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.

Our telecoms provider will be carrying out essential works on Monday 16th August that will impact our out-of-hours service for a short period.

The work will take place some time between 5pm and 6pm Monday evening.

If you call the out of hours service during this time and the system is not working then please call the appropriate contractors own emergency number directly as follows –

Emergency Gas / Heating Repairs :  Saltire 0330 202 0444

All Other Emergency Repairs :  Turner Property Services 0333 320 2322

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.

Our staff will not be available between 4.45pm on Thursday 15 July and 8.45am on Tuesday 20 July 2021.

If you have an emergency repair during this time please use one of the following numbers as appropriate.

For emergency gas heating repairs: Saltire 0330 202 0444

For all other emergency repairs: Turner Property Services 0333 320 2322

Rent Payment can be made via the AllPay website www.allpayments.net or by using the Allpay mobile app. You can also continue to make payments directly into our bank account, or using the Post Office or PayPoint outlets.

The following numbers may also be of use:

For gas escapes: Transco 0800 111 999

For electrical supply faults: Scottish Power 0800 092 9290

For burst water mains: Scottish Water 0800 731 084

Please note that the office remains closed to the public in general as per Scottish Government guidelines.

Shire’s recent participation in the Energy Redress Scheme has helped 73 of our tenants get a share of over £2,000 of fuel support funding from the Scotland Social Housing Fuel Support funding. 

Diane Balfour and Leanne Morrison of Shire’s Financial Inclusion Team are delighted to have been able to help tenants with some much needed financial support with their fuel costs, especially with so many of us being at home more often due to Covid restrictions. 

The Scottish Social Housing Fuel Support fund is part of the Energy Redress Scheme that was launched in 2018.  The Energy Saving Trust has awarded over £26 million to fund over 150 charities across England, Scotland and Wales. These grants have enabled charities to deliver projects that help energy consumers in vulnerable situations to save energy and money in their homes and to live warmer, more comfortable lives.   

This scheme is now closed but Shire continues to seek opportunities like this to support our communities.  We are here to help, so do get in touch if you need any financial help and support.