communications update

Dear Phoenix members,



We are in the process of improving the design and layout of the Phoenix Co-op website and we’d really value your feedback. Click on the link to our website and please let us know what you think of the ‘new look’ design and layout and also let us know about any further improvements that you would like to see added to the website. Please let me have your comments and suggestions by Tuesday 30th November. http://www.phoenixhousingcoop.org/



Secondly, we are trying to develop and improve our use of Facebook in order to keep you up to date with everything that is happening in the Co-op. If you are on Facebook and have not yet found us or become our friend, then please do! We can be found by searching for ‘Phoenix HousingCoop’. See you there…



Finally, the Department of Communities and Local Government has just published a consultation on the New Homes bonus. The full document can be viewed here http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/housing/newhomesbonusconsult This consultation is aimed at local authorities and how to provide the right incentives around the building of new homes. There are 13 consultation questions in total, including question 4 which asks ‘do you agree with the proposal to reward local authorities for bringing empty properties back into use through the New Homes Bonus? Are there any practical constraints?’ The deadline for the submission of consultation responses is 24th December so please can all members send comments over to me by Friday 10th December for inclusion in Phoenix’s response.



Thanks very much!



carlita

Are you free for a couple of hours from 1pm on Saturday 13th November?

Dear Co-op members,

We are looking for members who are keen to volunteer by cycling or walking around to help us build up our local knowledge of empty buildings. I have just looked at the weather report and the outlook is for a dry, bright afternoon. The borough will be divided into different areas for different volunteers and the bike ride should only take a couple of hours.
If you are keen to take part, please do drop me a line and let me know. We are planning to meet at 1pm in Café Otto on Ashwin Street in Dalston. If you have any questions, please give me a call.
Otherwise I hope to see you on Saturday at 1pm!
Best wishes

Carlita McKnight

Saturday November 13th - we search West Ham, Plaistow and Canning Town.

Many thanks indeed to those brave souls who ventured out on our cycle search across Tower Hamlets last Saturday. Please don't forget to post your finds to Carlita! And to all, a date for your diaries, Saturday November 13, when we hope to search West Ham, Plaistow and Canning Town.

saturday 25th September - empty property hunt.

Dear members,

Phoenix are looking for volunteers for a couple of hours to help in finding empty buildings across Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Newham and Islington. As some of you will be aware, we urgently need up to date information about empty buildings so that we can look into their suitability for both short life and Housing Plus project acquisition.

To this end, we are looking for Phoenix members to come along for a couple of hours on Saturday 25th September meeting at 12noon in Bethnal green. All volunteers will be allocated a geographical area to research and then everyone will meet up after a couple of hours and share the property information that they found out.



If you are keen to take part, then please can you drop either me or Carolyn a quick email.



If you are unable to volunteer but are aware of empty buildings in your area, please do contact me and let me know.



Best wishes





Carlita

Housing Plus Development Manager
Phoenix Housing Co-operative
Oxford House
Derbyshire Street
E26HG

Phoenix is recruiting!

'HOUSING PLUS' DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
FULL TIME: £32,000 pa (neg) – 1 year rolling contract

Phoenix Housing Co-operative is a Social Landlord in East London housing single people on low income.

We are looking for a development manager with responsibility for securing affordable housing for single people via Phoenix’s innovative 'Housing Plus' scheme; turning empty properties into homes via work experience and self-help projects.

This is a key strategic and operational role requiring a person with strong partnership building, fundraising, project management and housing development skills.

Contact mail@phoenixhousing.co.uk for an application pack.
Closing date: 12 April 2010

special request

Friday morning and Jonnie Walker (sometime development committee member) is in the office writing an article for the newsletter on energy efficiency. Jiska is doing a poster and colour insert for the newsletter calling on member to volunteers more - as she points out phoenix EXISTS because of the volunteering of the members.

Meanwhile it's thursday afternoon and longtime co-op member Stefan is volunteering, working on window frames and guttering (and looking at the stars) at Durlston Road.

The photos on this page show just one weeks volunteering by the members. Come on down.

skills transfer

Hi All another batch of photos. With Loiri changing a tap amongst other things.- Chris B.

Loiri(?) changing a tap.
"Erm. Does this look right to you Chris? I think it needs changing."

The great thing about volunteering is that you get to learn things - useful things that will save you money with plumbers later on in life or even get you paid.

whose car is that anyway?

Chris has asked about transporting tools and materials between the jobs (because if Chris's partner sees this photo showing what he's been doing with the car he's in big trouble). If he's moving between properties 1-2 a week this obviously means the tools have got to be moved somehow - which will mean timetabling Johnnie and the work van to do it. Another issue is picking up the materials to do the job (like the huge quantities of loft insulation seems above) - obviously many builders merchants deliver but all this means unproductive time and delay waiting for deliveries and for tools to be moved and also Johnnie/Colin won't have use of the van then etc.

Anybody got a cunning plan?

Spaceman (whatever happened to Babylon Zoo)

Never mind babylon Zoo - What happened to altern8?



They seem to be raving in a rather small barn.




I tell a lie - Chris and the volunteers are installing loft insulation in the phoenix owned properties to keep us nice and toasty over winter.
Hi All (another batch of photos) - Chris B.
These photos were taken on the 19th January - I think round Durlston Rd. Anybody know for sure?

year of the giant refurb I

Thanks to all those who helped with the installation of loft insulation at Ickburgh Road, one of the houses we all own together as part of phoenix housing co-op. Many of these properties have inadequate insulation. Hopefully this should form part of an ongoing programme to deal with cyclical maintenance and energy efficiency tasks at the properties we own.

However, due to cashflow issues we may have to look at getting Chris to do more outside (paid) work to bring money into the co-op either for Oxford House or for other Co-ops, and this will inevitably slow things down a little.

Chris can be contacted on 07973383430 ar email Colin at the office if you wish to volunteer.

2010 - year of the giant refurb II.

Thanks to all who have been helping out at William Guy Gardens, bringing this former old peoples home back into use as housing.

happy new years refurbing!

After Sumner House Chris and his roving band of volunteers have been working doing cyclical maintenance on the properties owned by Phoenix. Chris has also done some maintenance work for Oxford House where Phoenix has its office. Here you can see a keen volunteer helping Chris remove the floor of 7 Reighton Road that had a rather nasty dry rot problem.

The plan for 2010 is to continue with this Cyclical maintenance and a timetable has been drafted for doing the work. We will probably also be doing some work on flats in William Guy Gardens - a former old peoples home we will have on a medium term lease.

Again volunteers will be vital.

Chris Bridges 07973383430