Pocket Power is a free telephone service for anyone aged 60 and over and can help to save money on household bills and outgoings. 

You can book an appointment online and receive a call-back within 5 days, where a trained advisor will support with connecting you to any available financial support. 

One Housing 21 resident has recently saved almost £500 from a 30-minute call, where the Pocket Power advisor identified eligibility and applied for both water and social tariffs, then referred to an external agency for assistance with energy bills. 

You can book an appointment yourself by visiting www.pocket-power.co.uk/wise-savers or ask your local manager to help you. They will have more information too, so if you have any questions, just ask. 

The service is available to anyone aged 60 or over, so share the good news with neighbours, friends and family!

The Cinnamon Trust is a national charity supporting older people, those with terminal illness, and their much-loved pets – helping them stay together for as long as possible.

Many of us know how much comfort and companionship a pet can bring – they really are part of the family. But for older people or those living with illness, looking after a pet can sometimes become difficult. That’s where The Cinnamon Trust comes in.

Their mission is simple: “to ensure that older people, those living with terminal illness, and their beloved companions never have to face the sorrow of parting from their beloved companion due to lack of support.”

The charity provides hands-on help across the country, including dog walking, feeding and cleaning, trips to the vet, or even short-term foster care. They also offer lifelong care for pets who outlive their owners, giving peace of mind to those worried about what would happen to their pet in the future.

Last year, residents at Claremont House and Dayton Court raised £119.50 for The Cinnamon Trust through a joint fundraising event. It was a wonderful effort that not only raised funds but also helped spread the word about this very special charity.

As our schemes are pet-friendly, we wanted to let more residents know about The Cinnamon Trust. If you have a pet and need some extra support – or if you’d like to get involved in helping this great cause – it’s well worth finding out more. You can visit their website for full details: www.cinnamon.org.uk

Whether you’re looking for help, want to volunteer, or just want to support their work, The Cinnamon Trust is here to make sure no one has to say goodbye to their pet before they’re ready.

We’re excited to be joining this year’s Manchester Pride Parade on Saturday 23 August, where we’ll be representing our amazing Housing 21 community – both residents and colleagues – as one vibrant, inclusive team.

This year’s theme is Love, which couldn’t be more fitting. At Housing 21, we see love every day – in the way residents support each other, in the respect between staff and residents, and in the care shown across all our schemes.

We’ve secured a float in the parade, and there’ll be plenty of colour, music, laughter and energy as we celebrate what matters most to us: equality, inclusion and being proud of who we are.

We’d love to see residents join us on the day, whether that’s by taking part in the parade or coming along to cheer us on!

This is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate everything that makes Housing 21 special – standing together, having fun and showing that everyone belongs.

Want to be part of it?

We’re looking for residents who would like to walk in the parade with us. If that sounds like something you’d like to do, register your place: http://tiny.cc/ijfp001

To help improve the way we communicate with residents we’ve been hosting focus groups up and down the country. This has given us the opportunity to have some good discussion on things like your noticeboard and indeed this newsletter.

We know we can always make improvements, and we’re always learning.

If you would like to share your thoughts and how we can improve feel free to get in touch. You can send us an email: communications@housing21.org.uk

We are looking for feedback on your:

• Noticeboard
• Newsletter
• Virtual Corporate Updates
• Social media such as Facebook and videos we host on YouTube

Thank you for those of you who participated in our focus groups, your time was very valuable.

We’ll soon be asking for your views in our latest National Resident Survey – keep an eye out for a letter arriving soon.

At Housing 21, we want to make sure your home and the services we provide work well for you. That’s why we’re inviting residents to take part in the National Resident Survey, which will be landing on your doormat shortly.

The survey includes Tenant Satisfaction Measures (TSMs), which have been introduced by the Regulator of Social Housing. These cover key areas like:

• How we maintain your home
• How safe you feel
• How well we handle complaints

Your feedback helps us understand what we’re doing well and where we need to improve. It’s a chance for you to help shape the future of our services and make a difference.

We’ve asked Acuity, an independent research company, to carry out the survey on our behalf. This means your answers will be completely confidential and used only for research. No one at Housing 21 will be able to identify your individual responses.

We really value your opinion and would be grateful for your time in completing the survey when it arrives. Every response helps us do better for you.

At Housing 21, we’re committed to making sure everyone feels safe, supported and heard – and that includes taking action on domestic abuse.

It’s now 12 months since we became members of the Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance (DAHA), and we’re proud to be working towards full DAHA accreditation. This means we’re putting strong policies and practices in place to better support both residents and employees who may be affected by domestic abuse.

Our Safeguarding Lead, Emily Russell, has been meeting regularly with DAHA, and we’ve now officially started the formal accreditation process. DAHA have already given very positive feedback about the work we’ve done so far. This includes training for our teams and making sure the right support is available when it’s needed most.

