TENDERS: IT SERVICES AND BROKER SERVICES
14 December 2009

Tender: Services for IT Hardware, Software and Networking Support and Strategic Planning Closing date: Wednesday 16th December 2009 @ 12 noon. Ochil View Housing Association is a Registered Social Landlord and Scottish Charity based in Alloa and operating throughout the Clackamannanshire and West Fife areas. The Association is currently reviewing the provision of all aspects of its IT services and wishes to invite suitably experienced consultants to tender for these services. A copy of the tender document is available by email request to enquiries@ochilviewha.co.uk. Please state “Request for IT Tender document” on email subject line. The tender document outlines the selection process and essential criteria. For specific enquiries please contact Fiona Nicholl, Depute Director at fiona.nicholl@ochilviewha.co.uk or call 01259 722899. Tender: Broker Services Closing date: Wednesday 16th December 2009 @ 12 noon. Ochil View Housing Association is a Registered Social Landlord and Scottish Charity based in Alloa and operating throughout the Clackamannanshire and West Fife areas. The Association is currently reviewing the provision of its Broker Services and wishes to invite suitably experienced brokers to tender for these services. A copy of the tender document is available by email request to enquiries@ochilviewha.co.uk. Please state “Request for Broker Services Tender document” on email subject line. The tender document outlines the selection process and essential criteria. For specific enquiries please contact Fiona Nicholl, Depute Director at fiona.nicholl@ochilviewha.co.ukor call 01259 722899.

SCOTTISH HOUSING JOBS ON-LINE
14 December 2009

Jobs Ogilvie Homes is seeking a Partnership Development Manager. A vacancy now exists for a Partnership Development Manager based at our Stirling Office. The successful candidate will ideally have a minimum 2 years previous development work with an RSL’s, Scottish Government Housing Investment Division, Local Authority or relevant experience in the construction industry. Reporting directly to the Managing Director your duties will involve liaison with a number of RSL’s and community organisations to deliver a substantial development programme to budget, design and specification standards and best practice. From the outset, you will be able to demonstrate the ability to work with minimum supervision, sound knowledge of building technology and building contract law and excellent communication skills. Excellent negotiation, numeracy and innovation skills are required coupled with developed PC software and keyboard skills including Microsoft Office. An RICS/HND/Diploma or equivalent is preferred and a clean driving licence is essential. An attractive remuneration package is on offer including fully expensed company car, profit share, contributory pension and 32 holidays per annum. Applications are invited in the form of a C.V. detailing your experience along with a letter outlining what contribution you believe you can make to this challenging role. Please send your details by Monday 14th December to: Ian Main, Group HR Manager, Ogilvie Group, Ogilvie House, Pirnhall Business Park, 200 Glasgow Road, Stirling FK7 8ES or e-mail ian.main@ogilvie.co.uk. Closing date: December 14. For more information on any of the above jobs, or to apply, go to www.scottishhousingnews.com/jobs. To advertise Jobs, call Contact Publicity on 0141 204 2042 or email: jobsonline@contactpublicity.co.uk To advertise Tenders, call Jeff Anderson on 01292 479 443 or email: jeff@constructionnow.co.uk

COUNCILS SHARE MILLIONS FOR MORE AFFORDABLE HOMES
14 December 2009

The Scottish Government has allocated a further £24m to help 20 councils build houses for rent. This latest round of grants will provide an extra 954 homes, taking the total to nearly 2,300 new houses across 22 local authorities. The extra £24m will take the government's total allocation this year for new council homes to almost £50m. The largest council house building programme for 30 years is expected to support 3,000 jobs. Official figures show that the number of housing association and local authority homes completed in Scotland in 2008-09 reached the highest level since the mid 1990’s. Housing and Communities Minister, Alex Neil, said: “I have been heartened by the manner in which local authorities across the country have worked with this Government to reverse decades of decline in council house building. “Increasing council house building will add to the record number of affordable homes being built across Scotland this year, which helps keep the economy moving by safeguarding jobs and supporting the construction industry. “And record funding this year of £644m will enable a record number of starts by councils and housing associations.” Jonathan Fair, Chief Executive, Homes for Scotland, said: “With the UK Government’s Pre-Budget Report failing to include any specific measures to help maintain activity within our fragile housing industry, this announcement is welcome news which will keep vital skills and trades employed in our sector and help retain capacity.” Further Links:

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LOCAL HOUSING ALLOWANCE FAILING IN ITS CURRENT FORM, SAYS SHELTER SCOTLAND
14 December 2009

Local Housing Allowance (LHA) is failing tenants and landlords in its current form, new research from Shelter Scotland shows. It surveyed more than 450 LHA claimants for its report For whose benefit? and the results reveal a series of systematic flaws with the implementation of LHA. This has left thousands of tenants struggling to manage their finances, with many in danger of losing their homes. Shelter Scotland says LHA, a form of housing benefit which was introduced last year for tenants in private rented housing, is not fulfilling its original objectives and is in urgent need of reform. The charity also says the UK Government must immediately restore choice to tenants about whether LHA is paid direct to them or to their landlord, and undertake its promised two year review of LHA to rectify the current problems. LHA was designed to promote fairness, choice and personal responsibility for claimants. However, Shelter’s research shows that LHA in its current form is actually taking choice away from claimants and causing serious financial hardship, with 95% of respondents struggling to manage their finances. Gordon MacRae, Head of External Relations, Shelter Scotland, said: “LHA was intended to reform housing benefit. While we support the original principles of the system, LHA is currently failing tenants and landlords. Our research shows the UK Government must make urgent changes to LHA to ensure claimants do not continue to be disadvantaged.” In the survey 81% of people said they found it fairly or very difficult to find a suitable home that was affordable, and 59% of claimants said they had to make up shortfalls in their rent. Many respondents were doing this by going without essentials such as food or sufficient heating. Shelter Scotland believes part of the reason for the financial hardship is due to many claimants being priced out of their local area because the boundaries used to calculate LHA – known as a Broad Rental Market Areas (BRMAs) - are too large. This means claimants in expensive parts of BRMAs are being forced to move out or find extra cash to make up the huge shortfall in rents. However, in the cheapest parts of BRMAs, anecdotal evidence shows some landlords are hiking up rents when they know local housing allowance will pay out a higher rent than they are charging. Mr MacRae said: “Shelter Scotland is urging the UK Government to review the boundaries of the BRMAs to allow claimants more choice about where they live and give them greater access to affordable housing.” Further Links:

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PRAISE FOR RIVER CLYDE HOMES’ SHELTERED HOUSING SERVICES
14 December 2009

River Clyde Homes’ sheltered housing accommodation has been awarded one of the highest ratings in Scotland, for a first graded inspection, following an inspection by the Care Commission. The inspection looked at six aspects of the service and involved an assessment of policies and procedures, visits to the complexes, discussions with relevant staff and analysis of feedback from residents and their families. RCH’s service was awarded one ‘excellent’ grade, while the other five were assessed as being ‘very good’. The Commission looked at two features in each of three areas of the service: Quality of Care and Support; Quality of Staffing and Quality of Management and Leadership. The ‘excellent’ grade was awarded for tenant participation in sheltered housing complexes. Additionally, the Commission made no specific requirements or recommendations for action to the services. Roy Steel, Chair of RCH, said: “We are very pleased with this report. The inspector was very complimentary about the service and was impressed with the staff with whom he spoke. He also stated that feedback from residents showed a high level of satisfaction. My congratulations and thanks go to all the staff involved in the inspection and to the wardens and staff of the complexes.” Lynne Carr, Chief Executive, added: “We are rightly proud of the effective service we provide to 282 tenants in our nine sheltered housing complexes. This is a valuable and popular part of the housing services we provide in Inverclyde and one which I hope we can build upon and enhance in the future.” Further Links:

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PLANS FOR 1,500 HOME FALKIRK ECO-TOWN SUBMITTED
14 December 2009

The village of Whitecross in Falkirk could soon be transformed into an eco-friendly metropolis if plans for 1,500 new homes, a primary school and community facilities go ahead. Morston Assets has submitted pre-application plans to Falkirk Council for redevelopment of a 125 hectare site around the former Manuel Works and surrounding land. David Morris, head of town planning at Morston Assets said: "This is a development built on sustainable ideals. As well as 1500 houses – ranging from family size to low cost social housing – and a primary school, there are plans for an institute for enterprise. "It would be a centre where employers can come to and help locals set up businesses. This is about regenerating Whitecross and this is a big commitment for us. It is a real positive during a time of recession. There is an emphasis on environmental awareness. It will be great for Whitecross – this is a legacy that we want to be part of and for the community to be proud of." The development will also have knock-on effects for surrounding towns and it is hoped it will generate its own employment sources. David added: "There will be advantages for the surrounding area – a vibrant Whitecross is always going to be beneficial for Linlithgow." A newsletter will be distributed to residents, properties and businesses next month with details of the plans. A two-day public presentation is also planned for February 3-4 where locals and elected representatives can view the plans. The public consultation will form part of the planning application which can be submitted by March 25, 2010, at the earliest. If plans are approved, work in Whitecross could begin in early 2011 and it is envisaged the project would take 10-15 years to complete. Linlithgow councillor, Tom Conn said: "It is a good development for Whitecross in our view. High street traders in Linlithgow would benefit from shoppers coming from Whitecross." However, he added that some concerns would need to be addressed: "With the original plans, there were no strong objections from the community council but we do need to look at car journeys into the town centre so we can minimise any problems. "If people were making car journeys to the railway station, how would the town cope with the increase in traffic and car parking? Commuter travel is something we would like to discuss at this stage." Further Links:

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LOANS FOR HOUSE PURCHASES REACH HIGHEST LEVEL FOR TWO YEARS
14 December 2009

The number of loans for house purchase in the UK reached 55,000 in October, its highest level since December 2007, according to new data released by the Council of Mortgage Lenders. The amount of buyers has risen from a trough in January 2009 when only 23,000 loans were advanced. It is now up 140% from that low point. However, this pattern of increase is not repeated with loans for remortgaging which have stayed static for two months at 33,000. Apart from a total of 30,000 in August 2009, remortgaging is at its lowest level since we began this run of data in 2002. Fixed mortgages are continuing their downward trend from a high in July, when 80% of all new loans taken out were fixed. In October, this had decreased by 14% to 66%. Tracker mortgages, however, are on the rise with 21% of all new loans being trackers, compared to July's low of 12%. Borrowers are turning to trackers mainly because they now have greater expectation that interest rates will stay at, or near, their current low for a while to come. That, coupled with lenders pricing their trackers at lower rates than their fixes, makes trackers very appealing to those able to meet the criteria necessary to take advantage of them. CML director general, Michael Coogan said: “We are still in a two-speed mortgage market. It appears that low interest rates for those with substantial deposits, coupled with this year’s sustained increases in house prices, are encouraging more people to buy or move home. “But the same low interest rates that are driving house purchase activity provide little incentive for borrowers to refinance their loans. This, coupled with ongoing tightness in lending criteria, continues to hold back the remortgage market." Further Links:

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AYRSHIRE HOUSING AWARDED HEALTHY LIVING AWARD
14 December 2009

Zoe McGrady, Nick Nairn and Sharon Ritchie Sharon Ritchie and Zoe McGrady were delighted to accept the Healthy Working Lives bronze award on behalf of Ayrshire Housing, presented by celebrity chef Nick Nairn. The Healthy Working Lives Award Programme has benefited the organisation by increasing staff awareness on a number of Health & Safety related issues. Staff participated in charity walking events including The Race for Life and The Edinburgh Moon Walk. Healthy lunch sessions were also arranged to promote healthy eating. The Healthy Working Lives Programme has been a great opportunity for Ayrshire Housing to build on its health and wellbeing of employees. Further Links:

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PLANS FOR FIRST MASS-MARKET ECO-HOME REVEALED
14 December 2009

What is being heralded as possibly the first affordable eco-home for the mass market, achieved with help from Glidevale Ltd, has been unveiled. The ‘Aurora’ house, developed in partnership between South Lanarkshire College, Dawn Homes, Oregon Timber and Glidevale, is claimed to achieve equivalent to Level 5 for energy performance under the Code for Sustainable Homes, and attain similar high levels in additional categories such as wellbeing, yet still be cost-comparable with ‘conventional’ timber frame housing. Glidevale’s Protect TF200 Thermo highly vapour permeable breather membrane for timber frame panels has been used in conjunction with the company’s VC Foil highly reflective low emissivity vapour control layer to minimise heat loss through the walls of the home whilst optimising warmth. James Jamieson, in charge of the project at the College, said: “The home integrates the principles of the Code for Sustainable Homes and has been designed to achieve the standards of up to Level 5 of the Code, cost-effectively. “We have been careful to choose materials that are proven in use as much as possible to create a low energy building that genuinely can be a commercial proposition in future housebuilding and further makes a positive contribution towards the issue of fuel poverty.” Further Links:

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GHA IS ‘MAKING A DIFFERENCE’
14 December 2009

Young mums are turning their lives around, thanks to a lifeline project supported by Glasgow Housing Association. The Making A Difference programme equips young women, most of whom are GHA tenants, with a range of life skills including cooking, healthy eating and money management as well as improving their literacy and numeracy. The mums, aged 16-25, are often at an all-time low, isolated and struggling to cope. The project provides them with vital child care, a support network and classes two to three days a week. The women’s confidence grows and gradually their sense of hopelessness is replaced with a can-do attitude. The programme, delivered by Rosemount Lifelong Learning and other partners, makes the women better neighbours and better parents and opens up new training and employment opportunities they would otherwise have struggled to access. Parents from the projects in Gallowgate and Royston were presented with their Completion Certificates at the “Making A Difference’ Christmas event at the Millburn Centre. The children were given Christmas presents from GHA contractor Morris & Spottiswood, who sponsored the event. Kelly Ann MacFarlane, 19, is mum to James, 3, and, thanks to the course, is now looking forward to going back to college to complete her hairdressing qualifications. Kelly Ann, from Gallowgate, said: “The course taught me so much. I didn’t just learn about cooking, beauty and parenting skills but it has also made me a confident person rather than shy. I’ve learned how to access funding to go back to college and - best of all – I’m now the only person in my family who can cook.” Lorraine McLaren, GHA’s Neighbourhood Renewal Manager, said: “The project makes a huge impact on the lives of these young parents and we are very pleased to support it. It covers a wide range or topics such as confidence building, cooking, child development, money management, home safety, literacy and numeracy. It also provides support and guidance during and after the project with achievable life goals and personal targets.” Making a Difference has now been chosen as GHA’s charity of the year for next year and will see staff fund raise for the programme through a range of activities. Dougie Bennett, Managing Director of Morris & Spottiswood’s Housing Division, said: "We have a long-standing relationship with GHA and we believe that truly engaging with the communities in which we work is a key factor in developing this relationship. We are delighted to have been involved with this event.” The Making A Difference Programme is funded by GHA, Big Lottery and Scottish Government Wider Role.

