Tag: Bield

Decades of dedication to a career in housing

Director celebrates positive impact on tenants’ lives 

FROM trainee to Director of Customer Experience, Tracey Howatt looks back on a career spanning almost four decades as part of Scottish Housing Day celebrations: 

Beginning her career with Bield at the age of 17, Tracey has amassed an impressive 37 years with the housing and care provider.  

Joining the organisation as a housing trainee in 1986, her vast experience covers all aspects of supporting applicants and tenants, from Housing Officer to Housing Services Manager for regions across Scotland.  

Appointed as Director of Customer Experience in early 2022, Tracey is now responsible for implementing Bield’s customer portal, as part of their digital strategy, as well as working with communities to transform how the 5000+ tenants interact with and access Bield’s services.  

Tracey said: “This year’s theme for Scottish Housing Day is celebrating housing as a career, and I know first-hand how rewarding that can be. Working at Bield has given me so many fantastic opportunities for personal and professional growth.  

“When I joined Bield after leaving high school, I didn’t know what to expect. I had the choice between a trainee role in support services or housing, choosing housing is a decision I’ve not regretted.  

“I’ve helped hundreds of people across Scotland access suitable housing, there is nothing better than the joy on people’s faces when you’ve helped someone to find housing which can allow them to live the life they want.” 

The Edinburgh based charity facilitates independent living with around 180 developments across Scotland. In her time as Housing Services Manager, Tracey worked with developments in Fife, Tayside, Stirling, Falkirk, Edinburgh, Lothian, the Borders and North and South Lanarkshire. 

Tracey continued: “Working with tenants is, and always has been, my favourite part of my job. Listening to how our services impact their lives is vital to ensuring we provide the best possible experience. 

“Bield has transformed significantly since I first joined.  In the 90s we implemented Bield’s first computerised system, which was so new and exciting back then.  

“Now we’re working to launch our new online customer portal, My Bield, and using innovative technology in our digital hub in Linlithgow.” 

Last year, Bield secured £75k of funding from the Technology for our Ageing Population: Panel for Innovation (TAPPI) project which aims to improve the way technology is used in housing and care for older people. Bield has used some of this funding to open the digital hub at its West Port development.  

Dr Lynne Douglas, CEO at Bield, added: “Tracey has been an indispensable member of the Bield team for years and it is no surprise that she has risen through the ranks and is continuing to innovate and add value to us as an organisation. 

“We truly believe in providing opportunities for our colleagues to develop their personal and professional skills.  

“A career in housing is so rewarding, and has a positive impact on so many people; Tracey is living proof of that. She has played a pivotal role in delivering a number of exciting projects, and we’re excited to see what the future brings.”  

Scottish Housing Day is celebrated across Scotland on 13 September, and this year celebrates housing as a career, raising awareness of the different routes into the sector and why it is such an impactful profession.  

Bield is a registered charity dedicated to providing flexible and high-quality housing solutions and support for older people.  Bield Housing and Care is one of the largest housing and support providers in Scotland, has around 180 developments. 

To find out more about Bield and its developments, visit https://www.bield.co.uk/ or follow on Facebook @bieldhousingandcare and Twitter @BieldScotland  

Ambitious strategy aims to deliver global standard for ageing at home

Housing charity puts innovation at its heart

The launch of Bield Housing and Care’s new five-year corporate strategy signals the beginning of a period of significant change and innovation for one of the country’s leading housing providers.

Tech-driven solutions are a key focus in the new strategy, which has been launched to drive the organisation’s growth and maximise independence among its tenants.

These solutions will be at the heart of Bield’s vision for medium-term growth and will help to tackle external challenges faced by the sector such as climate change, the cost-of-living crisis and an ageing population.

The new strategy aims to position Bield tenants, customers and staff at the centre of the organisation’s decision-making, design and adapt homes to meet customer needs, simplify its services, strengthen its financial performance, support its staff to improve their skills and efficiency, and secure UK-wide recognition for its innovative and leading approaches.

Dr Lynne Douglas, Chief Executive, Bield Housing and Care.

Dr Lynne Douglas, CEO at Bield, said: “Our new five-year corporate strategy will guide us along the way as we focus on achieving our vision and ambitions and ultimately make a positive impact.

