Open Arms

By Lee Lazenby, Open Arms Team

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.

Rotherham Pride

By Lee Lazenby, the Open Arms Team

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.

Building Safety Session

By The Tenant Involvement Team

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.

A group of people sitting in a room

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flats follow Grenfell fire tragedy

Fitzwilliam Estate TARA

By The Tenant Involvement Team

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.  

Open Arms

By Lee Lazenby, The Open Arms team

In the past week we had a family come to see us with issues which were a result of an unexpected close family bereavement. I met with them on the very first visit to our outreach session.  They did not arrive until mid-afternoon.  After hearing what they had to say, I suggested they come back to see us on another day when there would be more time to go through everything with them. I sign-posted them to deal with “quick win” resolutions first and later informed the tasks I had suggested to do were conducted successfully.

On visit number two, I chatted a bit more with the family before they saw the CARD adviser and they said they had been sent all over the place since the bereavement. With having no experience in such matters previously, no one knew what to do, people they were coming up against lacked empathy with their overall situation which had happened by no fault of their own and their words were “they didn’t want to know.”

Four days later, they were back again, this time they showed some distress and anger that these issues were still ongoing. It transpires; after spending more time and obtaining further information, the issues were being tackled in the wrong order from what I could make out. I asked them if they would not mind answering questions so I could try and help them. I reiterated I was not at the outreach to give advice but merely to sign post to the most suitable charities and organisations and that is what I was aiming to do.

I discovered the last time the family met any kind of social care involvement was approximately twelve months ago. I then traced back to some contacts and as it turned out, I found a telephone number, made the call and he remembered relevant details straight away. Although he no longer worked the same job, he provided me with information which in the end assisted one of the family members who, since the passing of the relative had not had any means to support himself. 

Just when I thought I had resolved one of their main concerns, another family member informed me of an eviction if outstanding payments were not made to the council by 5pm that day. The time at that point was turned 2pm and the CARD Advisor was still with another client. I suggested to the family, although they wanted to do everything together, they needed to split into two and each group had their own task to do. Time was of the essence. Some family members went to deal with the issue of the person without funds and the other was sent home to obtain relevant information. 

It was discovered, DWP and the local housing office were working from different figures. The reason for non-payment was due to a transition period where they were moving from one benefit to another and therefore there was no money coming in to continue to pay for outgoings. After letting the authorities know about a bereavement more time was allowed to pay but that date had long gone. However, in another letter from a different source, the DWP had also allowed for the lack of money for the change of benefits and the date was now in fact another month’s grace, notified the council. It was up to the family to coordinate but due to the bereavement, it was forgotten.

By this time, the CARD advisor was available. I gave her a quick overview of the situation as it was currently, and I made sure she had all the relevant information to be able to deal. The advisor contacted the council as the client was a little anxious at this point. She explained who she was and that she was acting on behalf of a client and was assisted.

The young man without any income was provided with a face-to-face appointment to apply for Universal Credit the very next day. Normally, this centre only deals with u18’s, however due to the fact the individual is neurodiverse the age range is extended to 25 years of age.

With our help and support the family were able to get these issues resolved allowing them time to grieve for their loved one without the worry of all these problems anymore.

Kimberworth Park TARA

By the tenant involvement team

The Kimberworth Park TARA group is currently undergoing a kitchen renovation at their resource centre. This centre has been the group’s home for many years, serving as the base for their three-day-a-week subsidised meal program, charity shop and for their community events and day trips.

Funds generated from these meals and the group’s charity shop are crucial for supporting many projects including community day trips and events. 

Thanks to successful funding from VAR through the Miss Penlington Community Chest Grant and the support of Rotherfed staff, the group is replacing outdated kitchen equipment with more energy-efficient models. This upgrade will not only allow the group to continue serving the community but also reduce utility costs and enhance the group’s sustainability for the future. Alongside the upgraded appliances the group have got new crockery, cutlery and pans to give the dining area an uplift. 

The first batch of new equipment arrived on Monday 27th January, marking the beginning of this exciting kitchen renovation. 