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HOMELESS GIVEN SEIZED FAKE DESIGNER GOODS
14 December 2009

Homeless people are to be given more than £1m of fake designer clothing seized by trading standards officials in Renfrewshire. The counterfeit labels include Nike and Adidas trainers, Prada handbags and Lacoste, Ralph Lauren, Hugo Boss and Calvin Klein clothes. The items will be handed to His Church Charity, for use in the UK or overseas. Fake goods are normally destroyed but these goods will be "rebranded" to stop trade mark laws being broken. Renfrewshire Council's partnership with His Church Charity will also see food parcels and clothing worth £27,000 being distributed to 25 homeless projects across Paisley, Renfrew and Glasgow. Councillor Marie McGurk, convener of environment and infrastructure policy board, said: "The His Church Charity replaces the trade marks and rebrands the items. That means the clothes, shoes and accessories we have seized can be put to good use. "While it is excellent news that some good is going to come from these products we have to remind people that counterfeiting is not the victimless crime that some of them may think. "The proceeds from fake goods often go to organised criminals involved in trafficking drugs, weapons and human beings." As well as recycling counterfeit clothes the His Church Charity also redistributes surplus food donated directly by manufacturers. Further Links:

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CRAIGDALE’S OPERATION SMILE SUCCESS
14 December 2009

Staff at Craigdale Housing Association have given up a half-day from their annual leave to help decorate T-shirts for Operation Smile. Operation Smile is a part of a global alliance to serve children in Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Middle East to provide free surgery for children requiring operations to repair cleft lips and palates. Operation Smile recently appeared on BBC Breakfast to appeal for donations of T-shirts which could be used as “gowns” for children recovering from operations. Staff decorated 24 T-shirts which had a variety of themes and colours for both boys and girls to enjoy after their surgery. The Association’s Chairperson, Patsy Beaton said: “This is typical of the staff and their fundraising events - they really are outstanding in their efforts and the donation of these fun T-shirts is in addition to the huge amounts they raise from various events throughout the year. “I have to say their enthusiasm is amazing not just for the Castlemilk Community but also for all of the other charities who benefit from their efforts.” Further Links:

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BOILERS TOP PLASMA TVS IN SCOTS’ CHRISTMAS WISH LIST
14 December 2009

A Christmas energy poll released today has found that if money were no object this Christmas, 48% of Scots would rather find a new boiler than a plasma TV under their tree this year. Only a quarter said they would prefer a plasma TV. Carried out for the Energy Saving Trust, the survey polled the Christmas wishes of 1,141 people in Scotland. The survey also found that Scots’ biggest Christmas wish (45%) is to spend more time with friends and family this festive season, compared to just two per cent who want more presents. When Scots were asked to pick what they would wish for this Christmas for their home, the top answer was a reduction in heating bills (39%), followed by a new more efficient heating system/boiler at 18%. Sixteen per cent of households in Scotland say a warm and cosy home would make Christmas better this year. The EST is encouraging households struggling with fuel bills to call the national Energy Assistance Package advice line. Backed by £60m this year, the Scottish Government scheme is offering a range of free or discounted energy saving measures for eligible households including new boilers, heating systems, loft and cavity wall insulation and draught-proofing devices. It also offers grants of up to £6500 for eligible rural households not on the gas grid to install air source heat pumps – a ‘plug in’ green energy device that makes very efficient use of electricity to heat your home and hot water. The average household in Scotland with gas heating spends £714 on heating their home each year – spending the most in winter. Mike Thornton, Director, Scotland, for the EST, said: “With high energy prices and the cost of heating your home in the winter it’s not surprising that many people in Scotland are wishing for a more energy efficient home this Christmas. “Whether people need a new boiler, insulation, or help to get onto a cheaper energy tariff, the Energy Assistance Package will help anyone in Scotland who finds it hard to heat their home. This Christmas we are keen to get as many people calling the advice line as possible on 0800 512 012 to see what help they can get.”

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NEW CIH TRAINING COURSES IN JANUARY 2010
14 December 2009

Please see below links to the CIH Scotland website for information on the following new training courses in January 2010: The Function of the Sheltered Housing Service - Glasgow - 11 January Repairs Reporting Skills - Glasgow - 19 January Anti-social Behaviour – A Practice Procedure Update - Glasgow - 25 January Financial Inclusion for Front Line Staff - Glasgow - 25 January Neighbour Nuisance - Preparing Cases For Court - Edinburgh - 27 January Bookings can be made online or by downloading our booking form (pdf). Further Links:

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TRAINING AT SHARE - SHARE CERTIFICATE IN DEVELOPMENT
14 December 2009

SHARE CERTIFICATE IN DEVELOPMENT Monday 1 February – Wednesday 10/17/24 February and 3 March 9.30am – 4.30pm Trainers: Mark Hilton, Laura Edwards and John Mulholland Who’s it for and what’s it about? This comprehensive series of training events covers the key aspects of the development process as it pertains to housing organisations. The informative sessions help to build a strong knowledge base on which to develop the practical skills which are necessary for anyone involved in the development process. Practical exercises will ensure that delegates have the opportunity to practise their skills in a safe environment. The course has been designed so that delegates may attend the whole series of sessions or to pick and mix. However, in order to be awarded the SHARE Certificate in Development a delegate needs to attend all sessions and participate in a 2 hour skill-based assessment on the final day. Assessment will be based on the delegate’s participation in and contribution to the final exercise. The exercise will bring together the various strands of the course giving delegates insight into how the whole process works. The course is for anyone who is new to development who supports development Officers and Finance Officers, or to development staff who have experience but never attended any formal training. Course Content: This is a brief overview of what the course will cover, a more comprehensive summary of each session is available on request. 1 Feb 9:30 – 4:30 The Development Process and Property Markets The development process The economic importance of property development Participants in the process Development appraisal methods 10 Feb 09:30 – 12:30 The Planning System The process of strategic planning The process of development planning 10 Feb 14:30-16:30 Working with Consultants The roles and responsibilities of design team members Selection and appointment process Monitoring performance 17 Feb 9:30 – 4:30 Procurement and Contracts Current considerations when procuring services from contractors Risk management and accountability in procurement Outline the different types of contractual arrangements specifically focus on the advertising requirements of OJEU (Official Journal of the European Union) Contract administration 24 Feb: 9:30 – 4:30 Understanding plans, basic construction and site visit The basics of construction Understand architect’s drawings Compare drawings with a real scheme 3 March 9:30 – 16:30 Funding Course Summary and Assessment Provides a summary of the ‘bigger picture’ issues relating to development funding for Registered Social Landlords in Scotland. Takes delegates through a ‘mock’ submission for Housing Association Grant (HAG) funding. Assessment Exercise and course summary Learning Outcomes On completion of this course you will be well-versed in current development issues, have widened your understanding of the ‘bigger picture’ and developed some practical skills to enable you to provide robust assistance to development colleagues with the management of RSL development programmes. To book a place or for further information please call 0141 550 7595 or e-mail info@share.org.uk. All our courses as well as a downloadable calendar are listed on our website at www.share.org.uk Further Links:

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TENDER: TENANT SATISFACTION SURVEY
15 December 2009

Margaret Blackwood Housing Association provides housing for around 1700 households throughout mainland Scotland. We wish to engage suitably qualified consultants to carry out a tenant satisfaction survey in the first quarter of 2010. Previous experience of conducting a Tenant Satisfaction Survey for a social housing provider using a range of methods would be essential as is the ability to capture and analyse data using appropriate systems. A client brief for the survey can be obtained from Jeremy Hewer, Services Development Manager (T: 0131 317 7227 E: jeremyh@mbha.org.uk) or Kris Calder (T: 0131 317 7227 E: krisc@mbha.org.uk. ) Proposals, including a company profile and information giving previous experience of conducting tenant satisfaction surveys for the social housing sector together with a list of previous clients in the sector from whom we can obtain references should be sent to: Jeremy Hewer, Margaret Blackwood Housing Association, Craigievar House, 77 Craigmount Brae, Edinburgh EH12 8XF by January 29th, 2010 Further Links:

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EVENT: SOCIAL HOUSING IN SCOTLAND
15 December 2009

A Capita Conference Social Housing in Scotland Monday 22nd February 2010 – Glasgow Including a Ministerial Address: Alex Neil, Minister for Housing and Communities, Scottish Government 2010 represents a significant time for social housing in Scotland. The Housing Bill highlights the Government’s commitment to investing in affordable homes and brings significant reforms of the right to buy and housing regulation. With the 2012 homelessness target also drawing closer, now is the perfect time to bring key stakeholders together to examine the core issues at the heart of these challenges. Attend this timely event to hear from the Housing Minister Alex Neil and other key speakers about the future of social housing in Scotland. Make sure your organisation is at the forefront of the changes and challenges that lie ahead in this significant year for the sector. For more information please click www.capitaconferences.co.uk or contact Richard Goddard on 0207 960 7719 / richard.goddard@capita.co.uk. Further Links:

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TENDERS: IT SERVICES AND BROKER SERVICES
15 December 2009

Tender: Services for IT Hardware, Software and Networking Support and Strategic Planning Closing date: Wednesday 16th December 2009 @ 12 noon. Ochil View Housing Association is a Registered Social Landlord and Scottish Charity based in Alloa and operating throughout the Clackamannanshire and West Fife areas. The Association is currently reviewing the provision of all aspects of its IT services and wishes to invite suitably experienced consultants to tender for these services. A copy of the tender document is available by email request to enquiries@ochilviewha.co.uk. Please state “Request for IT Tender document” on email subject line. The tender document outlines the selection process and essential criteria. For specific enquiries please contact Fiona Nicholl, Depute Director at fiona.nicholl@ochilviewha.co.uk or call 01259 722899. Tender: Broker Services Closing date: Wednesday 16th December 2009 @ 12 noon. Ochil View Housing Association is a Registered Social Landlord and Scottish Charity based in Alloa and operating throughout the Clackamannanshire and West Fife areas. The Association is currently reviewing the provision of its Broker Services and wishes to invite suitably experienced brokers to tender for these services. A copy of the tender document is available by email request to enquiries@ochilviewha.co.uk. Please state “Request for Broker Services Tender document” on email subject line. The tender document outlines the selection process and essential criteria. For specific enquiries please contact Fiona Nicholl, Depute Director at fiona.nicholl@ochilviewha.co.ukor call 01259 722899.

