Author: Laura

By Rachel Cole and Rob Gooding, The Tenant Involvement team

Rob first met Jordan at Talk n Train; Jordan is an active member of this group. Talk n Train is a boxing group who meet at Millennium Boxing in Rotherham. The aim of the group is to support the local community through their emotional and physical wellbeing. They have a team of highly qualified coaches and volunteers who offer free training, coaching, one to one support and peer support groups where members can share the offload without judgement. The group has been supported by RotherFed for the past three years now. Jordan has thrived and become a key member of the group, helping deliver sessions and supporting members as well as his local community.

Rob spoke to Jordan about RotherFed, its services and the involved they have with RMBC. As Jordan is a council tenant, he expressed an interest in becoming involved in council services.

Jordan first attended the Housing Involvement Panel (HIP) a few months ago now, bringing with him a strong passion for making positive changes for tenants, particularly younger tenants not just in his area but across Rotherham as a whole.

Jordan’s first involvement in the HIP meetings was to showcase the amazing work of Talk n Train in the Rotherham area. With the support from RotherFed staff, the group produced a video interview which was presented at the HIP meeting, in the section dedicated to highlighting one Rotherham’s wealth of community groups. Jordan attended this meeting in person to answer any questions afterwards, marking the beginning of his commitment to the panel. From attending that initial meeting, Jordan knew he wanted to deepen his involvement and contribute significantly to the panel’s efforts in making a difference to council services for everybody in Rotherham.

As well as attending the HIP meetings, Jordan is keen to get involved with our volunteer get-togethers where he can learn and gain experience from other volunteers and in time will then be able to pass on his own skills to new volunteers.

It is great to have Jordan onboard and be involved, especially as he is a younger council tenant and has different ideas/views. We will continue to support Jordan where needed.

By Dan Barron and Sam Dixon, The Heat of the Community Project

Heart of the Community Project workers supported Jo and the SEND youth group apply to Voluntary Action Rotherham’s Mental Health Fund at the end of 2022. This fund was to finance new activity to produce activity that supports Adult Mental Health and wellbeing within Rotherham.

Jo, who could now be considered a veteran at supporting SEND families given her community project history, designed this project to be a space for parents and carers to be able to get together and share their experiences of living with a young person with additional needs. The group wanted to deliver a weekly coffee morning for parents and carers to support each other and talk about their experiences to break the stigmas attached to parents/ carers and the pressures that come with having a SEN family.

“I know I’m talking to others who understand what I’m going through and will listen to me, and I feel listened to.”

Raising a young person with additional needs is a journey that most parents never imagine that they will have to go through. It is a journey filled with constant learning and a whole multitude of emotions including denial, anxiety, sleep deprivation, depression, loneliness, and isolation. It magnifies the importance of community groups like Jo’s Peer Support that provide a small respite for parents and carers that they would not otherwise have. Sessions bring them together so that they can vent from turbulent emotions, have access to likeminded peer support such as sharing individuals’ journeys and activities to bring participants together.

“People don’t try to fix my situation with suggestions because they know there are no fixes.”

The group is run by volunteers who are parents and carers of children with disabilities/additional needs, so everyone has lived experience when navigating through the process of diagnosis and life with a child with additional needs. Parents in these situations very often feel isolated, this could be the result of others not understanding the pressures being faced, or even the individual isolating themselves because they are struggling to process the situation, they now find themselves in.

“People don’t always get what I’m talking about…… Other parents in the playground they listen, but they don’t get it.”

The sessions have made huge leaps in creating a peer support network that is helping members resilience and have a place to go to where their “constant battles are being understood.” They have recently employed the services of Jane from Luna Spirit who offer Holistic Therapies to attendees and is paid for by the funding. The addition of Holistic Therapy has been a real hit with everyone giving everyone a small pamper for themselves or just some well-deserved “me time.” The group is slowly growing its membership and people are gaining proper friendships from being involved with the group. Long may it continue.

“In this group, I know that I’m talking to other parents that have real experience of the things I worry about for my child’s, and my family’s future.”

“We get a cuppa and biscuits, and we don’t have to jump through hoops for it. Hahaha”

“The people here are a real fountain of Knowledge.”

