May: A Month of Fresh Starts and Radiant Positivity 

• National High Blood Pressure Education Month
• Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month
• May 1^st: May Day
• May 5^th: Early May Bank Holiday
• May 8^th: VE Day (Victory in Europe Day, commemorating the end of WWII in Europe)
• May 12^th: Black Inclusion Week

May 26^th: Spring Bank Holiday

Welcome to the team, Cheryl!

We are excited to announce that Cheryl will be joining us as our new Customer Voice Coordinator starting in May! Cheryl brings valuable experience from her previous role as an Independent Living Officer at One Vision Housing. We are looking forward to her fresh ideas and unique perspective on Customer Voice.

With Cheryl on board, we now have two Customer Voice Coordinators, which means even more opportunities for you to get involved and make a difference!

Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month

Jack Byrne, a Merseyside resident and a close friend of our Customer Voice Coordinator, Kate, shared his story of living with Cystic Fibrosis. Jack hasn’t let his diagnosis stop him from living life to the fullest. From a young age, he started dancing to stay as healthy as possible.

“A teacher once suggested I could make a career out of dancing because I was always at the studio. From there, everything fell into place. Now I’m a dance teacher, choreographer, and performer. I even started a company called ‘Just Believe’ to raise awareness and money for cystic fibrosis. We sell hoodies and host dance events. So far, we’ve raised £4,000, and I’ve noticed that people around me, at work and socially, seem to know much more about CF now and don’t ask silly questions.”

Jack also shared some advice for younger people with CF: “Listen to your mum when she says exercise is good for you! It’s tough but staying positive and not dwelling on it is important. When you reflect on how CF affects your daily life, it can really get you down, but you need to keep living your life. If I’d dwelled on it too much, I wouldn’t have achieved what I have.”

Jack’s determination has made him a successful dancer and a proud member of Boogie Storm. Thanks for letting us share a part of your story Jack!

If you would like to hear more about Jack’s journey, you can follow him on Instagram @jacckbyrne

Our Commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

On April 30th, we hosted our quarterly EDI group at Mill Spring Court. It was fantastic to welcome our customers who are passionate about EDI and eager to provide feedback on how we can further enhance our efforts! We were honoured to have special guests Chloe Ellison and John Rice join us to discuss our EDI Strategy, which is due for renewal in July, and to gather feedback on whether we are on the right track with our objectives and actions. The session was enjoyed by all, and we look forward to meeting again in August!

Spotlight on Phil: Championing Positive Change

On April 25^th, Our Customer Voice Coordinator Kate had the pleasure of interviewing Phil, Kate first met Phil at a Customer EDI Group in January, and his passion for creating a positive change truly stood out. Phil, who has learning disabilities, has an inspiring story that deserves to be heard. The interview will be available soon, stay tuned!

Get Involved and Make a Difference!

Are you wondering how you can get involved and make a positive impact but don’t know where to start? We’re excited to announce that we are recruiting for various customer groups. This month, we’re shining a spotlight on the groups you can join:

Scrutiny Team

As part of our Scrutiny Team, you’ll have the chance to dive into our service areas that need improvement. You’ll gain insights into the challenges facing tenants and our business, recommend ways to enhance our services, and monitor our progress over time.

Commitment: Over 3 hours per month (in person).

Service Review Group

Our Service Review Group plays a crucial role in identifying topics for the Scrutiny Panel to investigate. You’ll assess and discuss our performance data, highlighting areas that need further exploration.

Commitment: 3 hours every three months (in person).

Policy and Strategy Group

This group supports OVH in developing key strategies and policies, including our Customer Voice Strategy, Neighbourhoods and Assets policies, and our overall Strategic Plan. You’ll assess and discuss our performance, identifying areas for the Scrutiny Panel to explore further.

Commitment: 2 hours quarterly (every 3 months). Sessions held in-person and virtually.

Don’t worry if you’re new to this—all training will be provided to ensure you feel confident and prepared. We look forward to welcoming you to our customer groups and working together to make a difference!

Tenant Inspector Health and Safety Training

On April 29th, our Health and Safety Team conducted a training session for our Tenant Inspectors. This training aimed to equip them with the necessary skills and confidence to identify and address potential hazards during inspections effectively.

