Our repairs team recently completed a project in Streatham Vale after one of our properties had unfortunately been left vandalised by a previous tenant. The property was so badly damaged, it needed a complete renovation before it was relet again. 

Our repairs team is made up of highly skilled operatives and experts, including floor layers and UPVC specialists. They work hard to maintain your homes to a good and safe standard.  

Our operatives worked tirelessly and spent time away from loved ones to ensure the property was ready to be let in time for Christmas. They worked out of hours, including evenings and weekends, to ensure any previously booked appointments for our Wandle residents were unaffected. 

Wandle’s Repairs Service Manager, Cliff Marcus said, ‘All of the operatives involved sacrificed their weekends and evenings away from their families to get this project finished. The craftmanship is outstanding and all of them represent Wandle’s values; aim high, own it, think customer, work together and build relationships. Thank you and well done!’ 

HEATING YOUR HOME

OPEN FIRES

• Always be careful when using an open fire to keep your home warm and always use a fire guard to protect against sparks.
• Always check your fire is under control before going to bed.
• Keep chimneys and flues clean.

PORTABLE HEATERS

• Keep heaters away from curtains and furniture.
• Do not use heaters for drying clothes.
• Always unplug an electric heater when you go to bed.
• Try to secure the heater to a wall to stop it falling over.

KEEPING WARM

ELECTRIC BLANKETS

• Unplug blankets before you get into bed, unless they have a ‘safety all night’ feature.
• Store the blanket either rolled, flat or loosely folded to avoid wire damage.
• You may be able to get your fire blanket tested by Age UK or your local fire service. They should be tested every three years.
• Try not to buy second-hand blankets.
• Replace your blanket every ten years.
• Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

WHAT TO DO IF THERE IS A POWERCUT

ALTERNATIVE LIGHTING

• Have battery operated torches and extra batteries in an easy to find place.
• If you have to use candles, make sure you blow them out before going to bed.
• Make sure candles are in a secure holder and are away from curtains, clothing and bedding.

ALTERNATIVE POWER

• Have a portable charger fully charged, so you can still use a mobile phone in the event of an emergency.

STAY WARM

• Wrap up in layers of warm clothes and blankets.

You can read our fire safety guidelines in full here: Fire Safety – Wandle Housing Association

On Sunday 5 November it is Bonfire Night, which can be a fun night for all the family to enjoy. However, for many the noise can be distressing, and it is important to respect your elderly and vulnerable neighbours, as well as those with young children and pets.

Here are some tips to keep everyone safe this weekend.

Bonfire and firework safety

• If you are hosting a fireworks party, please tell your neighbours, especially those who are elderly, have young children or have pets.
• Never have a bonfire or let off fireworks on your balcony or in communal areas.
• Don’t set off fireworks between 11pm and 7am.
• Please avoid using drink or drugs before or when using fireworks.
• Never return to a lit firework.
• Never throw fireworks and never have fireworks in your pocket.
• Children should never play or light fireworks.
• Sparklers should be lit at arm’s length and at one at a time. Children under five should not handle sparklers, and children over five should be always supervised by an adult. Wear gloves when handling sparklers and dispose of them in a bucket of water.
• Keep your pets indoors this weekend, close the curtains and play some gentle music or pop the television on to mask the sound. For more information on keeping your pets safe during fireworks night, please visit the RSPCA website.
• The safest way to enjoy fireworks is by going to an organised event. Check your local council’s website for displays near you.

For more information, visit Fireworks | London Fire Brigade (london-fire.gov.uk)

Halloween takes place this year on Tuesday 31 October and it is likely some people will be enjoying early celebrations this weekend. We have put together some handy tips to keep you and your family safe over the Halloween period.

Fire safety

• Use battery-operated candles in your pumpkins

• Use battery-operated torches and glowsticks

• When choosing costumes, stay away from long trailing fabric and make sure they are labelled as flame-resistant.

• Teach children to stay away from pumpkins in case they have a live flame inside

• If you are decorating your home, please make sure all decorations are away from open flames, ovens, microwaves and radiators.

• Make sure to keep all exits clear of decorations in your home.