Turner Close Community Centre

By the tenant involvement team

The centre itself is like many neighbourhood centres in Rotherham it sits nestled in a community of bungalows not necessarily recognisable from the road. This particular centre is home to two different community groups who run various activities, including bingo, coffee mornings and crafts. 

I got speaking to one resident that had moved into a bungalow near Turner Close in only May 2024. This gentleman, after only a brief introduction, couldn’t wait to delve into how important this particular section of Rotherham community has been to him and his wellbeing. After working far and wide and living in various parts of the country,  

“This town feels like home” 

He went on to explain that he feels he has been welcomed into the community as one of their own, and that everyone feels more like family than just friends.  

“The bungalows could very easily become its own little prison, but it’s because of these people that I have been able to keep going” 

Aware of the negative profile the media gives the town, this self-professed newcomer wants the world to know   

“What a small minority did shouldn’t tarnish the town and people should pay attention to how wonderful a place Rotherham truly is.” 

This small insight into someone’s life really proves how important our communities are, and no matter how small an activity might be, the impact it can have on one person’s world can be immeasurable.  

More Energy Know How

By the More Energy Know How Team

We spoke to a lady at Rawmarsh foodbank.  The lady was not working at the moment as she was recovering from throat cancer treatment.  She was also struggling with her mental health as she had also lost her parents during her illness which has had an impact on her financially, however she was keeping on top of her bills and had no arrears on her energy account. The team mentioned priority services with her energy company and Yorkshire Water which the lady was already aware of. The lady lives in a council rented property and we asked if she was managing to stay warm. The lady confirmed that she does feel draughts and feels the cold easily. We discussed the Green Doctor service and mentioned low level draught proofing around windows and doors and also foils behind radiators on external walls. The lady confirmed that she would appreciate a visit from them and consented to passing her contact details on to them. We also discussed energy saving tips which the lady confirmed she is always mindful of saving energy where she can.  She was provided with a winter warm bag and she confirmed that this would be useful especially the hot water bottle and socks. We discussed Rotherham Council Crisis scheme which offers up to £250 non-repayable amount, subject to criteria which could help with her finances.  The lady was happy for us to assist her submitting her contact details to RMBC Crisis scheme for them to make contact with her direct. We gave the lady my contact details and wrote down a reminder that Green Doctors would be calling and RMBC crisis team.  The lady was grateful for our chat and the help and information provided.

Digital Volunteer

By The Tenant Involvement Team

Bridgette has been helping a gentleman for the past couple of months, who was concerned about the online safety of his personal information and bogus job offers on websites. This gentleman had been made redundant and was extremely competent in his field but lacked experience in using online tools to search for employment. 

Bridgette has been instrumental in building this gentleman’s confidence, helping him recognise whether a website is safe and check the privacy policies of sites such as Indeed, so that he feels confident his data and privacy are protected when applying for jobs. 

Bridgette was delighted to learn that this gentleman had secured a job interview and is now far more confident and knowledgeable about how his data is used when entered online.  

Swinton Community Focus Group

By the Tenant Involvement Team

Swinton Community Focus Group is a well-established group whose aims are to make Swinton a safer, connected, cleaner and healthier place to live. The group organises social events, litter picks and holds regular meetings. They also engage with the residents to tackle issues and find out what residents want in the area where they live.

This month, the group hosted a fantastic Winter Warmer event at the Civic Hall in partnership with the Honeypot Café. This was a free event where 55 residents from Swinton and Kilnhurst enjoyed pie and peas followed by trifle and refreshments. The event was a huge success and included two games of bingo, a quiz about the Swinton area and a raffle. There was also entertainment provided by Sarah Bush and Chantelle. Everyone had a fantastic afternoon and are already looking forward to the next one! The group applied for funding to make this a free event and open to all residents in the area.

The group also holds at least two litter picks a month covering all areas of Switon. This month’s litter picks were as productive as always and on the last one in January they collected 16 bags of rubbish, along with a mattress, number plate, clothes and a children’s slide. They will be having their first skip of the year on Tuesday 4 February at St John’s, we will attend this and support the group.

The group are also looking at and planning events for the upcoming summer months.