SCOTTISH HOUSING JOBS ON-LINE - JOBS FLASH
15 December 2009

Jobs R3 Repairs Limited is seeking a Planner, starting salary £31,908 plus contributory pension and bonus. The Planner post is responsible for assessing, allocating and processing works instructions and orders received by the Company. To meet the challenges of this post, you must have at least 3 years’ experience within a work planning/material handling role in the construction industry and knowledge of day to day jobbing repairs and contracts. You must possess excellent verbal and written communication skills, good IT skills and be able to work on your own initiative as well as part of a team. The ability to work accurately under pressure and to prioritise work and meet deadlines is essential. A basic Disclosure Scotland check will be required for these posts. For an application pack, please go on line at R3repairs.co.uk or telephone 01620 825032 (no CVs please). For an informal discussion about these roles please ask for the Director of Asset Management, Duncan Mackay. Interview date for both posts: 12 January 2010. R3 Repairs Limited is a subsidiary of East Lothian Housing Association (Scottish Charity No: SC028900). Closing date: January 5, 2010. R3 Repairs Limited is seeking a Service Co-Ordinator, starting salary £26,592 plus contributory pension and bonus. The Service Co-ordinator post is responsible for the provision of support services within the Company including Human Resources, training, management information and business process review and development. To meet the challenges of this post, you must have at least 3 years’ experience within a customer focused environment and with management of staff. Knowledge of Health and Safety issues is essential as is experience of process improvement and business development strategies. You must possess excellent verbal and written communication skills, good IT skills and be able to work on your own initiative as well as part of a team. The ability to work accurately under pressure and to prioritise work and meet deadlines is essential. A basic Disclosure Scotland check will be required for these posts. For an application pack, please go on line at R3repairs.co.uk or telephone 01620 825032 (no CVs please). For an informal discussion about these roles please ask for the Director of Asset Management, Duncan Mackay. Interview date for both posts: 12 January 2010. R3 Repairs Limited is a subsidiary of East Lothian Housing Association (Scottish Charity No: SC028900). Closing date: January 5, 2010. Ogilvie Homes is seeking a Partnership Development Manager. Closing date: December 14. For more information on any of the above jobs, or to apply, go to www.scottishhousingnews.com/jobs. Tenders Margaret Blackwood Housing Association is inviting tenders for a tenant satisfaction survey. For more information, go to: www.scottishhousingnews.com. Closing date: January 29. To advertise Jobs, call Contact Publicity on 0141 204 2042 or email: jobsonline@contactpublicity.co.uk To advertise Tenders, call Jeff Anderson on 01292 479 443 or email: jeff@constructionnow.co.uk

JUST A MINUTE: MARY PRITCHARD, ISLE OF ARRAN HOMES
15 December 2009

Mary Pritchard Mary Pritchard, Manager, Isle of Arran Homes How did you get started in the industry? I applied for a part-time job as a cashier / receptionist with an RSL in Dorset, got the job and housing hooked me! Biggest professional achievement: Becoming Manager at Isle of Arran Homes. Biggest mistake: Probably made a few, but not prepared to admit to them here! Best advice you received: Follow your dreams, they may come at a price but it will be worth it in the end. What do you like most about your job? Living on the Isle of Arran. And least? Travelling to the mainland for meetings (just in case the ferry doesn't sail back). What you would most like to change in housing? Perceptions. What future issues do you see arising in housing? Constantly the more for less ethos. Do you read a daily newspaper? Occasionally, but always the Arran Banner – the local weekly paper for the island. How are you making use of the internet? To keep in touch, study and keep up with what is going on inside and outside of housing. Hobbies and interests: Walking my dogs, swimming, reading, knitting, listening to music - not that I get much time to do them. Favourite holiday destination: The Highlands and Islands of Scotland. Favourite Music / Bands: Far too many to mention. Isle of Arran Homes If you would like to feature in Just A Minute, please email: news@housingnews.co.uk. Further Links:

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CIH CALLS FOR RADICAL RE-THINK ON INVESTMENT IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING
15 December 2009

The Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) in Scotland will today reiterate the need for more innovative thinking with regards to unlocking investment in new affordable housing. At the launch of a new CIH discussion paper, Investing in Affordable Housing – A Radical Rethink, delegates will consider alternative ways to fund the delivery of a sufficient supply of new affordable housing in Scotland. The discussion paper contains a series of articles from contributors across the UK. It offers a range of innovative and alternative methods of funding new affordable housing including local housing funds, co-operative models, bonds and investments and variations on existing models. Craig Stirrat, Chair of CIH Scotland, said: “Since the onset of the recession, the housing market has stalled, mortgage availability is limited and the cost of private finance has increased. “With the Scottish Government stating there will be severe constraints on public expenditure and less money in next year’s Affordable Housing Investment Programme, the time is right for a radical rethink about how we invest in new affordable housing. “This paper may not contain all the answers, but it marks the start of an important discussion that this country needs to ensure a continued supply of affordable housing in Scotland. In the New Year CIH Scotland is committed to further developing thinking on investment in affordable housing with a follow up paper.” Further Links:

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FAMILIES FACING EVICTION MUST HAVE SAME PROTECTION AS STRUGGLING HOME OWNERS
15 December 2009

Legal protection to ensure that families across Scotland are only evicted by social landlords as an absolute last resort must be put in place by the Scottish Government as a matter of urgency, according to a Shelter Scotland report. It shows that social landlords evicted 3,297 tenants during 2008-9. The majority of these were for rent arrears. The housing charity’s 2nd annual report on evictions, Evictions by social landlords in Scotland 2008-09, shows overall progress has been made on reducing the numbers of people affected by eviction. But it argues more must be done to protect social tenants from the trauma of losing their home. Shelter is urging the Government to make sure that families facing eviction from social housing have the same legal protection as struggling home owners. The charity wants to see a pre-court protection for social tenants, as part of a recession-fighting package of legislation aimed at keeping people in their homes. This pre-court protection would set out all the actions social landlords must take before an eviction can call in court. The charity is also urging other councils and RSLs to follow in the footsteps of pace-setting landlords, like Stirling Council and Glasgow Housing Association (GHA). Major achievements on reducing evictions over the past year have included: Stirling Council being the first council in the UK to ban evictions for rent arrears; GHA’s revised rent arrears policy resulting in a 24 per cent drop in evictions; and the Scottish Government-led Evictions Summit recently examined whether protection for social tenants is adequate. Gordon MacRae, Head of External Relations, Shelter Scotland, said: “Since we put the spotlight on evictions in last year’s report, we’ve been heartened by the progress that has been made on reducing eviction for rent arrears, with overall evictions by social landlords down nearly 8% on the previous year. However, with nearly 3,300 tenants still evicted from their homes in 2008-9, more still needs to be done. “A few landlords are leading the way. We know that eviction for rent arrears remains a crude and ineffective way of dealing with debt problems. This is highlighted by GHA’s new approach and the fact that, while local authority evictions have dropped, the overall arrears bill for councils, has increased. “All social landlords must continue to focus on keeping people in their homes and follow in the footsteps of good practice. But where this doesn’t happen, the most effective measure must be for the Scottish Government to bring in legal protections for social tenants, similar to those being proposed for homeowners, which would ensure eviction really is a last resort. Scotland has set a target to give everyone the right to a home by 2012. Evicting people and then housing them under homeless legislation, at a cost to the tax payer, is simply ludicrous.” Housing and Communities Minister, Alex Neil said: “This Government expects social landlords to ensure that all reasonable options have been exhausted before commencing eviction proceedings. We are pleased that our increased focus on preventing homelessness has contributed to this welcome fall in evictions” “We recently held an event with key stakeholders to consider how the overall number of evictions in the social sector could be reduced, and we are currently progressing a number of actions. These include exploring options to improve the consistency and rigour of the evictions process such as pre-court requirements. We will continue to work with a range of organisations to examine alternatives to eviction and support and protection available to social sector tenants.” Further Links:

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DELAY OVER FUNDING HITTING NEW WESTERN ISLES HOMES
15 December 2009

A delay over confirming up to £800,000 of housing cash from the Scottish Government is being blamed for a failure to start work on 110 urgently needed homes in the Western Isles, The Press & Journal has reported. Western Isles Council officials are expected to meet civil servants to discuss the issue. Housing Minister, Alex Neil, last month, announced he had brokered a draft deal to push forward a building programme by Hebridean Housing Partnership. But it had emerged the bulk of the record £6.5million grant was at risk of being handed back unless a complete funding package was finalised. A funding crisis within the partnership meant it failed to meet its obligation under the original stock transfer process to build a specific number of affordable homes. The Council is now expected to agree to bail it out in a cash and loan package worth an estimated £1.4m. An additional contribution from the Scottish Government's part of the in-principle deal has to be confirmed. Council leader, Angus Campbell said the organisation had been promised £700,000 to £800,000 of government money. He added: “The exact figure is still to be confirmed. Time is very short.” Councillors' approval is still required for an estimated £1million interest free loan to the partnership over two years for 12 flats in Stornoway town centre, plus 42 homes at the old Macrae Hostel. The loan would be repaid when designated flats are sold. The partnership took over the council housing stock three years ago and is now responsible for more than 2,200 homes. The package could be ratified by the council on Thursday. Further Links:

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CITY BUILDING LAUNCHES NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH LINTELTRUST
15 December 2009

LintelTrust is delighted to announce a new partnership with City Building. City Building was formed in 2006, evolving from the former Building Services Department of Glasgow City Council. It is one of the largest construction firms in Scotland with an annual turnover of some £150m. The organisation delivers quality construction services across both the public and private sectors. Willie Docherty, Managing Director said: “As one of the largest construction companies in Scotland, City Building is delighted to work in partnership with LintelTrust and look forward to developing our working relationship over the coming years.” Pauline Barbour, Director of LintelTrust added: "Lintel is delighted to welcome City Building as a new partner organisation to the Trust, and also look forward to working closely with City Building over the coming years.” Further Links:

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SAMARITANS' DEBT FIGURES COME AS NO SURPRISE TO THE CAB SERVICE
15 December 2009

A survey by the Samaritans showing the extent of the debt crisis in Scotland has come as 'no surprise' to Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS). The Samaritans' survey reveals that 22% of Scots say 2009 has been their worst ever year financially, and that 48% were worried about debt. CAS Chief Executive, Kaliani Lyle said: "Sadly this comes as no surprise to us at all. Throughout the last year or so, all of Scotland's CABs have seen huge increases in the numbers of people coming to see them about debt or financial problems. "As prices rise and incomes fall, people are finding it harder than ever to make ends meet, and many of them feel they have no option but to borrow. The problem is that, with interest rates and bank charges as high as they are, debt simply breeds further debt. And before you know it your finances have become unmanageable. "With many lenders becoming more and more aggressive in how they pursue people who are in arrears, far too many Scots are now drowning in debt." CAS published a major survey on its debt clients this year, which found that the average debt brought to the CAB in Scotland is now over £20,000 - that's 50% higher than it was five years ago. Debt clients have 6 debts on average, not just one. Most astonishing of all, for every £1 they earn, CAS clients owe an average of 28 in debt. Two in five of these clients reported they had gone without food or fuel to pay off theuir debt, while nine out of ten said their debt had adversely affected their mental health.

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OCHIL VIEW FINDS COUPLE A NEW HOME
15 December 2009

John and Pauline Shaw are ready to move into their new home at Hill Park Alloa thanks to Ochil View Housing Association and Homehunt Choice based lettings. Ochil View switched to this new lettings service in November and now advertises all available properties for registered applicants to apply. Graeme Wilson, Housing Services Manager at Ochil View said: “Our new allocations service is simpler to use, with less paperwork. We know that we can’t meet the needs of everyone on our housing register but we want to give as much choice as we can. “We will help people who want to register with us. Properties are advertised each week in our office, on the Homehunt website and in the local paper, the Wee County News.” Mr and Mrs Shaw used their Gold Pass to apply for the property they wanted. They said: “We thought we had no chance, but we were delighted when Ochil View phoned up and told us we’d got the flat. The forms were simple to fill in and the staff have been so helpful to us.” Further Links:

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GREEN TEAM HELPS HIGHLAND’S HOMELESS
15 December 2009

The Green Team from Inverness Leisure, made up primarily of front-line staff, are inviting their many customers to Celebrate & Give this Christmas by collecting essential gifts for the Highland Homeless Trust in Inverness. The group, chaired by Clerical Assistant, Ivana Curuvija, have arranged for items to be dropped off at the leisure centre’s reception desk up until midday on December 23 when the gifts will be delivered to the Highland Homeless Trust for distribution at their annual Christmas lunch. Ivana said: “The Green team was pulled together to look at various ways Inverness Leisure could look to make itself more efficient, however we were also asked to look at other green areas and came up with a way of looking to do a bit of recycling whilst helping out a charity. “So, while the Celebrate & Give idea is primarily a bit of Christmas charity fundraising where we hope our customers will offer new or unused that will be given direct to people who are going to be homeless over the Christmas period, it also indirectly does a bit for recycling of those bargains that people bought, hung in the wardrobe but never actually wore. “We spoke with representatives from the Trust to establish what kind of items they may be looking for over the festive period and they have come up with a list of basics which homeless people and families need at this time. We are therefore asking our customers to donate and give such items as gloves, scarves, jumpers, towels, socks, blankets, toiletries, warm drink flasks, jackets or coats. “There is effectively something on the list from under a pound upwards, so this means that every customer from our youngest to older can do something this Christmas to help out people who may be less fortunate than they are over the period.” General Manager, James Martin said, “When the Green Team spoke to me about the ‘Celebrate & Give’ initiative I thought it was a terrific idea for the team to pick an organisation that not only uses Inverness Leisure; but who can also be forgotten about at this time of year. “I would applaud the team for this initiative and just hope that our many staff and customers get behind it and drop off some items that can then be distributed to the Highland Homeless Trust over the festive period.” Anyone wishing to donate a new or unused item to the Inverness Leisure ‘Celebrate & Give’ Christmas initiative can drop them off at the Leisure Centre’s reception desk between 8th – 23rd December 2009. (Any unused items must still have the label attached). Further Links:

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LARKFIELD GETS ON ITS BIKE FOR CHARITY
15 December 2009

Sharon Rowatt with representatives from the Eco Committee Larkfield Housing Association staff have decided to forego their normal team building event and get on their bikes and raise some money for their local community. With the aim of keeping fit and doing something worthwhile the team decided that a sponsored cycle around Millport was just the ticket and a whopping £675 was raised. The day started off with torrential rain but by the time the team arrived on the Isle of Cumbrae the weather was lovely. Bikes were hired, helmets fitted and off they went puffing and panting their way around the island, past beautiful scenery. Larkfield Housing has been working in conjunction with the 6 local primary schools eco committees and the fantastic amount of money raised was passed onto the group to help with the local community garden. Martin McKendrick, Acting Area Manager said: “The staff had a fabulous time cycling their way around Millport and raised an amazing amount of money for a worthwhile project.”