“Our strategy will measure whether we are delivering to meet our customers’ desires, rather than just ticking boxes. This new outcome-based approach will expand our influence in the sector, as we look to set and deliver the standard for ageing at home.”

It comes at a pivotal time for the housing specialist which recently opened a new digital hub, showcasing housing technology of the future, at its West Port development in Linlithgow.  This was possible thanks to funding from the Technology for our Ageing Population: Panel for Innovation (TAPPI) project which aims to improve the way technology is used in housing and care for older people.

The hub provides a variety of preventative care technologies to support individuals to live independently, in their own homes, for longer, and is available for tenants, staff and other stakeholders to trial.

Bield will implement its strategy in three distinct phases – strengthen, grow and lead – to ensure it is delivered in a planned and coordinated way.

This phased growth will allow Bield to meet its key priorities which are broken down into five main subsets: facing challenges, improving efficiency, harnessing strengths, enhancing impact and leading the way.

Lynne added: “At Bield, we’re always striving to improve customer experience and satisfaction whilst growing our use of modern, in-home technologies to support independent living.

“Our new strategy will enable us to develop a personalised and proactive approach to delivering our services, develop and test new innovative digital solutions and share our experience and expertise for the benefit of wider society.

“It is estimated that by 2030 more than 600,00 people in Scotland will be aged 75 or over so now more than ever is the time to be ambitious.”

Bield is a housing and care charity committed to providing innovative, flexible and high-quality housing solutions and support for older people. Bield Housing and Care has around 180 developments which facilitate independent living across Scotland.

The charity currently operates across 22 local authorities and works with 24 health and social care partnerships in Scotland.

To find out more about Bield and its developments, visit https://www.bield.co.uk/ or follow on Facebook @bieldhousingandcare and Twitter @BieldScotland

Tenants in Edinburgh take part in major energy efficiency roll out

Scottish housing provider Bield has rolled out hundreds of air fryers and slow cookers to tenants across the country in a bid to help reduce energy consumption.

The cooking equipment has been gifted to 688 Bield tenants as the provider received £33,000 from the Social Housing Fuel Support Fund – Round Two, funded by the Scottish Government and administered by the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA).

Developments based in Argyll and Bute, Ayrshire, Dundee, East and West Lothian, Edinburgh, Fife, Glasgow, Inverclyde, North Lanarkshire, Perth and Kinross, Renfrewshire and the Scottish Borders participated in the initiative which was led by Ken Greenshields, Customer Engagement Co-ordinator at Bield.

In Edinburgh, tenants at Emily Court, Halmyre Street, Milton Court and Pennywell Gardens received the new appliances.

The roll out is part of an ongoing drive to integrate energy efficient and sustainable measures across Bield’s operations and 5,000+ properties.

Frances Payne, a tenant at Bield’s Halmyre Street development in Edinburgh, said: “I was thinking of buying an air fryer myself and was so pleased when I received the offer letter asking if I wanted one. I’ve been looking forward to getting it and trying out some new recipes.”

As part of the roll out, Bield also created a recipe book with six different meal suggestions that can be made in an air fryer/slow cooker. The book was designed to help inspire tenants to make healthy food choices with their new equipment.

Another Bield resident, Mrs Dowling of the Glen Affric Avenue development in Glasgow, said: “I have been really looking forward to getting my air fryer. It is so quick and easy to use and everything I’ve cooked so far has been delicious.”

Bield’s commitment to sustainability is embedded into all its operations.  The housing and care provider recently revealed it is working to reduce its carbon footprint by 90% in a bid to combat the global environmental crisis.

Tracey Howatt, Director of Customer Experience at Bield said: “It’s very important to us that we make decisions which positively impact the environment whilst simultaneously putting the needs of our tenants at the heart of our operations.

“The roll out of these cooking appliances is just one of the proactive ways we are looking to raise awareness of energy and sustainability issues. We’re delighted to have been able to run this initiative and it’s only been possible thanks to the involvement and funding award from SFHA and a lot of hard work from Ken.

“We will continue to support our tenants in any way we can as we face soaring energy prices and the cost-of-living crisis.”

Bield worked with electrical retailer AO to help deliver the air fryers and slow cookers to its tenants across Scotland.

Anthony Sant, Managing Director at AO Business said “We are so pleased to have worked with Bield on this project and are excited to see the results. We all know that many essential appliances simply can’t be switched off at the plug to save energy, in the same way that we might do with game consoles or TVs when not in use.

