Brand new: BOLD step forward by Hanover Housing Association

HANOVER (Scotland) Housing Association has taken a look into the future to make sure it’s ready to welcome the next wave of residents coming their way – by rebranding it’s services.

Hanover, which is based in McDonald Road, launched it’s dynamic new branding this week with on-street billboards at hospitals in Glasgow and Edinburgh. The housing association’s awareness campaign aims to ensure that customers have a selection of housing choices at their fingertips.

A spokesperson said: “The new branding spans all mediums: print, online and for the first time street billboards, to make Hanover easier to recognise and access by whatever route. This includes a strong online presence for the increasing number of ‘tech savvy’ over-55s.

“The new approach to Hanover’s brand identity and website comes as a response to the increasing number of people in Scotland’s ageing population who will be seeking accommodation now and in the future.

“Consideration has been given to ‘simple solutions’ in terms of the needs of helping older people to find a home in which they will feel safe and secure, whilst maintaining their independence.

“Navigation through the new website utilises case studies of ‘real’ Hanover residents with on location photography across a number of regions in Scotland, highlighting the spirit of independence a resident can enjoy with the backdrop of a closer and safer housing community.”

Research was conducted by BOLD design agency, part of Community Enterprise Scotland, who undertook workshops with residents, staff and stakeholders to help ‘redefine the future brand and make it even more identifiable as a warm and welcoming housing association that really understand the needs of the growing numbers of elderly people’.

The result of the ‘redefinition’ is a fresh overall look and feel – a more colourful and eye-catching ‘street’ logo with the strap-line ‘independent together’, along with branding to make it more readily recognisable as a caring and professional housing association.

Commenting on the rebranding, Helen Murdoch CEO, Hanover (Scotland) Housing Association, noted: “We have a great reputation here at Hanover and keeping ahead of the ageing population curve is vitally important to ensure we have the right balance of services.

“I have asked residents how they have come to know about Hanover and they have often replied ‘word of mouth’.

“They have also added that: ‘Hanover is great but not enough people know about the good work that you do’. So, rebranding will go a long way to rectify this and increase awareness amongst potential new residents.”

Ms Murdoch added: “Rebranding is not a decision to be taken lightly, it is one that has to have tangible cost benefits and will help us attract more residents and fill our properties.

“It will also help our vital activities such as telecare and repairs reporting, which we offer other organisations, to be more clearly promoted.

“This in turn supports our core business of providing quality housing and services for older people. Finally, we want residents and potential new customers to know we are caring and professional and that the new logo and branding will help us achieve this more.

“We also recognise that outstanding customer service is paramount both for today and tomorrow and we aim to ensure that it is underpinned by first-class support services to meet the needs of our housing customers.

“We take great pride at Hanover in being upfront with our potential customers what they can expect from us and now and in the future. Our new branding and website will go a long way to address this along with our drive to create safe and secure housing and healthy, connected communities.”

John Ayscough, creative director at BOLD design agency, said: “It is vitally important that potential customers can recognise Hanover signposted by a recognisable and eye-catching logo.

“So, by distilling the responses from our research to address the instant recognition factor – we created the row of colourful houses, strapline, ‘independent together’, and brought the site to life with the “Meet the Resident” case studies to really bring the human element into play.

Mr Ayscough added: “Many older people are proficient at using technology and can surf the net with ease. We recognised that the current website was difficult to navigate and it required a more modern approach to match changing demand.

“With greater numbers of people living longer and on their own – the way people want to live has changed considerably – with more people wishing to live alone but in closer connected communities.

“The website now has a clear selection of options that align with the type of care people require at any one stage without losing their independence.

“From being ‘independent together’ in their own home – be it rented or owned with greater opportunity for community living and joint activities; living in sheltered, very sheltered, to special amenity housing and on-site care and telecare services – placing greater consideration on the future needs and requirements of our older people.”

Osborne: pensioner bonds will pay 'best available interest'

Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne has announced that that the government’s 65 plus bonds will pay savers the best available interest rates.

