News

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all residents and friends!!

 

 

Christmas Trips and Activities

 

 

 

Autumn Trips and Activities

 

Toddler Club – Pumpkin Picking!

The Lyng Toddler Group started their Halloween preparations early with a Pumpkin Picking trip last week.

Those who bagged a juicy pumpkin could  choose to make pumpkin soup, carve a spooky face or accessorize their house.

 

 

 

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Come and join the Lyng Toddler Group at the Chuch Hall at the Church of the Good Shepherd on the corner of Lyttleton St. Tuesday and Thursdays 9.15am to 11am.

We offer fun activities, themed crafts and games plus sensory and messy play.

Horse Racing Night

Friday 15th September 2023 from 6.45pm

At Vantage Point – Blacksmith Way, Lyng Estate West Bromwich.

Entrance fee  – LCA Tenant £2.00 – Others – £2.50 – Over 18 s ONLY.

Booking essential so call us to book a place – 0121 525 5969

A Lyng Community Association event arranged with Residents of Vantage Point.

 

Toddler Group Graduation Day!

Every year we hold a “Graduation” event to mark the departure of a group of children from our twice weekly Toddler Group into the start of their school years.

We have watched them grow over the past years and the attached photos illustrate how they have changed!

 

Youth Club Opening Times – Summer 2023

Tuesday 25th July 2023 – OPEN

Tuesday 1st August 2023 – OPEN

SUMMER BREAK  (Closed Tuesday 8th August and Tuesday 15th August)

Tuesday 22nd August 2023 – OPEN

Tuesday 29th August 2023 – OPEN

Tuesday 5th September 2023 – OPEN


Toddler Group Summer Trip

Children from the Lyng were thrilled to get upclose to a host of cute and cuddly animals on a recent day trip to Staffordshire.

Members of our popular Toddlers Group were treated to a visit to Burntwood Alpaca and Animal Farm in June. They got the chance to feed the pigs, goats and alpacas, as well as holding a variety of animals including guinea pigs, owls, chameleons and turtles.
While they were there, the youngsters also took part in the annual Big Toddle fundraising event in aid of children’s charity Barnardo’s. So far they have raised £300 with more donations coming in, and Lyng Community Association (LCA) has agreed to contribute to the final tally.

Amy Rushton, our Community Events Co-ordinator, said:

“It really was a fantastic day. The children loved getting so close to all the amazing animals there, and the fact that they also raised so much for charity at
the same time was the icing on the cake of a great day out.”

Community Trip to Stourport – 17 June 2023.

Final date for booking  extended  so book now as places selling fast!

Easter Events Round Up

Many thanks to everyone who turned out to support our Easter events  -we were delighted to see so many happy faces making the most of the each activity.

Firstly – we took a full coach of residents and friends to the Wild Place Project in Bristol!  A few of the coach group kindly agreed to pose for a group photo for us!!

Then we held an Afternoon Tea in the Community Hall and held a Community Litter Pick with support from our good friends at Sandwell Council’s ECO bus!

 

 


Community Cinema  on Tuesday 11th April 2023 at the Community Hall – Church of the Good Shepherd. (Small fee with funds raised to help fund our young persons programme)

 


Community Litter Pick + ECO Bus Craft Session – Tuesday 4th April 2023

Join us at 10am at Lyng Park for a litter pick – all equipment provided – followed by a craft session on Sandwell’s ECO bus – at the car park of the Church of the Good Shepherd

Easter Treat for every child who participates – call us on 0121 525 5969  Look after your neighbourhood!


Wild Place Project – Bristol – Saturday 25 March 2023

Our community trip to Bristol to the Wild Place Project  has now SOLD OUT!

Please look out for our next community trip and remember to book early.


New Year – New Programme  for Community Development on the Lyng!

Once again the Association has developed an exciting programme of Community Development activities for 2023.

We will be operating our usual activities:-

  • Toddler Sessions
  •  5 to 11 Club Sessions
  • Youth Club

Plus an exciting programme of trips to places like The Wild Project Bristol, Stourport, Cardiff, Barry Island, Warwick Castle and a Xmas shopping trip to Manchester.

