Monday 21 June marked the start of Armed Forces Week, a series of events, videos and articles celebrating the range of activities and people of the Armed Forces.
This briefing below gives information about NHS services for the Armed Forces community and activity connected with the Armed Forces Week.
Not getting on with your parents, partner, or family members? Then, our family Mediation and Conflict Resolution service may be able to help.
The service is a partnership between us and Relationships Scotland, who can provide a range of support to people to prevent a relationship breaking down. Even if leaving the family home isn’t preventable, the service can help support a planned move to other accommodation. The service can also work with people to help to rebuild relationships with family members, which may help them to return home.
The service will work with you and your family, to make practical, workable arrangements for the future, which everyone can agree. It will treat you with respect, go at your pace, and keep things confidential. They’ll take into account the views, needs and feelings of everyone involved; including you.
Whether it’s you or someone you care about who’s struggling with conflict in their family, please get in touch. People can self-refer using the Mediation and Conflict Resolution service website.
The service can support anyone in Angus, regardless of whether you live in an Angus Council tenancy or not.
Scottish Government recently launched the Scottish Social Housing Charter Review consultation.
This consultation seeks views on the Scottish Social Housing Charter. The Charter was introduced by the Housing (Scotland) Act 2010, which requires Ministers to set standards and outcomes that social landlords should be achieving for tenants and other customers through their housing activities. It also requires Ministers to review the Charter standards and outcomes from time to time with the last review being undertaken in 2016.
Read the consultation paper here.
Alongside the consultation Scottish Government is also inviting social housing tenants and staff to attend a series of virtual events taking place during June and July. At the event, you will have the chance to take part in conversations with other tenants or staff, and share your experiences with us in more depth.
These events will be hosted by the Tenants Information Service (TIS) or Tenant Participation Advisory Service Scotland (TPAS). More information can be found at the of the consultation events website.
Please see the consultation hub to view all open consultations
If you’ve been affected by suicide, you can access support from the Angus Adult Bereaved by suicide service at Insight Counselling.
Call them on 01382 305706, email receptionist@insightcounselling.org.uk or visit www.suicidehelp.co.uk
Earlier this year, the Communities Committee agreed that Housing should take ownership of Invertay House and the surrounding grounds, to develop new supply affordable housing. The development is included in the Angus Strategic Housing Investment Plan, which is a five-year plan setting out the investment decisions for affordable housing in the area.
Invertay House is a prominent and much-loved building of historical significance to the residents of Monifieth. In 2015, it was deemed surplus to requirements by the Council with Community Asset Transfer, social housing or commercial sale identified as being the most suitable end uses for the building.
We plan to convert the main buildings into housing that will benefit the local community, keeping as many features of late Victorian era as possible that are worthwhile retaining. As we want to enhance these features and keep them in the new design where possible, we’ll survey the main buildings before any planning application is finalised.
This will include removal of some of the low-quality extensions from the last 50 years. This will allow the true building form to stand out and allow us to develop a sympathetic conversion to residential.
Site set up for this phase is likely to be in December 2021.
Communities Convenor Cllr Mark Salmond said,
The sympathetic regeneration of Invertay House will be an asset to the local community. This initiative is intended to provide some much-needed new council housing stock in Monifieth and will also explore whether low cost home ownership can be part of the mix of new housing.
As the project gets underway, we will engage with the wider community about the proposals, and submit a planning application in 2022, with construction works starting in the following 12 months.
Scotland’s national advice hub, Advice Direct Scotland, is now providing people in Scotland with free energy advice to help them deal with bills and suppliers.
Following the recent devolution of consumer powers, Advice Direct Scotland has taken on the Scottish Government-supported delivery of energy advice and has launched the energyadvice.scot platform.
Free, practical advice and information on energy-related matters are available to anyone in Scotland, ranging from supplier enquiries, understanding the complaints process, and what to do if experiencing problems with energy bills.
The service also covers accessing grants, what to do if people fall victim to energy scammers, and advice for those who are at risk of disconnection.
You can contact energyadvice.scot by freephone 0808 196 8660, on Facebook, email, or through live webchat.
The website also includes an online knowledge centre for people in Scotland, with information on:
We have some retirement housing available to rent in the Southesk Court complex in Ferryden.
Ferryden is a quaint and quiet fishing community just on the outskirts of Montrose. There are bus links to local services, the town centre and further afield, throughout Angus, and beyond!
The properties available are one-bedroom apartments, they come with modern kitchens, gas heating (cost of which is incorporated into the rent and service charges) and level access shower, as well as a communal laundry facility. There is also a communal lounge (re-opening soon, currently closed to comply with COVID restrictions). Retirement housing is recommended for those over 60 years of age, although consideration is given to younger ages.
If you think this type of accommodation suits your needs, or that of a family member, please get in touch with our Montrose and Brechin Community Housing Team: brechinmontrosecht@angus.gov.uk
Photos of Southesk Court:
New five-week distance video and email ESOL course is now avauilable at Dundee International Women’s Centre (DIWC).
FROM 25 AUGUST TO 22 SEPTEMBER 2021
In an all-women environment, find out about international English exams and how passing them can help you work and study in the UK.
The course is free and includes all materials, but places are limited so BOOK NOW.
Contact: reception@diwc.co.uk or zusana@diwc.co.uk or DIWC on Facebook Messenger.
Do you live in Angus?
Have you had difficulty finding the information/support you needed?
Are you interested in helping women access the information they need?
Then come along to Angus Connect – Women’s Focus Group
Wednesday,16 June – online session on Zoom
Wednesday 23 June – online session on Zoom
Thursday 24 June- Face to Face session at The Cross, Forfar
Contact HallyL@angus.gov.uk for more details and to book
For more details see the posters.
Are you having difficulties in your life? Are there things you are struggling to cope with?
Angus Penumbra can offer support with your mental health and wellbeing.
Contact their suicide prevention and support service on 0800 135 7899 or email: aspss@penumbra.org.uk or visit www.suicidehelp.co.uk
Angus Council Housing News 