As part of this important work, we’re currently reviewing our domestic abuse policy for residents, and we’d really value your input. We understand this is a very sensitive topic, and any conversations will take place on a one-to-one basis in a safe and respectful way.

We’re also reviewing the training we give our employees and would love to include more resident voices in that process – to make sure our approach is compassionate, informed, and truly helpful.

If you would like to get involved – either in the policy review or the employee training – please speak to your Local Manager, or email us in confidence at: domesticabusesupport@housing21.org.uk

Even the smallest input can make a big difference in how we support others.

Feeling safe and secure at home is important for your peace of mind. Here are some simple steps to help protect yourself and your belongings.

While many people feel comfortable leaving their doors unlocked in a friendly scheme setting, we encourage all residents to treat their front doors as they would in any other home – lock them when you’re in or out.

Taking small steps can make a big difference to your safety. Here are some useful tips to help keep your home secure:

• Lock your door at all times – whether you’re at home, in communal areas, or going out.
• If you receive care, speak to your care team about locking your door between visits. A key safe can help with access.
• Keep your keys in a safe place – avoid leaving them near windows or doors.
• Store valuables securely, whether in a safe, a deposit box, or a hidden place in your home.
• Don’t leave car keys or important documents near entrances – keep them tucked safely away.
• Let your Local Manager know if you're going away, even for a short break.
• Use the Royal Mail’s Keep Safe service to hold your post while you're away: www.royalmail.com/keep-safe.
• Check your windows can lock securely. Many homes have restrictors fitted for added safety.
• If you spot someone who seems out of place or suspicious, report it to staff on site or press your pendant/pull cord to speak with Appello.
• Let your Local Manager know if you lose your key or key fob so arrangements can be made to keep you safe.
• Anyone visiting you in a professional role should show their ID – don’t be afraid to ask.
• If you notice people “tailgating” through security doors, and you don’t recognise them, please alert a member of the team.

Keeping your home safe is a shared effort, and we’re always here to help. If you’re unsure about anything, or want more advice, speak to your Local Manager.

Your safety is our priority – let’s work together to keep your home secure.

Some Air Fryers manufactured by Tower are being recalled due to a potential safety risk – if you own a Tower Air Fryer, please check if yours is affected.

Tower has explained that a small number of units may have a fault which could lead to overheating. In some cases, this could pose a low fire risk, although Trading Standards has confirmed the risk is low.

As a precaution, Tower has chosen to voluntarily recall certain models made between January 2022 and April 2023.

For a full list of affected air fryer models please visit the website where you can find full instructions and guidance: www.towerhousewares.co.uk/pages/air-fryer-recall

Your safety is our priority.

If you need any help checking your Tower air fryer model or using the website, please ask your Local Manager to help.

Being online is more important than ever – whether it’s for keeping in touch with loved ones, booking appointments, managing money, or simply enjoying entertainment. But for many people, especially older adults, access to the internet is still out of reach.

In fact, 2 million over-75s in the UK are digitally excluded (AgeUK, 2021). That means missing out on services, opportunities, and connections that many of us take for granted.

What is Get Box?

Get Box is a plug-and-play Wi-Fi device that gives you fast, reliable and secure internet access in under a minute. Just plug it in, pop in the included SIM card, and you’re good to go. No complicated setup, no wires, and no extra charges.

Housing 21 has 21 Get Boxes ready to go!

Thanks to a partnership with Jangala (a technology charity providing essential internet access worldwide and in the UK), we now have 21 Get Boxes available for residents who need them most. They are completely free of charge, and will be given out on a first-come, first-served basis.

We also have a stock of additional Wi-Fi devices in case there’s high demand – so don’t worry if you miss out on the first batch!

Want to find out more?

If you think a Get Box could help you, please get in touch:

Email: jessica.ettridge@housing21.org.uk

Or speak to your Local Manager, who can contact Jessica on your behalf.

Your pendant alarm is there to help keep you safe – but it’s important to check it regularly to make sure it’s working when you need it most.

We’re reminding all residents to test their pendant alarms once a month. It only takes a moment, and it’s the best way to make sure you can feel confident that help is just a button press away.

Your pendant alarm offers reassurance and peace of mind, knowing that someone will respond if you ever need urgent help. But like any piece of equipment, it’s important to make sure it’s working properly.

Here’s how to test it:

• Press the button from inside your accommodation (please don’t test in communal areas)
• Wait for a response – that’s it!

If you’re not sure how to test your pendant, or you have any concerns, please speak to your Local Manager. They’ll be happy to guide you through it or answer any questions.

By testing your pendant once a month, you’ll be keeping yourself safer – and giving yourself peace of mind, too.