    

As usual we will issue booking details a bit closer to the trip dates and residents have booking priority but friends and family plus the wider community are eligible to apply for any spare places.

 

Christmas Activities on The Lyng  December 2022

Christmas Shopping Trip to Nottingham

Coach trip to Nottingham for Winter Wonderland and Christmas Market – Saturday 17th December leaving the Lyng at 8.30am

  • Tenant Ticket £12.00 + £6.00 for child ticket
  • Friends/Relatives and Other Ticket – £15.00 + £7.00  for child ticket.

Christmas Craft Morning  

Saturday 3rd December 2022 10am – 1pm  at the Church Hall – Corner of Lyttleton St/Moor St. –

  • Book a free ticket in advance as spaces limited

Children’s Christmas Party –  10th December 2022 – SOLD OUT

Get help from your supplier – Priority Services Register

The Priority Services Register is a free support service that makes sure extra help is available to people in vulnerable situations.

You are eligible if you:

  • have reached your state pension age
  • are disabled or have a long-term medical condition
  • are recovering from an injury
  • have a hearing or sight condition
  • have a mental health condition
  • are pregnant or have young children
  • have extra communication needs (such as if you don’t speak or read English well)
  • need to use medical equipment that requires a power supply
  • have poor or no sense of smell
  • would struggle to answer the door or get help in an emergency.

You might still be able to register for other reasons if your situation isn’t listed. For example, if you need short-term support after a stay in hospital.

 

Energy suppliers and  will both keep a Priority Services Register. If you think you should be added to either you need to contact your energy supplier or network operator.

Give them your contact details and as much information as you can about your needs.

Your supplier can pass your details to your network operator to add you to their register too. It’s a good idea to ask them to do this if you rely on your energy supply for medical reasons.

If you have a different supplier for your gas and electricity, you need to contact them both.

You’ll need to register again with any new supplier if you switch supplier.

 

Help you can get

  • Advance notice of planned power cuts. If you rely on your energy supply for medical reasons your network operator can tell you about planned power cuts. For example, when they plan engineering work.
  • Priority support in an emergency.  could provide heating and cooking facilities if you are cut off supply.
  • Identification and password scheme. This could include arranging a password or agreed on picture cards if callers need to visit or contact you. This way you can feel confident they are genuine.
  • Nominee scheme. You can nominate someone to receive communications and bills from your supplier. For example, a family member, carer or someone you trust.
  • Help with prepayment meter access. For example, moving a meter if you can’t safely get to it to top up.
  • Regular meter reading services. For example, if nobody can read your meter.
  • Accessible information. For example, account info and bills in large print or braille.

Suppliers and  could offer other support services. Ask them how they can help you.

Help with high energy bills

If you are struggling to pay for energy or think you may get into difficulty, contact your supplier. View information on how to find your supplier.

We know the Energy Price Cap rise caused by global energy factors will be extremely worrying for many people. We are working round the clock to make sure consumers pay no more than is necessary and are supported by suppliers in any way possible.

Our rules mean suppliers must offer payment plans you can afford and you can ask for ‘emergency credit’ if you use a prepay meter and can’t top up.

The Government has also announced an Energy Bills Support Scheme to help people deal with rising bills.

Turn2us has a grants and benefits eligibility checker and can support you through application processes.


Energy Bill Support Scheme

The first £400 instalment of the Energy Bill Support Scheme should have been received on 1 October to help with rising energy bills but reports suggest that alarming numbers of people have not claimed their vouchers, particularly people on prepayment meters. This is concerning since the vouchers are not valid after 90 days.

It’s vital that residents on prepayment meters know what they are entitled to and how to use their vouchers.

