It’s the summer school holidays and we’ve brought to you some ideas that won’t bust your budget and will keep the little ones at home happy. 

• Join the Summer Reading Challenge 2022 

Let’s get children into reading this summer. Sign up to read six books this summer as part of Gadgeteers, Summer Reading Challenge 2022. Children aged 4-11 are challenged to borrow and read any six library books over the summer and submit them until Saturday 10th September. 

To take part in the Summer Reading Challenge, all children need to do is sign up at www.summerreadingchallenge.org.uk where you can find your nearest library. 

• Get creative at the Tate with the Mega Please Draw Freely 

Leave your mark at the Turbine Hall and become part of the ever-changing artwork, Mega Please Draw Freely, by artist Ei Arakawa. Open and free to everyone. 

Let your children release their imagination (and yourself) and share their drawings with the world. Their drawings and everyone who came before you, and after you will create this massive artwork. The Tate will hang the banners up each Monday for everyone to see. 

More info Mega Please Draw Freely | Tate 

• Discover places, activities and nature in Merton 

Out of ideas? Check Merton Council’s ready-to-explore list and discover places, history, activities, and nature. This could become your summer challenge with the little ones, ticking many boxes as you can! 

Find the activity sheet here – Ready to explore files (merton.gov.uk) 

Check for more ideas on My-Merton-Summer-Guide-2022.pdf

• Visit the Summer’s Park Adventure

A fun-filled, free outdoor family show celebrating the great outdoors running for free until 24th August –Theatre | Summer’s Park Adventure | London (summersparkadventure.com)

• Check your local Youth Community Centre 

Review your nearest youth community centre to find free and low-cost activities for the little (and not so little) ones at home. Many places offer free and discounted prices for households in benefits and free. 

Wandle has been recognised by the Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance (DAHA) for our commitment to supporting those enduring domestic abuse with formal accreditation.

Housing is the primary barrier for women attempting to leave an abusive household and is often the highest cause of homelessness among women. As a housing provider, we are ideally placed to spot and respond to domestic abuse as a first point of contact. It is estimated that 1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men experience domestic abuse in their lifetime and incidents have only increased in the last couple of years.

DAHA accreditation is the national benchmark for how housing providers should respond to domestic abuse and recognises that housing providers are in a unique position to identify abuse, prevent it and provide support to survivors.

There are eight priority areas that are considered when assessing an organisation’s operation in delivering safe and effective interventions in domestic abuse. As part of the accreditation process, DAHA assessors conducted interviews with our dedicated group from across the business who had been working on achieving accreditation.

Tracey Lees, Chief Executive of Wandle said, “Achieving accreditation is a fantastic achievement for Wandle, and it shows our commitment to residents enduring domestic abuse. Working towards accreditation has been rewarding for our dedicated taskforce, and they have kept the safety and wellbeing of residents at the heart of everything they have done. Wandle will always believe reports of domestic abuse and will investigate any concerns.”

Jessica Tier, Regional Lead for DAHA said: “We are delighted and proud that Wandle has achieved DAHA accreditation demonstrating that they have embedded standards of good practice in their response to domestic abuse.  

“Wandle has committed to continue embedding good practice and building on this foundation to ensure survivors of domestic abuse get the right response, first time, every time.

“Thank you Wandle for your drive and commitment, an example to all housing providers across London and elsewhere in the UK”  

If you are experiencing domestic abuse, please contact us for advice and support by emailing customerservices@wandle.com or calling 0300 2000 120. If you are in immediate danger, please contact the police.

We are delighted to share that the Chair of Wandle’s Board, Dr Valerie Vaughan-Dick, has been named in this year’s Queen’s Honours List with an MBE for her services to General Practice and to the ethnic minority communities. 

For more than two decades, Valerie has made an outstanding contribution to both the public and third sectors with a record of organisational improvement and efficiency. Currently, she is the Chief Operating Officer of Head of Paid Staff at the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP). 