The session was fantastic, and it was wonderful to reconnect with our Tenant Inspectors, providing them with additional skills to perform their duties. A big thank you to Ellen and Martin from the Health and Safety team for delivering such an informative session!

Are you interested in hearing more about becoming a Tenant Inspector? Get in contact today!

Community Development Funding

We’re excited to announce the opening of our Community Development Fund at the end of May!

Are you part of an organisation with a small, community-focused project in need of funding? This opportunity is for you! Our fund is specifically designed to support voluntary and community groups in delivering impactful projects and services that enhance the lives of residents in our communities.

What makes this initiative extra special? Our Tenants actively participate in the Community Funding Panel, reviewing applications and helping decide which organisations will receive funding.

Interested in making a difference? Get involved by registering below.

Community Spotlight on The Brunswick Youth and Community Centre!

 We are excited to promote the wonderful activities happening at the Brunswick Youth and Community Centre. Check out their regular events and stay tuned for new dates in May!

• Weekly Lunch every Thursday from 12.30pm – 1.30pm. Whether it’s soup and a roll, a bacon butty, or a community lunch, there’s always something tasty to enjoy.
• Family Night Once a month, from 5.00pm – 6.30pm, bring your children for a fun-filled evening of activities and a nice dinner. It’s a great opportunity to spend quality time together and meet other families.
• Community Garden Volunteers needed to help in their community garden. If you have a green thumb or just want to lend a hand, they’d love to have you join them!
• ·Special Event: LFC Pies and Quiz Mark your calendars for Wednesday, 14th May from 12.30pm – 2.00pm. Join Brunswick for a fun event featuring pies and a quiz. Don’t miss out!

To find out more, please visit their website at: brunswickycc.co.uk

Upcoming neighbourhood drop-in sessions

If you have a tenancy related queries and want to speak to a member of our Neighbourhood Services Team in person, then please feel free to visit one of our drop-in sessions for assistance. Whether you need to chat to someone about your rent account, anti-social behaviour, or you just need to report a repair, we’re here to help.

Take a look at our upcoming sessions:

• St John & James Church and Community Centre

St John & James Church and Community Centre, 71 Bailey Drive, Bootle, L20 6EX

First Tuesday of each month 11am – 2pm

We’re currently reviewing venues in your local area, so keep an eye out for new drop-in sessions!

Upcoming Regular Events

• Social drop-in on Tuesday mornings from 9.30am – 11:00am for coffee, biscuits, and a chat.
• Wellness Walks 11am-12pm – Wellness walks are a great way to stay active and enjoy the outdoors.
• Men’s Social Group every Thursday from 1.30pm – 2.30pm, come and enjoy pub games and vinyl. Play pool, darts, dominoes, cards, and bring your own records to share.

To hear more about The Brunswick Youth and Community Centre, please visit their website. 

Complaints, Compliments & Suggestions

We value customer feedback as a vital tool for improvement. By listening to our customers’ concerns and suggestions, we can identify areas where we need to improve and make changes to enhance the overall experience. We want to make it easy for customers to share their feedback, whether it’s a complaint, suggestion, or compliment. By doing so, we can continue to provide high-quality housing and support services.

If you have a complaint, compliment or suggestion, visit our website here to let us know. Alternatively, contact us on 0300 365 1111 or email enquiries@ovh.org.uk

Need to report a repair?

You can do this on “My Account” by visiting https://ovh.org.uk/ alternatively, please contact our friendly Customer Service Centre on 0300 365 1111 and a member of our team will be happy to help you.

Customer Voice – Star of the Month!

We are thrilled to announce Tony as our Customer Voice Star of the Month! Tony became an involved customer in November 2024, when we met him at an afternoon tea event. It was clear from the start that Tony was passionate about advocating not only for himself but also for his neighbours, ensuring their voices were heard. We knew he would be an asset in helping us improve our service offerings.

Since meeting Tony, he has taken on the role of Tenant Inspector and is currently in the process of becoming a Complaints Champion. But that’s not all—Tony also actively participates in our “hot topic groups,” providing his valuable input on various subjects such as Repairs and Maintenance, and Policy and Strategies.

Thank you, Tony, for being an incredible asset to our Customer Voice Team! Your dedication and commitment are truly appreciated.

If you’re new to Customer Voice and unsure on how you can get involved, visit our website to find out more on the various groups and panels you can join.