Category: Good News Stories

By Rob Gooding and Rachel Cole, the Tenant Involvement team

RotherFed have supported Rotherham Deaf Futures for over 10 years now.  They meet at Springwell Gardens Community Centre every Friday where they get together for social purposes as well as having an interpreter present who helps with day-to-day issues and their correspondence.  Being profoundly deaf, this community struggles with daily issues and they are very isolated, which is why this group and the support we offer is very important to them. RotherFed have secured funding for the group to enable this to happen.

We now hold regular engagement session with the group, once every 6 weeks and at the last session RotherFed staff identified a housing issue faced by one of their members. The member, a longstanding participant in the Rotherham Deaf Futures group, was experiencing significant challenges in obtaining repairs to their home which were required immediately. This situation was exacerbated by a range of health conditions, that necessitated a warm living environment.

Recognizing the urgency of the matter, RotherFed staff immediately liaised with the local ward councillors to get the resident the help and support they needed with the repair process. This approach ensured that the tenants housing needs were met promptly.

In addition to addressing the immediate repair requirements, RotherFed and Its partners explored opportunities to enhance the property’s energy efficiency. By collaborating with RotherFed’s Energy Project, we arranged for The Green Doctors, to conduct a thorough assessment of the property. The aims of this assessment were to identify potential upgrades and recommended cost-effective solutions to reduce energy consumption and lower utility bills, this could be simple things like installing LED light bulbs and radiator tinfoil’s, thereby improving the member’s overall quality of life.

We will continue to support the group as and when required/needed.

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

A Client got in touch with Madiya from the energy team. Madiya previously met the Ms J* at the Eastwood Village Primary School who wanted some energy advice and she chose to meet at Clifton Learning Partnership as it’s close by to where she lives. She recently moved here to the UK, and she is struggling to understand how her bills work. Ms J bought her bills with her and one of the letters that she was struggling to understand was the breakdown of her bill. Madiya explained to her how much is going towards her electric and how much is going towards her gas. Ms J didn’t realise it will be one bill for both gas and electric in total as a direct debit. Ms J also realised that so far, her gas has been higher than her electric and didn’t understand why. She was asked if she is using her gas more than electric and mentioned she is cooking every day and using her gas for that as well as using the gas to make tea. Ms J was advised to lower this and try to make her tea using the kettle and when making food, see if she can make food that can last a couple of days, to save her using her gas every day. Ms J was also advised of some energy saving tips around the household to help her save on her energy annually. She was offered a green doctor as well which Madiya filled out with them. So, she is aware of the minor draught proofing that will be set out in her property. Ms J was very pleased with the amount of help offered to her.

*name has been changed.

By Rachel Cole and Rob Gooding, The Tenant Involvement team

As part of our new contract with RMBC, RotherFed must deliver two pop-up events across the brough.  Our first one was held on the Fitzwilliam Estate in Swinton, and this was a huge success.  We thought of the White Bear Estate at Wath for our second one and after agreement from RMBC staff we started to plan this.  The White Bear Estate is a disengaged area where we have struggled to get residents involved, despite many years of trying! FLUX have recently been putting some activities on the estate which residents have become involved with and have enjoyed.

Prior to the event we produced and delivered over 250 leaflets around the estate as well as promoting it on social media platforms.

Our event took place on Wednesday 28 August from 12pm until 4pm and luckily the sun was shining.  DB Entertainment brought a bouncy castle and slide and provided free hot dogs for the children to enjoy.  Early Years Help attended with activities along with our Energy Know How Stall and Tenant Involvement.  The face painter was kept extremely busy over the 4 hours, painting lots of different faces.  It was a great event with a fabulous turnout.  We had approximately 250 people attend the event, with around 60% being children and the rest parents or guardians.  90% of residents attending were council tenants.  We signed 12 residents up to the Connectors Pool who expressed an interest in becoming involved in council’s services/meetings.  We also spoke to 3 residents who are very interested in forming a TARA on the estate, which is amazing news.  Rachel will organise a meeting with these tenants very soon and move things forward.  RMBC Housing and Neighbourhoods staff also supported on the day.  It was a great day and hopefully the start more activities to happen on this estate.

An update from the Energy Know How team – one of the attendees who spoke with the energy team whilst at the event has been awarded 6 x prepayment vouchers worth a total of £294.00 because of their application to the Centre for Sustainable energy.

Quotes from a couple of residents.

“It’s so nice to see the field full of activity and children enjoying themselves”.

“Would like to see activities like this happen more often on this estate, it been a lovely day”.

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

On a warm summers evening in August, Clifton Park saw 9 volunteers come together with project workers from Rotherfeds Heart of the Community project to help to create a new forum. The planned activity for the day was to litter pick and discuss what groups thought Rotherham needed to support litter pickers better and how that could be achieved.

The forum was well attended by seasoned Litter pickers from the S61 litter pickers, Rawmarsh & Parkgate Friends of Green Spaces, Rotherham’s Older Peoples forum and the Rotherham Inter faith group. Whilst picking in the centre of the park 9 bags of litter were picked to provide a safe and clean area for families to enjoy at the height of the summer.

The rubbish that was collected by the group was quickly collected by the rangers in the park with further reports of where sharps were discovered being made to the relevant council department. A good haul for 45 minutes work on a refreshing summer afternoon.

Once we had regrouped, we asked what groups thought Rotherham needed to support litter pickers better and how that could be achieved. There were lots of conversation and ideas It was agreed that it would be a good start to create an online forum on social media where all litter pickers from the borough can come together to share their events, achievements and stories. There is interested in creating a committee which will continue to be explored.

After our discussion we all enjoyed a share of sandwiches, crisps and cake.

So far, the group has managed to increase its online membership to 90 individuals. The group is already seeing lots of members posting about litter picks across Rotherham. The next plan is to create another event that will engage with more members and will have a positive impact on more green spaces in Rotherham.

By Rob Gooding and Rachel Cole, the Tenant Involvement team

Lots of good work continues on this estate with lots more planned.  At the end of July two community skips were held on the estate, and these were both filled within a couple of hours.  The caretakers helped with this by collecting large bulky items from residents’ home.  An additional skip maybe held later in the year. On Monday 19 August we held a community litter pick on the field off Calladine Way ready for an activity day the following day, we then continued to pick litter from around the estate. It was nice to see that the estate had been kept in a reasonable tidy condition. Rachel organised with Wayne Munroe Smith to get the equipment required, he also arranged to have the rubbish we collected picked up.

The following day FLUX provided arts and crafts on the green space opposite the shops along with parkour for the children to enjoy.  The libraries also attended, and children sat and read/listened to stories.  It was a lovely afternoon; the sun was shining, and everyone enjoyed themselves. 

Also, for the first time in a long time this year the residents enjoyed a coach trip to Cleethorpes in August.  This was organised and subsidised through the TARA on the estate.  The TARA had raised funds through tombola’s etc which when towards the cost of the coach making it more affordable for residents to attend.  Residents of all ages had a lovely day and asked if they could sort another day trip out soon!  As the TARA progresses it is hoped they can investigate funding towards this and other activities/trips.

A drop-in event for tenants for RMBC Housing Services and partners i.e. Mears, Equans etc is to be organised for later this year as well as a Halloween event in the October half term holidays.

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. 

By the Open Arms Community Enagement Team

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.