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NEW CIH TRAINING COURSES IN JANUARY 2010
15 December 2009

Please see below links to the CIH Scotland website for information on the following new training courses in January 2010: The Function of the Sheltered Housing Service - Glasgow - 11 January Repairs Reporting Skills - Glasgow - 19 January Anti-social Behaviour – A Practice Procedure Update - Glasgow - 25 January Financial Inclusion for Front Line Staff - Glasgow - 25 January Neighbour Nuisance - Preparing Cases For Court - Edinburgh - 27 January Bookings can be made online or by downloading our booking form (pdf). Further Links:

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TRAINING AT SHARE - COMING SOON!
15 December 2009

INDUCTION LOOP SYSTEM DEMONSTRATION AT SHARE FOR THE DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING SHARE is hosting a demonstration of an induction loop system which should benefit delegates with a hearing impairment. This will take place at SHARE'S premises, 120 Sydney Street, Glasgow, G31 1JF on Tuesday 22nd December at 11:.30 and will last for about one hour. To enable us to fully appraise this demonstration it would be ideal if we had volunteers with a range of hearing difficulties. Light refreshments of sandwiches and mince pies will be provided. If any members of your staff or committee would like to participate, please advise our admin staff as soon as possible by e-mailing info@share.org.uk. PROJECT MANAGEMENT INSIGHTS Monday 11 January 11:30 – 1:30pm including a light lunch Facilitated by Jim McGraw You’ve probably seen the bulletins for Project Management courses at SHARE over recent months and maybe thought ‘How is this relevant to me or my organisation?’ That’s a great question to ask as you need to be sure that any investment made in training and development of your people has relevance to your business as a Housing Organisation. This INSIGHTS session allows you to see for yourself before you commit to either attending yourself or encouraging members of your team to attend. Since introducing the Association for Project Management qualification courses at SHARE about two years ago we have seen a high level of success as delegates have consitently passed the various exams. The success of this programme is primarily due to the calibre of participants as well as the proven path of study which Jim McGraw has facilitated. This coming year we are planning to run a number of APM courses at various levels 1 day General Awareness in Project Management – 25 January 2010 2 day APM Introductory Certificate in Project Management – 15 & 16 February 2010 5+ days APMP Qualification in Project Management – commencing with 1-2-1 assessments on 15 or 16 March 2010 Housing organisations operate in a dynamic environment, whether implementing internal change initiatives or responding to external challenges. People trained in project management skills, tools and techniques are at an advantage in such situations, able to draw on appropriate strategies and provide informed leadership to their organisation or team. Project management skills can be applied across various disciplines in housing – finance, maintenance, housing management, development etc. These course options demand significant commitment in terms of particpants’ time and effort as well as the financial implications. INSIGHTS gives you a chance to explore the APM Project Management learning journey, meet the tutor and ask questions as well as hear from someone who has successfully completed the journey. MICROSOFT PUBLISHER Wednesday 13 January 2010 9:30am – 4:30pm Trainer: Debby Broughton-Hay Who is it for? Designed for staff within organisations who have responsibility for designing marketing materials; fliers, posters, and any other promotional materials. Course Content What is Publisher Working with publications Designing a page Working with text Printing the publication Drawing and pictures Working with tables Learning Outcomes Understand the concepts of Desk Top Publishing (DTP) Insert and edit text and graphics Create and draw graphics Understand object linking and embedding Scan pictures to use in DTP Customise package settings DELEGATION SKILLS FOR MANAGERS Wednesday 13 January 2010 9:30am – 4:30pm Trainer: Roy Breustedt Who’s it for and what’s it about? This course is for supervisors, managers, team leaders and anyone who wants to learn how to delegate effectively. Effective delegation is probably one of the hardest skills for a manager to learn. The feeling is often ‘If I delegate, things will be out of my control. I can’t afford failure so I would be safer doing it myself – even if I haven’t the time.’ This results in a closed loop and an overburdened manager! Equally, team members miss out on opportunities to develop new skills and confidence and the organisation, as a whole, suffers. Effective Delegation is the ability to trust a part of the manager’s job to someone else, together with the responsibility for its achievement, and the necessary authority to carry it out. Course Content Definitions of delegation Why delegate? Inhibitors to effective delegation 5 Steps to effective delegation the right task the right person empowering the person plan for success review the process Learning Outcomes This course is designed to help you: Explore, identify and overcome blockages to delegation Provide a practical framework for effective delegation Create work related action plans WIDER ROLE REGENERATION CLINIC Friday 15 January 2010 9.30 – 4.30pm Scottish Government Wider Role funding still has over a year to run but its longer term future is uncertain. Nevertheless most housing associations see their role as continuing to promote social and economic regeneration in the communities in which they work (a fact unrecognised by the Scottish Housing Regulator’s recent report “Shaping up for Improvement”). Other sources of funding are available and associations will still be considering or generating ideas for projects. SHARE are therefore launching an innovative new service for housing associations to help them develop their ideas further- two regeneration clinics, one either side of the holiday break. To use the service, all participants have to do is to submit a brief synopsis of their idea- no matter how early a stage their thinking is at - to SHARE a week before the clinics are due. The clinic itself involves a detailed three quarters to one hour discussion of the proposals with one of two highly experienced consultants and practitioners in the field, Lawrence McCabe and Nick Hopkins. The service offers A chance to test out ideas A chance to refine your project The opportunity to get additional suggestions, or hear about similar projects from which you can learn Advice about getting funding. Think through the project with the support of experienced practitioners Get a fresh perspective Lawrence McCabe is a community regeneration consultant with extensive experience in community economic development and developing the wider role of housing associations. Lawrence’s recent work has included wider role strategy development for Glasgow Housing Association and work to establish a community development trust for Perthshire Housing Association. For 6 years he managed Govanhill Community Development Trust, a subsidiary of Govanhill Housing Association and involved in delivering a range of wider role initiatives Nick Hopkins is Director of Nick Hopkins Consulting. Nick previously worked for Glasgow Housing Association to develop and deliver their innovative Neighbourhood Renewal. He now specialises in working with housing associations to support the development of their wider role within their communities, with a particular focus on financial inclusion, tenancy sustainment and youth issues. To book a place on these courses or for further information please call 0141 550 7595 or e-mail info@share.org.uk. All our courses as well as a downloadable calendar are listed on our website at www.share.org.uk. Further Links:

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TENDER: TENANT SATISFACTION SURVEY
16 December 2009

Margaret Blackwood Housing Association provides housing for around 1700 households throughout mainland Scotland. We wish to engage suitably qualified consultants to carry out a tenant satisfaction survey in the first quarter of 2010. Previous experience of conducting a Tenant Satisfaction Survey for a social housing provider using a range of methods would be essential as is the ability to capture and analyse data using appropriate systems. A client brief for the survey can be obtained from Jeremy Hewer, Services Development Manager (T: 0131 317 7227 E: jeremyh@mbha.org.uk) or Kris Calder (T: 0131 317 7227 E: krisc@mbha.org.uk. ) Proposals, including a company profile and information giving previous experience of conducting tenant satisfaction surveys for the social housing sector together with a list of previous clients in the sector from whom we can obtain references should be sent to: Jeremy Hewer, Margaret Blackwood Housing Association, Craigievar House, 77 Craigmount Brae, Edinburgh EH12 8XF by January 29th, 2010 Further Links:

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EVENT: SOCIAL HOUSING IN SCOTLAND
16 December 2009

A Capita Conference Social Housing in Scotland Monday 22nd February 2010 – Glasgow Including a Ministerial Address: Alex Neil, Minister for Housing and Communities, Scottish Government 2010 represents a significant time for social housing in Scotland. The Housing Bill highlights the Government’s commitment to investing in affordable homes and brings significant reforms of the right to buy and housing regulation. With the 2012 homelessness target also drawing closer, now is the perfect time to bring key stakeholders together to examine the core issues at the heart of these challenges. Attend this timely event to hear from the Housing Minister Alex Neil and other key speakers about the future of social housing in Scotland. Make sure your organisation is at the forefront of the changes and challenges that lie ahead in this significant year for the sector. For more information please click www.capitaconferences.co.uk or contact Richard Goddard on 0207 960 7719 / richard.goddard@capita.co.uk. Further Links:

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TENDERS: IT SERVICES AND BROKER SERVICES
16 December 2009

Tender: Services for IT Hardware, Software and Networking Support and Strategic Planning Closing date: Wednesday 16th December 2009 @ 12 noon. Ochil View Housing Association is a Registered Social Landlord and Scottish Charity based in Alloa and operating throughout the Clackamannanshire and West Fife areas. The Association is currently reviewing the provision of all aspects of its IT services and wishes to invite suitably experienced consultants to tender for these services. A copy of the tender document is available by email request to enquiries@ochilviewha.co.uk. Please state “Request for IT Tender document” on email subject line. The tender document outlines the selection process and essential criteria. For specific enquiries please contact Fiona Nicholl, Depute Director at fiona.nicholl@ochilviewha.co.uk or call 01259 722899. Tender: Broker Services Closing date: Wednesday 16th December 2009 @ 12 noon. Ochil View Housing Association is a Registered Social Landlord and Scottish Charity based in Alloa and operating throughout the Clackamannanshire and West Fife areas. The Association is currently reviewing the provision of its Broker Services and wishes to invite suitably experienced brokers to tender for these services. A copy of the tender document is available by email request to enquiries@ochilviewha.co.uk. Please state “Request for Broker Services Tender document” on email subject line. The tender document outlines the selection process and essential criteria. For specific enquiries please contact Fiona Nicholl, Depute Director at fiona.nicholl@ochilviewha.co.ukor call 01259 722899.

SCOTTISH HOUSING JOBS ON-LINE - JOBS FLASH
16 December 2009

Jobs R3 Repairs Limited is seeking a Planner, starting salary £31,908 plus contributory pension and bonus. Closing date: January 5, 2010. R3 Repairs Limited is seeking a Service Co-Ordinator, starting salary £26,592 plus contributory pension and bonus. Closing date: January 5, 2010. For more information on any of the above jobs, or to apply, go to www.scottishhousingnews.com/jobs. Tenders Margaret Blackwood Housing Association is inviting tenders for a tenant satisfaction survey. For more information, go to: www.scottishhousingnews.com. Closing date: January 29. To advertise Jobs, call Contact Publicity on 0141 204 2042 or email: jobsonline@contactpublicity.co.uk To advertise Tenders, call Jeff Anderson on 01292 479 443 or email: jeff@constructionnow.co.uk

A ‘GREEN’ CHRISTMAS FOR CMS ENVIRO SYSTEMS...
16 December 2009

CMS Enviro Systems are delighted to announce they are now one of the shortlisted companies for Lanarkshire’s Best Green Business Award 2010. The PVCu and Aluminium window, door and curtain-walling manufacturer have been shortlisted for the Green Business Award by achieving a strategic, comprehensive and innovative approach to the integration of environmental strategy across all aspects of their business. Their environmentally friendly products include 100% lead free PVC u and sustainable practices include recycling of old windows and doors from Council properties. The judges will be looking for clear evidence of how companies have achieved new business opportunities resulting from emerging environmental technologies and how those practices have positively impacted on their business. Successful companies will demonstrate sustainable development at the heart of their business strategy with a continued commitment to taking responsibility for the impact of its operations on its customers, employees, shareholders and community. Andrew Kerr, Managing Director of CMS Enviro Systems said: “To be shortlisted for this prestigious award is a huge achievement for us; we’re constantly developing our products and practices to offer sustainable solutions for all our customers.” The Lanarkshire Business Excellence Awards are the highlight of the Lanarkshire business calendar; winners of each category will be announced at the awards dinner ceremony to be held on 26th February 2010. Further Links:

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FYNE INITIATIVES TAKES THE LEAD WITH PASSIVHAUS FOR SCOTLAND
16 December 2009