One year bonds will pay an annual interest rate of 2.8%, while three year bonds will pay 4% – both rates are significantly higher than any others currently offered in the market.

A key part of the government’s long term economic plan is to support savers at all stages of their lives. That is why the government announced at Budget 2014 that National Savings and Investments (NS&I) will launch two fixed-rate, market-leading savings bonds, which will be available in January 2015.

These bonds, the rates of which were confirmed on Friday, will provide certainty and a good return for those who have saved all their lives and now rely on their savings in retirement.

With an investment limit of £10,000 per bond per person, the government expects that the 65 plus bonds will help an estimated 1 million pensioners. The bonds will be available directly from NS&I by post, phone or online.

The Chancellor made his announcement during a vsit to Eastleigh, where he met with pensioners to discuss the benefits of the 65 plus bonds. The visit formed part of the Chancellor’s tour around Britain aimed at highlighting the policies announced in Autumn Statement 2014.

Mr Osborne said: “A key part of our long term economic plan is to support savers and boost hardworking peoples’ financial security at all stages of life. That’s why the government is introducing savings bonds for people aged 65 and over, and why we’re confirming today that these bonds will pay the best available interest rates. They will give hundreds of thousands of older savers the certainty and comfort of a good return over the life of their investment”.

Investors can hold bonds jointly, but this will still count towards their individual limits – i.e. a couple could hold £40,000 jointly.

There is a minimum investment of £500 per bond.

Visit www.nsandi.com for further details.

Pensions: Government gears up to launch 'Guidance Guarantee'

Pensions explained: minister to promote importance of retirement planning

As the government gears up to launch its ‘Guidance Guarantee’ to help people approaching retirement make sense of pension reforms, the minister in charge of pensions is to launch the radio equivalent of a soapbox tour.

Minister for Pensions Steve Webb takes to the airwaves this week in the first of a series of radio phone-ins, in which he hopes to give local radio listeners in every part of Britain the chance to quiz him on the government’s pension reforms.

Beginning with a session on BBC Radio 2’s Jeremy Vine Show tomorrow, the minister will repeat his live phone-in surgery every week between now and Christmas, hitting BBC stations serving Scotland, Manchester, Newcastle and Kent.

And the minister plans to continue his commitment into the new year, aiming to cover dozens of local BBC and commercial stations ahead of April next year when major pension reforms come into effect.

The new initiative comes alongside other efforts to help the public better understand how pensions work and make it easier for people to save for the future. Today (17 November 2014), the Department for Work and Pensions also launches PensionTube, a new online hub within the video sharing website YouTube, bringing together content from the government and trusted independent sources that will in time cover the whole spectrum of pension-related issues.

And this comes ahead of a major advertising campaign, themed ‘Your Pension, Your Future’, which will be launched this week to raise awareness of reforms to the State Pension. These changes will turn it into a clearer and fairer foundation for people to build their own retirement saving upon. Minister for Pensions Steve Webb said:

“We are delivering some of the most radical reforms to our pensions system in a generation, introducing a clearer and fairer State Pension and bringing in unprecedented flexibilities that give people the freedom to make their savings work for them.

“It’s only natural that people will have questions about what we’re doing, why we’re doing it and how it will affect them – and I want the chance to speak to as many of those people as possible.

“Politicians should be accessible and this is a great way for me to engage with people all over the country about pensions in a direct way.”

Dr Ros Altmann, independent pensions expert and the Government’s Business Champion for Older Workers, will be one of the first vloggers to appear on PensionTube, discussing the reforms to the State Pension for people reaching state pension age after April 2016. She said:

“The launch of PensionTube is a great idea and I’m very pleased to be one of the first contributors to this exciting new online resource. There are so many changes going on in pensions at the moment, and people need to know what’s happening.

“All the jargon surrounding pensions can be really confusing, so it is important to have a trusted and accessible source of information that people can use when they want to understand what the changes mean.

“I hope that people will get used to using this and follow all the updates as they are released. The more people can understand pensions, the better they can plan for their future.”

