We were delighted to welcome back our Tenant Panel to our first in person event at the Dumfries Arms Hotel on 16^th September 2021.  The socially distanced event went down a treat with panel members who were delighted to return to meeting each other and the Shire staff team in person again.

Over a breakfast roll, the panel were presented with an overview of our Business Plan and Assurance Statement and gave us their views on a few policies that were under review.  These events with our tenants are so important for us in addition to being really enjoyable as we share information in a casual and friendly way and are always happy to receive feedback.  We are always on the look out for more members and we don’t look for lots of your time.  If you are interested in joining us, please contact Ann Black.

As part of our rolling review programme, we have been updating several of our policies and procedures.

Our tenants have a right to be consulted on key policies and proposals that may have an impact on them.

We would love for you to review our draft policies and give us your feedback using the links below. We will take into account any views that tenants have before making a final decision.

The consultation period will run from Wednesday 8 September 2021 until Monday 20 September 2021.

• Draft Arrear Management Policy 

Survey – Draft Arrear Management Policy 

• Draft Financial Inclusion Policy 

Survey – Draft Financial Inclusion Policy  

• Draft Buy Back Strategy

Survey – Draft Buy Back Strategy

• Draft Legionella Management Policy 

Survey – Draft Legionella Management Policy

• Draft Lone Working Policy 

Survey – Draft Lone Working Policy

Eydent, the alliance of Ayrshire housing associations, will be holding a virtual conference on Tuesday 23^rd November 2021. For more information, please see the leaflet below.

Our Annual General Meeting will take place on Wednesday 22^nd September 2021 at 6pm via Microsoft Teams.

We are sorry that we will not have the opportunity to meet face to face with members this year.  We hope that you understand that we have decided to proceed in this way in order to safeguard public health.

We are also deeply sorry that tenants who are not members are unable to participate this year.

We hope that we will be able to meet both members and tenants in person at next year’s meeting.

If you are a member of the Association and are interested in joining the AGM, please contact Jade McLelland on 01290 421130 or at jmclelland@shirehousing.com.

The agenda will include the usual items such as the Chair’s Report, the Auditor’s Report and election of Board Members.

We’re also always looking for new members to help us do the right things to continue to protect the interests of our tenants. If you are interested in becoming a member of the Association please get in touch.

We recognise how flexible and accommodating everyone has been during the past 18 months and appreciate your ongoing understanding as we try to keep our staff and customers as safe as possible.

In line with Scottish Government guidance, we are going to operate a phased return of staff to the office.  This will mean that there are fewer staff physically in the office than pre Covid 19 times.

For this reason, we will also operate a phased re-opening of the office to our tenants, customers and the wider public.

You can still continue to contact us by phone 01290 421130 or email info@shirehousing.com or you can also request a home visit from one of our staff.

You can help us by continuing to pay your rent via direct debit, bank transfer, at a PayPoint or Post Office or by using the Allpay App or Website – details below.  We would like to continue with as few cash payments at the office as possible.  If you need more information, please get in touch.

From Monday 16 August, the office will be open on Monday, Wednesday and Friday between 8.45am and 1pm.  To keep everyone safe, we ask that only one person, or small household group is in the reception area at a time, so if you arrive and there is already someone there, please wait outside.  When you do come into the building, you must be wearing a face mask and sanitise your hands.  There will be no facility to use a private meeting room, so if you need to discuss something sensitive, please call us in advance.  We will keep this arrangement under review and let you know when we are ready to move to the next phase of re-opening.

We are all looking forward to getting back out and visiting people in our communities, but everyone should be responsible for keeping themselves and others as safe as possible.

Allpay

You can pay your rent online using the Allpay website:    www.allpayments.net/Allpayments/Signin

You can download the Allpay app to your mobile phone to pay your rent via these QR codes.

Shire Housing Association is committed to maximising community benefits for our tenants and communities through our procurement activities, highlighting our commitment to deliver our Business Plan Vision of ‘Great Homes, Great People, Vibrant Communities’.

We are delighted to announce that as part of our new repairs and maintenance contract with Turner Property Services, we have a fantastic opportunity for someone of any age to learn a trade.  Turners are offering a full trade apprenticeship to 2 Ayrshire residents.  The apprentice job description can be downloaded HERE.

If you are interested in this fantastic opportunity please send your CV by email to Liz Thomson, HR Advisor: liz.thomson@turnerservices.co.uk with a covering letter which includes which trade you are interested in.  The deadline for applying is Friday 20^th August 2021.

Interviews will initially be held by Microsoft Teams and face to face if you are successful in reaching the 2nd stage.

Resuming Home Visits at Covid Level 2

Following Scottish Government guidance, Shire’s offices continue to remain closed to the public. We are keeping this decision under review and will update our customers of any changes.

Our repair service is slowly returning to normal and we will be starting to reintroduce some home visits for our Customer Service Team.

Any home visits will continue to be an exception as protecting our staff, customers and communities remains our top priority.

Prior to any visit to your home our Officers shall ask you to support them by taking the following precautions:

1. We’ll ask you a number of Covid screening questions when arranging the visit and again on your doorstep. If there is any doubt on the questions, we are happy to rearrange the visit.
2. We’ll ask you to make sure that the visit is on a one-to-one basis and any other family members stay out of the room where the visit is taking place.
3. We’ll ask you to open windows for ventilation, wear a mask and maintain social distancing during the visit.
4. Our Officer will wear a mask, maintain social distancing, and use hand sanitisers before and after your visit.

Shire are still here to help and thank all our customers for their support. You can continue to contact us by telephone, email and letter.