• Make sure all smoke alarms are working.

Stay street smart

• Always accompany young children

• If your older children are trick-or-treating without adult supervision, plan a route with them and agree a time they will get back home.

• Remind children the risk of distracted walking and remind them to not assume cars will always stop at crossings.

• Stay on well-lit streets in well known areas and always use the pavement.

• Caution children to never enter a house or car to receive their Halloween treat.

• Remind children of all ages what to do in case of an emergency and how to call 999.

Halloween disturbances and home safety

• Remember that some people will not want to be disturbed. If there is a pumpkin outside a house, it’s usually a good sign they are happy to receive trick-or-treaters.

• When out trick-or-treating, be mindful of your noise and do not ring someone’s doorbell or knock more than once.

• If you want to receive trick-or-treaters, always use a door chain or look out of a spy hole/window before opening the door.

• Only open the door if you feel it’s safe to do so. If you don’t feel safe, it’s fine to not open the door.
• Some people leave a bowl of sweets outside their home so they don’t have to keep answering the door.
• If you’re worried about Halloween night, invite a friend, family member or relative to sit with you.

It’s ok to not take part in Halloween

If you don’t want to receive trick-or-treaters and are concerned about staying safe, always have your doors and windows locked. We have created a poster you can print at home or at your local library to attach to your front door so you won’t be disturbed.

Our housing team recently transformed a hot spot for fly-tipping into a community garden project.

Residents living in Merton were at the end of their tether with relentless fly-tipping on the corner of their street.

Fly-tipping is the illegal dumping of waste and is a criminal activity for which you can be prosecuted. Not only is it unsightly, but it can also harm the local environment.

Repeatedly clearing the rubbish was only a short-term fix, as the fly-tippers would only return.

Our residents suggested that the area be replaced with a small garden space, that the local community could use to grow herbs and vegetables.

Getting a project like this off the ground is more complex than it looks as it involves a great deal of admin and time to ensure it is delivered to a high standard.

The area was finally prepared and is now a great addition to the street and most importantly deters fly-tipping.

If you have ideas for how we can improve your estate, please email us at estateservices@wandle.com, and we will consider how we can help you.

Read about what you can do if you have noticed fly-tipping in your local area on our webpage.

Now more than ever, it is important to start recycling at home. Once you know what you are doing, it is easy to get started. Follow the steps below and start recycling today.

• Familiarise yourself with what you can recycle at home. There is a brilliant Recycling Locator Tool on the Recycle Now website.
• Do you have the right bins? If you are missing one, contact your local authority to order one.
• Know your dates! Mark the various dates in your calendar so you don’t miss any collections.
• Store your recycling in a convenient place that doesn’t obstruct access to your property. Don’t forget recyclables from your bathroom and other rooms at home.
• Encourage your family or flatmates to play their part in recycling.

Taking the time to learn about what you can and cannot recycle means you are playing an important role in looking after our beautiful planet.

Recycling Week is running from Monday 16 October to Sunday 22 October 2023.

Now in its 20^th year, it is a celebration of recycling across the nation, encouraging people to make the right choices, more often.

This year’s theme is ‘missed capture’ – those items that can be recycled but are often missed.

Throughout the week, we will be sharing information about how to recycle, myths about recycling and how we can support you in keeping your community clean and litter free.

So, why is recycling important?

Recycling at home helps to reduce the need for landfill and more expensive forms of waste disposal. Recycling also reduces our reliance on our natural resources, protecting our precious air and water. In turn, this saves energy, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and helps to fight our climate crisis.

It can be confusing to know what you can and can’t recycle, so do check out the recycle now website and familiarise yourself with what the different symbols mean.

We know that fly-tipping is a common problem for our customers, and we encourage you to report anyone seen dumping bulk rubbish, as this is considered anti-social behaviour. Please contact us by emailing estatesservices@wandle.com and we will ensure the matter is dealt with.

Today (Friday 1 September) is Starts at Home Day and is a celebration of the value and care support services have on people’s lives and communities across the country. 

