Angus Community Councils survey – Of the people, by the people, for the people

A Community Council is a voluntary organisation set up by statute by a Local Authority and run by local residents to act on behalf of their area. As the most local tier of elected representation, Community Councils play an important role in local democracy. Angus is home to 25 Community Councils.

They are a focal point for their community and represent residents’ views, opinions, concerns and wishes to the local authority – that’s us, Angus Council.

Community Councils make a wide range of activities possible and promote the well-being of local people. They bring local people together to help make things happen locally. Many of them work tirelessly to protect and promote the identity of their community.

They advise, petition, influence and advocate numerous causes and concerns on behalf of their neighbours and towns people. At their best Community Councils are brilliant.

But it’s no secret that some need support as they face challenges that include attracting enough volunteers which in turn makes it harder to engage with their communities. Sadly, Aberlemno and Friockheim have no community councils operating at present because not enough people have volunteered.

As part of our efforts to develop and support our community councils, we are carrying out an Angus Community Councils survey to gather information about what you think about your community council, the influences and barriers that you think exist around it and, hopefully a bit about yourself.

If you are a resident within the Angus Council area, we would appreciate your time in completing this short survey by 12 April 2021.

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Angus cares about Suicide Prevention

 

There has never been a more important time for anyone who lives or works in Angus to have their say about suicide prevention.

The Angus Mental Health and Wellbeing Network is driving forward actions to increase the profile of suicide prevention in Angus. 

 

Angus Suicide Awareness Film

The first of the initiatives – an infomercial – has been produced to let people know how to access local support and to signpost people to services.

To access the infomercial, click here or on the image below.

 

 

Angus Suicide Prevention Survey 2021

The Network has also launched a survey to establish the needs of people across Angus. The group believes that everyone should have the opportunity to be involved in shaping suicide prevention services and developments to meet local needs

You can find the survey here and it closes on3 April. 

Terry Irvine, Chair of the multiagency group said, “It takes tremendous courage for people to share their thoughts and experiences in relation to suicide and it is important that anyone that is struggling reaches out for help.

It is vital that when people reach out there is a compassionate, respectful response available to listen and provide the right support.

With the launch of these two initiatives, we aim to improve our approach to suicide prevention, and we need the people of Angus to help us make change a reality.”

Now is the time to make a difference, Suicide Prevention is Everyone’s Business.

If you do not have access to the internet and want to provide your views or get more information please contact
Susan Duncan, Suicide Prevention Development Officer email:
suicideprevention@angus.gov.uk or phone 07342080324.

Free family conflicts resolution training opportunity

FREE PARENT/CARER ‘Family Conflict Triggers’ training opportunity!

When: Tuesday 16 March 2021 (12:00-12:40)

Are you a parent or carer? ‘Family Conflict Triggers’ explores those little things that can escalate and cause conflict, and how to manage these. Following the session, you will be able to:

Recognise these (daily) triggers that have the potential to escalate within a family context, so you can address them more effectively or seek appropriate support

To register your FREE place, please use the Scottish Centre for Conflict Resolution website

FREE YOUNG PEOPLE (16-25) ‘Anxious and Afraid’ training opportunity!

When: Thursday 18 March 2021 (12:00-12:40)

Are you a young person aged 16-25? Looking to learn more about conflict resolution? ‘Anxious and Afraid’ explores anxiety and stress. Following the session, you will be able to:

1.    Relate to the emotional state of being anxious and afraid

2.    Explore some of the science behind this state to improve individual wellbeing

To register your FREE place click here

Scottish Centre for Conflict Resolution (SCCR) is a national resource centre promoting and supporting best practices in mediation, family conflict resolution and early intervention. Through our free events and resources, the SCCR aims to encourage young people, their families and organisations to develop conflict resolution skills to improve both relationships and life chances and ultimately reduce youth homelessness. We have created a series of conflict resolution training based on our normal face-to-face training but adapted for an online event. Each session is about 40 minutes long.

Sessions will be delivered on the online platform Zoom, by the SCCR trainer. If you book on to the session you will be sent the details on how to join nearer the time to the event when bookings have closed and a full PDF document with all the information you need to know will be emailed to you. This session is at an introductory level and no prior knowledge of the subject is required.

Angus Council also operates a mediation and conflict resolution service in partnership with Relationships Scotland. The service aims to prevent one or more members of a family from becoming homeless as a result of the conflict. It is open to all Angus residents and is free of charge. Referrals to the service can be used by following the Mediation and conflict resolution service website.

