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3 stars in 3 years!

The Board have set a new aim for Solon to achieve 3 stars by March 2013.

We are rated by the Tenant Services Authority against a set of Standards.  Following our short notice inspection in June 2009 we were assessed as having weaknesses outweighing strengths in the inspected areas.  We were also rated as having uncertain prospects.  This is the equivalent of a zero star service.  You can read more on our Service Improvement page.

As you can imagine we want to change this view of Solon.  We aim to achieve a much better rating by March 2013, where we have significant strengths and have excellent prospects.  We have called this a 3 star service.  We are working hard to improve our services and to bring them in line with excellent standards.  This means working closely with our residents to make sure we are providing the services that you want.

We will update you with any changes that we do make via the website and the newsletter.  You can read more about our recent improvements on our webpage.

If you are interested in making any comments then please fill out a suggestion form in the next newsletter, or let us know in writing, via email to solon@solonswha.co.uk, over the phone on 0117 9244071, or by visiting us at our office at 1 Newfoundland Court.

Tenancy Audits - What Are They?
Tenancy Audits are our way of collecting up to date information on all our customers so we know how and when you like us to contact you. This means we get the job done right the first time.

A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE TAKEN PART SO FAR!!!!  We have now completed 99.8% of all audits!!!

We're also asking if people have disabilities that need to be taken into account when we visit them at home and whether you have someone we can call if there is an emergency and we can't get hold of you.

Questions on your ethnic origin, faith and sexuality help us monitor our services and let us make sure that we are not treating one group of people differently from another.

We still have a few homes to visit, if you are not at home when we call, we leave a card and ask you to ring us and make an appointment to suit you. We know you are busy so we're happy to visit you in the evening or speak to you by phone.

All the information we collect is used to improve our service to you. In our next issue of th My Place newsletter, we hope to bringyou news on how we have used this information to shape our services.

If you have any queries then please call the office on 0117 9244 071.

Disability Equality Scheme
Fantastic resident input on disability equality
On the 23rd November we held our disability equality meeting to discuss the potential barriers to accessing our services. 15 residents and staff members attended the session and we had some really productive discussions.

Some of the points the group highlighted were:
The next step is to circulate the findings of the discussion to all attendees and any other interested residents. We can then form this into an action plan to try and address disability equality.

I’d also like to say a big thank you to everyone that attended. All those involved were positive about the service that Solon provides and were confident in our ability to improve access to services.

If you would like to be involved, by phone, e-mail, letter or by coming to future meetings, please can you contact Leanne Sowersby either by phone on 0117 9167768, via email or write to our office (the address can be found on our Contact Us page)

Solon's Front Door Facelift

Residents visiting our office have often told us that our entrance is quite difficult to find.  To try and rectify this, we have brushed up on our appearance!

As well as installing the new wheelchair access intercom on the railings and improved disabled access signage, we have put up a large "welcome to Solon" sign next to the front door to make it clearer where we are.  We've also now got a sign detailing our current opening hours and contact details.  To finish off the new look, we have just installed 2 beautiful hanging baskets!

Hopefully this will make us a bit easier to spot!

If you have any suggestions to improve the things we do at Solon, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us.

Audit Commission Report

The Audit Commission have now published their report on Solon's Response Repairs, Gas Servicing and Re-lets services.

The Audit Commission has written a letter to all residents and we can supply a full copy of the report.

Access All Areas!

We are now wheelchair accessible from the front of our office.

We have bought portable wheelchair ramps that we can put down when needed. At the moment you will need to phone in advance of your visit to let us know to expect you (or call on a mobile when you arrive) unless you have someone with you who is able to press the normal intercom buzzer. We will shortly be installing a front entrance buzzer on the pavement railings so that you can let us know you have arrived. We'll let you know when this is in place.

Don't forget, you can always continue to use the rear level access entrance on Orange Street.

Disability Action
Do you have something to say about disability?

We would like to hold a meeting in September at Solon's office to discuss our Disability Equality Scheme and Action Plan. This is a written scheme and action plan that will try and make changes to ensure all of our services can be easily accessed by people with a range of disabilities.

We need your help to make sure we're going in the right direction! It's people that live with disabilities (or care for someone that does) that can really explain the difficulties that we need to overcome to make sure that our services can be accessed by everyone. Your coments and suggestions will be able to help 100s of Solon residents!

We have already started work on the implementing some of the actions, but it's all still up for discussion.

We have not yet set a date for this meeting, but we plan for it to be in September. We will keep you posted!

If you would like to be involved, by phone, e-mail, letter or by coming to the meeting, please can you contact Leanne Sowersby either by phone on 0117 9167768, via email or write to our office (the address can be found on our Contact Us page)

We Need Your Help!

Solon is running two events to help improve its services:

Help Us Set The Standard!

Wednesday 12 August 6:30pm - 8:30pm at City Inn, Temple Way, Bristol, BS1

Please come along and tell us what you want from our services. We will be looking at the for custome care firs. Such as how you think we should deal with enquiries and issues.

Action Stations!

Friday 21 August 10:00am - 1:00pm at City Inn, Temple Way, Bristol, BS1

Following a recent inspection by the Audit Commission. We now have to set an action plan to improve our services and are inviting you, as a resident of ours, to get involved.

Food will be provided at both events and we will cover reasonable costs for transport and child care.

There are many ways to get involved - if you can't come, but are interested in either of these issues and want to have your say, please contacy Leanne Sowersby on 0117 9167768 or via email

The National Conversation - Phase 2

The second phase of the Tenant Services Authority's National Conversation starts on 9th June and will run until 8 September 2009. This is your chance to help the TSA fine-tune the standards it has drawn up for social housing landlords. These draft standards are based on what you told the TSA earlier this year about the things that matter most to you.