“These slow cookers and air fryers will allow the recipients to make delicious, healthy meals at home, using less energy, and we’re thrilled to have been asked to play a part in making it happen.”

Bield is a registered charity dedicated to providing flexible housing solutions and support for older people. Bield Housing and Care has around 180 developments across Scotland, providing independent living for those over 50 years old around the country.

To find out more about Bield, visit https://www.bield.co.uk/housing-and-other-services or follow on Facebook @bieldhousingandcare and Twitter @BieldScotland.

Bield is ready for the next chapter

In-person engagement events return to inform housing services of the future

ONE of Scotland’s leading housing specialists is looking to the future as it returns to an in-person AGM after a two-year hiatus.

Sustainability and the cost-of-living crisis will both sit top of the agenda at Bield’s AGM – which is due to take place this week – with over 100 employees and members in attendance.  

The AGM will be held on 22 September at Edinburgh’s Apex Grassmarket Hotel, with a mixture of staff, members and Board members in attendance to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the industry.

Long-service awards will also be presented to celebrate loyal staff and recognise their outstanding contributions.

There will also be a new addition to the AGM in the form of a staff conference. The conference will be held on the same day to bring together staff who will be overseeing and implementing changes to policy and practice over the coming years.

Dr Lynne Douglas, Chief Executive, Bield Housing and Care.

Dr. Lynne Douglas, Chief Executive at Bield Housing and Care said: “This year we have been working on setting the direction for the next five years, listening to people’s views and pulling them all together into a coherent plan that we are excited to launch in 2023.

“The industry has weathered tough storms over the past few years and we are delighted to look forward and celebrate and acknowledge the hard work of our staff in person. Both our tenants and staff continually drive us forward to achieve the best we can, and that is what helps us through periods of uncertainty.

“We’re delighted to be back hosting our AGM in person and look forward to catching up with members to hear about their experiences over the last year.

“It’s also really exciting to be adding an extra element this year in the form of our staff conference. This event will play a vital role in contributing to our next strategy and shaping the Bield of the future, while providing an opportunity for staff to network and create connections”.

One key element to be discussed at the AGM is the need to focus on sustainability. Bield recently announced the launch of its Energy and Environmental Policy which commits to reducing its carbon footprint by 90% and reaching net zero by 2045 at the latest.

In addition, Bield has also created new sustainability-focused roles in the form of a Net Carbon Manager and an Energy and Sustainability Manager.

Dr. Lynne Douglas added: “There are positive changes and policies being implemented across the organisation which present a real opportunity for tenants and staff to shape the services Bield provide.

“We’re all very much looking to the future with optimism and these events provide a vital platform to discuss the opportunities and challenges ahead.”

Bield is a registered charity dedicated to providing flexible and high quality housing solutions and support for older people.  Bield Housing and Care has around 180 developments across Scotland, providing independent living for those over 50 years old.

To find out more about Bield, visit https://www.bield.co.uk/housing-and-other-services or follow on Facebook @bieldhousingandcare and Twitter @BieldScotland.

Equality Network volunteers help shape housing service of the future

A GROUP of volunteers is being assembled to shape a leading housing provider’s future equality framework and policy.

Leading housing provider, Bield has committed to putting its tenants and community members at the forefront of decisions on equality, launching its bespoke ‘Equality Network’ group.

The network will be made up of tenants and Bield officers who will work together with the aim of increasing awareness and understanding of the needs of people with protected characteristics and while working to ensure the necessary services are provided to them.

This is one of many tenant-led initiatives at Bield as it focuses on achieving more participation and engagement amongst service users.

Head of Policy at Bield, Zhan McIntyre, who has been overseeing the launch said: “The need for an equality group was identified as part of the last tenant engagement strategy. We’ve since placed a greater focus on people with protected characteristics to ensure there is a safe space to voice needs and opinions.

“The network hopes to engage people to both discuss their needs and also identify what we could do differently to further develop the inclusive features that already exist.

“The volunteers who take part are absolutely essential as they will shape how our equality framework will look and work here out, so we’d love to hear from anyone interested in joining.”

Anyone who is currently a customer of Bield and is passionate about improving the services is welcome to join. Members are required to attend quarterly meetings but do not need any particular skill sets or knowledge.

