to ensuring its landlord services are accessible to all tenants and prospective tenants, including those with diverse needs and vulnerabilities
In a friendly and relaxed focus group setting, tenants shared their personal experiences and valuable insights, laying the groundwork for a comprehensive framework designed to address the diverse needs of Rotherham residents. This collaborative effort seeks to ensure RMBC services become more tailored, accessible, and responsive to individual circumstances.
Rotherfed staff commended the tenants for their commitment and significant contributions. “The tenants’ willingness to openly share their experiences and work collaboratively has been absolutely crucial in shaping this framework,” a Rotherfed spokesperson stated. “Their input will undoubtedly have a lasting positive impact on how RMBC services are delivered in the future.”
The Individual Needs Framework is anticipated to be implemented in the coming months, promising to significantly enhance the council’s ability to provide effective and equitable services across the entire borough.
We met the lady at Rawmarsh foodbank on 13th February 2025. The lady confirmed that she was receiving benefits and was struggling financially. Her property is cold, and she has a single storey bathroom extension on her private rented property that is always cold. The window will not open, and the extractor fan is broken. We discussed Green Doctor services, and the lady was keen to receive help from them and consented to a referral. We also discussed energy saving tips which could help the family save energy and money. We also discussed Rotherham Councils Energy Crisis support scheme up to £250 grant, subject to criteria. The lady confirmed that she matched the criteria and would apply directly on-line. The team also mentioned Citizen’s advice that can help should the lady have any arrears on her energy of other accounts. She received a Rotherfed winter warm bag which she was grateful for. The lady appreciated the information and thanked Rotherfed for the service we offer.
A client attended an Open Arms session with an NHS social prescriber who had been made aware of the good work that was done by Open Arms and encouraged to bring clients to the services available. The client had numerous health issues and wanted support / advice from Citizens Advice in relation to benefits to ease financial problems.
During the session it was identified that the client needed adaptations in the household to support the health issues and was given advice on making an assessment and grants available. On checking benefits it was identified that the client had not received full entitlement to disability premiums and that this should have been considered during the claim.
Following our phone call to DWP the client was sent the forms to check entitlement and was awarded £32,000 back payment for arrears of benefit, it was reported that the client was delighted with the news as this has helped his financial pressures. Since then, the NHS social prescriber has told me she will bringing all her clients that need benefit help to the Open Arms service.
We are thrilled to share some fantastic news from Rotherham Pride, a community group we have been proudly supporting over the past year. Through our guidance and the seed-funding grant we provided, Rotherham Pride has gone from strength to strength, making a real impact in our community.
Last year, they celebrated a major achievement by winning the VAR Community Achievement Award. Now, they have taken it one step further—being shortlisted for the prestigious Gaydio National Pride Awards in not one, but two categories! These awards are the biggest LGBTQIA+ recognition platform outside of London, making this an incredible milestone.
We recently received this heartfelt message from Matt Dyson, representing Rotherham Pride:
“I just wanted to say thank you again for helping us grow to what we are now in only 18 months! Without help from yourselves, we wouldn’t be where we are now.”
This recognition not only highlights Rotherham Pride’s dedication and hard work but also displays the power of community support and collaboration. We are incredibly proud to have played a role in their journey and look forward to seeing their continued success.
As part of our new contract with RMBC we have to deliver two Building Safety sessions a year with a at least 8 tenants per session. This was our first one.
The much publicised and improved Government legislation for high-rise buildings has led to the creation of the Building Safety Act 2022. RMBC wrote to all tenants, advising them of the increased communication for 2025. Letters were sent in December 2025, and the building safety session was set for Wednesday 19 February, from 6pm until 8pm in the ground floor meeting room. Food was provided.
Rotherfed carried out two door knocks prior to the session. The first one was held in January, we knocked on all tenants’ doors to make sure they had received the letter and find out if they would be attending. The second door knock was the evening before the meeting. From both door knocks we got the opportunity to chat to tenants in general about issues they might have about the flats, which including problem with damp and mould, homeless people access the building, lifts breaking down, drafty windows, corridor lights out, these were some of the issues highlighted. We had 23 tenants confirm that they would be attending.
The session took place, and 19 residents attended which is a great turnout. RMBC Officers when through the agenda and spoke about the engagement strategy plus other important items and the session finished with a Q&A session. It was a successful first session where residents felt they had been listened to on the issues they raised.
In general, when it comes to fire safety the residents feel safe in their homes and don’t think fire safety is a real problem, the work RMBC have done regarding this has been brilliant. However, it’s the other issues that are making them feel unsafe in their homes.
Drop-in sessions will start taking place once a month for a couple of hours. RMBC staff and Rotherfed staff will attend these. These will be advertised to try and get more tenants at these.
Members of the Fitzwilliam Estate’s TARA area are buzzing with anticipation for 2025, as their dedicated community group embarks on a new chapter of growth and service. After two years of operating informally and relying on self-funding, the group has taken a significant leap forward by becoming a constituted body, paving the way for a year of impactful community initiatives.
Driven by a passion to support their neighbours, the TARA has been a beacon of community spirit since its inception. However, to truly expand their reach and address the needs of the estate, they recognised the need for formal structure and access to funding.
With invaluable support from Rotherfed staff, the group successfully constituted in early January and swiftly opened a bank account in February, unlocking a wealth of funding opportunities. This pivotal move has allowed them to solidify their long-term vision of delivering more projects, events, and day trips to foster community cohesion and engagement.
Recognizing the need for financial backing to realize their ambitious plans, the TARA, with continued assistance from Rotherfed, has submitted their first funding bid. This crucial application seeks support for two years’ worth of day trips and community events, as well as essential equipment to enhance their activities.
The group’s ultimate goal is to break down the stigma often associated with living on the estate and create a thriving, supportive community. The outcome of their funding bid, expected in May, will be a major turning point.
Regardless of the outcome, the TARA is already forging ahead with plans for a packed schedule of engagement events. Their dedication to improving the lives of Fitzwilliam Estate residents is undeniable, and 2025 promises to be a year of significant progress and positive change.
Two members of the TARA signing the group’s constitution.
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