Today is World Mental Health Day and the overall objective is to raise awareness of mental health issues around the world and how you can access the support you may need.

The theme this year is ‘Mental health in the workplace’. Our jobs can be fast paced which could lead to chronic stress and burnouts. The World Health Organization are calling for everyone to take shared responsibility for workplace mental health.

Addressing your mental health issues with your line manager or HR team means they can support you early on before work becomes too overwhelming.

For further information and resources for mental health in the workplace, click here:

If you are struggling with your mental health or want someone to talk to, here are a list of charities and support organisations that can help:

• www.mind.org.uk
• www.mentalhealth-uk.org
• www.rethink.org
• www.nhs.uk/mental-health

On Saturday 28 October, we attended the unveiling of a Battersea blue plaque at 28 Lavender Sweep in honour of Tom Taylor and Laura Barker.

Tom Taylor (1817 – 1880) was an English dramatist, critic, biographer, public servant, and editor of Punch magazine.

Laura Barker (1819-1905) was a renowned composer and musician, who lived at the property with her husband Tom Taylor from 1858 until he died in 1880.

Both Laura and Tom held regular Sunday musical soirees, and celebrities at the time such as Lewis Carroll and Charles Dickens would attend.

The Battersea Society consists of local and former residents, businesses, and even visitors who fell in love with a vibrant part of Southwest London.  They are committed to honouring Battersea’s rich heritage and ensuring the community is at the heart of development across the historic borough.

The unveiling was attended by Wandle’s Chief Executive, Anne Waterhouse, and the Worshipful Mayor Sana Jafri, who both said a few words about the importance of acknowledging our local history and the importance of art and culture.

Anne Waterhouse, Chief Executive of Wandle said, “It is an honour for a Wandle to be a part of this event. The boroughs we work in have a rich history, and it is fascinating to learn about Tom Taylor and Laura Barker. Thank you to The Battersea Society for their commitment to honouring the history of this historic borough.”

Emma Anthony from the Wandsworth Heritage Service read the poem Lavender Sweep by John Betjeman, and renowned actor Alun Armstrong enacted an excerpt from Still Waters Run Deep.

Relatives of Tom Taylor and Laura Barker attended, with Rupert Stutchbury actor and great, great-grandson of Tom Taylor reading an excerpt from In Memoriam to Abraham Lincoln

*Photography was taken and is owned by Chrysoulla Photography.

The weather is getting colder, therefore it’s important to know how to keep you and your home safe when you need to keep warm.

When warming your home, the most effective way to prevent a fire is to remain vigilant when it comes to fire safety and understand the common risks in your home.

By carrying out simple safety checks you can reduce the chances of a fire starting in your home.

Remember: If there is a fire in your home – get out, stay out and call 999 – don’t try to tackle the fire yourself. 

Things you should do:

• Make sure you know where the fire escape routes are from your home and building.
• If you see an object blocking any of the fire escapes, please move it if it is safe to do so or report it to us.
• Close inside doors at night to stop a fire from spreading. 
• Never store items in communal (shared) areas such as corridors and balconies.
• Make it a habit to keep the exits from your home clear, so that people can escape if there is a fire.
• Check all your smoke alarms work.  You are twice as likely to die in a fire if your smoke alarm does not work. Your local fire service provides free home safety checks and in many cases, this may include fitting a free smoke alarm. Fire Officers will also advise you about making your home safer. To get a free safety visit from your local fire service, contact the London Fire Brigade on 08000 28 44 28. 
• Turn off and unplug all electrical appliances unless they are designed to be left on, like a freezer.  
• Do not leave the washing machine on overnight or if you are leaving the property. as that can potentially start a fire.  
• Check your cooker is off.  Gas cookers are harder to notice so double check. 
• Turn heaters off and put up fireguards too if you have them.  
• Put candles, naked flames and cigarettes out properly. It is much safer to smoke outside and ensure they are put out properly in an ashtray. Make sure candles or naked flames are secured in a proper holder and away from materials that may catch fire – such as curtains. 
• Ensure everyone in your home can easily find the keys for doors and windows – always keep them in the same place.
• Keep mirrors and other reflective materials, like glass and crystal, away from sunny windows as the reflection can start a blaze.

Fire doors

We check flat entrance doors and communal doors routinely to ensure compliance with safety regulations.

• Never leave fire doors wedged open as they need to remain closed.
• Do not tamper with self-closing devices on fire doors.
• Please report any faults or damage to fire doors immediately.
•  

Keeping your balcony safe:

• Never barbecue on your balcony, sparks can fall to the homes below.
• Don’t keep paints, paint thinners or fuel on your balcony.
• If smoking on your balcony, dispose of smoking materials responsibly and do not flick lit cigarettes from a balcony. Use safety ash trays to extinguish cigarettes.

How can I keep fire safe? 

