Digital Drop-In Session

By Debra Gill, Tenant Involvement Innovation Officer

Bridgette held her very first digital drop-in session on Tuesday 29th October, and had an immediate response from library users. During October she assisted a gentleman who confided that he was going to be made redundant and needed help to navigate the online process of applying for jobs. He has returned to sessions weekly, and Bridgette has gone through how to upload his C.V from his mobile phone and assisted him using the library desktop computers to look at job websites.

Bridgette also answered a request to help the Buddies community group set up a new mobile phone and to create a WhatsApp group so they could all connect online. At the first session 5 of the group attended, and Bridgette helped them set up the group and spoke to them about keeping the group safe and only adding trusted contacts. The following week 7 members attended, and Bridgette helped them all connect, and built a great rapport with all group members.

Buddies have invited Bridgette to attend their weekly Monday meetings, and she joined them for coffee and a catch up whenever she can.

More Energy Know How

By Madiya Shokat, Lynn Clarkson and Sharon Smith, Energy Know How Team

During one of our regular visits to Maltby foodbank I was approached by Mr M. He had an issue with his former energy supplier and wondered whether I could help. I said I would look at the bills and assess them – Mr M agreed to email them to me which he did a few days after. I assessed the multiple bills which were emailed to me from Mr M however I was unable to make sense of the May bill which included all the previous cancellations and re-billing – The September bill clearly re-charged for the standing charges which had previously been refunded.

I emailed Eon a formal complaint detailing my concerns and included a signed consent form from Mr M.

I quite quickly received a response from Eon acknowledging that the bills were confusing however it was their right to correct bills when they had been issued wrong and confirmed that the standing charges had previously been refunded in error and that Mr M should and was now being charged for them.

I suggested that he should not be penalised for an error by Eon staff and that as a gesture of goodwill they should uphold the previous decision to refund them, cancel the £70.00 owing and pay some element of compensation to Mr M.

A few emails were exchanged and Eon offered as a final settlement £130.00 in total payment out of which they would take the outstanding balance and pay Mr M the difference of @ £67.00

I let Mr M make the decision on whether to accept the offer or ask for a deadlock letter and ask the energy ombudsman to rule and he wanted to accept the offer to bring the situation to a quick ending however he did request that his account and personal information be deleted by Eon on conclusion of this matter.

The acceptance and request for deletion of details were conveyed to Eon and Mr M is just waiting for his letter of apology and cheque for the credit balance.

A good outcome that Mr M was happy with.

Open Arms

By Janet Malsch and Lee Lazenby, Open Arms Team

Joanne, a retired lady, recently visited the Open Arms Project after her Winter Fuel Allowance was withdrawn by the government. She was welcomed warmly by our team with coffee, biscuits, and a friendly atmosphere before meeting with one of our Citizens Advice advisers.

During the consultation, Joanne shared that she had been facing significant personal challenges, including a brain haemorrhage, which had taken a toll on her. Despite her struggles, Joanne was unaware that she might be eligible for additional financial support.

Thanks to a thorough benefits check, it was discovered that Joanne was entitled to Pension Credit—a crucial financial aid for her. Not only did our adviser help her apply for this benefit, but they were also able to backdate the claim to the end of June. This resulted in a substantial payout, providing Joanne with a much-needed financial boost as the colder months approach.

Joanne expressed her gratitude to the team for their support and guidance. She is now in a much better financial position, allowing her to feel more secure and prepared for winter. Her experience highlights the importance of the Open Arms Project and the difference we can make in people’s lives by offering personalised support and advice.

Community Skips at the Whitebear Estate

By Rachel Cole and Rob Gooding, Tenant Involvement Team

Two community skips were held on the White Bear Estate on Tuesday 22 October, 9am until 3pm or until full.  RMBC Officers invited Rotherfed staff along to support this.  

The initiative, aimed at helping residents dispose of unwanted items and declutter their homes, it saw enthusiastic participation from the local community filling two skips with a vast assortment of rubbish, all before 12pm. The Mears caretakers also assisted by collecting waste from residents’ gardens and picking up bulky items which they couldn’t get to the skip themselves. 

