LYHA Customer Bulletin
Spring has well and truly arrived and it's great to see all the blossom and flowers starting to bloom around the gardens and estates.

These Customer Bulletins are a chance for us to share our latest activity and update you about our plans. If you have any comments or suggestions, please contact: georgina.thompson@lyha.co.uk
Our Health & Safety block inspectors

Our new block inspectors, Andy Foster and Graham Spark, began their weekly fire safety inspections a few weeks ago. They will be visiting all our properties with communal areas once a week to ensure that all safety equipment is working correctly, including testing the fire alarms.

One of the new inspectors was an existing member of our estates team and we are delighted to welcome new starter, Eammon McGrath, who has joined the LYHA estates team in his place.
Our Fire Risk Assessment Programme

On the subject of safety, we are currently carrying out a programme of fire risk assessments at all our properties with internal shared areas, such as an entrance lobby. These are being conducted by Penningtons Choices and should be completed by the end of June. Please   click here   for the full list of properties that will be visited this year.
Your safety is of paramount importance to us , so please allow us access if we contact you about assessing your home. All Penningtons Choices staff will be carrying ID badges and have a Letter of Authority from LYHA. If you have any questions about Fire Risk Assessments or the assessment programme, please contact either: norman.davidson@lyha.co.uk or jason.hutchinson@lyha.co.uk
Our community fund

Do you have an idea you think your local community would really benefit from? Tell us about it and you could be awarded up to £300 from our Community Fund to make it happen. It's a great opportunity to work together with neighbours to provide something you think you would all benefit from, such as:
  • Activities or events to bring the local community together e.g. a coffee morning, yoga sessions or community picnic
  • Purchase items to improve the surroundings, such as benches or hanging baskets
  • Take advantage of the Leeds Play Street Initiative that allows you to apply to have your road closed to traffic so children can play freely and safely for up to three hours. This is free but we could maybe help fund some activities for the day.
Previous grants have included a community Christmas party, large oak barrel planters, outdoor seating and raised beds to create a community garden area.

If you have an idea for a project please discuss it with your neighbours and email us with your suggestion at: community.fund@lyha.co.uk
Please complete our annual customer survey

We have recently sent out our annual STAR survey to all our customers. Your feedback is really important to us, so please take 5 minutes to complete it and let us know how we're doing and where we can improve our service to you. Everyone that responds will be entered into a free prize draw to win up to £125 of high street vouchers. 

We had a really good response rate last year so it would be great to get the same again.
Focus on Diversity

We are currently revising our equality and diversity action plan to ensure that inclusion is at the heart of all decision making.
Last year the team at LYHA were delighted to receive the Housing Diversity Network (HDN) Accreditation but diversity has always been at the heart of LYHA's philosophy. Please click here to read all about our organisation's history.
Our annual staff conference

We recently held our annual staff conference which was a great chance for our team to reflect on where we have made improvements over the last year and the areas we need to focus on going forward. We are keen to share our plans with customers and we will be updating you in these bulletins over the coming months.

Some of the key things discussed included greater openness and communication, engagement with customers and our desire to make a wider, positive impact in communities.
Meet our team
Adam Hutchinson

Job: Director of Resources

How long have you worked at LYHA?
Two and a half years.

What is your favourite part of the job?
Working with a very committed and talented team. I really value their trust to make big decisions affecting the business and continue to improve in everything we do.

Where would be your ideal day out in Yorkshire?
I'd love a hike in the Dales; along the Wharf from Grassington to Burnsall must be some of the prettiest countryside anywhere. Then back to my home town of Bradford for an award-winning curry.

If a visitor to Yorkshire only had time to visit one place in Yorkshire, where should they go?
I love reading about history and they really bring it to life at the Royal Armouries in Leeds. There's a water taxi service from outside the station, regular exhibits, live sword fights/jousting and talks from historical characters. And as a Yorkshireman myself and an Accountant,
I can't overlook that all that is free!
Katy Horrigan

Job: Income Officer

How long have you worked at LYHA?
Five and a half years.

What is your favourite part of the job?
Helping customers with their money so they sleep better at night and don't worry so much. This maybe either solving a benefit problem, helping people access benefits they didn't know about or putting them in touch with someone that can help.

Where would be your ideal day out in Yorkshire?
Somewhere with great views, no people and a lot of fresh air - Otley Chevin or on Scarborough beach in Winter.

If a visitor to Yorkshire only had time to visit one place in Yorkshire, where should they go?
Leeds Heineken Festival, Roundhay Park, 1994...or if by any small chance, nobody had invented a time machine....... York. There's always something going on, great museums, great food and great cocktails!
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