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Better by bikeCreated on 09 September 2010by Gavin Llewellyn |
Throughout the spring and summer I’ve really enjoyed cycling to work, and on the whole the weather has been very good (I don’t like cycling in the rain and cold so I’ve been pretty lucky!). I’m quite fortunate to live only three miles from work so it’s never too long a journey, but even if it was a bit further I’d still enjoy the ride in. I find it to be relaxing (I avoid all the horrible traffic jams), enjoyable (I listen to my iPod) and cost effective (I save money by not using the car so much). But cycling is also good exercise – and environmentally friendly, so it’s good for the planet, too!
I’ve recently noticed a number of street advertisements for Cycle Derby, an initiative run by Derby City Council. Cycle Derby’s primary goal is to encourage young people in Derby to cycle more by working with schools, colleges, the University, as well as local clubs and community groups. The work Cycle Derby is doing is really positive, especially working with young people as this is a great way of educating them on good practice from an early age. Cycle Derby even came along to our bicycle road show in July as part of our project Bike Force: Recycle that cycle, which they’re also helping to fund. This project is about recycling and reusing bicycles as well as providing training, work placements, physical activities and volunteering opportunities for Derwent Living customers and the wider community.
Posted in [People]
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Satisfaction from actionCreated on 06 September 2010by Peter McCormack, Chief Executive |
We’ve just had the results of our 2010 STATUS survey back and are thrilled with the results. We have made real improvements, and overall satisfaction with our services has risen to 85% from 81% in 2007. This means we are performing better than many other local and national providers who have also completed the same standardised tenant survey this year.
It also shows that our work on service area improvements has begun to embed itself and bear fruit with customers feeling happier when they ask for advice or need help. Satisfaction with our repairs service has risen 6% since 2007 with the survey showing more and more residents placing this service at the top of their priorities.
Posted in [Customers]
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Mapping a new route into workCreated on 01 September 2010by Sue Williams, Community Development Officer |
Looking for a new route into work?
Run out of fuel?
Can you remember how you felt last time you were lost and didn’t know which way to turn? With daily news bulletins about the economic environment, increased competition for jobs and a lack of skilled workers, never before has there been more call for planning new journeys with a clear direction. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to find a route into the work you really want to do and it’s therefore essential to have the right plan in place so that you’re as prepared as possible when you venture into the jobs market.
Three flat tyres and no signal on your sat nav?
So how do you move forward once you’ve attended the “How to win over the interview panel course”, framed your certificates and perfected your CV with all those impressive motivating words? You’ve sent off hundreds of text-book examples of “I’m absolutely perfect” job applications, but your interview suit is still acting like Cinderella in the wardrobe – all dressed up but nowhere to go.
Posted in [People]
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Everybody needs good neighboursCreated on 27 August 2010by Steve Atkin |
How well do you know your next-door neighbour? Quite well? Or not at all? How about the person who lives five doors down? Their name perhaps? Maybe not.
Unfortunately, our lifestyle ultimately dictates our relationships with neighbours I suppose. Being busy and on the go all the time naturally means there is less time for that chat across the fence or cup of tea, and in turn less opportunity to forge relationships with people who live around you.
This has a knock on effect, and seemingly becoming a more insular society has led to a reduction in community cohesion and a rise in noise nuisance, low level anti-social behaviour and neighbourhood disputes. So as a housing provider, how do we try to counter the cause and effect of this very modern problem?
We’ve recently launched a new initiative called a Good Neighbourhood Agreement, and are running fun and activity days as a way to launch them. But what is a Good Neighbourhood Agreement, and why would they be of benefit to our residents?
Good Neighbour Agreements are usually voluntary agreements between landlords and their tenants, but can also be used by other agencies and organisations, such as Community Safety Partnerships and local residents.
Posted in [Customer involvement]
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Delving into the blogosphere!Created on 25 August 2010by Gavin Llewellyn |
Since May 2010, we’ve published posts on various topics and subjects on an area of our website that we’ve called ‘The Blog’.
But what is a blog? How does it work? And why is Derwent Living running a blog?
The word ‘blog’ was first coined in 1999 and is derived from the term ‘web log’. A blog is a website or part of a website where people can log their thoughts and opinions. Blogging has been going on since the mid-1990s, and at the last count there were well over 133 million blogs worldwide (as tracked by Technorati in 2009)!
Derwent Living decided to set up a blog so that we could post our opinions and views on various housing, social and political stories and events, as well as offering tips, help and advice to customers. It also enables up-to-date commentary on what’s happening at Derwent Living. A blog is great for reacting immediately to trends and events, but should also be fun and a place where people can write more informally, sometimes about subjects not directly associated with the business.
Posted in [Customers]