Community skip days are always a much-needed service, enabling households to get rid of bulky waste that is typically hard to manage, and it supports residents that have no way to take rubbish to the tip. The overall aim of this is an attempt to help reduce fly tipping in the area and make the estate cleaner and safer for residents.   

As well as the skips, staff litter picked around the area.  It was a great clean-up day for the estate. 

Whilst on the estate, as well as helping with the clean-up, Rotherfed staff were able to chat to local residents, who they had previously contacted at the summer event, about forming a group/tara for the estate. This estate would really benefit from a resident’s group as this would enable them to apply for funding and put more activities, day trips etc on for the residents. We have now arranged a meeting with 3 residents for next month to hopefully move this group forward and support them to become constituted with a bank account, which will open up so many opportunities for them.  

The possibility of having a free Christmas grotto on the estate next month is also being looked into.  

Talk and Train

By Dan Barron and Sam Dixon, Heart of the Community Team

One of the group’s core activities involves hosting weekly community events. The group offers three weekly exercise sessions, all the sessions are inclusive and open to all including families. These gatherings serve as platforms for open dialogue, information sharing, and relationship building. By providing a space for residents to connect the Talk and Train Group has played a positive role in strengthening community bonds and fostering a sense of belonging.

The group has actively participated in significant industry events, such as the Association of Retained Council Housing (ARCH) conference. This engagement has allowed the Talk and Train Group to network with other organisations.

The group have been recognised for the importance of physical and mental health community group. The sessions provide opportunities for individuals of all ages and fitness levels to participate in enjoyable and beneficial physical activities. By promoting a healthy lifestyle and encouraging regular exercise, the Talk and Train Group is contributing to the overall well-being of the community.

Building on their successes, the Talk and Train Group is actively pursuing funding opportunities to expand their programs and services. By securing additional resources, the group aims to increase their reach, enhance their offerings, and make a greater impact on the community. The group’s commitment to continuous improvement and its vision for a thriving community are evident in its ongoing efforts to secure funding and expand its initiatives.

Talk and Train have been working with the Sanctuary Gardens community hub over the last 6 months and have now merged into one group. The volunteers at Sanctuary gardens will still run their activity as normal, whilst talk and train will be the over-arching umbrella that will support the financial side of all of the activity.

The Talk and Train Group has established itself as an asset to the community, providing essential services, fostering engagement, and promoting health and well-being. Through their community events, advocacy efforts, and exercise programs, the group has made a positive difference in the lives of residents. As they continue to grow and expand their initiatives, the Talk and Train Group is poised to play an even more significant role in shaping the future of the community.

RotherFed Digital Champions

By Debra Gill, Tenant Involvement Innovation Officer

Ann had previously had support from volunteers in her digital journey but felt that she needed more confidence to be able to put into practice what she had previously learned. Ann was paired with David, who has worked wonders for Ann’s confidence and skills.

Together they have worked on the areas where Ann felt she needed more confidence, and they have gone above and beyond what they first envisaged. Initially Ann wanted to feel more relaxed with emails and with her ultimate goal of joining online meetings, she is now doing this with confidence and even opting to fill in online forms herself, a task she would have never undertaken previously.

With Ann’s confidence level so improved, David has been working through the learn my way course with Ann and she is now feeling more confident with the things that she never expected to be learning. Ann says, ‘David has the patience of a saint’, and that nothing has been too much trouble for him.

Open Arms

By Janet Malsch and Lee Lazenby, the Open Arms team

Joanne, a retired lady, recently visited the Open Arms Project, she was welcomed warmly by our team with coffee, biscuits, and a friendly atmosphere before meeting with one of our Citizens Advice advisers.

During the consultation, Joanne shared that she had been facing significant personal challenges, including a brain haemorrhage, which had taken a toll on her. Despite her struggles, Joanne was unaware that she might be eligible for additional financial support.