In addition, she is the Chair of the RCGP Leadership Team, whose work is critical to the NHS and the response to COVID-19 and the Co- Chair of the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group, that is leading positive change affecting Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic GPS and staff. 

Until recently, Valerie was also the Chair of Woolwich Creative District Trust, a charity that regenerated the Royal Arsenal site in Woolwich into a cultural hub and performance art space and launched the opening of the Trust in September 2021. 

Throughout her career, Valerie has been passionate about access to justice, and her focus on social housing, health and regeneration makes her a worthy receiver of an MBE. 

Our Helping Hand Fund has supported over 200 households. Throughout the last year, we have spent a total of £109,627 providing residents with household essentials. 

Most recently, the tenancy team supported Ms S* who is a vulnerable resident suffering from a variety of health conditions and social anxiety. In addition, she was heavily in debt with high rent arrears, housing benefits, and utility bill debts. To make matters worse, her cooker was broken and she was sleeping on a mattress on the floor which was seriously impacting her wellbeing.  

Due to the severity of Ms S* situation, her application was fast-tracked, and she was awarded £800 in vouchers to purchase a new cooker and bed frame. 

She was also awarded £350 in Sainsbury’s vouchers to purchase groceries and cover her fuel. 

Ms S* was thankful for the help and said: “These vouchers are going to help me so much. I can now order a cooker and a new bed for my daughter, thank you so much!” 

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

We have seen a worrying increase in disrepair claims, and ‘no win – no fee’ companies targeting our residents.

These companies will use many different methods to contact you, including telephone, WhatsApp, social media and even knocking on your door.

They will say they are working with us, and to report a repair through them. Do not believe them – their sole purpose is to make money out of you and us.

You may be advised not to accept contact from Wandle, or to let us in to do repair work. Please remember that we are legally entitled to have reasonable access to your home, and it is in both our interests to ensure that any repairs needed can be carried out.  We will always try and book a time and date that is convenient for you.

We are members of the Housing Ombudsman Scheme, and you may wish to contact them for advice and guidance about your complaint with us. You can get in touch with the Housing Ombudsman Scheme at any point during your complaint.

What to do if you are contacted

Always ask for identification, and don’t be afraid to call the police if you feel scared or threatened. Block any unknown numbers that look suspicious. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any concerns or are being pressures to sign anything! You could be liable to pay fees if you change your mind.

You can help us stop this ‘claim’ culture by reporting your repair on MyWandle or calling us on 0300 2000 120. If you are not happy with a repair you can register your complaint on MyWandle. Also, if you have a problem with damp or mould in your home, please report it on MyWandle.

We are delighted that work is set to begin on 93 units in Summerstown, Merton.

The development is in partnership with Higgins and the Greater London Authority (GLA) who have supported the scheme with a social housing grant. The new homes are part of the wider regeneration of the area which is also home to the new AFC Wimbledon football ground.

The development will provide much needed, high quality and energy efficient homes and will be a mix of 39 London Living Rent and 54 Shared Ownership. Wandle exists to help south Londoners who need a home, by building and managing quality housing and supporting communities so they can thrive.

Yinka Bolaji, Executive Director of Property and Development at Wandle said: “I am delighted that Wandle will be able to provide safe and affordable homes that people really need. Summerstown is an exciting development and will create a new community and boost the economy. I look forward to seeing the development take shape.”

We will keep you updated with the development which is scheduled to be completed by 2025.

We have achieved 100% gas compliance on all our properties, keeping our residents safe and secure in their homes.

The team recently completed a gas inspection on a 91-year-old vulnerable customer who they were unable to reach. Our Neighbourhood Customer Services Officer arranged access to the property with the residents’ neighbour, so K&T Heating could complete the inspection.

Anyone who uses gas in their home needs to be aware of the gas risks and how to keep safe. Badly fitted and poorly serviced gas appliances and installations can cause gas leaks and carbon monoxide poisoning.

If you have concerns about gas safety in your home please contact us immediately on 0300 2000 120.