At Wandle, we exist to support people, across south London, who need a home. We want to be a good landlord and contribute to building strong communities in south London and deliver against our vision ‘Homes to be proud of and services you can trust’. 

Our helping hand fund goes a long way to making our customers lives easier. Most recently, our resident support team helped a young resident who had recently lost her father and was financially struggling to stay afloat. 

In addition, her bathroom and bedroom were severely damaged by various leaks and was dangerous to use.  Understandably this was severely impacting her quality of life and causing her further strain during a difficult time. 

Our asset team worked quickly to install a new bathroom that was fit for purpose and resolved the historic leak damage, making her home safer and more comfortable. Our resident support team were quick to respond to her application and awarded her £400 Argos vouchers to purchase a new rug, wardrobe, and bedding. 

This has made now made her house a home and can now slowly rebuild her life and look to the future. 

About the Helping Hand Fund 

The Helping Hand Fund is available to residents who are on very low incomes, or experiencing exceptional financial hardship. To be eligible, you must be a tenant or homeowner named on a tenancy or lease with us, and able to demonstrate that you need this support. We may ask you for details of your income and expenditure. 

The Helping Hand Fund is also available to new tenants to support one-off costs when moving into your home. 

The Helping Hand Fund cannot be used to pay your rent, or to pay off other debts, and you can only make one application a year. 

School is almost out for the summer holidays and with money feeling tighter this year for many of us, we have rounded up 16 places kids can eat for free or for £1, which will help make family days out more affordable.

• Asda Café – Kids eat for £1 with no adult minimum spend in family-friendly Asda Cafes.

• Beefeater and Brewers Fayre – Two children under 16 can get a free breakfast with every adult’s breakfast.

• Bella Italia – Children eat for £1 with any adult main meal. This offer is only available Monday to Thursday.

• Bills – 2 kids eat free with every adult meal.

• Dunelm Pausa Café – Kids eat free when an adult spends £4.

• Hungry Horse – Kids eat for £1 on Mondays & up to 2 kids get a free breakfast with 1 adult breakfast.

• Ikea – Kids can get a meal from 95p every day.

• Morrisons Café – One free kids’ meal when an adult spends £4.49.

• M&S cafes – Kids can get a free lunch when an adult spends £5 or more in the café on themselves.

• Preto – Kids up to the age of 10 get a free meal with every adult’s meal.

• The Real Greek – Kids under 12 can eat for free every Sunday when an adult spends £10.

• Sainsburys Café – Kids eat for £1 when an adult purchases a hot main meal.

• Table Table – Two children under 16 can get a free breakfast everyday with one paying adult.

• Tesco Café – Kids eat for free when an adult spends a minimum of 60p.

• YO! Sushi – Kids eat for free with every adults meal.

Wandle is supporting Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) Awareness Week 2023 (3-9 July). This is a national campaign to raise awareness and encourage communities to stand against ASB by highlighting the actions that can be taken by those experiencing it.  

This year’s theme is ‘Know Your Rights’ and our ongoing aim is to ensure our customers and the surrounding communities understand help is available.  

We provide homes in welcoming and safe areas in South London; however, we do unfortunately receive ASB reports that our Community Safety team work hard to resolve. Last year we received 352 reports of ASB. Most cases related to noise nuisance (30%), intimidation/harassment (20%) and criminal activity (7%).  

Wandle is committed to preventing and resolving all forms of ASB by working in partnership with other agencies. We recognise if ASB is not properly addressed, it can significantly affect the quality of life for those affected, which is why we want to encourage anyone suffering with ASB issues, to have the courage to report it. You can read more about how to report ASB here > Reporting anti-social behaviour – Wandle Housing Association. 

Frank Smith, our Community Safety Team Leader said: “We know anti-social behaviour can have a huge impact on people’s lives and it is important victims are supported when they raise a report. We are fully committed to supporting our customers and the communities in which we operate in by working closely with our partners to ensure all ASB cases are dealt as quickly and as effectively possible”.  

If you need to report an ASB case, the most efficient and simplest way of reporting anti-social behaviour is through MyWandle. If you do not want to use MyWandle, you can call our Customer Service Team on 0300 2000 120.