You can keep fire safe by: 

• Giving our staff and contractors access to your home so they can carry-out fire related maintenance and undertake fire risk assessments. 
• Looking after doors and windows on escape routes so they can be easily and quickly opened in case of a fire. This includes keeping doors closed (unless they are doors designed to be held open on magnetic devices) and not wedging them open. 
• Not changing your flat’s front door, as this acts as a key line of defence in preventing the spread of fire. 
• Not smoking in communal areas and generally taking care when smoking. 
• Keeping escape routes and communal areas clear by not storing belongings in communal areas and in particular keeping stairwells free of obstacles. This will ensure people can get out of the building quickly. 
• Familiarise yourself with the escape plan for your building. If you are not sure of this, please contact us. 

For more fire safety advice, visit the London Fire Brigade website at www.london-fire.gov.uk 

If you discover a fire:

• Raise the alarm
• Leave the building immediately by the nearest available exit if it is safe to do so
• Move to a safe distance away from the building
• Phone the Fire Brigade by dialling 999 
• Remain a safe distance away from the building and await the Fire Brigade.

If the fire is in your home:

• Tell everyone in your home and get them to leave the building closing your front door behind you
• Move to a safe distance away from the building
• Call the Fire Brigade by dialling 999 asking for FIRE
• Remain a safe distance away from the building and await the Fire Brigade
• If you see or hear of a fire in another part of the building stay put in your home as this will usually be the safest option unless you are directly affected by the fire. Close all windows and be prepared to leave
• Phone the Fire Brigade by dialling 999 asking for FIRE
• You must leave the building immediately if smoke or fire directly affects your home or you are directed to do so by the Fire Brigade. Close your front door behind you
• Move to a safe distance away from the building, remain there and await the Fire Brigade.

Remember:

• Do not take risks.
• Do no stop to collect personal belongings.
• Do not return to the building for any reason unless authorised to do so.
• Do not use any lift.

On Friday 20 September, we officially broke ground at 46-76 Summerstown in Merton, where we will deliver 93 much-needed affordable homes.

Supported by a social housing grant from the Greater London Authority (GLA), the development is part of a broader regeneration project in the area, which includes the new AFC Wimbledon football ground. Originally designed by Concept Architect CZWG Architects LLP, the design has been updated by Higgins Partnership, who are working closely with the GLA to bring the project to life.

Dominic Higgins, Chief Operating Officer at Higgins Partnerships, said: “We are excited to begin work on this development, which will provide much-needed affordable homes, enhance the community, and boost the local economy. Our commitment is to deliver high-quality, energy-efficient homes that meet the needs of the residents.”

The single eight-storey development will include 39 London Living Rent homes and 54 Shared Ownership homes, offering high-quality, energy-efficient housing options.

Anne Waterhouse, Chief Executive of Wandle Housing Association, said, “I am delighted that Wandle will be providing much-needed homes to south London and will be part of the exciting regeneration of Summerstown. This is a flagship development for Wandle, and I look forward to welcoming our future residents.”

In addition, the hoarding was designed in partnership with local school children from Belleville Primary School and older Wandle residents who spent time together at monthly workshops organised by the charity InCommon. The workshops provided younger and older people an opportunity to build friendships with one another.

During their final meeting, they discussed what home means to them. We hope you enjoy the children’s drawings, showcased on the site hoardings which reflect the various feelings home can evoke.

Kybor Carlsen, Head of Wandle’s Customer Excellence Panel said, “As a member of Wandle’s committee, I advocate for better-designed homes with fewer issues. For example, this new building will feature bathrooms with windows, which is key for preventing damp and mould through proper ventilation.

“Though I’m not a football fan, I know Wimbledon’s stadium next door offers great community activities. My partner, a club member, mentioned they run walking groups to boost mental wellbeing, walking football for those less able, and fun days for children with free or low-cost activities.”

Both Wandle and Higgins are committed to building better, stronger, safer, and more sustainable communities, that not only deliver high-quality homes for local residents but also leave a legacy of positive impact.

Congratulations to the winners and runners-up of this year’s gardening competition.

Anne Waterhouse, Chief Executive at Wandle and Jeremy Kimberley and Suzana Karakashi from our Engagement & Partnership team visited the winners and were impressed by the hard work and creativity on display.

First place:

Community garden – Soul food garden

Outdoor garden – Donna Spiller

Runner up:

Outdoor garden – Allison Rose

Congratulations to all our winners and thank you to everyone who entered the competition. This year’s entries were sustainable, colourful and demonstrated how you can create a mindful space for everyone to enjoy.

Research shows that 880,000 pensioners who are eligible for Pension Credit are not currently in receipt of the benefit, which is an average worth £3,900 per year.  

If you are over State Pension age, you may be eligible to claim Pension Credit, even if you own your home or have savings. People who claim Pension Credit may also be able to get: 

• The Winter Fuel Payment and other help with heating costs 

• Help with rent and Council Tax 

• A free TV Licence for those aged 75 or over 

• Help with the cost of NHS services, such as NHS dental treatment, glasses and transport costs for hospital appointments. 

