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News 3


What it means to be part of a community


GHA tenant Doneva Bayliss, from Ruchazie, tells us how her community rallied round in her time of need.


M for me.


That shows me people really cared. It shows there’s a close-knit community here, and that if someone is struggling it


Y mum Evelyn died nearly a year ago. That was very sad, of course, but what was lovely was how my neighbours and others in the community have looked out for me since then. My family grew up here – I still have


three brothers living in the area – and my mum was always such a big part of the community.


She helped get Ruchazie Community


Centre built more than 30 years ago. I had been looking after my mum for


years and didn’t get out much. People maybe hadn’t seen me around


for a while but still took the time to ask if I was okay, and how I was coping. They even offered to do my garden


gets noticed and people will offer support. It was really nice to feel people were behind me. It’s nice to feel part of the community. So I’d like to say a huge THANK YOU to all


my neighbours and friends in the area. For all the friendly chat and banter, for all the support and reassurances that things will get better and for being just great neighbours – I thank you all. I want everyone to know that a friendly smile, wave or a five-minute friendly chat makes a positive difference to people’s lives.


I’m so proud of Ruchazie and the way people rallied round. I don’t have much money or I would


have given them a bunch of flowers as a thank-you. Having something in the Key is my way of saying thank-you to everyone.


GHA annual highlights


IT’S been a busy year at GHA – and you can read all about it in our annual highlights. The report looks back at the highlights of the previous 12 months and how GHA pushed forward with plans to create better homes and better lives. In the report you can read


how, in 2016-17, GHA: • Built 142 new homes


across Glasgow, with another 1000 on site • Invested £47m improving our existing homes • Supported 285 people into jobs, and much more. You can find the annual highlights at www.gha.org.uk. You can also read our parent company’s financial accounts at www.wheatley-group.com


Our Report


REAL COMMUNITY: Doneva with her mum, Evelyn


Fond farewell to Summerston stalwart Margaret She said: “I’ve really enjoyed


A LONG-standing tenant chair in the North West has retired. Margaret Tavendale


stepped down as chair of GHA’s Summerston, Acre and Lambhill local housing committee earlier this summer. Margaret, 84, had been chair for 30 years.


Area Housing Manager


my time here and I have some good memories. We got involved in the committee because we wanted to make a difference to people. “It’s important for tenants to get involved with GHA, discuss ideas and have their say.”


Karen McLaughlin presented Margaret with flowers to mark her retirement at the GHA office in Summerston. Karen said: “I’d like to thank


Margaret for all her hard work over the years. She has been a real battler for this area and will be sadly missed.”


to Tenants INCLUDED in this issue of the Key is GHA’s latest ‘Report to Tenants’. The report outlines how GHA is doing in areas including tenant satisfaction, homes and neighbourhoods, rent and repairs.


It includes comments from our scrutiny panel, made up of customers who look at GHA’s performance every year. The Scottish Housing


Regulator requires us to update you every year. We’ll also be asking for your views on next year’s rent levels. Look out for our consultation document coming through your door.


theKEY - www.gha.org.uk


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