Key messages for Lyng residents:

  • The Energy Bill Support Scheme aims to cut everyone’s energy bill by £400 over six months. The first reductions of £66 would be made in October and November followed by reductions of £67 every month between December and March 2023.
  • Residents with a traditional prepayment meter, which requires topping up using a key or card in a local shop or Post Office, should expect a voucher from their energy supplier to arrive by post, email or text.
  • For most suppliers, the voucher should arrive in the post by 17th of each month and is only valid for 90 days.
  • Make sure you go through your post in case you have missed the delivery of your voucher.
  • Consult GOV.UK for more information on the Energy Bill Support Scheme.

Increasing Numbers at Toddlers Group!

We are always pleased to see mums and dads with their toddlers at our twice weekly toddler sessions and this week we were delighted to see 20 toddlers at our Tuesday session.

Here are the details and we look forward to seeing more new faces !

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Annual Report 2021-22 Published

Our 2021-22 Annual Report to tenants has been circulated to all the Association’s tenants.

You can see the online version here-

ANNUAL REPORT 2022 – Lyng CA – Annual Report 2022 FINAL WEB 130922

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New Maximum Energy Caps from 1st October 2022

These are caps on unit rates (not a cap on total bills) and vary by region.

 


 

Tenant Satisfaction Surveys.

The Regulator of Social Housing is proposing new measures to make it easier for tenants to compare how their landlord is performing compared to other social landlords.

To do this they are proposing that there should a standard set of questions that all landlords will need to ask and this in turn will mean comparisons can be made knowing the same questions had been asked by every landlord.

This document produced by the Regulator spells out the proposal.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1048273/Easy_Read_RSH_TSM_Consultation_Summary_Digital_Artwork.pdf

 

Llandudno Trip Success!

We were delighted to see almost 100 residents and friends join us on the estate trip to the seaside – this year we visited Llandudno!

Despite leaving a rainy West Midlands we were blessed with a hot sunny day on the North Wales coast and everyone had a fantastic day out!

We are planning a Xmas Shopping Trip for 17 December 2022 – this year it will be Nottingham Christmas Market – we  will confirm details in a few weeks.

Before that we are planning a halt term trip and are looking for suggestions from residents on where we should go next time – phone us on 0121 525 5969 with any great ideas !

Estate Trip to Llandudno

THURSDAY 25 AUGUST 2022

Join us on this years’ summer seaside trip to Llandudno. Unwind on the beach, take a stroll along the seafront, find all the monuments on the Alice in Wonderland trail,

relax on the pier or take a trip up the Great Orme to sightsee some of the amazing views Llandudno, Wales has to offer.

You can book by dropping in to our office Monday to Friday 10am to 1pm.

 

Latest Edition Of Lyngline Published

Click On Image Below To See A Full Copy

Warm Home Discount Scheme

You could get £140 off your electricity bill for winter 2021 to 2022 under the Warm Home Discount Scheme.

The money is not paid to you – it’s a one-off discount on your electricity bill, between October and March.

You may be able to get the discount on your gas bill instead if your supplier provides you with both gas and electricity. Contact your supplier to find out.

The discount will not affect your Cold Weather Payment or Winter Fuel Payment.

There are 2 ways to qualify for the Warm Home Discount Scheme:

Check with your supplier as early as possible to see if you’re eligible and how to apply.

Your electricity supplier will apply the discount to your bill by 31 March 2022.

Pre-pay or pay-as-you-go meters

You can still qualify for the discount if you use a pre-pay or pay-as-you-go electricity meter.

Your electricity supplier can tell you how you’ll get the discount if you’re eligible, for example a voucher you can use to top up your meter.


Community Trip To London  Wednesday 1 June 2022

Come and join us on the Community Trip to London  during half term – Adults £20.00 Children £15.00 and just £5.00 for Children aged Under 5.

Wednesday 1 June 2022 – leaving Frank Fisher Way at 8am  and returning by 10pm.

Call us for more details or you can pay for your seat in the Association’s Office Monday – Friday 10am to 1pm.

 

Fire Safety Checks by Fire Service

Community Trip to Chester Zoo Saturday 12 March 2022

Join us on our community trip to Chester Zoo. Be sure to book soon as places are filling quickly!