By Janet Malsch and Lee Lazenby, the Open Arms team

In a recent session at Open Arms, a brave client visited us, visibly distressed and struggling to hold back tears. She revealed that she had fled her home due to domestic abuse by her husband. Our team immediately ensured her safety, offering her a comforting cup of tea before she met with our Citizen Adviser.

During her session, the client sought guidance on navigating the process of divorce and accessing support as a victim of domestic abuse. She also expressed concerns about her immigration status, as her husband had previously threatened her with deportation. Fortunately, it was discovered that she held indefinite leave to remain status, alleviating this fear.

With the support of our Citizen Adviser, the client was introduced to Rotherham Rise and together, they discussed the next steps and devised a plan to address her situation.

When leaving our session, we noticed a change in our client’s overall demeanour. She radiated a newfound sense of empowerment and determination to take control of her future. Our Citizen Adviser was deeply impressed by her bravery and resilience, feeling privileged to support her on her journey.

This story highlights the strength and courage of a survivor of domestic abuse. It also highlights the importance of providing safe spaces and access to resources for individuals seeking to break free from abusive situations. At Open Arms, we are committed to offering compassionate support and assisting individuals like our brave client to reclaim their lives.

By The Making Our Money Go Further team

Rachel from the Tenant Involvement team was first contacted by Paul* in June 2023 to ask if she knew anyone who could help with his ongoing PIP issues.  She had worked with Paul for many years on a different project and Paul was aware of RotherFed and the services that we have to offer.  She explained to Paul about our Making Our Money Go Further who work in partnership with Citizens Advice and forwarded Paul’s details to the team with a brief description of his query, she also made the team aware that Paul suffers from hearing problems.  A member of our Making Our Money Go Further team picked up query and contacted Paul.

We explained to Paul that one of the services the project offers is a priority referral to Citizens Advice.  Citizens Advice offers an Advocacy service for people who wish to request a mandatory review of their PIP decision or help with a PIP appeal.  We asked Paul if he would like him to refer him to Citizens Advice and if so, could he provide details about his concern, along with his address and date of birth.

Paul explained that in June 2022 he applied for PIP, fast forward to June 2023 and he has only just received a response to the mandatory reconsideration, after they misplaced the original one send, which he also sent again in October 2022 and resent again in April 2023.

Paul explained that he feels that his case has been based on the spreadsheet mentality of the DWP, where incorrect assumptions and their basic manipulation of fact has conspired to come up with another rejection and feels that his only cause of action now is tribunal.  We referred Paul, as mentally Paul felt he was not able to do this himself. Paul also asked for it to be done via email due to his hearing problems.

Paul contacted Rachel 3 weeks later to say thank you again for putting him onto the Making Our Money Go Further team at RotherFed, he explained that he has followed the advice of the Citizens Advice and was now in the process of requesting a tribunal.

Recently Paul sent the following email to us.

“Many moons ago you directed me to the services of Citizens Advice, as per the help in my claim for PIP and after 14 days short of 2 years the system has succumbed and done the right thing.  The referral to the Citizens Advice generated from your team at RotherFed to adopt me onto their case portfolio has enabled me to move forward in my struggles both mentally and physically.  The supportive emails sent by you provided a timely tonic and ultimately the resource of the solicitor won the day.  I dread the other outcome having endured nigh on 2 years of doubt and thinking that various people were casting a doubt on my character, which sent me close to the edge.  However, the service of listening to what I said which ensued all that time to go enabled me and my family unit to whether the storm and now try to move on.

With the visit to the tribunal now over and the award into the post its about thank those that helped so we wish to donate a very small insignificant sum of £200 to do with as you decide I was thinking of vouchers to act as prizes for raffles etc.  More importantly is the offer to email persons to support the service you undertake just direct me and I will gladly type.

Thank you is a rubbish reward for what you have done but it’s all I have.

Paul and Family”.

It is so nice to hear that our Making Our Money Go Further Team and the service they offer, was able to help Paul and his family which will now enable them to move forward much more positively.  Paul’s offer of £200 to RotherFed was a very kind gesture, however, we will not be accepting this and suggested to him to support something in his community if he wishes.

