Wandle has secured another government grant from the Warm Homes Social Housing Fund Wave 3 to improve the energy efficiency of some of our most inefficient homes.

We are one of the 27 members of the Retrofit London Strategic Partnership which has an ambitious target to retrofit 15,000 homes across the capital by 2028 using a £78m grant.

Yinka Bolaji, Executive Director – Development & Property, said, “This is amazing news, and I am pleased to see Wandle are shaping the future of housing in south London.

“As part of the partnership, we plan to improve 129 homes by installing wall and loft insulation, air source heat pumps, solar panels, and improving ventilation using our £1.3m allocation.

“Together, these works will help us achieve our target of 90% portfolio at EPC C by March 2027. Residents will benefit from warmer homes, reduced fuel bills and reduced risks of damp and mould.”

We are already working on SHDF Wave 2.2, for which we won £1m in 2024 to improve 121 homes.

International Women’s Day is a worldwide celebration with marches, events and campaigns highlighting women’s progress and ongoing challenges. It started in the US and became a global event in 1975.

When it comes to Women we could go as far back in time as memories and history permit. Women have always achieved (this was not always documented). The mere fact we are tasked with continuing the human race albeit with the help of a man is testimony to this. It was and to a greater degree still is the women’s duty to bring up the next generation with sometimes very little input from the men.  It is important for women and girls to understand how far we have come to achieve equality in just over 100 years. 

UK women did not have the right to say how they wanted their country (UK) to be run. In 1908 Emmeline Pankhurst (a leading figure in the suffragette movement) was organising protests demanding voting rights for women. This inspired many suffragettes to adopt direct action tactics, including chaining themselves to government buildings to demand voting rights.

Finally in 1918 women over 30 could vote, bear in mind all men over 21 could vote.  Not happy with this woman still protested until in 1928 all women over 21 could vote. After this mammoth achievement the first women to have a seat in House of Commons was Nancy Astor in 1918. This paved the way for future generations of female politicians.

After 59 years of winning the right to vote we had our first prime minister – Margaret Thatcher. She was known as the ‘Iron Lady’, and rumour has it that she could make men weep by just one look.

Women no longer see roles in professions as “men only”. However, I believe we need to encourage more women to go into professions such as skilled trades and manual labour, construction, information technology, programme and software development. Within housing most surveyors are male. To change this, we need initiatives to focus on promoting the profession to women, providing mentorship opportunities.

After a century of smashing glass ceilings and rewriting laws we have gone from needing permission to open a bank account to running those banks!  We still have a lot to achieve however but to put things in perspective the UKs women football team (the lionesses) were the first UK team to win the UEFA.  This was England’s first major international championship since the men’s football team won the 1966 world cup!!! 

Did you know before:

1919  – Women could not serve on a jury

1923 – Divorce was restricted for women.  Women had to prove their husbands had committed adultery and or abuse and abandonment to get a divorce.

1940 – Many professions, including teaching and civil service roles, forced women to leave work once they married.

Imagine a gender-equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. A world that’s diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated. Together we can forge gender equality, and #AccelerateAction.

Today is International Women’s Day, and the theme is #AccelerateAction. 

International Women’s Day (IWD) has been around for over a hundred years, as have many of the issues still impacting women’s advancement.  

At the current rate of progress, it will take until 2158, which is roughly five generations from now, to reach full gender parity, according to data from the World Economic Forum. 

Focusing on the need to Accelerate Action emphasises the importance of taking swift and decisive steps to achieve gender equality. It calls for increased momentum and urgency in addressing the systemic barriers and biases that women face, both in personal and professional spheres. 

Jade Reid, Personal Assistant, and Geraldine Pagel, Building Compliance Support & Engagement Officer, spoke to Chief Executive, Anne Waterhouse, about what International Women’s Day means to her. 

Jade: Hi, Anne. Thank you for talking to us today about International Women’s Day and what it means to you. Let’s get started. What would you tell your younger self? 

Anne: Hi Jade, great question! I would tell my younger self that you don’t have to have all the answers. I think we set ourselves up, particularly as females, when we enter the workplace, to think we need to be experts in everything to do a role.  

I would tell my younger self to use the expertise around you. Everyone brings something different to the table, and you don’t need to have the answers to everything. Learn from people, be open and honest, and do not be afraid to say I don’t know that. 

Geraldine: What and who do you find inspirational, and how have they inspired you? 