5-11 Club Trip to the Black Country Museum – Saturday 12 February 2022

We have a trip going to the Black Country Museum on Saturday 12 February 2022 – call us for details on 0121 525 5969

Black Country Living Museum is an award-winning open air museum that tells the story of one of the very first industrialised landscapes in Britain.

Set across 26 acres, it includes carefully reconstructed shops, houses and industrial areas that represent the Black Country’s story.

 


 

Merry Christmas to All Lyng Residents!

 

Christmas Opening 2021 and New Year 2022


We hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Over the holiday season, the LCA office will be open on these days:

Friday 24th December Christmas Eve 10am-1pm, then telephone service only  1pm-4pm

 

CLOSED CHRISTMAS DAY and BOXING DAY

 

MONDAY 27th December BANK HOLIDAY – CLOSED

TUESDAY 28th December – BANK HOLIDAY – CLOSED

Wednesday 29th December – 10am – 1pm then phones open 1pm – 4pm

Thursday 30th December – 10am – 1pm then phones open 1pm – 4pm

Friday 31st December 2021 10am-1pm, then telephone service only  1pm-4pm

CLOSED WEEKEND 1st and 2nd JANUARY 2022

MONDAY 3rd January 2022 – BANK HOLIDAY – CLOSED

We are open as usual from Tuesday 4th January 2022 10am

The out-of-hours number is 0300 333 6540. This is for EMERGENCIES ONLY, so engineers will only attend to make safe and/or contain. All reported repairs will be recorded, then attended to in January 2022

 

 

Covid Update   

England is moving to Plan B in response to the risks of the Omicron variant.

  • Get vaccinated and get your booster dose

  • Wear a face covering in most indoor public places and on public transport

  • Work from home, if you can

  • Let fresh air in if you meet indoors. Meeting outdoors is safer

  • Get tested and self-isolate if required

Christmas Shopping Event – Saturday 4 December 2021 at Church of the Good Shepherd 11.30am  – 5.30pm

 

Lyng Community Association's photo.

Have a browse through our many stalls filled with beautiful gifts, homemade items and so much more. Win some amazing prizes on our raffle and ‘prize every time’ tombola. Refreshments will also be available.

Tables can be hired to sell your new goods and gifts at a charge of £10. Everything you raise on the day will be your own.

All funds raised will be donated to the ‘Give4Gary’ campaign, hosted by 4 Community Trust, to create a respite care home and sensory garden at Dorothy House.

 


Christmas  Shopping Trip – Saturday 27 November 2021

Come and join us on the community trip to Telford for the Winter Wonderland and Christmas Shopping.

Leaving Frank Fisher Way at 9.15am – from £10.00 for Adults  and £5.00 Children for Lyng Tenants and £12.00/£6.00  for guests.

Booking in advance essential – call us by phoning – 0121 525 5969


Community Litter Pick Next Tuesday

Come and join us for the Lyng Community litter pick on Tuesday 26th October 2021 at 11am.

Meet by the Playground next to Turks Head Way – litter picking equipment will be provided.

 

 

Saturday 16 October 2021

Community Trip to Blackpool

If you want to join us on our community trip to Blackpool – please book a ticket now!

We have up to 100 residents joining us to  enjoy the seaside and Blackpool lights.

Bookings being taken now – drop into our Office or phone us on 0121 525 5969 to find out more!

 

 

Lyngline – Latest Issue Delivered

The latest edition of LyngLine-Summer2021-V3-050821 has been delivered to all homes and we will be following that up in September with our Annual Report to Tenants for 2020/21.

If you have any questions about anything you read in either document please let us know!

 

Summer Activities Prove to be a Great Hit!

We were delighted to re-open 5-11 Club and Youth Club when Government restrictions were eased. We have our Summer Playscheme operating again in early August with a week of activities followed by a trip to the Frank Chapman Centre. Set in 90 acres of ancient oak forest, this purpose-built centre is home to adventurous outdoor activities and environmental learning throughout the forest, and has a range of accommodation including dorms, glamping pods, camping and cottages.