*name has been changed.

By Rachel Cole, the Tenant Involvement team

Leverton Way TARA has been running now for just over 6 years and Rachel has worked with this group since just before Covid started.  Peter Keyworth, who is the Chair, started the TARA up with another local resident just over 6 years ago and the group has continued to grow and go from strength to strength.  The group holds a breakfast morning every Tuesday and they have fish & chips delivered to the Centre every Friday lunchtime.  Also, recently they have started to hold a lunch club once a month where Pete Whitehead, who is the Treasurer, cooks a hot meal for everyone.  We have recently supported the group to get their food hygiene certificate and register their premises.  The group has been a great success in bringing the residents and community together and to enjoy each other’s company.  The residents also use the Centre to play pool and darts, and some just pop in to watch a bit of TV together.

The group received £500 refunding recently from RMBC and this month the group organised and held an afternoon at the Centre where all residents were welcome to come along and join them.  Leaflets were delivered to every resident around the neighbourhood centre advertising the event. There was a free buffet and raffle and a singer so residents could have a singalong and dance too!  The following day they all enjoyed a barge trip along the canal from Swinton Lock. 

This is a great group who want to make a difference in their local community whilst using their neighbourhood centre. Even during lockdown, the TARA made sure that those who were shielding in his community didn’t miss out on their fish & chip lunch by delivering it straight to their door.  Residents would phone or stop Peter whilst he was out walking his dog to place their orders which he then collected from the local fish & chip shop and delivered to their homes.  Peter said he didn’t want people to miss out on a Friday favourite just because they couldn’t go out. 

By Julie Fletcher, Maria Jones and Neelam Rhuksar, The Making Our Money Go Further Team

‘I have never thought of using a slow cooker for such a variety of meals.”

‘I will look more closely into purchasing non-branded goods to see if I can save money’.

‘I would like to look into doing more shared meals with my friends to save a bit of money’.

We ran a Taste Test session at Eastwood Village Primary School at the coffee morning with parents. and delivered to a group of about 30 parents,initially it was not very interactive, but barriers were broken down by the introduction of the taste test. 

The aim of the session was to increase knowledge regarding money saving ideas and enable the parents to better manage their finances.

We had a couple of parents who attended and carried out the taste tests. During this session discussions took place as to how to save money on purchasing non-branded goods, together with amounts that could be saved on the goods with the taste test, which would allow them to save to money to allow this to go to other outgoings. It was clear that the main worries parents were having was in relation to energy costs. 

We also discussed different methods of how to cook foods and the savings you can make by switching from cooking in a conventional oven to an air fryer and we also considered the savings made when cooking in a slow cooker. Slow cooker recipe’s taken on the day were handed out and greatly received. 

A small group of about 3 women were very keen to consider starting a group which would cook meals and share meals together, with a view to saving money rather than going out for meals.  We discussed this with Hannah, who facilitates the coffee morning, who was keen for us to revisit the coffee morning, next term and do another session together with energy.

At the end of the session the teachers were inquisitive and were keen to do the taste test and this developed into a productive discussion about the costings of various groceries.

By the Open Arms Team, Lee Lazenby and Janet Malsch

Over the two-week Easter school holidays, we ran six community events at Open Arms aimed at families. These were free to attend and most had food as well as refreshments provided. Rotherham Healthy Holidays were keen to support these family activities too and offered to part fund the sessions.
The first of our Easter events kicked off at Dalton Parish Hall with the introduction to the very talented Mr Dan who hopefully we will be seeing more of going forward at our upcoming events throughout 2024/2025.

He has such a remarkable memory, able to remember all the children’s names who took an active part on what turned out to be one of our most successful and enjoyable workshops to date, not only in our eyes but both adults and children attending the Circus Workshop.

Mr Dan completely changed his persona as soon as he put on his circus attire.
They say pictures say a thousand words and the feedback received at the event was fantastic.

Continue reading “Easter Events”

By The Open Arms Team, Lee Lazenby and Janet Malsch

Martin, a visitor facing newfound challenges after the end of a relationship and finding himself homeless, sought assistance from the housing team at Riverside House. As he waited his turn, he stumbled upon the Open Arms stall.