Anne: Well, firstly, my mum. She was very fortunate to go to university and study computer technology. When she left, she got married and had children. Because childcare didn’t exist then, she left work to bring me and my siblings up. Once we reached senior school, she decided to retrain as an account assistant at night school. To be able to afford this, she worked in a clock factory. 

My mum taught me that you are in control of your destiny and that perseverance is key. It won’t always be easy, but she impresses me. I also love music and look up to women like Grace Jones and early Madonna, who were not scared to be different. 

Jade: Did you experience any setbacks in your family after starting a family? 

Anne: I was fortunate enough to be in a senior role at the time I had my first child, and I felt brave to have conversations about what would work for me after my maternity leave. 

My manager at the time judged your productivity by how many hours you put in and was resistant to my request to return four days a week. Luckily, I had allies at work who supported my decision. 

I am a big advocate of enabling people to work in a way that makes them the most productive and recognising that work isn’t everything. Also, we can’t just find solutions for parents, many people have other caring responsibilities that need to be understood and respected. 

Geraldine: This year’s theme for International Women’s Day is #AccelerateAction. What do you think Wandle can do to support female colleagues? 

Anne: I see so much achieved when you bring a diverse group of people together and ask if we have the right voices to resolve this issue.  Also, by creating safe spaces for women to come forward and use their voices, you create more successful organisations. 

When I started my career, there was a feeling that the women in high-up positions had fought hard for their success, and they drew the ladder up behind them. Whereas now, I think we are much more supportive and encouraging of one another to achieve. 

Jade: Would you say your gender has ever held you back in your career? 

Anne: I wouldn’t say it held me back, but it has played a factor. When I began my career in house building, it was a very male-dominated environment. I rose quickly to be finance director by the time I turned 30, and it was a lonely place to be. I felt I had to be two different people and to be seen as very serious to keep my seat at the table. I learned more about construction than I ever needed to because I wanted to be seen for my skills and expertise. 

Geraldine: Final question, what biases do you think women still face? 

Anne: I believe a lot has changed, and women are not being doubted as much if they want to pursue certain career paths. There are job roles that are desperately needed, such as plumbing, but women are not entering these professions, and we do have to ask why.  In general, women are more emotionally literate for several reasons, and I think that is a positive and can be brought into the workforce to encourage an open and honest working environment that benefits everyone.  

Thank you to Jade, Geraldine, and Anne for taking the time to chat. 

We will be sharing information throughout the week to support International Women’s Day. 

At Wandle, we strive to provide the right support to our residents. We know that sometimes you will have a third party (such as a family member or carer) who supports you in managing your tenancy. 

This means they have the authority to act on your behalf, such as booking a repair or raising a complaint. 

We are happy to accommodate this, all you need to do is fill out and sign this form that confirms this is what you want.  

If you are unable to sign the form, please either yourself or a third party contact us on 0300 2000 120, and we can arrange for this to happen. 

We are supporting Register My Appliance week.

Register My Appliance is a consumer and public safety campaign to help and encourage people to register their household appliances with the manufacturer. The campaign is run by the Association of Manufacturers of Domestic Appliances (AMDEA).

Registering your household appliances, helps manufacturers know where the products are in case a repair is needed or if it is recalled. In small cases manufacturers may identify a problem with one of their products.

You could also save money by registering your appliances as it entitles you to an extended guarantee or warranty period. 

You can find out more information here:

Website: www.registermyappliance.org.uk

Instagram: @amdea_uk   

Twitter: @amdea_uk   

Facebook: amdea.uk

Tenants and Residents do you have Home Contents Insurance?

Why do I need it?

As your landlord we cover the buildings insurance for your home but you’re responsible, under the terms of your tenancy, for insuring your contents. It’s always a good idea to shop around for a policy that’ll give you the cover you need.

Home contents insurance isn’t compulsory, but it’s a good idea to consider what a policy would cover you for.  Home contents insurance can help protect your possessions from risks like fire, theft, water damage, and many more household risks, giving you peace of mind.

What does contents insurance cover?

Thistle Tenant Risks and Great Lakes Insurance UK Limited, offer the My Home Contents Insurance Scheme, designed specifically for residents in social housing, all our residents are eligible to apply. This policy can cover:

Furniture, Carpets, Curtains, Clothes, Bedding, Electrical items, Pictures, Ornaments.

Limits and exclusions apply. For more information about our policy, please refer to the Insurance Product Information Document (IPID) and Policy Wording.