The principal idea behind the network is to diversify the body of people at Bield who are in charge of influencing and implementing policy with a hope that a variety of cultures, backgrounds and experiences will lend itself to a more holistic and representative committee. 

To join contact: feedback@bield.co.uk or visit https://www.bield.co.uk/tenant-engagement-and-participation for more information.

Bield’s ‘Free to Be’ ethos is also promoted with this project through encouraging older people across its 180 developments to live independent, social lives by working with their peers and sharing their own ideas.

To find out more about Bield, visit https://www.bield.co.uk/housing-and-other-services or follow them on Facebook @bieldhousingandcare and Twitter @BieldScotland.

Housing provider pledges service ‘Fit For The Future’

A leading housing provider has outlined its commitment to transform the sector and continue helping customers to live as independently as possible in their own homes.

As the population ages, Bield has placed a high priority on providing services that promote healthy ageing and creating partnerships that integrate customers with the community and local assets.

Facilitating independent living starts at the housing allocation process, with individuals across the provider now being assigned to properties in relation to their specific needs.

Although allocations are based on a traffic system and dependent in each area, this management can help to reduce moves and supports longer term tenancies.

Chief Executive of Bield, Dr Lynne Douglas, said: “With a growing older population and people living with more complex needs, it has resulted in a flexible structure being implemented. The model Bield operates allows services to be added or removed as required.

“For example, some of our developments benefit from additional meal service options whereas others are linked in with the Care Inspectorate which enables care-at-home to be provided.

“It’s important for us that we offer support in specially designed accommodation that is affordable, sustainable and suited to the individual.

“An integrated approach and working to support the needs of all parties is required to fully enable older people to live independently – making Scotland not only the best place to grow up, but also to grow old.”

The provider, which operates in 22 local authority areas across the country and has a diverse customer base of over 5,000 individuals, has seen first-hand the importance of community relationships after working closely with groups throughout the pandemic.

Sourcing prescriptions and shopping for groceries were only some of the acts of kindness displayed, which is something Bield has incorporated Kindness   to its core organisational values.

Lynne added: “Helping customers integrate into the local and wider community is an extremely important part of what we do.

“Due to the average age of our customers, many of them live alone so we have a variety of ways to ensure they remain socially connected through external partnerships as well as with neighbours and staff internally.

“We’ve trained staff to have more meaningful conversations with older customers as well as facilitating an ongoing, innovative partnership with Midlothian Health and Social Care Partnership and Inverclyde Health and Care Social Partnership to bridge digital exclusion.” 

Bield’s Alarm Receiving Centre (BR24) also plays an important role in understanding how older customers can benefit from being connected to local assets such as community hubs, while the service focuses on providing round the clock support.

Lynne added: “We’ve found through qualitative data gathering from our Inspire project, that BR24 has actually helped individuals transform their lives through only a short intervention with an operator.”

This reinforces the Bield’s ‘Free to Be’ philosophy which encourages people to make their own choices about how they live their lives whilst being there to offer support if needed.

Digital champions log on at city housing development

AN EDINBURGH housing development has been awarded iPads to keep elderly customers connected with loved ones throughout the pandemic, thanks to a Scottish Government initiative.

Castlebrae Glebe, which is run and operated by Bield, received 12 iPads from Connecting Scotland which is a project established in response to the Covid-19 pandemic to connect individuals who may have otherwise been isolated.

The programme has kept individuals across the country connected virtually when it has not been possible to meet in person and has also supported digital skill development.

Sharon Tomany, Development Manager at Castlebrae Glebe in Craigmillar applied for the programme in February after hearing about the initiative designed for individuals who don’t have the confidence, kit or connectivity at home in a bid to reduce digital exclusion.

“The project has been an amazing opportunity to help customers become more digitally connected and keep in contact with loved ones throughout a period which could have been extremely isolating.

“Everyone at the development has benefited from the donation in some way. One aspect that we didn’t appreciate would have such a big impact was that our customers now feel closer to the local community.

“Previously they may not have seen the communication from local businesses online or been able to get involved with local groups activities.

“The iPads have enabled customers to listen to music, watch videos, read the news and shop online – simple things that they didn’t necessarily have access to before.”

Customers have been supported by staff to set the iPads up and understand how to use the device safely.