New Responsive Repairs and Voids Contract for our Housing Service

We have a new Responsive Repairs and Voids Contract which begins on 1 April and aims to improve the service that tenants currently receive. It is a three-year contract to March 2024 and could be extended further to 2026.

Following a contract tender in late 2020, the successful contractors are Derek McNulty Joinery & Building Contractors, for the Arbroath, Carnoustie & Monifieth areas, and MPS Housing Ltd for the Montrose, Brechin, Forfar and Kirriemuir areas.

What to expect from our Contractors?

Works will include day-to-day repairs, maintenance and minor works to our housing stock, including common areas, garages, and external areas. The contractors will provide a 24-hour service every day of the year, including public holidays. The contractors will also carry out works to our void or empty properties when there are changes of tenancy.

During normal working hours (Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5pm) we will have dedicated housing repairs call handlers based within our Contact Centre. An Emergency repairs service will be provided outwith normal working hours (Monday to Friday 5pm to 8.30am) at weekends and during public holidays. To report repairs, whether during the working day or outwith working hours call 03452 777 778.

Tenants can make response repair appointments between 8.30am to 7.30pm Monday to Thursday; from 8.30am to 5pm on Fridays; and on Saturday mornings between 9am and 12 noon. The contractor will arrange an appointment to suit that allows the repair to be completed within the allocated time.

The contractors will work under a code of conduct and we will monitor compliance and standards of work through tenant satisfaction surveys and inspections.

COVID-19 restrictions

Due to coronavirus restrictions, we can only carry out emergency repairs at this time and until further notice.

This situation is being continuously monitored to allow for a return to a full service as soon as restrictions are lifted. COVID-19 restrictions have resulted in a significant backlog of repairs and our contractors will work through them as a priority. However, if you have an issue with your home, and haven’t already reported it, then please let us know by contacting ACCESSLine on 03452 777 778.

We cannot give timescales for when these repairs can be carried out, but we will make contact at the earliest opportunity to arrange a suitable date when national restrictions are eased.

 

2 bedroom flats available to rent in Brechin

Our Montrose Community Housing Team, have a number of 2 bedroom properties for rent

Property: Hillview, Brechin

Bedrooms: 2

Weekly Rent: £65.48

Various 2 bedroom flats in the residential area of Hillview, Brechin. Properties are located within walking distance to local services and amenities and a bus stop with routes into the town centre and other Angus Towns. Properties benefit from gas central heating, double glazing, modern kitchen and bathroom suite, secure door entry with access to a communal drying area and storage cellar.

Local services include two shops, one has a post office.

Allocated street and car parking – not available within the scheme

If you are interested, you must have a live application to place your bid through the Angus Homefinder website.

Your opinion matters-please help us with our Angus Housing Need and Demand Assessment – Household Survey 2021

We have launched a Household Survey to gather your views about current and future housing needs across the Angus area.

The survey supports the preparation of a Housing Need and Demand Assessment (HNDA) which is being undertaken on behalf of a partnership between the four local authorities (Angus, Dundee, Perth & Kinross, and Fife).

We want to hear about your home, how you feel about where you live, your current household arrangements, your housing needs and any plans you may have for the future.

Your views are vital because the more you tell us, the better we can respond to your needs and help create places that people are proud to call home.

The survey will take about 10 minutes to complete. Your answers will remain confidential and anonymous, and you will not be contacted by us about individual answers unless you permit us.

The survey will close on 2 April 2021

For more information see the Angus Council News

£4 million Home Heating Support Fund launched

The Scottish Government has launched a £4 million support fund to help people struggling with their energy bills during the coronavirus lockdown.

The scheme, which will be administered by national advice service  Advice Direct Scotland, is designed to prevent households falling into fuel poverty.

The Home Heating Support Fund is open until March 31 and applications can only be made on behalf of individuals by ‘referral partners’.

The referral partner for Angus residents is Save Cash and Reduce Fuel (SCARF) and their Angus Home Energy Advice Team (HEAT Team). Their expert debt advisers will assess eligibility and apply for funding on the individual’s behalf if appropriate.

Targeted funding will reflect each individual’s circumstances, with extra support available for households where one person is over 75, they rely on electric heating, or live in a remote or island community.

Eligibility is based on households which are ‘self-rationing’ their energy, meaning those who are deliberately limiting their energy use so that they can afford to spend money on other goods or services. This could be as a result of home-working or home-schooling due to the pandemic. Any households which are ‘off-supply’ are not eligible for the fund, and should seek support from their energy supplier or organisations which can refer them to the Fuel Bank Foundation.

For more information and to check your eligibility, call HEAT Team on 0808 129 0888