There are many ways you can take part. The TSA will be at a number of events this summer, where they will be talking to tenants and landlords. Details of where they will be and when - and how you can join them - are available online at: www.nationalconversation.co.uk

You can also get involved in the National Conversation using the website. You'll find a short questionaire you can fill in, or you can have your say on one of the forums or by uploading a video of yourself. You can also take part by texting short answers to questions on the website.

There's a document with more questions that you can download too, if you want to.

You can hold your own local events as well. The TSA has called these 'Local Conversations'. They don't have to be very formal - they could be a group of you getting together in somebody's home or they could be part of another meeting that has already been planned. To help you the TSA has put together a resource pack you can download, which contains some important questions, important notes, a leaflet, a form to fill in and a prepaid envelope to send the form back (you do not need a stamp).

15th January 2009 -  The National Conversation
Can you help?

Your  chance to have your say about standards in social housing.

The Tenant Services Authority (TSA) is the new regulator for homes owned by housing associations and co-ops. From spring 2010, they are also likely to be responsible for local council and arm's-length management organisation (ALMO) landlords too.

The first thing the TSA needs to do is draw up a brand new set of standards for all social landlords. These standards are very important, as the TSA will be monitoring how landlords do in acheiving them - and taking action againsst any who don't.

The TSA is going to listen to tenants accross England to help them understand what you want to see in the new standards. It is calling this the National Conversation, and it will start on 19 January 2009.

This is your opportunity to set the standards for all social landlords and make sure that services for tenants continue to improve. So do get involved.

There are lots of ways that tenants can take part in the National Conversation. The TSA will be holding a series of regional events for a number of tenants and other events for landlords. Landlords are being asked to nominate tenants to the regional events and will have details of how you can get involved.

The Regional Event for tenants in Bristol is on Thursday 5th March at Ashton Gate Stadium from 11:00am to 1:00pm. To reserve a place please ring Resident Involvement and Communications Officer Jess Sneddon on 0117 916 7783.

Tenants can also get involved in Local Conversations. Local Conversations don't have to be formal - they could be a group of tenants getting together over a cup of tea in somebody's house or in a community centre. If you'd like to organise your own event, from 12 January onwards, you can order a resource pack from the TSA on 0845 230 7000 (option 1) and get more information on the wesite http://www.nationalconversation.co.uk

Crack House Closure
A house in Easton where drugs were being sold has been successfully closed down.

After receiving complaints of noise and nuisance including loud music and drug related activity, a closure notice was served on the tenant of 41 Barratt Street by the police.

A full closure order was subsequently granted by the courts meaning that the tenant cannot return to the property for at least 3 months, which will give other local residents a welcomed respite from the nuisance. This comes as a result of joint work carried out by the local police force and Solon South West Housing Association. This clearly demonstrates the collective power local residents have if they are willing to keep reporting these issues to the police and their landlord so that sufficient evidence can be collected to act upon.

Solon hopes this action shows we have listened to the local community and have taken positive action to address their concerns where we were able.

27th November 2008 - allpay.net cards no longer accepted at Woolworths
Follow news that Woolworths have gone into administration, we have been informed that until further notice, they will no longer be accepting bill payments in their stores.

We would like to reassure you that any monies that you paid through the Woolworths network at any point will be honoured and the monies will be credited against your rent account as per normal.

allpay.net is working closely with Woolworths and their administrators at this time and we will notify you of any changes to this situation as they occur. In the meantime, we would recomend that you no longer use woolworths to pay your bills.

We would like to take this opportunity to remind you that payment can still be made online, or via the etensive Post Office or PayPoint networks, which both accept cash and debit card payments in conjunction with you allpay.net payment card.

Solon Retains the Investors in People Standard
Solon has successfully retained the Investors in People Standard following a comprehensive review by Quality South West.

The review was carried out in September 2008. We were delighted that teh reviewers found considerable evidence of strengths and good development practice throughout Solon. This included:
The Investors in People status demonstrates commitment to good practice in organisational and staff development which is expected to contribute to improvements in the quality of service provision.

Solon links up with Bristol Credit Union
Solon has linked up with the Bristol Credit Union (BCU) to promote more financially inclusive services to its residents. To help the BCU increase its capacity within the Bristol area, Solon has donated £1,000 to assist the development of a new current account which will provide a much needed service for people who find accessing mainstream financial services difficult.

The BCU currently has over 3,000 members and its services are available to people who live, work, volunteer or go to school/university in the Bristol area. The BCu provides services targeting financial exclusion as a core part of its business. It lets people in the community come together to save ethically and to borrow money at competative rates. It is operated on a not-for-profit basis, with surpluses being returned to members. By working alongside the BCU, Solon's residents have already benefitted from accessing services that may otherwise have been unavailable to them or resulted in additional charges. Through this service, residents are better able to manage their money.

In addition, Solon is donating £1,400 to go towards the "money mentor" scheme. The scheme will run from September 2008 and will allow Solon staff to refer 20 of its residents in financial need to the BCU for a complete financial review. This will include a benefit and credit check, fuel and other bill payments check, as well as access to the BCU's usual services, such as savings, budget accounts, affordable credit and accounts for receipt of benefits and wages.

Solon have also set up a Payroll Savings Scheme which allows its staff to open a savings account with the BCU and then save directly from their pay. This benefits staff who can deposit money before their wages even reach their bank account, and also helps to develop a wider membership base for the BCU,  thus assisting in the sustainability of Credit Union services to all its members.