2 News
Gordon Sloan GHA Chair
Welcome
WELCOME to the June issue of the Key.
Summer is here at last, though some days you wouldn’t think it. I always love this time of year because the hard work people put into their gardens really starts to show. Not all of us have a garden of course and that’s why it’s great to see community gardens. They brighten up the area and bring people together. As you’ll see on page 4, at one project they’re even making soup for their neighbours with the veg they grow. I was inspired by Jordan’s story on page 6. Jordan couldn’t read and write when he left school and faced challenges as a result. But he recently went to classes - and it has changed his life. I congratulate Jordan on what he has achieved and would like to thank him for sharing his story with us. Hopefully it will help others take those first brave steps. As always, the spectre of the UK
Government’s welfare reforms are never far away. You can read on page 10 how we’ve now helped tenants claim nearly £12million in benefits they didn’t know they were entitled to. Our message, as always, is don’t struggle alone. We have many ways we can help you. Just get in touch.
Keep closes rubbish-free K
EEPING communal closes free of rubbish can help save lives. That’s the message from our Community
Improvement Partnership (CIP), the partnership between the police and fire service and GHA which works to keep our communities safer. Household items left on landings and stairs pose a serious risk of fire - and can end with people trapped by toxic smoke entering flats. Watch Manager Bobby Tourish, of the CIP, said: “Items left in closes can be deliberately set on fire - and smoke from even the smallest fire poses a real threat to life and can damage property. “When a fire happens in a close, there’s usually nowhere for the smoke to go except
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into people’s homes.” That’s also why having a working smoke alarm is so vital – it gives people early warning and buys crucial time for firefighters. As well as keeping stairs and landings clear, you can make a difference by putting friends or neighbours in touch with the fire service if they could do with some support. Watch Manager Tourish added: “Our partnership with GHA has had a huge impact in preventing fires.” To arrange a free home fire safety visit,
talk to your housing officer, call free on 0800 073 1999, text ‘FIRE’ to 80800 or visit
www.firescotland.gov.uk
Contents News and features
Alex’s business boost......................8 Improving communities................9 Money in your pocket...................10 Letters page...................................12 Prize Sudoku...................................14
Pictured on the front are Margaret Reidford and Greg McGregor at Sandyhills
Glasgow Housing Association
www.gha.org.uk
better homes, better lives
The Glasgow Housing Association Limited is a not-for-profit housing association: registered under the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014 No. 2572R(S); recognised by HM Revenue and Customs as a Scottish Charity No. SC034054; registered social landlord No. 317 with the Scottish Housing Regulator under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2010. Registered office: Wheatley House, 25 Cochrane Street, Glasgow G1 1HL.
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