Fyne Initiatives, the commercial subsidiary of Fyne Homes, is the first developers in Scotland to have been awarded full German Passivhaus Certification on a new build property. The property, due to be unveiled in April 2010, is the first domestic Passivhaus in Scotland and the first social domestic Passivhaus in the UK. The terraced, two-bed house is part of a development of 14 new low energy homes overlooking the Firth of Clyde in Dunoon, and has been named ‘Tigh-Na-Cladach’ (house by the shore). To build a Passivhaus requires close attention to detail by the design team to ensure that the property meets the criteria required by the Passivhaus Institute. These targets are designed to ensure a dramatic reduction in the requirement for space heating and hot water usage whilst providing a good indoor climate. This was achieved by an excellent level of air-tightness, highly efficient heat recovery ventilation, triple glazing with insulated frame and solar panels for hot water. Although every Passivhaus shares similar characteristics, each building can be totally unique and designed to the meet the client’s requirements. Some of these characteristics include triple glazing, super insulation, consideration and use of form and orientation to reduce heat loss and a mechanical ventilation and heat recovery system. The architect’s design and specification process was accompanied by the Scottish Passivhaus Centre who used a series of calculations to ensure that the specified targets are being met. The pressure test revealed an exceptional success in achieving the air tightness targets. Finally the design was verified by the Passivhaus Institute in Germany. Fyne Initiative’s director, Peter McDonald, said: “We have always aimed to build low energy buildings and provide the most sustainable solutions for future generations, however this is beyond our wildest dreams. To have achieved certification is not an easy task and we couldn’t have done it without the expertise of our experienced architect, Gokay Deveci and outstanding contractor John Brown (Strone) Ltd. “We are even prouder to be the first to reach the standards in Scotland and lead the way for improved standards for affordable and social housing in the UK.” The work is not over yet for Fyne Initiatives whose next task will be to monitor energy use once the Passivhaus is occupied and provide a post occupancy evaluation and report. Further Links:

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GHA TAKES ON MORE HOUSING APPRENTICES
16 December 2009

Apprentice Steven Lyon Even more school leavers can look forward to a career in housing – thanks to >Glasgow Housing Association. Another 19 trainees have started work as part of the association’s commitment to Glasgow City Council’s Commonwealth Apprenticeship Initiative. That brings the total number of young people taken on by GHA as part of its dedicated apprenticeship programme to 30. The school leavers will be based in GHA’s network of local housing organisations (LHOs) across the city, where they will work towards an SVQ Level 2 in Business and Administration. Martin Armstrong, Chief Executive of GHA, said: “I am delighted to welcome these new apprentices to GHA. It is an excellent opportunity for them to build a rewarding career in housing. GHA shares the council’s commitment to giving young people the best start in life and we are pleased to play our part in the council’s Commonwealth Apprenticeship Initiative.” Twins Steven and Mandy Lyon, 16, both from GHA homes in Mosspark and former pupils of Govan High School, are two of the new apprentices. Mandy will be working for South West Housing Association LHO, while Steven will be based at Pollok Tenants Choice LHO. Steven said: “My careers advisor recommended the apprenticeship with GHA and I was very keen to start. I’m looking forward to having a steady job and I hope I’ll be able to develop my communication skills and my people skills. The council’s Commonwealth Games Apprenticeship Initiative is really good for Glasgow – it’s great young people are getting more job opportunities.” Mandy added: “I left school in June and my advisor on a training course told me about this apprenticeship and it sounded ideal. Housing sounds like an interesting career and I can’t wait to learn about the job, meet new people and improve my skills. I’m sure GHA will be a good place to work and I’ll get the chance to learn a lot.“ The apprentices are employed directly by GHA and part-funded by the council. Glasgow North Regeneration Agency will put the trainees through their qualifications and help them apply for jobs at the end of their training. Further Links:

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HIGHLANDS SET FOR FIRST NEW COUNCIL HOMES IN 14 YEARS
16 December 2009

Council house building is to be reintroduced in the Highlands after a gap of 14 years. The Highland Council has been successful with its bid for £1.275m funding to the Scottish Government to support the construction of 51 new Council houses. The housing units are earmarked to be built on Council-owned or Highland Housing Alliance sites - at Caol (8 units); Dingwall North (10 units); Invergordon (12 units); Corsee, Nairn ( 9 units); and Scotsburn Road, Tain (12 Units). The new housing will be mainstream two and three bed properties with the exception of those at Nairn, which will be designed for older people or people with other health needs. All the new properties will be comparable to the new energy efficient homes recently developed by the Highland Housing Alliance at Kildary. Councillor Margaret Davidson, Chairman of Housing and Social Work, said: “This is great news. Building 51 houses is not going to solve our acute housing needs but it will be an important first step towards, hopefully, bigger future schemes. “Building more council and housing association rented housing in the communities where they are most needed is a key part of the Council’s strategy for dealing with one of our biggest challenges – the shortage of affordable housing.” As part of the bid, the Committee will also use £1.02m from its Landbank Fund, £1m from its Housing Revenue Account as well as additional borrowing of £2.57m. Further Links:

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EAST AYRSHIRE WELCOMES FUNDING FOR NEW HOMES
16 December 2009

East Ayrshire Council has welcomed the Scottish Government funding to build 30 new council houses. The Council applied for second round funding and has been successful in receiving funding for 30 new houses which will be built at Newlands Drive and Lammermuir Road, Kilmarnock and Creelshaugh Road, Fenwick. This follows the announcement in June that the Council was to receive funding for 10 new houses at MacDonald Drive in Kilmarnock. This substantial funding from the Scottish Government allows the Council to push ahead, within this financial year, with plans to build two bedroom sized social rented houses suitable for older or disabled people. Councillor Douglas Reid, Leader of the Council said: “This is great news for East Ayrshire! This funding will allow the Council to provide smaller affordable housing suitable for our aging population, will help to replace stock lost through Right to Buy sales and allow the allocation of larger houses to families who wish to remain within their own communities. “In this way we will help to alleviate pressures on the affordable housing waiting lists. This will also allow the Council to pursue our plans for the creation of sustainable communities throughout the area.” The Council has appointed Atrium Initiatives to design and manage the build process of the first ten houses. Cabinet will take a decision regarding the additional thirty houses early in the New Year. It is anticipated that each site will be started within this financial year and that all the new houses will be completed by October 2011. Further Links:

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‘ENCOURAGING’ PROGRESS BEING MADE IN RESPITE CARE
16 December 2009

Shona Robison Encouraging progress is being made towards achieving extra respite weeks, according to Public Health Minister, Shona Robison. Provisional figures have been published today indicating Scotland's councils have achieved an extra 19,000 respite weeks in total - rising from 174,000 to 193,000 - while there has been a slight fall in the number of overnight respite weeks from 64,000 to 63,000. Robison said: "Councils are performing very well in providing more vital respite weeks to carers up and down the country. Respite makes an enormous difference to carers and their loved ones, which is why I'm pleased we're making progress. "We do know there's more to be done. This is only provisional data at this stage. While it's very encouraging, it's highlighted that councils are counting their weeks in different ways and some are now reporting more thoroughly - making year-on-year comparisons more difficult. "But this should not detract from the hard work by councils and the progress they're making. I'm grateful to Scotland's local authorities for their hard work towards delivering more respite weeks and - more importantly - I'm confident this extra respite is making a valuable difference to families throughout Scotland."

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CITY BUILDING WINS £500,000 CONTRACT WITH CASSILTOUN
16 December 2009

Charlie Millar and Graeme Patterson City Building (Glasgow) LLP has been awarded a major contract by Cassiltoun Housing Association. The contract, worth £522,000, will see City Building take on the repairs and maintenance of 1000 houses and flatted accommodation in Cassiltoun, based in the south side of Glasgow, over the next three years. Local suppliers are also set benefit as City Building continues its ethos of employing businesses in the area to undertake specific elements of the contract. Laura Edwards of Edwards McDowall, consultants brought in to assist the housing association with the tender process, said there was "no comparison on quality or price" and that the level of service which City Building could provide, made them the obvious choice to take on the contract. Willie Docherty, managing director of City Building, said: "This is a significant win for us. Cassiltoun has long been considered one of the most forward thinking and established housing associations and we are delighted that they have recognised the unrivalled experience and expertise we can offer, coupled with great value that doesn't scrimp on quality." Charlie Millar, chief executive of Cassiltoun, said: "This is a great deal for our tenants. Not only have we secured a long, fixed price contract which will help control costs, which is so important in the current climate but the service we have previously experienced from City Building has been excellent and we are confident this will improve further as our partnership develops. "In addition we have secured apprenticeship places for our tenants. My board are delighted with the contract." City Building will take on new apprentices from the housing association to work on the contract, giving them the chance to gain first hand experience and develop their skills. They will work alongside six other apprentices already undergoing training at City Building and who live in - and know Cassiltoun. The contract will get underway on 1 April 2010. Further Links:

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COMMUNITY SAFETY MINISTER SEES SAFER STREETS IN ACTION
16 December 2009

Fergus Ewing Community Safety Minister, Fergus Ewing will be out with local police officers tonight in Hamilton to see the community's safer streets initiative in action. The Hamilton Safer Streets initiative has resulted in a reduction of 75% for overall crimes in Hamilton Town centre during the festive period since the programme started in 2005-06. Mr Ewing will be out on the beat with Superintendent Colin Campbell of Strathclyde police and will see various elements of the initiative in action including the Streetbase project, taxi marshalling and ferroguard poles at the Palace nightclub to deter knife crime. Mr Ewing said: "It is only right that at this time of year people going out for a meal or a drink in Hamilton can do so free from the threat of aggressive or antisocial behaviour. "That is why we have invested resources in Safer Streets to fund community safety initiatives including high visibility police patrols in 'hot spot' areas, street pastors, targeting of street drinkers, enhanced CCTV and late night taxi marshals. "These projects seek to reduce violence, particularly alcohol fuelled violence in our towns and cities and stop the minority spoiling the fun for the rest of us. The figures speak for themselves - overall crime levels in Hamilton town centre are down 75 per cent during the festive periods." Councillor Jean McKeown, chair of the South Lanarkshire Community Safety Partnership, said: "The Hamilton Town Centre Festive initiative has run since 2005 with great success, so I am delighted that Fergus Ewing is able to witness at first hand the great work that is being done. "Initiated by the South Lanarkshire Community Safety Partnership, the initiative sees us work alongside Strathclyde Police, the licensing trade and Lanarkshire Alcohol and Drug Partnership to target violent crime, alcohol-related disorder and drink/drugs offences. High-profile policing, enhanced use of CCTV, the use of taxi marshalling and the introduction of Key Individual Networks were a few of the actions deployed throughout the initiative. "The aim is to allow people to enjoy the atmosphere in the town centre during the festive period, without worrying about their safety, and we will be delighted if we can continue to give them this present of peace-of-mind once again this Christmas." Further Links:

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HOME REPORTS STILL IN STATE OF CONFUSION
16 December 2009

Scottish householders are still in a state of confusion over Scottish Home Reports, which have been mandatory since December 2008, according to The Little House Company. The private sales company compiled its top five complaints and questions it received from hundreds of sellers during the year. The Home Report consists of three main documents: the Energy Report, Single Survey and Property Questionnaire. From December 1st 2008, everyone selling a property in Scotland must posses a Home Report about their property before they market it to prospective buyers The Single Survey contains an assessment by a surveyor of the condition of the home, a valuation and an accessibility audit for people with particular needs. The Energy Report contains an assessment by a surveyor of the energy efficiency of the home and its environmental impact. It also recommends ways to improve its energy efficiency. Director the LHC, Nick Marr said: “When it comes to selling a house in Scotland many buyers are still very much confused despite the legislation being around for over 1 year. One of the biggest complaints is home report pricing which is linked to house prices. Sellers compare Home Reports to Home Information Packs in England and Wales and feel they are paying over the odds.” Confusion from Scottish home owners suggest that the Scottish government have not succeeded in publicising the home reports effectively. LHC found that sellers were hesitating about selling their homes and were confused about their legal requirements and why home reports prices were linked to house prices.Home reports prices can start from under £200 to over £1000 depending upon the value of your home.

