LYHA Customer Bulletin - July 2020
Lockdown restrictions may be gradually easing, but the health of our customers and colleagues will always come first. 

Safety is our top priority: we will continue to maintain social distancing and if we need to visit you or your home, LYHA team members and contractors will wear face masks and thoroughly clean all areas that they touch. More details about our safety precautions were outlined in the newsletter we posted out to all customers a couple of weeks ago.

Our team is here to support you however we can. You can reach us on
Tel: 0113 278 3335 or Email: info@lyha.co.uk. We also have a dedicated Coronavirus section on our website providing FAQs and links to support services in our region.
Get involved and help us deliver our new vision

We are looking for someone new to join our Customer Experience Committee. The committee's role is to hold LYHA to account on customer matters and ensure we make decisions and improvements in all our customers' best interests. This is an exciting time to join as we will shortly be launching our new vision (more about that next time).

Meetings take place four times a year and are friendly and welcoming. You will join a team of other LYHA customers, staff and board members all committed to bringing about positive changes to our services. No specific experience is necessary. You just need to live in one of our homes (although you don't need to be the named person on the tenancy agreement). In return we will provide mentoring and training through the Housing Diversity Network, expenses for meetings, character references for future employers and the chance to influence the future of LYHA. To express interest or find out more, please email: recruitment@lyha.co.uk or visit: https://www.lyha.co.uk/news/joinus.
What makes us different makes us stronger

Recent events have shone the spotlight on the continuing prejudice & inequalities facing people from BAME backgrounds. LYHA is firmly committed to equality , diversity and inclusion . We strive to meet the needs of all our customers and ensure nobody faces discrimination. Please read our full statement here: https://www.lyha.co.uk/news/what-makes-us-different-makes-us-stronger
We're supporting Trussell Trust Foodbanks

We understand that many people are currently experiencing financial hardship and LYHA has joined together with housing associations across the country to donate to the #Morethanhomes campaign in aid of The Trussell Trust - the country's largest network of foodbanks.
The campaign is seeking to raise £1 million to support their vital work at a time when sadly there has been an over 80% increase in people using foodbanks .
Free digital skills training

We have partnered with Interserve to offer free computer skills training to LYHA customers and their families, friends and neighbours (even if they are not customers themselves).The free course teaches a range of IT and employment skills and is available to start online now.
At the end of the course you will receive a certificate in Social and Personal Development Level 1. Interserve is also offering free support and training to people facing redundancy in Yorkshire. For further information, or to sign up to the free training, please email:   toni.easter@interserve.com   or call 07525 902643.
Researching the history of our homes

We have recently been talking to the producers of the popular BBC show, "A House Through Time" who are looking for a house to feature in a future episode about Leeds. We have lots of fascinating older properties and it has been intriguing researching some of their history: from Valley Court which was built on the site of the former Leeds Zoological and Botanical Gardens, to Newton Grove, once home to the manufacturer of the fastest bicycle of its day back in the 1880s. We'll keep you posted if we get selected.
Be a good neighbour

Lockdown restrictions have eased slightly which means that other family members can now visit you in your home. However, we ask that you continue to follow social distancing guidelines and be a good neighbour to those around you, some of whom may still be shielding. We particularly ask that groups of people do not congregate in communal areas and that you maintain your distance from LYHA team members and contractors too.
Remember to check your meter

With lots of us spending more time at home than ever before, it's a good time to start remembering to read your gas and electricity meters regularly and inform your utility suppliers, so you don't get any surprises on your bill.

On the subject of gas and electricity, we have produced customer factsheets on how to keep safe in your home. You can read them here:

Welcome to our new IT Apprentice

We welcome to our latest new starter, Matthew Fletcher, who has recently joined our team as IT Apprentice.
And finally..............

If you would like to receive this Customer Bulletin in braille or any other language options, please contact georgina.thompson@lyha.co.uk
Leeds & Yorkshire Housing Association | 0113 2783335 | georgina.thompson@lyha.co.uk | www.lyha.co.uk