     

Toddler Groups Getting Huge Support from Lyng Parents

We now have over 50 young members attending our Toddler Clubs enjoying activities such as messy play and a fun packed “beach day”. The Toddler Group enjoyed a trip to the West Midland Safari Park where they also completed the annual sponsored toddle/walk to raise funds for Barnardos – raising over £400!

   

Lyng Office Re-opens to Visitors

In line with Government restrictions we are now able to re-open our offices to personal visitors once again.

Please remember that our office is open to personal callers  Monday to Friday 10am to 1pm but you can still phone us 10am -4pm.

Tenants Home Insurance

Lyng Community Association as a  landlord does not insure tenant’s furniture, belongings or decorations against theft, fire, vandalism and burst pipes. To assist tenants we have entered into a partnership with other social landlords in the area to provide tenant’s home insurance through Aviva a reputable insurance provider.
Tenants need to take out their own household insurance either with this special scheme through Aviva or by making their own arrangements.
The Association cannot guarantee that this Aviva scheme provides the cheapest insurance cover available, or that it provides the widest cover so tenants are recommended to seek
alternative quotations and choose the cover that best suits their needs.

Re-opening the Lyng Community Development Service.

As you may have seen the current lockdown is being eased and we are looking to restart our community services such as the Toddler Groups, 5-11 Club and Youth Club. We will make a full announcement in the near future but we may need to restrict the number of participants so we can maintain social distancing.

We hope to start our other services including social trips as soon as we are able and are planning to run our Traditional Community Trip to the seaside in the summer. This year we are going somewhere new – Llandudno in North Wales so please look out for an announcement on that in the next few weeks.

Here are reminders of past trips – Barry Island, Southport, Weston Super Mare and Brean

    

We usually take around 150 people on our Summer Trip and we’d really love to see any many residents as possible come along with their friends and neighbours.


 

Normal Service Restored – Friday 16 April

BT have finally restored our telephone service so our Main Office Number is finally working again.


 

BT Engineering Work Cuts Office Phone Line – 24 March  2021 + Ongoing into April

Due to long running BT Engineering  work on phone cabling in the street outside  our main office number 0121 525 5969 is STILL NOT WORKING (started Wednesday 24/3/21 and continuing  )

We have complained to BT about this two weeks of disruption to our business but still our line is out of action.

You can contact us on 0121 525 6553 (this line is unaffected)

You can e-mail us – info@lyng.org.uk

We apologise for the inconvenience to customers.

Vaccination Update!

You may have seen that the Lyng Centre is being used as a Covid-19 Vaccination Centre. We’re being told that vaccines are going to be critical to ending  the Covid-19 pandemic – providing enough
people are vaccinated.

You need to wait until you receive an invitation for your vaccination but if you are unsure about whether to attend your appointment here is a fact sheet from a social housing landlord group that tries to address some of the concerns about the various vaccines.

 

BMELondon Say YES to Covid vaccines 6pp 3rd proof (1)

The Together with Tenants Charter

Together with tenants

Lyng Community  Association  has adopted a new charter that commits the Association to continue to work with tenants to  improve our services , accountability and responsiveness to customers.

The Together with Tenants charter is based on six commitments.

  1. Relationships:   We will treat all residents with respect in all of our interactions. Relationships between residents and the Association will be based on openness, honesty and transparency.
  2. Communication: Our residents will receive clear, accessible and timely information from the Association on the issues that matter to them, including important information about homes and the local community, how the Association is working to address problems, how the Association is run, and information about performance on key issues.
  3. Voice and influence: We will seek and value the views of residents, and will use this information to inform our decisions. Every individual resident will feel listened to by the Association on the issues that matter to them and can speak without fear.
  4. Accountability: Collectively, residents will work in partnership with the Association to independently scrutinise and hold the Association to account for the decisions that affect the quality of their homes and services.
  5. Quality: Residents can expect their homes to be good quality, well maintained, safe and well managed.
  6. When things go wrong: Residents will have simple and accessible routes for raising issues, making complaints and seeking redress. Residents will receive timely advice and support when things go wrong.