You could be eligible for Pension Credit if your weekly income is below £218.15 or, if you have a partner who lives with you, £332.95. qualifying income level may be higher in some circumstances. 

“If you have £10,000 or less in savings and investment this will not affect your Pension Credit. If you have more than £10,000 every £500 over £10,000 counts as £1 income a week.  

Pension Service helpline:  

• call the Pension Credit claim line on 0800 99 1234 and they can fill in the application for you over the phone (lines are open Monday to Friday, 8am-6pm). 

It can be helpful to have the following details to hand before you get started: 

• your National Insurance number 

• your bank account details 

• information about your income, savings and investments 

• information about your pension (if you have one) 

• details of any housing costs you have (such as a mortgage, interest payments or service charges) 

• your partner’s details, if you have a partner. 

Our New Homes team recently helped one family of eight downsize into two smaller properties. The A* family were living in a seven-bedroom house, and they were looking for a new home to better suit their needs.

At Wandle we will always try to find our residents a suitable home, however we don’t have many properties with a large number of bedrooms, therefore our Project Liaison Officer Angie Lewis worked with the family to find them a new home to meet the needs for the entire household.

It was challenging to find a large property in the same area; therefore, it was agreed we would help them find two new homes close to one another, with the adult children in one and the younger members of the family, along with their parents in another.

Angie Lewis worked closely with the family and found two homes that matched their requirements, including size and location.

Mrs A* thanked Wandle and said, “You have helped my family get the best home possible. You communicated well with my family and listened to our needs and preferences. This helped us feel confident in trusting you with the move.”

Ms A* personally thanked Angie Lewis for all her hard work relocating her family to their new homes.

“A key highlight was the exceptional support provided by our project manager Angie. She was consistently available to answer any questions I had, no matter how small, and dealt with any queries promptly and effectively.

Overall, we couldn’t be happier with the outcome of this move. The scheme not only helped us find homes that perfectly suited my family’s needs but also ensured that the entire process was handled with professionalism and care.”

Anne Waterhouse, Chief Executive at Wandle said, ‘I am proud that we have been able to support the A* family with two new homes to build a future. Sadly, this is becoming more and more rare due to the challenges facing the sector in being able to build new social homes in London.’

Sleeptember is back for another year! Sleeptember aims to raise awareness around the importance of getting enough sleep. The theme this year is ‘workplace sleep’, to help organisations avoid accidents in the workplace caused by a lack of sleep.

Did you know…

• Tiredness contributes to around 20% of accidents in the workplace (Health and Safety Executive).
• Almost 60% of workers have experienced their attention span being negatively affected by a bad nights sleep more than once (The Sleep Charity).   
• 3/4 of workers state workplace challenges had caused issues with their sleep over the last six months (The Sleep Charity).

A good night’s sleep is important for your mental, physical and emotional wellbeing.

Here are some tips for a better night’s sleep:

• Make sure your room is the right temperature. The Sleep Charity recommends between 16-18 degrees.
• Try to sleep with the lights off and curtains closed.
• Ensure your mattress and bedding are comfortable for you.
• Most people like no noise when they sleep, but some prefer white noise such as a fan or the use of an app such as Calm.
• Make sure your bedroom space is clean and clear.

You can find out how to get a better night’s sleep in detail by clicking here.

For more information regarding healthy sleep patterns and advice, please visit the The Sleep Charity website.

Gas Safety Week runs from Monday 9 – Sunday 15 September 2024 and helps raise awareness about the importance of gas safety.

Celebrating its fourteenth year, Gas Safety Week helps to raise awareness of the dangers of poorly maintained gas appliances. Poorly maintained appliances could cause gas leaks, fires, explosions and carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.

It’s important to be in the know about gas safety, to keep you and your home safe.

Here are some gas safety tips:

• Always get an annual gas safety check
• Obtain a gas safety certificate
• Book an annual boiler check
• Get a carbon monoxide alarm fitted
• Only use gas appliances for their intended purpose
• Know what to do in an emergency

For full details, please click here.

Keep up to date with Gas Safety Week’s updates and advice here.

Starts at Home Day (30 Aug) is a chance to celebrate the positive impact of supported housing on our communities across the country, and to make sure everyone knows the key part supported housing plays in the UK.

Wandle resident Alison lives in Wandsworth with her husband and their two sons Jayson and Morgan. They moved into their home ten years ago, in what was originally the old Wandle office.

Both their sons have complex conditions, and their ground floor home is specially built to accommodate a wheelchair which makes their life a lot easier.

Alison said: “We love our home, and it has made a huge difference to our family, and it means the world to us.”

Anne Waterhouse, Chief Executive of Wandle said: “I support Starts at Home Day because it serves as a reminder of how providing homes that are accessible and meet customers’ needs improves quality of life and well-being. “In the upcoming Spending Review, Wandle are asking the government to commit to ring-fenced funding for local authorities in England for housing-related support. This would allow them to deliver much needed housing for the people who need it the most.”