Sharon added: “The feedback from friends and families has been very positive and many have expressed their delight about being able to get in touch with their loved ones at any point and actually have video calls, which is much better than talking over the phone.

“We know that many elderly people often battle loneliness and this has heightened throughout the pandemic, so it is especially rewarding to know that we have changed that for our customers by even just a little bit.”

For more information on the Connecting Scotland programme, visit: 

https://connecting.scot

Bield use technology to deliver a wide range of specialised housing and care services for around 20,000 older people across 23 local authority areas and is working towards becoming the first fully digitally connected housing association in Scotland.

Bield’s new strategy for property development provides housing solutions – with greater choice and flexibility – to address the needs of the current generation of older people and the next.

To find out more about us and our developments, visit:

https://www.bield.co.uk/housing-and-other-services 

or follow on Facebook @bieldhousingandcare and Twitter @BieldScotland.

Bield launches award to celebrate acts of kindness

One of Scotland’s leading housing providers has launched an initiative to celebrate its community for their acts of kindness.

Housing and care provider, Bield, has launched a platform to recognise individuals going above and beyond in the community, naming the award – ‘You are one of a Kind’.

Running until March 2022, customers, owners, service users, staff and members of the local community will have the chance every month to nominate their local heroes or heroines who have gone out of their way to lend a helping hand.

At the end of each month, a board of judges will select a Bield customer along with a Bield staff member or volunteer to receive the One of a Kind Award and a £50 voucher.

This comes as Bield is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year and is looking to get as many people as possible involved in the milestone.

Chief Executive of Bield, Dr Lynne Douglas said: “Many things can go unnoticed as people go about their day to day life and this award gives us the perfect opportunity to recognise all the little things that make a big difference to individuals and their communities – especially in the current climate.

“The community at Bield has rallied together throughout the pandemic so we are really excited to launch this initiative and give those people a platform to share their amazing efforts.

“Our first series of nominations have started to come through and the stories so far have been incredible – it is wonderful to see individuals supporting each other.

 “The Bield community is truly one of a kind and we felt this award will help showcase and celebrate the amazing people we interact with on a daily basis.”

This award further amplifies the importance the provider has put on kindness, last year it was added to its core values, building on the ethos staff and customers live by.

Customers, staff and volunteers can cast vote here: 

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=Sw49M7C0qUOtpRsCxgri41WlGYsudCRGkIdsKknXwItURUZVOEFCMVpUSDNMNFRaU0VNTEpBMFZTQS4u

Bield is a registered charity which grew from humble beginnings, starting out with one housing development in Bo’ness which has gone on to become a major provider of housing and care services for around 20,000 older people across 22 local authority areas.

To find out more about Bield and its developments, visit www.bield.co.uk or follow on Facebook @bieldhousingandcare and Twitter @BieldScotland.

Tenants ‘tuck in’ to new development shop

AN Edinburgh housing development has opened an inhouse shop to help older and vulnerable people keep stocked with vital supplies in light of Scotland’s lockdown response to COVID-19 pandemic.

Staff at Bield’s Castlebrae Glebe in Craigmillar have taken it upon themselves to open a tuck shop within the development to enable tenants to get basic groceries without stepping a foot outside their home.

Sharon Tomany, Development Manager at Castlebrae Glebe, said: “We thought of opening a shop within the development after the government’s announcement advising people to stay at home.

“We thought it would be a good idea to open the little shop as many of our tenants became slightly worried about not being able to get the required shopping essentials during the COVID-19 lockdown.

“It is important to pull together as a community during these tough times and we are doing everything we can to keep Castlebrae Glebe a happy and safe place at a stressful time for many of our tenants.”

Tenants can purchase a wide range of items at the tuck shop style shop, from biscuits to toilet roll to shower gel. An extra effort will also be made to source specially requested items, if it is possible to source them.

Lynne Douglas, Chief Executive at Bield, said: “As an organisation we are looking to do anything we can to help our customers during this tough time, while following government guidelines.

“It is lovely to hear our developments pulling together as a community to help each other – introducing an inhouse shop is a small way our amazing staff and volunteers are looking to make this time that little bit easier.

“We appreciate the continued understanding and support of customers, families and staff as we work together to positively contribute to Scotland’s response to coronavirus.”

To find out more about Bield and its developments, visit www.bield.co.uk  or follow on Facebook @bieldhousingandcare and Twitter @BieldScotland