We will be covering this issue in more detail in the next edition of Lyngline our tenant’s newsletter which should be appearing in April.

Happy New Year to All Lyng Residents!

Everyone at Lyng Community Association wishes to extend our best wishes to all residents at this difficult time.

We look forward to better days ahead and a time when we can create some new memories of times like these:-

 

New Lockdown  January 2020

Once again we have to close the Lyng Office to personal visitors BUT you can still call us on 0121 525 5969 10am to 4pm Mondays to Fridays.

Please let us know if you need to report any emergency or urgent repairs.  We are working safely when on site so will need to check if anyone is shielding or isolating before we arrange any repair appointments. Some repairs may need to be rescheduled so we would ask for your understanding and co-operation whilst we  try to reduce risks during the lockdown period.

We regret we are unable to restart our community activities  during the current lockdown so Youth Club, 5 to 11 Club and Toddlers Club are all suspended until further notice.

We will of course update everyone when we are able to restart!

 

Merry Christmas to All Lyng Residents !

 

For emergency repairs outside office hours the number is 0300 333 6540.

Please remember that the Emergency Repairs service is  provided by Bourneville Property Care on 0300 333 6540.


Christmas – Free Meal Vouchers from Sandwell Council

 

Sandwell Council will be funding free school meals to those families who are eligible during the Christmas holidays. Parents and carers in Sandwell will be contacted through their child’s school and will receive vouchers towards the cost of food for the two-week break.

Councillor Wasim Ali, Sandwell Council’s cabinet member for resources and core services, said: “We want to ensure no child goes hungry this Christmas and so by providing vouchers to eligible families we can at least help with the cost of a meal. “I encourage all those families who are eligible to take up this offer and contact their child’s school for details. I would like to thank all of our schools for their help and support in getting these vouchers to those families who need them.”

Councillor Maria Crompton, Sandwell Council’s deputy leader, said: “The pandemic has hit our families hard in Sandwell but we hope these vouchers will make things a little easier for those who are struggling this Christmas.”

Sandwell Council has budgeted £525,000 to help around 17,500 children. Eligible families will receive a voucher for £15 per week, per child.

 

Preparing For Winter

    

1. Get your flu jab

Flu affects people in different ways. If you are healthy you will usually shake it off within a week, but for young children, older people with chronic health conditions, it can be very serious.  The annual flu vaccination is offered free to people who are most at risk from the effects of flu. Find out more about flu vaccinations and who is eligible for a free one.

2. Check your vehicle is winter ready

It is advisable to use a screen wash additive as this helps to keep the windscreen free of dirt and winter road grime caused by road salting and gritting which can cause visibility issues. There is also the risk of a frozen windscreen which is another reason to ensure you use a proper anti-freeze screen wash. Read more about preparing your car for winter.

You should also take a quick check of your tyres – not only is it dangerous to drive in winter conditions with low levels of tread on your vehicle’s tyres, it’s also illegal. Check your tyres regularly to avoid a fine of £2500 and three penalty points per tyre found below the legal depth. Read more about tyres and vehicle checks to make before a long journey.

If you get stuck in your car in winter it could be dangerous, so get a winter car kit ready: ice scraper, de-icer, jump leads, shovel, blanket, sunglasses (for winter glare from the low sun), torch. Get all these things ready before the start of winter and then keep them in the car – you never know when you might need them. For longer trips think about food, water and medicines too. Here’s what should be in your winter car kit.

3. Check your heating – your home should be heated to at least 18 °C

Cold weather can be a risk to your health, particularly if you are over 65 or have health conditions. The cold thickens blood and increases blood pressure, and breathing in cold air can increase the risk of chest infections. Your home (and those of your elderly relatives and neighbours) should ideally be at least 18 °C. During cold spells, keep your windows closed at night as this could cause a real drop in the temperature indoors.