To watch PensionTube go to www.youtube.com/pensiontube

LOOPS phone support for older people

Last month Volunteer Centre Edinburgh launched a new dedicated phone line for people aged 65 and over living in North West and South East Edinburgh, giving easy access to information on a huge range of activities available to them.

loops nw poster

Using a dedicated direct dial number 0131 603 8311, lines will be open from 10am to 2pm Monday to Friday with a call back service outside of these times.

There are trained friendly volunteers taking calls and chatting through options along with an email service on loops@volunteeredinburgh.org.uk.

People are living longer and the new phone line aims to help people maintain a good quality of life by giving access to information on activities which can help keep us happy and healthy as well as giving us a great excuse to socialise.

The phone line is part of the Local Opportunities for Older People, or LOOPs initiative which is piloting a variety of innovative, new services across Edinburgh aimed at encouraging people 65 plus.

The phone line is hoping to reach out to as many as possible. We are hoping you will be able assist with the distribution of information to people that would benefit from the service and pass on information so that we can reach as many people as possible and tackle the effects of loneliness and isolation while improving the quality of life.

The LOOPS Newsletter can be seen on http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=0b38cc2994553b30f6e3d8565&id=2ded133f71&e=bd92abb693

Heather Yang, LOOPs Development Officer

Come along to PEP’s AGM

It’s been an event-packed year for Pilton Equalities Project (PEP), what with special anniversaries and awards to celebrate, so why not find out all about it at PEP’s annual General Meeting?

Pilton Equalities Project

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Monday 17 November 2014

11-12noon

PEP Centre, 3 West Pilton Park Edinburgh

R.S.V.P. Email: pepequalities@btconnect.com

If you require transport please call Trisha on 315 4466

Refreshments will be served after the meeting

PLEASE COME ALONG

New phone line for over-65s launches tomorrow

INTRO with map

Volunteer Centre Edinburgh is to launch a new dedicated phone line for people aged 65 and over living in North West and South East Edinburgh giving easy access to information on a huge range of activities available to them.

The new service, which starts starts tomorrow (Wednesday 8 October), uses a dedicated direct dial number 0131 603 8311. Lines will be open from 10am to 2pm Monday to Friday with a call back service outwith these times.

The phone line is part of the Local Opportunities for Older People (LOOPS) initiative which is piloting a variety of innovative, new services across Edinburgh aimed at people 65 plus.

Commenting on the launch of the new phone line, Volunteer Centre Edinburgh’s CEO Harriet Eadie said “As someone who has an elderly mother living in the Highlands, who needs a range of support and help to live independently I know exactly how valuable it can be to have easy access to good information on activities, but also how difficult that can be to get that information. I’m so excited that in North West and South East Edinburgh Volunteer Centre Edinburgh can help make it just a little bit easier for older people, their family and friends to get to the information they need.”

There are 36,238 people 65+ living in North West and South East Edinburgh in 18,266 homes and the impact of isolation and loneliness on their health is dramatic. Research shows that after only 8 hours of inactivity joint contractures start forming and that muscle atrophy, bone loss and heart changes occur after only a few days of inactivity.

The phone line is hoping to reach out to as many as possible. Using trained, friendly volunteers it will offer a welcoming, enabling information and signposting service and give out information to people directly, or to Health and Social Care Professionals, friends, neighbours or family.

For more about the Volunteer Centre Edinburgh LOOPs, visit Volunteer Centre Edinburgh’s website, or Facebook page.

Community Connecting …

… and coffee in Corstorphine!

What is Community Connecting?

Community Connecting is a free service for anyone aged over 65 living in the South East or North West areas of Edinburgh. Normally lasting for up to 16 weeks, Community Connecting could help you get out of the house more, take up a new activity or hobby, or even rekindle an interest in an old pastime.

There are many things which can make us less confident about going out or keeping involved in activities. Periods of ill health, changes in circumstance or bereavement can affect our self confidence and cause us to stop doing things we once enjoyed. Sometimes all it takes is a helping and encouraging hand to get back out there and enjoy activities and interests. Community Connecting can help you do this.

