We’re making it easier for residents to stay up to date with the latest Housing 21 news and updates.

From now on, our important updates will be sent directly to your email inbox if we hold a valid email address for you. If you don’t see our emails arrive, please check your junk or spam folder.
Our emails will come from housing21@cmp.dotmailer.co.uk, so you may wish to save this address as a safe sender.

You can unsubscribe from these emails at any time if you no longer wish to receive them.

The online, and printed versions will still be made available for residents without email access and for your local news.

Why are we making this change?

Many residents have told us they would like to receive less printed information. Moving more of our communications online helps us reduce the amount of paper and ink we use, cut waste and support a more sustainable approach.

Some residents have also shared that they prefer receiving updates by email because it is quicker and more convenient.

We’ve listened to your feedback, and this new approach will help us share important news with you in a way that works better for many residents.

We’d love to hear from you

Your views are important to us. If you have any thoughts or suggestions about how we can improve our digital communications, please let us know.
You can share your feedback with your local manager or by email.

To celebrate the launch of our new resident email newsletter, we’re giving residents the chance to win a fantastic hamper. There are two hampers up for grabs, with one winner from our Retirement Living communities and one winner from our Extra Care communities.

Entering is easy, simply complete the online entry form by following this link.

If you need any help entering, your local manager will be happy to support you.

Entries close on 15 September, so make sure you don’t miss out on the chance to take part.

We’re pleased to introduce Post a Smile, Housing 21’s new resident pen pal scheme, created to help residents connect, share experiences and build new friendships through letter writing.

Whether you enjoy talking about hobbies, favourite books, memories, interests or everyday life, Post a Smile gives you the chance to get to know another resident and enjoy the simple pleasure of sending and receiving letters.

The scheme aims to:

Create positive connections between residents

Help reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation

Encourage companionship and conversation

Taking part is a great way to share stories, learn about someone new and enjoy a friendly chat through the post. We encourage residents to write regularly, be kind and respectful, and get to know their pen pal at a pace that feels comfortable for everyone.

Your safety and wellbeing are our priority. If you would like to take part in Post a Smile, speak to your local manager or visit the dedicated Post a Smile page on our website to find out more.

Across Housing 21, residents and colleagues are finding new ways to make our communities greener and more sustainable.

At Carew Court, resident Alan has transformed the gardens by planting colourful wildflowers that return each year and help attract more wildlife. His hard work has created a beautiful space for residents and nature to enjoy.

At Robert Smith Court, new solar panels have been installed alongside existing renewable energy systems. This will help reduce carbon emissions and support more energy-efficient homes for residents.

We’re also continuing to invest in solar panels at schemes across the country through grant-funded projects, helping more communities benefit from greener technology.

There are lots of ways residents can get involved too. Our Environmental Awareness Group is a friendly online community where residents can share ideas, learn more about sustainability and help shape Housing 21’s environmental work.

The group also provides opportunities to hear from guest speakers and other residents about the projects and ideas making a difference across our schemes.

To find out more about the Environmental Awareness Group or how you can get involved, speak to your local manager or visit the Housing 21 website where you can also keep up to date with sustainability projects happening at our schemes.

Your views and experiences are important. We want more residents to get involved and help shape the services that matter most to you.

There are lots of ways to take part, depending on your interests and how much time you would like to give. You could join a resident forum, share your thoughts on topics such as service charges, complaints, digital inclusion, safety or environmental issues, or help us explore new ways for residents to have their say.

We know that meetings and online activities do not suit everyone, so we want to hear from residents in ways that work best for you. This could include completing surveys, taking part in local discussions, sharing written feedback, having a phone conversation or other approaches that fit around your needs.

By sharing your views, you can help us understand what is working well, where we can improve and what changes would make a positive difference.

If you would like to find out more or get involved, speak to your local manager or visit our website's Get Involved page.

The latest round of the Resident Trust Fund has received a fantastic response, with almost 400 applications from residents across Housing 21 communities.

An amazing 98% of applications were approved, helping residents turn their ideas into reality and create positive changes where they live.

The fund has supported a wide range of activities, from community gardens and exercise equipment to day trips, social events and creative projects. These ideas help bring neighbours together, encourage friendships and make schemes even better places to live.

We’re also working on a new section of our website to make applying for the fund easier. This will include clear guidance about what the fund can support, examples of successful projects and helpful tips for making an application.

Thank you to everyone who has shared their ideas and helped make a difference in their communities.

To find out more about the Resident Trust Fund, speak to your local manager or visit our Resident Trust Fund page.

Let’s Talk is a great way to keep up to date with what’s happening across Housing 21 and hear directly from colleagues about the work taking place to support residents.

The latest sessions for Retirement Living and Extra Care residents are now available on our YouTube channel.

We share updates on:

• How Housing 21 is performing
• Heat networks
• Our new Resident Experience Strategy
• Keeping cool during the summer months
• And more

Whether you watch on your own or with neighbours at your scheme, the sessions are a simple way to stay informed and find out more about the things that matter to residents.

Watch the latest Let's Talk Retirement Living: 

Would you like to help improve the way we explain service charges to residents?

Our Resident Service Charge Network brings residents and colleagues together to look at how we share information about service charges and make it easier to understand.

The network welcomes new members and meets online each month through Microsoft Teams. It’s a great opportunity to share your views, ask questions and help shape future communications.

The group has also helped create a series of resident discussion videos covering topics including:

Understanding your service charges

Understanding service charge costs

Understanding budget meetings

The videos have been designed with residents in mind, using clear and simple explanations to help make service charges easier to understand.

If you would like to watch the videos or find out more about joining the Resident Service Charge Network, speak to your local manager or visit the Resident Service Charge Network page.

There’s still time to book your place at one of our annual Retirement Living conferences taking place across the country this September.

The conferences are a great opportunity to hear the latest Housing 21 updates, meet members of our leadership team and connect with residents from other schemes.

You’ll also have the chance to share your views, ask questions and provide feedback about the things that matter to you.

This year’s conferences will take place on:

Tuesday 8 September – Leicester Marriott Hotel, Leicester

Tuesday 15 September – Ashton Gate Stadium, Bristol

Thursday 17 September – Manchester Marriott Hotel Piccadilly, Manchester

Tuesday 22 September – Mercure Dartford Brands Hatch Hotel & Spa, Kent

Thursday 24 September – Park Plaza, Leeds

Places are still available, but spaces are limited, so make sure you book soon.

To find out more, view the frequently asked questions and register your place, visit the Retirement Living Conference page e or speak to your local manager.

A quick monthly check is all it takes to make sure your pendant alarm is working properly when you need it most.

Your pendant alarm is there to give you peace of mind, knowing that help is always just a button press away. Taking a few moments to test it regularly helps ensure it will work reliably in an emergency.