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CIH SCOTLAND PRESIDENTIAL DINNER – LAST CHANCE TO BOOK
16 December 2009

The CIH Scotland Presidential Dinner will take place on the evening of Friday, January 22. This prestigious event is made possible with support from Connaught Partnerships Ltd and will be held in the stunning Mansfield Traquair in Edinburgh. Craig Stirrat, Chair, CIH Scotland said: "The Presidential Dinner is a unique event in the CIH Scotland calendar of events. It helps to raise funds for the charities being supported by both the CIH President and by myself during our tenures. “These charities are Homeless International, Cystic Fibrosis and the Bethany Christian Trust. As well as showing support for these charities it is also an excellent opportunity for people and organisations to network in relaxed and truly beautiful surroundings." The black tie event commences with a pre-dinner drinks reception followed by dinner served in 'Edinburgh's Sistine Chapel'. After dinner entertainment will be provided by, Karen Dunbar. Karen has starred in some of Scotland's top comedy programmes including Chewin' the Fat and The Karen Dunbar Show. Tickets are priced from £87.00 plus VAT each and a table of ten can be reserved at a discounted price of £850 plus VAT. To reserve tickets, simply contact Sharon Aitken on 0131 225 4544. The deadline for reserving tickets is 21st December 2009. Further Links:

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TRAINING AT SHARE - MICROSOFT PUBLISHER
16 December 2009

MICROSOFT PUBLISHER Wednesday 13 January 2010 9:30am – 4:30pm Trainer: Debby Broughton-Hay Who is it for? Designed for staff within organisations who have responsibility for designing marketing materials; fliers, posters, and any other promotional materials. Course Content What is Publisher Working with publications Designing a page Working with text Printing the publication Drawing and pictures Working with tables Learning Outcomes Understand the concepts of Desk Top Publishing (DTP) Insert and edit text and graphics Create and draw graphics Understand object linking and embedding Scan pictures to use in DTP Customise package settings To book a place on these courses or for further information please call 0141 550 7595 or e-mail info@share.org.uk. All our courses as well as a downloadable calendar are listed on our website at www.share.org.uk. Further Links:

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TENDER: TENANT SATISFACTION SURVEY
17 December 2009

Margaret Blackwood Housing Association provides housing for around 1700 households throughout mainland Scotland. We wish to engage suitably qualified consultants to carry out a tenant satisfaction survey in the first quarter of 2010. Previous experience of conducting a Tenant Satisfaction Survey for a social housing provider using a range of methods would be essential as is the ability to capture and analyse data using appropriate systems. A client brief for the survey can be obtained from Jeremy Hewer, Services Development Manager (T: 0131 317 7227 E: jeremyh@mbha.org.uk) or Kris Calder (T: 0131 317 7227 E: krisc@mbha.org.uk. ) Proposals, including a company profile and information giving previous experience of conducting tenant satisfaction surveys for the social housing sector together with a list of previous clients in the sector from whom we can obtain references should be sent to: Jeremy Hewer, Margaret Blackwood Housing Association, Craigievar House, 77 Craigmount Brae, Edinburgh EH12 8XF by January 29th, 2010 Further Links:

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EVENT: SOCIAL HOUSING IN SCOTLAND
17 December 2009

A Capita Conference Social Housing in Scotland Monday 22nd February 2010 – Glasgow Including a Ministerial Address: Alex Neil, Minister for Housing and Communities, Scottish Government 2010 represents a significant time for social housing in Scotland. The Housing Bill highlights the Government’s commitment to investing in affordable homes and brings significant reforms of the right to buy and housing regulation. With the 2012 homelessness target also drawing closer, now is the perfect time to bring key stakeholders together to examine the core issues at the heart of these challenges. Attend this timely event to hear from the Housing Minister Alex Neil and other key speakers about the future of social housing in Scotland. Make sure your organisation is at the forefront of the changes and challenges that lie ahead in this significant year for the sector. For more information please click www.capitaconferences.co.uk or contact Richard Goddard on 0207 960 7719 / richard.goddard@capita.co.uk. Further Links:

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SCOTTISH HOUSING JOBS ON-LINE - JOBS FLASH
17 December 2009

Jobs R3 Repairs Limited is seeking a Planner, starting salary £31,908 plus contributory pension and bonus. Closing date: January 5, 2010. R3 Repairs Limited is seeking a Service Co-Ordinator, starting salary £26,592 plus contributory pension and bonus. Closing date: January 5, 2010. For more information on any of the above jobs, or to apply, go to www.scottishhousingnews.com/jobs. Tenders Margaret Blackwood Housing Association is inviting tenders for a tenant satisfaction survey. For more information, go to: www.scottishhousingnews.com. Closing date: January 29. To advertise Jobs, call Contact Publicity on 0141 204 2042 or email: jobsonline@contactpublicity.co.uk To advertise Tenders, call Jeff Anderson on 01292 479 443 or email: jeff@constructionnow.co.uk

A ‘GREEN’ CHRISTMAS FOR CMS ENVIRO SYSTEMS...
17 December 2009

CMS Enviro Systems are delighted to announce they are now one of the shortlisted companies for Lanarkshire’s Best Green Business Award 2010. The PVCu and Aluminium window, door and curtain-walling manufacturer have been shortlisted for the Green Business Award by achieving a strategic, comprehensive and innovative approach to the integration of environmental strategy across all aspects of their business. Their environmentally friendly products include 100% lead free PVC u and sustainable practices include recycling of old windows and doors from Council properties. The judges will be looking for clear evidence of how companies have achieved new business opportunities resulting from emerging environmental technologies and how those practices have positively impacted on their business. Successful companies will demonstrate sustainable development at the heart of their business strategy with a continued commitment to taking responsibility for the impact of its operations on its customers, employees, shareholders and community. Andrew Kerr, Managing Director of CMS Enviro Systems said: “To be shortlisted for this prestigious award is a huge achievement for us; we’re constantly developing our products and practices to offer sustainable solutions for all our customers.” The Lanarkshire Business Excellence Awards are the highlight of the Lanarkshire business calendar; winners of each category will be announced at the awards dinner ceremony to be held on 26th February 2010. Further Links:

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ABERDEEN TO BUILD OVER 40 NEW COUNCIL HOMES
17 December 2009

Aberdeen City Council has been awarded more than £1m by the Scottish Government to help build 42 new council homes. The bulk of the money will be used to build 35 new homes in a family-friendly Homezone on the site of the former Marchburn School in Northfield, comprising 19 three-bed houses and 16 two-bed flats. The Homezone concept ensures that residential streets are designed for people, not traffic, to improve the quality of life. The £4.55m Marchburn scheme will be the fourth development to be launched under the council's ambitious plans to build the first new general-needs council housing in the city for a generation. Preparatory work has already started at Byron Park in Northfield, where 28 new homes will be built, and on Hayton Road in Tillydrone and Roriehall in Cults. Part of the latest award from the Scottish Government will be used to increase the number of units on Hayton Road from 28 to 30 and at Roriehall from 22 to 27. The schemes are part of a £26m programme to create up to 200 new council homes across the city, funded largely from the council's housing budget and with an element of grant funding from the Scottish Government. Housing and Environment convener, Councillor Aileen Malone said: "I am delighted that the Scottish Government has recognised the Marchburn scheme as a top-quality development. The money will allow us to get started next November and hopefully complete by the end of 2011. "Creating new affordable homes is a key policy of this Administration and this money moves us a major step forward to delivering on that promise and delivering for the people on our waiting lists." Vice-convener, Councillor Mark McDonald said: "This announcement marks another exciting milestone on the road to delivering affordable homes for people in Aberdeen and especially in our regeneration areas. "We will be going ahead with the development in close consultation with the community and the views we gather from local groups and residents will be taken on board in the finalised scheme. There is a substantial demand for housing in this part of the city, with about one in three of all our applicants stating they would be happy to have a home in Northfield." Further Links:

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HOME SCOTLAND NOMINATED FOR AWARD
17 December 2009

Home Scotland has been shortlisted for an Excellence in Regeneration Award, run by the Chartered Institute of Housing Scotland, in partnership with The Scottish Government. The awards are presented to projects that show outstanding regeneration work in some of Scotland’s most disadvantaged communities. Home Scotland - working in partnership with Glasgow City Council and Persimmon Homes - has been recognised for its work in regenerating Garthamlock, just east of Glasgow city centre. Home Scotland has built 118 homes for rent, all of which have been designed to meet the needs of former residents of Glasgow Housing Association whose homes were demolished as part of the regeneration of the area. The new community at Garthamlock is able to take advantage of improved leisure facilities and increased employment opportunities brought about by the redevelopment of the area. Margarita Morrison, Managing Director for Home Scotland, said: “I am delighted that our work has been recognised by this prestigious body. Thanks to some great partnership working an attractive and sustainable community has now emerged in Garthamlock.” If you have also been nominated and would like to tell people about it, please email details of your project to news@housingnews.co.uk. Further Links:

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HIGHLAND SEEKS VIEWS ON FUTURE VISION OF INVERNESS
17 December 2009

Over the next six months, The Highland Council will be preparing a new City Vision for Inverness and are urging the public to get involved by suggesting their top priorities for action. A series of one-day Future City Vision events will run from January 20-22 for people from local communities, businesses, schools and colleges and the voluntary and public sectors. The new vision is being supported and facilitated by Architecture + Design Scotland (A+DS). Diarmaid Lawlor, Head of Urbanism for A+DS said: “A+DS are delighted to support Highlands Council in the process of discussing what kind of place Inverness could be. This is a challenging question. The only real answer can emerge from discussion on the ground. “We commend the council, both the leadership and the officers for committing to the agenda of creating and maintaining places where people want to be, particularly in the context of the national agenda of reform of the planning system.” Provost Jimmy Gray, chairman of the Council’s Inverness City Committee, said the workshops were the community’s opportunity to help shape the city's future. Input from the workshops would help shape the City Vision. He said: “This is an exciting opportunity for the people of Inverness to have their say on the future growth of the city. On the wider front there is the role that Inverness plays both in the wider Highlands and throughout Scotland, a stronger Inverness will help create a stronger Highlands.” Further Links:

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FIFE TO GET £25,000 PER NEW COUNCIL HOME FROM GOVERNMENT
17 December 2009

Fife Council has heard that it is to receive £25,000 per property from the Scottish Government to help to build 57 new council houses in Rosyth and Ladybank. It is anticipated work on the new homes will start no later than this time next year, December 2010. Housing and Communities Committee Chair, Councillor Brian Goodall said: “These will be the second and third developments of Brand New Council Houses since we delivered on our commitment to start building council homes for rent again. This is our second successful bid for additional funding from the Government this year and the first that covers urban and rural areas.” Head of Housing and Neighbourhood Services, Derek Muir said the first development will take place in Castle Road Rosyth and will be for 35 new homes. The Fife Housing Association Alliance has completed an initial phase for the Fife Housing Association to provide 34 properties. The council is using Kingdom Housing Association’s expertise as lead developer for the Alliance by employing them to project manage the two council new build projects. A planning application was submitted last month for Castle Road. The other site at Monkmoss in Ladybank will provide 22 homes. A design competition is being held to prepare plans and designs for the site. Bill Banks, Depute Chief Executive with Kingdom, said: “The award of grant funding to the Council will compliment the work being progressed by the Alliance. We are delighted to be working in partnership with the council, as their Project managers, for the two projects. The housing needs in Fife are continuing to grow and the completed developments will help contribute towards the housing needs in Fife.” The first successful bid was for 41 general needs houses at Linburn Road, Dunfermline where £1.025 million subsidy was provided by the Scottish Government. These properties are now all occupied. The housing needs of 82 households have been met through the creation of a chain of lets by prioritising transfer applications for the 41 new council houses at Linburn Road. Further Links:

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SHELTER SCOTLAND BRINGS ‘BLING’ BACK IN THIS CHRISTMAS
17 December 2009

Shelter Scotland is helping to brighten up the dark days of winter and send festive cheer to all this Christmas with its fantastic new House Bling website - even Stephen Fry has been twittering about it! HouseBling.org.uk is a new website where you can bling up your house, your neighbours or even add sparkle to the Rover’s Return. From the comfort of your chair and with a click of a button you can get creative and decorate any building in the world, from Buckingham Palace to the Statue of Liberty. To bling your house, simply log on, enter your postcode, and begin your dazzling transformation using a variety of festive flashing lights and atmospheric snowfall settings. When you are finished you can save a picture of your building in all its sparkling finery and email it on to your friends and family. The House Bling initiative is part of Shelter’s Big Build Up to Christmas campaign to help raise money to help thousands of people facing repossession, homelessness or bad housing this Christmas. Gordon MacRae, Head of External Relations, Shelter Scotland, said: “This fabulous website is a great way of sending festive cheer at the click of a button. We hope that everyone gives house blinging a go and emails it on to their friends and family. “Every penny donated will go towards making Christmas a happier, more secure time for hundreds of families across the UK.” Further Links:

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MORAY TO DEVELOP HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS STRATEGIES
17 December 2009

Moray Council is developing an interim local housing strategy to be published in April. The strategy will set out what the council will do to ensure that good quality affordable housing is available to meet the needs of people living in or requiring housing in Moray. An assessment of the housing market in Moray has been carried out and has helped the council to form a view of the housing problems that local people face. These have been organised into four themes – access to housing, including increasing the supply of affordable housing; improving housing quality and addressing fuel poverty; improving housing support and community care, and sustainable communities and social inclusion. Chief housing officer, Jill Stewart said: “We have a list of what we think are the main issues and the actions we are planning to make the housing system work better. However, we need to know if people agree with our assessment or if they think we have missed anything.” The council is also developing a separate homelessness strategy in recognition of the importance of tackling homelessness. It sets out what the council will do to prevent homelessness where possible and, where it does arise, to ensure appropriate help and support is provided. The strategy, which will also be published in April, has three themes – prevention, provision of accommodation and support services and sustaining solutions.