We offered Martin a steaming cup of coffee and some biscuits. Grateful for the warmth both literal and figurative, Martin began to open up about his struggles and the hurdles he faced.

What started as a chance encounter blossomed into a heartfelt conversation lasting nearly an hour.  Martin found comfort in sharing his burdens, feeling heard and understood.

Expressing his gratitude, Martin thanked the Open Arms team for their compassion and for treating him with dignity during a vulnerable moment.  We extended the invite and said, he is always welcome for a chat here and, if he needs any assistance Citizen Advice would be available for him.

By the Energy Know How Team, Sharon Smith, Lynn Clarkson and Madiya Shokat

I first met client B at a community event close to her home which was organised by our colleagues on the Tenant Involvement Team where they offered refreshments and a chat for attendees. A few days later Miss B called me to ask for help with an energy issue.

Miss B is visually impaired (she is completely blind) and is on the Priority Services Register with her energy provider.

She was very upset and explained that her energy provider had attempted to take over £1300 form her bank account to pay her outstanding electricity bill from her previous address. She has been told that her bills were estimated (she was at the property @ 2 years), and she had accumulated this debt despite paying @ £ 170.00 per month by direct debit.

She does not think her meters were ever read and is unable to read them herself. She thinks her carers may have submitted meter readings using online webchats during the time she was there but as her carers often change, she cannot confirm this with them. She does not recall anyone ever visiting to read the meters as would be expected if someone cannot see the meters themself.

She did not have enough money in her account for this direct debit to be taken and had no prior notification (as she should have had) of the attempt to take payment. She has now cancelled her direct debit to prevent a further attempt to take an unaffordable amount.

She has recently paid a large gas bill for her former home (Feb/March) which was again because of estimated bills – she had to borrow the money to pay this as she was worried someone would come and knock on her door to get it.

She has now received a letter stating that if payment is not made soon, then the amount will be sent to a debt collection agency, and she is extremely worried about this and very anxious.

The letter was NOT in braille, and she has had to wait for someone she trusts to read it to her.

She does receive her bills in braille but has not read anything that has ever suggested she is behind with her payments or that her bills were estimated.

It does not appear that her direct debit payment was ever reviewed (as it should be at least annually) and to the best of her knowledge she was paying what was requested and when it was requested – this bill on moving home has come as a significant shock to her.

As she has not received anything to suggest she was falling behind with her payments and due to the failure to read her meters due to her visual impairment, I suggested it would be worth making a complaint to her energy company and I agreed to help with this due to the circumstances.

The clients written consent to act on her behalf was obtained and a formal complaint has been submitted on her behalf – we are awaiting contact from the energy company.

Recently, Food, Health & Safety/Trading standards have changed their guidelines and community groups who now deal with food on the premises need to be registered.  In a proactive move to support our local community groups, RotherFed has teamed up with Rotherham Council Licensing and the Neighbourhood Teams to aid and give support to community groups potentially affected by upcoming changes in food hygiene regulations in the Neighbourhood Centres.

Recognising not only the importance of compliance and safety, but also what these sessions mean to our groups and residents, RotherFed is offering guidance and resources to help these groups register their sessions. Additionally, we are facilitating access to training and funding food hygiene courses for those in need of it.

Groups like Aston TARA (Aston), Leverton Way (Dalton) and Staple Green (Thrybergh) have already benefited from this, with staff members attending sessions and supporting the group register their sessions as well as paying for key members to do their food hygiene certification, ensuring the groups breakfast and lunch session can continue for the residents to enjoy.  RotherFed has also liaised with the Estates Services Officer regarding which Neighbourhood Centres need their sinks changing for to a sink which has a secondary half size bowl in addition to the main bowl, which allows rinsing and food preparation when the main bowl is in use.

This collaborative effort underscores the commitment of RotherFed and its partners to empower and protect community organisations ensuring that these groups can continue their invaluable work.

Through education, support, and cooperation, RotherFed and its partners are paving the way for a safer and more resilient community, where every group has the tools and knowledge to thrive. We will continue to support other community groups, where necessary, to get registered and undertake their food hygiene qualification if required.