CHAP operate a Housing Advocacy service in North Ayrshire which provides free, confidential advice, information and advocacy support on housing and housing related issues. They also offer Welfare Rights and Money Advice which provides support for people who have multiple and/or complex debt issues.

They have launched a new website this week, which contains useful information and downloadable documents on housing, debt and welfare rights issues. They have also launched a new online advice service where people in North Ayrshire can chat to a trained advisor about their situation.

To find out more you can visit their website at chap.org.uk or call 01294 475636.

Lots of people across the country are suffering from a loss or reduction in income just now. If you’re struggling with money, there is lots of support out there. From information on how to claim benefits, to grants you might be able to apply for, this handy guide rounds up some of the help available just now.

• This website provides information about the changes the government has brought in to support people who are already claiming benefits, need to claim benefits, or are at risk of losing their job as a result of coronavirus.
• The DWP has launched a new video relay service for deaf claimants to use when accessing universal credit.
• If you are struggling with the cost of your energy bills, then you can look into changing your tariff. Check out Martin Lewis Money Saving Expert, Money Advice Service, or uswitch.
• Families on benefits may be able to receive Best Start Grant payments. These payments give financial support to families on lower incomes during the key stages in a child’s life. Social Security Scotland are calling on families on benefits to check if they are entitled to this extra help and encouraging those who are not already in receipt of a DWP benefit to check if they are eligible for financial support. You can find out more here.
• One Parent Families Scotland are offering grants to single parent families on low incomes and under financial pressure due to coronavirus. They have an emergency energy fund that can provide a one-off payment of £50 to single parent families in Scotland who need help with energy bills. Applications must be endorsed and submitted by a sponsor. Examples of eligible sponsors include your housing officer, health care professional, social worker, teacher, clergy and third sector organisations. You can find out more here.
• Did you know that if you have children at school who qualify for free school meals, your local authority are now providing an alternative arrangement? Check with your local authority to find out the details as eligibility and schemes vary across the country.
• The UK government has this week announced a new scheme that will allow small businesses to access loans of up to £50,000. Businesses will be able to apply online from Monday 4 May. The terms of the loan mean that no capital or interest repayments will be due for one year, during which time the government will pay the interest. Unlike the existing loan scheme, banks will not retain any of the risk for these loans. In applying for the loan, businesses will only have to show that they were sustainable before the pandemic, not that they will be after (as was the case with initial loan schemes) as businesses have found it difficult to predict how they will fare in the future. For more information on the scheme, see here.

Our team is on hand to help you with any money worries. They can talk you through your situation and the options available to you, including benefits and other help and support you can access. Please get in touch if you'd like to speak to them.

The Scottish Government, Scottish Housing Regulator and Scottish Federation of Housing Associations have up to date guidance and information on what is expected from social landlords, like ANCHO, during the coronavirus outbreak.
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If you’d like to find out more, you can visit their websites:

Scottish Housing Regulator

Scottish Federation of Housing Associations

Scottish Government

​Ready Scotland has published a helpful guide to organisations that provide advice and support to anyone needing it during the coronavirus crisis.  This guide is regularly updated and is well worth a visit if you or someone who know would benefit from accessing some of these services.

We understand that this is a worrying time for many people and that you may be suffering from a loss of income. We know that some of you may be worried about your rent as well as other bills.
 
We want to reassure tenants that we will not be taking legal action to evict tenants where financial hardship is suffered as a result of coronavirus.
 
Those affected by coronavirus who are concerned about paying their rent can claim Universal Credit from the Department for Work and Pensions which includes support for housing costs, if eligible. The UK Government has introduced some temporary changes to make this easier.
 
As a not-for-profit housing association, rent is our only source of income. It enables us to pay for the services we provide. It goes towards vital repairs and improvements, not only for your home, but for other homes across Scotland. If your ability to pay rent hasn’t been affected by coronavirus and you do not pay your rent, we will follow our usual arrears procedure, which could lead to you losing your home.
 
We are here to support you and if you have any concerns about your ability to pay your rent, please contact us as soon as possible. The earlier we know, the sooner we can help you.
 
Our team is on hand to help you with any money worries. They can talk you through your situation and the options available to you, including benefits and other help and support you can access.
 
Useful links
 
DWP: latest updates
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-work-pensions
 
Benefit advice and checkers:
https://www.turn2us.org.uk/
https://www.entitledto.co.uk/

With the ongoing COVID-19 situation at the forefront of everyone’s mind, we wanted to assure you that the health and safety of our tenants, other customers, contractors and staff is our absolute priority.
The commitment from ANCHO is that we will adhere to the guidance issued by Health Protection Scotland and the Scottish Government. Our employees and contractors are fully aware of their responsibilities and are undertaking the highest possible levels of health and safety to safeguard themselves, tenants and others against the risk of infection.
We have set up a dedicated Incident Management Team that is meeting daily to coordinate our response and ensure we maintain, wherever possible, our services to tenants and other customers. We aim to keep you informed, through our website, and through our Facebook page, so please check back regularly.
The latest update is:

• As far as possible, it is largely business as usual for ANCHO. We have invested in technology which allows for home working and our team are available to take your call or email
• We are currently only scheduling to complete emergency repairs, emergency gas repairs and gas safety checks. Any non-emergency repairs reported will be logged and we hope to be able to schedule those as soon as possible. We appreciate your patience and I’m sure you will understand that we can’t give any timescales to when non-emergency repairs will be scheduled, at this time. 
• We are encouraging our staff, wherever possible, to work remotely, this includes cancelling non-essential face-to-face meetings and appointments in tenants’ homes. Our office in Irvine is now closed to the public

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We all understand this international crisis will likely get worse before it gets better. We greatly appreciate your support and patience while we adjust to new working arrangements. This is a fast-moving situation, we are monitoring it closely and will keep you posted. If you have any questions or ideas, please contact us. Stay safe.

Following the outbreak of the coronavirus (Covid-19), we have been closely monitoring the situation.

The health and wellbeing of our tenants is paramount, and we are taking steps, in line with UK Government and Public Health guidance, to minimise the risk to tenants and staff.

At present, the risk to ANCHO tenants and customers is considered low. However, there are a number of steps you can follow to help keep yourself and others safe.

1. If you are experiencing a fever, cough or shortness of breath within 14 days of returning from China, Hong Kong, Japan, Macau, Malaysia, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan or Thailand, please phone your GP or NHS 24 immediately and follow their advice. Do not go to A&E or your GP surgery.
2. If you have returned from Iran, specific lockdown areas in northern Italy, special care zones in South Korea and the Hubei province in China, please seek advice from NHS 24 and follow their advice.

Please practice good hygiene:

• Properly wash and dry your hands regularly
• Please use tissues when coughing or sneezing, and put them in the bin straight after use

For more information about coronavirus and how you can protect yourself, please visit NHS Inform.

The staff team at ANCHO are celebrating after being named as one of the best companies to work for in the UK.

ANCHO, as part of Cairn Housing Group alongside partners Cairn Housing Association, was named in the list of the 100 best not-for-profit employers in The Sunday Times Best Companies Awards.

The Awards recognise organisations for creating a workplace where employees feel valued and motivated.

The survey was completed by 90% of employees across Cairn Housing Group and analysed engagement across all aspects of working for ANCHO and Cairn, from relationships with managers to giving something back to the community.

Ley-Anne Forsyth, a Housing Officer in Cairn’s Inverness office, who travelled down to the award ceremony in London said: “It was inspiring to hear about other not-for-profit organisations that had also picked up an award.

“We received a special commendation for our work with tenants who have mental health issues.  This is the reason we all come to work, to help our tenants as best we can, and it felt particularly special to have that recognition for our frontline teams.”

Michael Allan, Cairn’s Chairperson said: “It’s a wonderful result for the Cairn Housing Group to be counted in the top 100 best not-for-profit organisations to work for in the UK.
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“We know that having engaged staff makes for a happier workplace and better services to customers.  Building on these high levels of employee engagement year after year is a great achievement and acknowledges the hard work and commitment of our team.”

ANCHO’s newly elected Chairperson, Mary Black, has welcomed six new members to its voluntary Board.  ANCHO recently completed a formal Governance Review and is celebrating a successful recruitment campaign which will bring extensive new skills to the Board, adding to the skills and experience of existing Members.
 
Mary Black, Chair of ANCHO, said:
 
“I am delighted to have been elected as the Chairperson of ANCHO’s Board. This is an exciting time to be part of ANCHO, with significant investment being delivered as part of the partnership with Cairn Housing Group. This is improving tenants’ homes and we have a shared determination to provide the very best possible services to our communities.  
 
“We are extremely grateful to Dr Sonya Campbell-Perry for the contribution she made to ANCHO as our Chairperson and we wish her well for the future. We are also thankful for the service of John Rodgers, Lesley Sheppard and Sian Hughes who have stepped down as Board members.
 
“We have everything in place as part of Cairn Housing Group to meet the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead, and our six new colleagues will make a fabulous contribution to our work through 2020.”
 
Steven Travers, Leanne Stirling, Kelly Arrol, Nigel Fortnum, Colin Love and Michael Donnelly are joining the ANCHO Board and bring with them decades of collective experience in strategy development, property management, accountancy, digitisation, human resources, social enterprises and charity fundraising.  
 
Cairn Housing Association Chairperson, Michael Allan, said:
 
“ANCHO’s Board is in great shape with six new members and Mary Black will lead the Association with a passion for promoting the interests of tenants and other customers.  On behalf of everyone at Cairn Housing Group we are thankful to Sonya, John, Lesley and Sian for their service and we look forward to working with Mary and our new colleagues.”
 
ANCHO is committed to promoting additional opportunities for tenants and other customers to become Board members. Interested individuals are invited to contact ANCHO for an informal discussion about potential future board membership.