We take referrals from health professionals, social workers and community organisations, as well as family, friends, neighbours and self-referrals.

How does it work?

A Community Connector will visit you where you feel comfortable and help you plan what you would like to do in the community. It might be joining a new group, regaining the confidence to use public transport, a walking aid or wheelchair, to access local facilities or to take up a new interest – anything that you feel you can achieve in 16 weeks.

Your Community Connector will then match you with a fully-trained volunteer who will help support you to meet your personal goals for up to 16 weeks. Your volunteer will visit at least once a week and your Community Connector will be in regular contact to offer guidance on achieving your goals.

Offering a personalised service, Community Connecting emphasises independence and control over your own life. This is proven to help maintain a person’s physical and mental health – as well as that of their family, friends and carers.

Contact us

If you feel that you or anyone you know could benefit from this free service, please contact 0131 558 3728 or email:

community.connecting@placesforpeople.co.uk

Community Connecting is a partnership between Places for People Scotland Care and Support and Volunteer Centre Edinburgh

And that coffee in Corstorphine …

Seagrove Centre Open Day

At North Edinburgh Dementia Care’s Seagrove Centre we provide fun and stimulating activities for our members and a wee break for their carers.

We aim to help people stay as well as they can for as long as they can which may help avoid the need for them to move into a care home.

We are having an open day to raise an awareness of the centre and to demonstrate the work we that we do with local people with dementia.

I would like to invite you along on Monday 8 September from 2 – 3pm to meet the staff and some of our members to have a chat and enjoy a tea/coffee and biscuits.

Janette McIntosh

Manager

NEDC Info

For further information visit www.nedc.org.uk

NHS Lothian to consult on Victoria Hospital plans

NHS Lothian’s plans to develop the Royal Victoria Hospital site off Craigleith Road have been submitted, and members of the public can see what is being proposed at a session in Comely Bank early next month.

NHS Lothian plans to develop the site to provide a range of accommodation – both residential and non-residential – to meet the health and social care needs of older people, but also to market the remainder of the site as a ‘residential development opportunity’.

The public consultation session will be held at St Ninian’s Church, Comely Bank from midday – 8pm on Thursday 4 September.

PAN_Royal_Victoria_Hospital_Site

Nominate your champion in Age Scotland awards

Age Scotland is asking people across Scotland’s communities to nominate a champion in their annual awards.

The Charity, which is dedicated to helping people in Scotland enjoy a better later life, is looking for nominations for the Age Scotland Awards 2014, which will be presented in the Scottish Parliament later this year.

The Awards celebrate the groups and individuals that have made a significant contribution to the lives of older people.
There are six categories in the awards:

· Volunteer of the Year Award (sponsored by Solicitors for Older People Scotland)

· Employer of the Year Award

· The Jess Barrow Award for Campaigning and Influencing (sponsored by McCarthy & Stone)

· The Patrick Brookes Partnership Award (sponsored by Specsavers)

· Service for Older People Award

· Member Group of the Year Award (sponsored by David Urquhart Travel and open only to Age Scotland member groups)

The Employer of the Year Award has been introduced for the 2014 awards because, with the scrapping of the mandatory retirement age in 2012, we now have more older people in work and it is vital that employers respond to this positively.

Brian Sloan, Chief Executive of Age Scotland, said: “Too often we hear negative messages about older people such as the ‘demographic time bomb’. Age Scotland’s Awards are our way of challenging these perceptions and celebrating later life.

“We want to demonstrate how older people embrace civic and social responsibilities and showcase the depth of talent and experience amongst our older generation.

“If you know someone who’s making a real difference to the lives of older people then tell us about them. And remember, if you know of an employer who has exemplary age friendly practices, please nominate them for our newest category of award.”

The nomination form can be downloaded at www.agescotland.org.uk/awards or can be requested by calling 0845 833 0200.

Nomination forms must be received no later than Friday 29 August.