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ACHA REWARDS MEMBERS ACROSS ARGYLL AND BUTE
17 December 2009

Jackie Hardie with tenant Lesley Richardson Argyll Community Housing Association (ACHA) has announced the first winners of its annual member’s prize draw. One member in each of ACHA’s four operating areas area has been picked out the hat to receive a delicious hamper of Scottish food. Life membership of ACHA is available to those in Argyll and Bute for just one pound. As well as receiving a copy of ACHA’s annual reports and accounts and being entitled to attend area and full AGMs members elect the Area Committees and Board of Management, the voluntary panels that direct ACHA. This means having a real say in how ACHA is run. Anyone meeting the membership criteria just needs to complete an application form and pay their pound. There are a few simple rules which are explained on the application form at ACHA’s website. Four winners of hampers will be awarded to current members each December. The winners of this year’s hampers as picked by ACHA tenants Jim and Lesley Richardson of Garelochhead are: Helensburgh & Lomond – Ms Aitken, Helensburgh Bute & Cowal – Mrs Graham, Dunoon Oban, Lorn & Isles – Mr Birnie, Oban Mid Argyll & Kintyre – Mr McCrae, Ardrishaig Ms Aitken said: “I am delighted at being the winner of the hamper for the Helensburgh & Lomond area.” Colette Benham, ACHA’s Director of HR and Corporate Services added: “Members are important to ACHA and they deserve to be acknowledged. By awarding four hampers ACHA has a chance to say thank you. If you are eligible why not sign up in time for next year’s draw?” Further Links:

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AYRSHIRE HOUSING DONATES £1,000 TO SHELTER
17 December 2009

Ayrshire Housing has made a donation of £1,000 to Shelter. Paul Torrance, the association’s chair said: “This year we decided to redirect most of our seasonal card budget to charity whilst still retaining the bespoke card that our tenants and colleagues elsewhere enjoy. “Neil McGuire our designer at After the News thought that Shelter would be a good recipient given our shared concern for the homeless and a graphical connection which he could exploit in his slimmed down design. I couldn’t agree more! “Shelter is doing excellent work helping both individuals and working with others to demand more resources for affordable housing in Scotland.” Gordon MacRae, Head of External Relations, Shelter Scotland, said: “We are delighted with the support of Ayrshire Housing and its donation to Shelter Scotland. “The support will help us continue our work providing advice and campaigning, on behalf of those people who are homeless or living in bad housing.” Further Links:

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EAST RENFREWSHIRE RENTS TO INCREASE BY 3.5 PER CENT
17 December 2009

East Renfrewshire Council house tenants will see their rent increase by only 3.5%. The new rate, which applies from April next year, puts the average annual rent over 48 weeks up from £54.32 to £56.22. Housing convener, Councillor Danny Devlin, said: “Any rent increase, particularly in these economic times, needs to be kept to the minimum. Every effort has been made to make sure that the rent increase is kept as low as we can get it while maintaining the services our tenants want.” Council housing bosses reckon the rent increase of 3.5% cent in East Renfrewshire is the lowest increase necessary to allow the council’s housing service to continue to invest in its housing stock to meet the national housing quality standards. The increase will also cover all lock up and garage sites held by the council under its housing revenue account.

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CIH SCOTLAND PRESIDENTIAL DINNER – LAST CHANCE TO BOOK
17 December 2009

The CIH Scotland Presidential Dinner will take place on the evening of Friday, January 22. This prestigious event is made possible with support from Connaught Partnerships Ltd and will be held in the stunning Mansfield Traquair in Edinburgh. Craig Stirrat, Chair, CIH Scotland said: "The Presidential Dinner is a unique event in the CIH Scotland calendar of events. It helps to raise funds for the charities being supported by both the CIH President and by myself during our tenures. “These charities are Homeless International, Cystic Fibrosis and the Bethany Christian Trust. As well as showing support for these charities it is also an excellent opportunity for people and organisations to network in relaxed and truly beautiful surroundings." The black tie event commences with a pre-dinner drinks reception followed by dinner served in 'Edinburgh's Sistine Chapel'. After dinner entertainment will be provided by, Karen Dunbar. Karen has starred in some of Scotland's top comedy programmes including Chewin' the Fat and The Karen Dunbar Show. Tickets are priced from £87.00 plus VAT each and a table of ten can be reserved at a discounted price of £850 plus VAT. To reserve tickets, simply contact Sharon Aitken on 0131 225 4544. The deadline for reserving tickets is 21st December 2009. Further Links:

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TRAINING AT SHARE – GOVERNANCE OF SCOTTISH HOUSING ASSOCIATIONS AWARENESS SESSION
17 December 2009

GOVERNANCE OF SCOTTISH HOUSING ASSOCIATIONS Awareness Session Monday 25 January 2010 11 am – 12 noon with lunch to follow Rod Hunter and Olwyn Gaffney The qualification “Governance of Scottish Housing Associations” was launched in June, 2008 and since then ten of our candidates have achieved competency in the qualification and another four will be receiving their certificates at the SHARE Christmas Party in December. However, we are aware that not everyone understands how you get the qualification and the processes and procedures that are involved due to the qualification being accredited by the Scottish Qualification Authority (SQA). SHARE would like to invite you along to an awareness session on 25th January 2010, which will provide information on how you get the qualification. By the end of the session you will know: What is involved Who can be your mentor The different types of evidence what is required in terms of time commitment If the qualification is for you or not It will also be an opportunity to have any questions answered. For further information, please contact Olwyn or Rod at SHARE 0141-550-7595 or e-mail Olwyn@share.org.uk. All our courses as well as a downloadable calendar are listed on our website at www.share.org.uk. Further Links:

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TENDER: TENANT SATISFACTION SURVEY
18 December 2009

Margaret Blackwood Housing Association provides housing for around 1700 households throughout mainland Scotland. We wish to engage suitably qualified consultants to carry out a tenant satisfaction survey in the first quarter of 2010. Previous experience of conducting a Tenant Satisfaction Survey for a social housing provider using a range of methods would be essential as is the ability to capture and analyse data using appropriate systems. A client brief for the survey can be obtained from Jeremy Hewer, Services Development Manager (T: 0131 317 7227 E: jeremyh@mbha.org.uk) or Kris Calder (T: 0131 317 7227 E: krisc@mbha.org.uk. ) Proposals, including a company profile and information giving previous experience of conducting tenant satisfaction surveys for the social housing sector together with a list of previous clients in the sector from whom we can obtain references should be sent to: Jeremy Hewer, Margaret Blackwood Housing Association, Craigievar House, 77 Craigmount Brae, Edinburgh EH12 8XF by January 29th, 2010 Further Links:

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EVENT: SOCIAL HOUSING IN SCOTLAND
18 December 2009

A Capita Conference Social Housing in Scotland Monday 22nd February 2010 – Glasgow Including a Ministerial Address: Alex Neil, Minister for Housing and Communities, Scottish Government 2010 represents a significant time for social housing in Scotland. The Housing Bill highlights the Government’s commitment to investing in affordable homes and brings significant reforms of the right to buy and housing regulation. With the 2012 homelessness target also drawing closer, now is the perfect time to bring key stakeholders together to examine the core issues at the heart of these challenges. Attend this timely event to hear from the Housing Minister Alex Neil and other key speakers about the future of social housing in Scotland. Make sure your organisation is at the forefront of the changes and challenges that lie ahead in this significant year for the sector. For more information please click www.capitaconferences.co.uk or contact Richard Goddard on 0207 960 7719 / richard.goddard@capita.co.uk. Further Links:

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SCOTTISH HOUSING JOBS ON-LINE - JOBS FLASH
18 December 2009

Jobs R3 Repairs Limited is seeking a Planner, starting salary £31,908 plus contributory pension and bonus. Closing date: January 5, 2010. R3 Repairs Limited is seeking a Service Co-Ordinator, starting salary £26,592 plus contributory pension and bonus. Closing date: January 5, 2010. For more information on any of the above jobs, or to apply, go to www.scottishhousingnews.com/jobs. Tenders Margaret Blackwood Housing Association is inviting tenders for a tenant satisfaction survey. For more information, go to: www.scottishhousingnews.com. Closing date: January 29. To advertise Jobs, call Contact Publicity on 0141 204 2042 or email: jobsonline@contactpublicity.co.uk To advertise Tenders, call Jeff Anderson on 01292 479 443 or email: jeff@constructionnow.co.uk

ARGYLL AND BUTE LOOKS TO SUSPEND RIGHT TO BUY
18 December 2009

Argyll and Bute Council and local housing associations, who together comprise the housing partnership HOMEArgyll, are preparing an application to the Scottish Government for Pressured Area Designation (PAD) for areas of acute housing shortage. If successful, some tenants (those who commenced their tenancy after September 30 2002) in the designated areas may have the Right To Buy their home suspended, initially for a period of five years. The proposal is being considered as a way of helping to address the significant shortage of affordable housing in a number of communities across Argyll and Bute. Any suspension of Right To Buy would mean that a number of houses, which could otherwise have been sold off to sitting tenants, will continue to be available for let to those local families and individuals who are considered to be in the greatest housing need. Housing and Communities Spokesperson, Councillor George Freeman, said: “We need to consider all the options that are available to us to try and increase the supply of affordable housing across Argyll and Bute. Some areas are suffering from serious shortages of affordable rented accommodation, which is having an impact on individuals and families on housing waiting lists throughout the region. “Although the PAD proposal will not impact on the majority of tenants across Argyll and Bute, I believe that the process we are considering will hopefully prove an effective measure in helping to ensure that there are more affordable properties available for those who need them.” The Council has now completed its initial analysis of housing need data and supporting evidence and identified the potential areas for inclusion in the PAD application. Together with housing association partners, the authority is now undertaking a period of consultation with social sector tenants, waiting list applicants, and local residents in general. Anyone with an interest in this issue is invited to contact the Council at the address below and express their view via phone, email or letter by 15th January 2010. When the consultation exercise has been completed, a report will be submitted to the Council’s Executive and to members of the Argyll and Bute Strategic Housing & Communities Forum, as well as the boards of the individual Housing Associations. Only when this has been done will any decision as to whether or not to submit an application to the Scottish Government for Ministerial approval be taken. If the application is eventually submitted and approved, not all Housing Association tenants will be affected, even within the designated areas. In addition, all eligible Right To Buy tenants will retain that right – it will simply be suspended, in the first instance, for five years. Further Links:

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VIEWPOINT ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENT OF NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE
18 December 2009

Viewpoint Housing Association is delighted to announce the appointment of Dorry McLaughlin as its new Chief Executive. She will take up her post in February. Mrs McLaughlin is currently Chief Executive of Central & Cecil, based in London. She joined Central & Cecil in 1994 as Director of Housing Services and latterly Deputy Chief Executive. Since 2003 Dorry has been Chief Executive. Dorry has extensive experience of developing strategy for the provision of care and support services as well as operational delivery. Dorry has overseen the transfer of care homes and supported housing from other providers as well as three mergers. Before joining Central & Cecil Dorry worked for The Housing Corporation (now the Tenants Services Authority) and so brings experience of regulation. Dr Roger Smith, Chairman of Viewpoint said: “Dorry's interest lies in developing strategies involving partners including service users and staff, to ensure that existing services are of a high quality and new services are developed to meet the needs of vulnerable people and communities. “We are absolutely delighted with the appointment and I very much look forward to working with her.” Further Links:

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RURAL HOUSING SERVICE URGES COUNCILS TO ‘THINK RURAL’
18 December 2009

The Rural Housing Service is calling on local authorities to ensure that their rural areas receive a fair share of affordable housing investment. The charity says that local councils should ‘rural proof’ their housing plans to target more investment towards affordable rural homes allowing people on low incomes to remain in the countryside. The technique of rural proofing forms one of the sessions at the Rural Housing Service Annual Conference on February 25/26 at Birnam. Delegates will hear from the Commission for Rural Communities on how rural proofing works in practice including their “rural proofing checklist” which is used to make sure that the needs of rural areas are incorporated into plans and policies. Derek Logie, Chief Executive of RHS, said: “The severe lack of affordable rural housing housing needs is well known, however they can be difficult to quantify through current ways of measuring need and planning investment, we believe that “rural proofing” plans and policies will enable local authorities to deliver the affordable housing which rural areas badly need.” Further Links:

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ENTERPRISE IN EDUCATION IN FIFE
18 December 2009