Thanks to a thorough benefits check, it was discovered that Joanne was entitled to Pension Credit—a crucial financial aid for her. Not only did our adviser help her apply for this benefit, but they were also able to backdate the claim to the end of June. This resulted in a substantial payout, providing Joanne with a much-needed financial boost as the colder months approach.

Joanne expressed her gratitude to the team for their support and guidance. She is now in a much better financial position, allowing her to feel more secure and prepared for winter. Her experience highlights the importance of the Open Arms Project and the difference we can make in people’s lives by offering personalized support and advice.

This success story is a reminder of the positive impact we can have on those in need, especially during challenging times.

Tenants Connectors Pool

By Rob Gooding and Rachel Cole, the Tenant Involvement team

Following on from the highly successful Tenant Connectors Pool event in July, this month RotherFed staff hosted a taster session for the interested tenants to join the HIP (Housing Involvement Panel) and Scrutiny panels on a watching brief to see if the panels were suited to them and gain a better understanding of what the panels do.

The first of these were the Scrutiny panel held at Springwell Gardens, this saw four excited new tenants join the panel for the first time, supported by RotherFed staff these tenants sat an observed the meeting until they felt comfortable enough to join in the session, this gave the cohort of new tenants a valuable insight into what the panels do at their monthly meetings, after the watching brief three of those tenants said they would like to join the panel on a more permanent basis not adding more tenants voices to the diverse mix of tenants already attending the panel.

The second event was a watching brief for the HIP meeting, this was held at Springwell gardens over teams, so the four new tenants could be supported by RotherFed staff and ask questions that they might not have asked in the more formal settings of Riverside House, the tenants were all excited to see how these meetings run and what information they find out in them. At the end of the meeting, I’m happy to say that all four of them would like to join the panel moving forward, these tenants have now been paired with a tenant mentor to support them in future meetings.

Moving forward to build on the success of these sessions we would like to host more of these events to open this offer up to as many tenants of Rotherham as we can.

Zumba Sessions at Canklow Pavillion

By Dan Barron and Sam Dixon, The Heat of the Community Project

A local community group has been making a significant impact on the lives of residents in Canklow, thanks to generous funding. The group, based at the Canklow Pavilion, has successfully launched a variety of free activities, providing essential support, social connection, and opportunities for personal growth.

One of the group’s most popular offerings is their Zumba sessions, which have proven to be a fantastic way for residents to exercise, improve their well-being, and have fun. The sessions have been so successful that they often reach capacity, demonstrating the strong demand for such activities.

In addition to Zumba, the group also hosts crafting sessions, coffee mornings, and allotment sessions. These activities provide a welcoming and inclusive space for residents to socialize, learn new skills, and connect with nature.

The funding received has been instrumental in enabling the group to offer these valuable programs. It has allowed them to rent the Canklow Pavilion, a vital community space, and has helped to cover the costs of running the activities.

As a result of the group’s efforts, over 139 people have benefited from their programs, including those who were previously isolated or struggling with their mental and physical health. The group has also been successful in signposting residents to other support services, ensuring they have access to the resources they need.

Looking ahead, the group is committed to expanding their reach and impact. They are actively seeking additional funding to support their activities, and they are exploring partnerships with other organisations to ensure the sustainability of their programs.

Tenant Involvement – Digital Skills

By Debra Gill, Tenant Involvement Innovation Officer

I recently met a lady in a neighbourhood centre during a group session, who told me that she uses her iPad for her hobbies such as crafting, but she was finding it increasingly difficult, due to her having Parkinsons Disease. I told her about the built in accessibility features on iPads, and we arranged to meet in the library the following week, where it would be quieter.

We spent two sessions going through the built in touch accommodations on the ladies iPad and phone. Customising her devices to recognise her personal tap which is not quite concise or on-target as a single tap.

Resources were produced with instructions on how change the settings to ignore repeat taps in case she wants to change more of the accessibility features going forward.

We also worked on Using Pages on iPad, to create documents and importing graphics. We worked on changing font colours and sizes, and the different templates available.

By setting the accessibility features on this lady’s device, she is now able to continue with her hobbies and has found it much easier to be able to use.