Buy online with monthly Direct Debit

It’s now easier for you to get covered with the My Home online platform. You can now purchase your home contents policy online when paying monthly via direct debit, please note paying by direct debit is more expensive than other payment options

For more details or to get started, you have a few options:

Call Thistle Tenant Risks: 0345 450 7288

Visit the website: www.thistlemyhome.co.uk to learn more or request a call back here www.thistlemyhome.co.uk/call-back.

Buy Online: Visit www.thistlemyhome.co.uk to purchase your policy and set up monthly direct debit payments for added convenience.

The National Housing Federation working in partnership with Thistle Insurance Services Ltd. Thistle Insurance Services Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority Firm Reference Number 310419.   Registered in England under No. 00338645. Registered office: Rossington’s Business Park, West Carr Road, Retford, Nottinghamshire, DN22 7SW. Thistle Insurance Services Ltd is part of the PIB Group.

Our Data Protection Privacy Policy is online at https://www.thistleinsurance.co.uk/Privacy-Policy

Our ASB team recently worked with our partners Calm Mediation to restore peace for two of our residents in Balham, Wandsworth.

We were contacted by two of our residents after their neighbour’s teenage children had been causing disruptive behaviour by playing extremely loud music, which created loud thuds or bangs to our residents’ homes.

The loud noise was causing distress for our residents daily; therefore, they were referred to our partners Calm Mediation who organised a meeting with all parties to draw up a mediation agreement, which everyone could abide to.

All parties agreed if the residents could hear the neighbours or their sleep was disturbed between 11pm-7am, the following morning they will knock on their door to bring it to their attention. They have also all agreed to speak to each other nicely when resolving any issues going forward.

Our residents have informed us they now feel safe and at peace in their homes. In cases of noise nuisance, sometimes it is not considered as ASB, therefore we need to find another solution within our housing management function to resolve a case like this.

If you need to report ASB or disruption to your home, please contact us here.

The police receive a domestic abuse related call every 30 seconds, yet it is estimated less than 24% of domestic abuse is reported to the police, Refuge.Org 2024.

Domestic abuse, also called domestic violence, includes emotional, physical and sexual abuse. It commonly occurs between couples and family members, but it can happen to anyone, and it is likely you will know someone who has experienced domestic abuse in their lifetime. However, it can also happen to someone you don’t know, such as a stranger or someone you pass on the street.

During the Christmas period, reports of domestic abuse increase, due to increased stress, work priorities, financial pressures, and alcohol consumption. The abuser may use Christmas as a way to justify their behaviour, but it should never be tolerated.

Make yourself heard

If you are in danger, please call 999 immediately.

If you cannot speak freely listen to the questions from the operator and respond by coughing of tapping on the phone if you can. If you cannot do this, press 55 and the operator will know the call is genuine and will put you through to the police.  

Support available

National Centre for Domestic Violence – 0800 270 9070 or text NCDV to 60777

National Domestic Abuse Helpline for women – 0808 2000 247

Men’s Advice Line – 0808 8010327 or info@mensadviceline.org.uk

Women’s Aid – Live chat or helpline@womensaid.org.uk

Mankind – 01823 334244

GALOP LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Helpline – 0800 999 5428

Karma Nirvana for those forced into marriage and honour crimes – 0800 5999 247. You can also contact Gov.uk Forced Marriage Unit on 020 7008 0151.

You can also talk to your doctor, health visitor or midwife.

If you decide to leave

Before you decide to leave, please try and get advice from one of the organisations above. Women’s aid have created a Survivor’s Handbook which can also help.

Signs to look out for if you think a friend or family member is being abused

Physical

• Broken bones
• Bruises
• Cuts
• Limping
• Changes to their appearance – for example the way they dress, whether they now wear less/more makeup and changes to their weight.

Practical

• They are unable to leave the house.
• They have no control over their finances and cannot access their bank account.
• They cannot talk or answer the phone.
• They no longer socialise, go to college or work.

Behavioural

• They appear uncomfortable, tense or nervous.
• They are angry or irritable
• They use unhealthy coping mechanisms such as alcohol, drugs or self-harm.

You can find more information on the NHS website and on our Domestic Abuse page.

The weather is getting colder which means more of us are turning up our heating and using more hot water to stay warm. We understand for many turning up the heat in your home can be a hard decision to make with fuel prices rising.   

The Home Energy Action Team (HEAT) are providing winter fuel support, funded by Octopus Energy, to help those in need by providing up to £150 to go towards their fuel bills.  

We have attached their information leaflet for further information and tips on how to reduce your bills this winter.

If you would like to apply, please complete the Octopus Referral Form before the end of January 2025.