Our Enews includes all the latest headlines from Great Places, with useful updates, information, events and opportunities.

At the moment, it seems we are all struggling to keep up with finances, so we are here to help, however we can. Below you can find helpful information and tips that could help you save or gain a little more cash each month.

In addition to the information below, if you would like to chat to someone confidentially about your finances, we can provide you with a variety of information and support – just contact us here.

If you are eligible, Pension Credits can give you an extra £3300 per year

Eligible pensioners are being urged to take up Pension Credit, to help with the increased cost of living. If eligible, Pension Credit will give you extra money to help with living costs if you’re over State Pension age, and on a low income. It can also help with housing costs such as ground rent or service charges.

Find out all the details and how to apply here.

Are you claiming all you’re entitled to?

The Government have updated their website so you can find out what benefits you are entitled to. By answering up to 10 questions, you’ll find out what support is available. Check it out here. You can also find out more from the "entitledto" website here.

Simple energy-saving tips could save you at least £269 a year

• Taking 4-minute showers could save you £70 a year
• Switching devices off standby could save you £55 a year
• Turning off lights when not in that room could save you £20 a year
• Drying clothes naturally, especially if it is warm outside instead of having the dryer on could save you £60 a year
• Filling the kettle just for the amount needed could save you £36 a year
• Doing one load of washing a week on 30 degrees could save you £28 year

For further help and advice with finances, please see our website here.

Childcare Choices

The Government have done a joint campaign with Childcare Choices to ease the pressure on working families by encouraging parents to take up the range of government support available to help with the costs of childcare. The Childcare Choices campaign brings together all the support in one place and covers universal credit, tax-free childcare, and 30/15 hours of free childcare per week. For more information, visit the website here.

Repairs Team update

We are trying to make your repairs service as efficient as possible. We've been through a lot of change recently and are looking to further improve our services, so we have increased resource in our property services team. The changes mean customers will have a dedicated professional who can deal with any property related questions or concerns efficiently and effectively.

Remember we’re on hand to help when you need us. If you do have any concerns and need assistance contact us as soon as possible. The quickest way to contact us is by using our Chatabot on the website (more details below).

Alternatively, you can log a repair request:

• By emailing repairs@greatplaces.org.uk; or
• By calling our customer services team on 0300 123 1966

Damp and Mould campaign update

We may be in summer, but our Damp and Mould campaign does not stop. Thanks to all customers who’ve continued to get in touch with us following the launch of our Detective Damp Guide last year providing useful advice and support to help tackle the potential problem of dampness and mould in homes.

The campaign has been a real success and we continue to work with customers to look at how we can provide technical solutions and general support to address issues when they arise.

Remember to check out our Detective Damp’s guide which includes a range of top tips and advice on how to reduce the risk of dampness in your home.

You can view the guide via the link here. 

If you’d like to receive a print copy of this guide then please contact customerhub@greatplaces.org.uk  and we can look to send you a copy.

Remember if you’re experiencing any issues with dampness or mould, the sooner you let us know the quicker we can help fix the problem.

Stay cool and look after each other

As the weather warms up, this week the UK Health Security Agency has issued a Level 2 Heat Health Alert for the North of England and the Met Office has issued an Amber Warning of Extreme Heat as we are seeing temperatures rise to over 30°C.

Heat and your health

Most of us love a bit of sun but too much heat can put extra stress on your body, with risks of dehydration and other health issues such as Heat Stroke or Circulatory problems. Here are some tips to keep you safe and cool include:

• Cover up, wear a wide-brimmed hat and apply sunscreen regularly
• Avoid physical exertion during the hottest parts of the day
• Drink plenty of fluids and avoid alcohol
• If you live alone or are vulnerable, ask a friend or neighbour to check up on you
• More advice and health tips can be found on the government website here and the NHS website here.

Click here for more information and advice during the hot weather.

Got a question? Ask Chatabot

Did you know that the quickest way to get in touch with us is Chatabot, our digital assistant?

Chatabot is our friendly digital assistant and will be on hand when you log onto our website to try and answer any common questions you may have 24/7 - everything from information on pets to the latest updates on coronavirus.

Nobody’s perfect and if Chatabot can’t answer your query, it’ll put you through to our friendly customer service team on Live Chat during office hours or contact the team to get back to you as soon as they can.

Look to the bottom right of our website and click on the Ask Chatabot tab to start your chat. They’re waiting to hear from you.

The Loop

We have a new brand for any customer engagement activity called “The Loop”. Basically, any time you see the logo below, the information with it will all be about how we have been listening to you and what we’ve changed as a result, or things we are asking you to chat to us about.

So do keep a look out – your voice is very important to us, and we want you to know we are listening; when you see this logo, you can read about how we are listening and you can let us know your thoughts – good or bad.

Jubilant Celebrations

Though it feels like a while ago now, last month saw fantastic celebrations across our neighbourhoods with lots of street parties and festivities – we even managed to support nearly 50 community parties and you can view some of what went on here on our website.

Blackburn legend marks the end of Bowland House project

We were star-struck recently as former four-time World Superbike champion Carl Fogarty was the guest of honour as Great Places’ Bowland House in Blackburn was officially unveiled.

Fogarty, who was also the King of the Jungle in 2014, met residents to celebrate the end of the £3.9million refurbishment project. You can read more about it here.