We are participating in the Mayor’s Business Climate Challenge (BCC), a voluntary energy efficiency programme developed to support businesses in reducing their energy consumption, costs, and carbon emissions. By taking part, we are pledging to reduce our energy consumption 10% in a year.

To achieve this, we will receive free customised technical advice from consultants to help make our workplace more energy efficient and future-proof our business against rising energy prices.

Findings from the BCC pilot indicate that in the first 9 months of the programme, participants reduced their energy consumption on average by 16%, saving £8,300 in energy costs. 

We will keep you updated on our progress throughout the year.

We recently wrote to all residents explaining new rent and/or service charges from April 2023.

Due to this change, we supplied new details to our direct debit partner, Allpay.

Unfortunately, we got this wrong first time around. We have already corrected the problem, but this means you might get an incorrect notification from Allpay in the post, before your correct one.

For clarity, no incorrect payments will be taken, but you might get two letters from Allpay. The second one will be the correct one.

We have written to everyone affected, and anyone with questions about this can email income@wandle.com.

Residents living in our sheltered schemes were delighted to receive their winter warmer packages.

Our customer empowerment team delivered 120 packages to Wandle residents. The packs contained warm blankets, mugs, puzzle books, socks and packs of biscuits.

It was a team effort, as the bags were packed by fellow colleagues, and delivered by our repair operatives.

This time of year is challenging for everyone, but compounded by the ongoing cost of living crisis, means that many of our more vulnerable residents are most at risk.

All the items were purchased using donations from our partners K&T Heating, Pinnacle, RMA Stewart, Ellesmere Construction and TW Drainage.

“Thank you to our partners for their kind donations, and to the customer empowerment team for making this happen. Wandle is aware of the struggles many of our residents are currently facing, and encourage anyone who needs support to get in touch.”

Suzanne Horsley, Executive Director Customer Services

The helping hand fund is available to all Wandle residents who are on very low incomes and struggling financially. It can be used to purchase food and other household items. To apply email helpinghandfund@wandle.com.

We have also partnered with Healthy Living Platform and their community pantry service in Lambeth. We are offering £5 vouchers to residents who would like to use this service. For more information, email customerempowerment@wandle.com.

From 4 May 2023, voters in England will need to show photo ID to vote at polling stations in some elections.

This change applies to:

• Local elections
• Police and crime commissioner elections
• UK parliamentary by-elections
• Recall petitions.

From October 2023, this will also apply to UK general elections.

If you do not own a valid form of ID, you can apply for a free voter ID document, which is known as a Voter Authority Certificate.

You can read more on the electoral commission website.

Residents living in Lambeth have been suffering for years due to excessive noise made by a difficult neighbour.

The local council and Police had served the perpetrator with several warnings, including a community protection warning for hosting parties that would last for several days, ruining her fellow neighbour’s quality of life and overall wellbeing.

In addition, our managing agent company had attempted to resolve the issue, but unfortunately the tenant refused to comply and would quickly become verbally abusive when confronted about her behaviour.

Our community safety officer worked hard to restore order to the block by working with the building managing agent and residents to collate evidence and formal statements against the perpetrator. We were eventually granted an ASB injunction to stop the loud music and parties, as well as the abusive behaviour.

Unfortunately, the tenant breached her injunction, so we had to seek outright possession of her home. Ideally in this situation, the behaviour would improve, and no one loses their home. However, the actions of the tenant were making the lives of her neighbours miserable, and we were granted outright possession of her home. This is a success for the residents who can now relax and feel safe in their homes.

Taking legal action is always our last resort, and we always try to work with and support any of our customers who are allegedly perpetrators of ASB, but in some incidences we have a greater duty of care those suffering.

We appreciate working from home means you may hear your neighbours more often, and it can be frustrating. We define noise related anti-social behaviour if the noise is persistent during the day or evening after 11pm.

In the first instance, we encourage you to speak to your neighbour if you feel safe to do so. If this still doesn’t improve the situation, contact the Environmental Health Officer and keep a diary of incidents to share with us.

If you think you are experiencing anti-social behaviour, please refer to our anti-social behaviour guide, or report any incidence using MyWandle.

We are delighted to hear that our former board member, Ian Green, has been awarded an OBE in the King’s New Years Honours List, in recognition for his services to charity and public health.

Ian sat on the board for Wandle for 9 years and was also a member of the audit committee and chair of the asset investment committee.

Congratulations Ian!

Our Helping Hand Fund recently saved Christmas for two Wandle residents.

ST* is a full-time carer for her mother, as well as working part-time. The increase in living costs and only being eligible for partial housing benefit has left her struggling to afford her rent and council tax. The stress of this was further impacting her mental health being adversely affected.

During a scheduled home visit, a frontline member of staff noticed that her home lacked the basic essentials and there was also little food in the home. Fortunately, our resident support team fast-tracked her helping hand fund application to improve her situation in time for Christmas.

The funds awarded meant that she was then able to purchase a new cooker, mattress, storage boxes and several weeks’ worth of food to see her through the Christmas break.

ST said: “This is great news! I don’t think you realised how helpful these vouchers will be! Thank you, I am very happy and relieved” 

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SM* is a 63-year-old Wandle resident who was recently released from the care of social services where they had spent two years due to a long-term mental health condition that required specialist support.

Our resident support team were regularly liaising heavily with SM’s partner and her social services support team to slowly move her back into her home. The team actioned an urgent HHF application so SM could purchase household goods as well as food and clothing.

In addition, vouchers were provided to allow SM to purchase a new cooker and kitchen appliances, a new bed, and bedding from Argos, as well as clothing and food from Sainsburys.

Both SM and her partner were very appreciative of the support our resident support team provided and the opportunity to make their house a home after a difficult couple of years.

Information about the Helping Hand Fund
The Helping Hand Fund is available to all Wandle residents who are financially struggling. It aims to support residents by providing vouchers for food and other household items from supermarkets, furniture, carpets, washing machines, essential white goods, and even technology as internet access is now essential for Universal Credit and other online services. Please note that the fund is not to be used to cover your rent.

Applications for the Helping Hand Fund are now open. You can apply by emailing helpinghandfund@wandle.com.

Christmas is over and many of us are now worried about we will get through January without getting into debt.

January is usually the quietest month of the year and is a good time to try the No-Spend January challenge!  All you need to do is try and not spend money on unnecessary things for the entire month. This includes but is not limited to alcohol, new clothes, takeaways, and coffees on the go. Instead, you focus on spending only on essentials like rent, groceries, and bills.

It’s a great way to reassess your relationship with money, break bad money habits, and begin focusing on your long-term financial goals.

Taking part is a great way to get your finances in order and save money. Below are some tips on how to do no-spend January successfully.

If you’re worried about the cost of living, we are here to help. The sooner you contact us, the sooner we can help.

The cost-of-living crisis is already affecting millions across the UK, with many reporting they will be unable to switch their heating on in the coming months.

Millions of households will be in fuel poverty this winter, with people with disabilities, elderly people, children, people from ethnic minorities, and low-income households amongst the most affected groups.

Everyone should have a warm and welcoming space to go to this winter, and many community organisations, churches, libraries, businesses, and other faith groups across the UK have opened their doors to provide exactly that.

Warm welcome’s mission is to support local organisations to open their doors to provide a warm welcome for those struggling to keep warm.

You can find a warm space in your local area by using the handy search function. To find out more, visit the website at www.warmwelome.uk.