Pupils from Balcurvie Primary School in Windygates are the latest Fife school kids to learn about the world of safe and sustainable construction thanks to a partnership between Kingdom Housing Association and Fife Council education department. Campion Homes and Glen Housing Association also added their support to the scheme at a formal signing of a partnership agreement with the primary school. The Primary 7 class visited Kingdom’s development site at Johnston Terrace, Windygates, after previously learning about the dangers of building sites. The partnership was initiated by Kingdom and Campion, the main contractor for the project, to offer wider learning and career opportunities for school kids. This partnership has also being structured to build on the work already done by the school on sustainability, with the kids being able to identify and learn from the various energy efficiencies being developed as part of this project. Once the project is completed, the properties are to be transferred from Kingdom to Glen as part of the Fife Housing Association Alliance. The housing project will provide a mix of house types, including a wheelchair bungalow, amenity cottage flats as well as 2 and 3 bedroom family homes. The houses have been designed to a high quality and will include a range of energy efficiency items including solar panels, smart meters as well as enhancements to the insulation, glazing and water saving measures. Bill Banks, Depute Chief Executive with Kingdom, said: “With most of our capital projects we like to involve the local schools, and where possible, create a project that the school children can become directly involved in. “This approach has added benefits in promoting issues such as Health and Safety, and the school children appear to really enjoy the visits and create a number of spin off projects related to the development.” Lynn Wilson, headteacher at Balcurvie Primary School said: “We are delighted with the partnership links which have been created through this project. The initial visit, looking at sustainability, has helped bring the classroom teaching to life and links in beautifully with our Eco schools project. The pupils are looking forward to further involvement with the project after Christmas.” Further Links:

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EAST DUNBARTONSHIRE SET FOR FIRST EVER COUNCIL HOMES
18 December 2009

East Dunbartonshire Council has successfully bid for funding from the Scottish Government, securing £650,000 for the first Council Houses to be built in the Authority. The Council will now move to borrow the balance of funding to complete the process. The application submitted on September 2009 met with the criteria and the full amount requested was successfully achieved. This funding is for 26 units on three sites which will be a mix of flats and terraced homes throughout East Dunbartonshire at: 12 Units in Oak Drive, Lenzie; 4 Units in Kenilworth Crescent, Bearsden; and 10 Units in Auchinairn Drive, Bishopbriggs – which will be new housing bought from Link Housing Association. With planning permission already in place it is hoped that building will start in November 2010. Councillor Amanda Stewart, Convener for the Housing & Community Services Committee said: “We are delighted to hear the news this week about the successful bid made by East Dunbartonshire Council for funding to build 26 units from Scottish Government. “Securing this funding signals what we hope will be the dawning of a new era for the provision of affordable housing for the people of East Dunbartonshire. This successful bid ensures that these will be the first Council houses built by East Dunbartonshire Council which makes this award very significant. “I would also like to congratulate the Council Housing Officers for all their hard work in putting together this successful application.” Further Links:

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CLYDEBANK HOUSING PROJECT WINS PRAISE FOR DESIGN
18 December 2009

Clydebank Re-built has won praise for its housing project in the Glasgow Institute of Architects 2009 Design Awards. The top design award for housing went to the new £5.1m Queen's Gate housing development of 40 flats for Clydebank Housing Association, opened in August this year at the former John Brown shipyards site. Chair of the panel of judges, Martin McKay said: "This gentle curving block deals with a challenging site with elegant simplicity. "The judges commended a fine building, well built and robust that signals positive intent for housing in Clydebank" Architects for the Queens Gate project were Elder & Cannon, Glasgow and the builders were CCG (Scotland) Ltd. Eleanor McAllister, managing director of Clydebank Rebuilt, said: "We are absolutely delighted that Queens Gate housing won recognition in the Glasgow Institute of Architects 2009 Design Awards. “This is a great achievement for Clydebank and highlights the importance of design-led regeneration and our partnership work with Clydebank Housing Association.” Further Links:

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NGHA GAINS EXCELLENCE STANDARD
18 December 2009

North Glasgow Housing Association has been awarded the new Customer Service Excellence Standard after obtaining ‘exceptionally high levels of Tenant satisfaction with services’. The new standard was developed to replace Charter Mark, which is being phased out in 2011. The Association gained Charter Mark status more than five years ago but holders are not automatically moved to the new Customer Service Excellent. It contains new concepts and the Association had to provide additional proof that it measured up to the new standard. After a rigorous inspection, carried out over three days, Assessor, John Thurgood produced a 15-page report that recommended the Association be recognised as meeting the new standard. Mr Thurgood said: “North Glasgow Housing Association has exceptionally high levels of Tenant satisfaction with services. Tenants spoke highly of the quality of homes provided and the proactive way North Glasgow Housing Association responded to their needs. “The Management Committee members appointed to represent other Local Housing Organisations spoke of their desire for a speedy stock transfer to NGHA ownership in order that they might also have their preferred housing provider in place not least because NGHA met its promises to Tenants. “The organisation is customer focused and members of staff frequently go beyond their statutory duty to provide solutions to Tenant problems working proactively to improve local communities in the Springburn and Possilpark areas. “Extensive and effective partnerships are in place that make a difference to local communities and the Association is actively engaged in regenerating deprived areas of North Glasgow. North Glasgow Housing Association complies with the requirement of the current version of the Customer Service Excellence.” The certificate is valid for three years but is subject to an annual review. The UK Government developed the new Customer Service Excellence because it wants public services for all that are efficient, effective, excellent, equitable and empowering – with the citizens always and everywhere at the heart of public service provision. Robert Tamburrini, the Association’s Chief Executive, said: “We are absolutely delighted to receive this further recognition of the quality of the housing service provided. It is another landmark achievement for North Glasgow Housing Association and one which all staff and committee take pride in.”

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THIRD OF ABERDEENSHIRE HOMES FACE FUEL POVERTY
18 December 2009

Almost 30% of Aberdeenshire households struggled to pay their heating bills last year, according to a report. A total of 28,000 households in the area were in “fuel poverty” in 2008, which is defined as having spent more than 10% of their income heating their homes, The Press & Journal has reported. Nearly a quarter (24%) of Aberdeenshire households were in fuel poverty in 2006. The number rose to a high of 30% in 2007 and fell to 28% last year. A report, which will appear before Aberdeenshire Council’s social work and housing committee says: “It was anticipated that fuel poverty would have increased across Aberdeenshire. “The impact of installing energy efficiency measures would have been overshadowed by the substantial increase in fuel costs over the last two years. “A positive outcome is that the latest Scottish House Condition Survey findings do not reflect this, even though fuel prices have increased by an average of 13% each year. The figures would suggest that, while fuel prices have continued to rise, the installation of energy efficiency measures has had a positive impact on fuel poverty.” Members of the committee will today be asked to approve an action plan to meet a Scottish Government target to eradicate fuel poverty by 2016. The report says it will try to achieve the aim by improving the energy efficiency of its council houses and reducing fuel costs for Aberdeenshire residents. Norman Kerr, director of fuel poverty charity Energy Action Scotland, said: “Councils must be active in delivering the targets set out in their fuel poverty plans and buck the trend of rising fuel poverty figures.” Further Links:

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MERCHANT HOMES TREATS 100 LINTHOUSE NEIGHBOURS TO CHRISTMAS LUNCH
18 December 2009

Merchant and Linthouse hand over the cheque Users of Linthouse’s much-loved Preshal Trust are looking forward to a Christmas lunch to remember, as Merchant Homes steps in to foot the bill for the celebration. The house builder, which is currently creating the new Trafalgar Court development at Aboukir Street in partnership with Linthouse Housing Association, has offered to pay for the meal for 100 service users at the nearby Preshal Trust, as part of an ongoing pledge to support the charity. The Preshal Trust, whose patron is Sir Alex Ferguson, aims to tackle the problem of social exclusion in the Linthouse area of Glasgow by providing a wide range of social, recreational and educational activities to those affected by issues such as poverty, addiction, depression and developmental problems. The Trust will be celebrating Christmas in style with a bumper Christmas lunch, paid for by Merchant Homes and with support from Linthouse Housing Association and Tulloch the Butcher of Paisley. May Nicholson, Director of the Trust, said: “We are extremely grateful to Merchant for funding our Christmas lunch and are all very much looking forward to it. This will give many of our service users the chance to come together with friends and staff to enjoy a celebration of the festive season, which they might otherwise not have had. “In this day and age, it is wonderful to think that our neighbours are looking out for us and we are very pleased to have Merchant and Linthouse Housing Association supporting the Trust – especially at this time of year, which can often be lonely for those who are facing the issues we aim to tackle.” Linda McLuskie, Sales and Marketing Director for Merchant, said: “We are delighted to support the Preshal Trust and hope they thoroughly enjoy the much deserved Christmas lunch we are providing. “The Trust is such an important and vibrant part of Linthouse, and we have been very lucky to be welcomed wholeheartedly into the community while we work on the project at Aboukir Street. It’s our pleasure to support the Trust in return. We hope the Preshal Trust enjoy their Christmas lunch and wish them all the best for a successful 2010.” John McBride, Executive Director for Linthouse, said: “The regeneration of Linthouse is an important project which includes many partners – from developers like Merchant Homes to vital community support organisations such as the Trust. It is therefore wonderful to see such partners working together for the benefit of the area. “The support Merchant Homes is providing for the Trust’s Christmas lunch is a prime example of this important community spirit and Linthouse Housing Association is delighted to be involved.” Further Links:

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HOUSING NEWS: INNOVATION ROUND-UP
18 December 2009

Click the picture to see what is happening here LONDON NEW FREE TRAINING COURSES ANNOUNCED BY BARNET HOMES LONDON’S FIRST CODE FOR SUSTAINABLE HOMES LEVEL 5 SCHEME IS COMPLETE SCOTLAND FYNE INITIATIVES TAKES THE LEAD WITH PASSIVHAUS FOR SCOTLAND PLANS FOR FIRST MASS-MARKET ECO-HOME REVEALED NORTH EAST LEEDS ALMO TURNS TO TEXT TECHNOLOGY IN FIGHT AGAINST RENT ARREARS CESTRIA CARE SERVICE PROVES TO BE A REAL LIFESAVER NORTH WEST CHANCE TO BUY A SHARE IN LEVENSHULME’S EXCITING NEW COMMUNITY SPACE CDHT WORKING TO TACKLE HOMELESSNESS IN THE NORTH WEST SOUTH EAST THAMES REACH LAUNCHES ‘LAST HOUR’S’ CAMPAIGN GUINNESS MIDSUMMER STAFF BUILD FOOD MOUNTAIN SOUTH WEST NEW YEAR START FOR SWINDON ECO-HOMES HAFOD HOUSING MORTGAGE RESCUE SCHEME TO THE RESCUE EAST LONGHURST & HAVELOK HOMES BUILDS FIRST ASHBY SUSTAINABLE HOMES LAUNCH OF DVD FOR ESTUARY RESIDENTS WEST MIDLANDS MIDLAND ‘HONOUR CRIME’ FILM SCOOPS INTERNATIONAL AWARD LORD MAYOR UNVEILS BLUE PLAQUE IN MEMORY OF BRUM POET

CIH SCOTLAND PRESIDENTIAL DINNER – LAST CHANCE TO BOOK
18 December 2009

The Chartered Institute of Housing Scotland (CIH) Presidential Dinner will take place on the evening of Friday, January 22. This prestigious event is made possible with support from Connaught Partnerships Ltd and will be held in the stunning Mansfield Traquair in Edinburgh. Craig Stirrat, Chair, CIH Scotland said: “The Presidential Dinner is a unique event in the CIH Scotland calendar of events. It helps to raise funds for the charities being supported by both the CIH President and by myself during our tenures. “These charities are Homeless International, Cystic Fibrosis and the Bethany Christian Trust. As well as showing support for these charities it is also an excellent opportunity for people and organisations to network in relaxed and truly beautiful surroundings.” The black tie event commences with a pre-dinner drinks reception followed by dinner served in ‘Edinburgh’s Sistine Chapel’. After dinner entertainment will be provided by, Karen Dunbar. Karen has starred in some of Scotland’s top comedy programmes including Chewin’ the Fat and The Karen Dunbar Show. Tickets are priced from £87.00 plus VAT each and a table of ten can be reserved at a discounted price of £850 plus VAT. To reserve tickets, simply contact Sharon Aitken on 0131 225 4544. The deadline for reserving tickets is 21st December 2009. Further Links:

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TRAINING AT SHARE – GOVERNANCE OF SCOTTISH HOUSING ASSOCIATIONS AWARENESS SESSION
18 December 2009

GOVERNANCE OF SCOTTISH HOUSING ASSOCIATIONS Awareness Session Monday 25 January 2010 11 am – 12 noon with lunch to follow Rod Hunter and Olwyn Gaffney The qualification “Governance of Scottish Housing Associations” was launched in June, 2008 and since then ten of our candidates have achieved competency in the qualification and another four will be receiving their certificates at the SHARE Christmas Party in December. However, we are aware that not everyone understands how you get the qualification and the processes and procedures that are involved due to the qualification being accredited by the Scottish Qualification Authority (SQA). SHARE would like to invite you along to an awareness session on 25th January 2010, which will provide information on how you get the qualification. By the end of the session you will know: What is involved Who can be your mentor The different types of evidence what is required in terms of time commitment If the qualification is for you or not It will also be an opportunity to have any questions answered. For further information, please contact Olwyn or Rod at SHARE 0141-550-7595 or e-mail Olwyn@share.org.uk. All our courses as well as a downloadable calendar are listed on our website at www.share.org.uk. Further Links:

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