4. Plumbing – Stoptap Location

It’s also important to know where your stoptap (also called stopcock or stop valve) is and to check it regularly to make sure it is working. This will enable you to turn off the water to your home quickly should there be a problem. Most can be found under the kitchen sink

5. Weatherproof your home and garden

Think about what may be impacted by strong winds or flooding. In windy weather surprising things can become dangerous. Trees or branches can come down, cast . Garden furniture and even children’s toys and trampolines can fly around causing damage and potential harm and fences can become problems too.

6. Have basic supplies to hand

Make sure you have basic supplies in case you have to leave home quickly or your power and water are disrupted. It’s worth putting together a ‘grab bag’, with the following in:

  • Bottled water
  • Medicines
  • Torch, radio and batteries
  • Copies of important documents
  • A change of clothes

Here’s a more extensive ‘grab bag’ packing list. There is more information about this available on the Government’s Preparing for Emergencies page

7. Consider how you would access vital information if a storm takes out power and phonelines

We are so reliant on the internet, but if a storm meant power and mobile phone networks were affected, what would you do?  Consider a separate battery charger, and you could store key information such as the power cut helpline number (105) on your phone. Find out more about dealing with a power cut.

8. Think of vulnerable neighbours

Not everyone is able to access the help or information they may require to keep them safe and well in winter. It’s nice to be neighbourly and the human contact with others can have really positive effects for everyone. You may be able to help your neighbour with an important job to prepare for winter, or your neighbour may be able to help you. Just taking time to make contact will be appreciated.

 

26 November 2020 – Covid19 UPDATE

Throughout the Coronavirus Pandemic we have been working hard to continue meeting our residents’ needs while keeping everyone as safe as possible.

Due to Government Restrictions starting we have once again closed our office to personal callers and visitors BUT you can continue to contact us on 0121 525 5969 during normal business hours 10am – 4pm Monday to Friday as we will continue to operate our service from the Association’s office.

We will continue to deal with repairs as usual but please be aware that there can be delays in obtaining materials or specialist contractors so some repairs may take longer than we would normally expect.

If you report a repair we will assess whether there is any risk to our staff or contractors before arranging to attend. The repairs operative will wear a mask and gloves when attending and will ask you to maintain a safe distance throughout the repairs visit. If you have any concerns about this then please contact us on 0121 525 5969.

You will also see that our service contractors are able to continue working as they are not working in individual properties so you may see them carrying out cleaning duties or servicing fire alarms and emergency lighting.

We will be reviewing the position each week and as Covid 19 restrictions are eased or increased we may need to vary our service availability accordingly but we will keep you informed of the situation if you do report a repair to us.

You can still call your Housing Officer or report repairs on 0121 525 5969.  Out-of-hours repairs should be reported on 0300 333 6540.

If you are having a problem paying your rent please speak to us for advice.

Sadly we have had to close Youth Club and 5- 11  Club again. We will be looking to re-open these activities once the current lockdown has expired.

Finally if you require support on any matter please give us a call and we will look to assist you  or tell you which agencies are currently offering the support you need.

 

19 October 2020

Youth Club, 5 – 11  Club and Toddlers all Re-open.

A quick reminder that we have reopened Youth Club and 5-11 Club with restricted numbers. We have also restarted Toddler sessions.

All the above activities are fully compliant with the latest Government Guidance documents but please be aware that the situation can change quickly and if new restrictions are introduced we may need to close at short notice so please check on our Facebook and Twitter accounts for the latest news.

A big thank you to our Events Co-Ordinator Amy Rushton  who spent many hours translating the Government Guidance into practical solutions that made sure we were Covid19 secure and compliant and to the excellent Lyng sessional staff and volunteers for assisting with getting everything ready for the re-opening.

 

12 October 2020 – Lyng Annual Report to Tenants

We are delighted to share our Annual Report to tenants for 2019/20. As usual we would be delighted to hear your views about anything you see in our report.

Please remember that if you want to join the Board of Directors of the Association  we would be very pleased to hear from you.  We will provide you with all the information and support you might need to become an effective Board member and you will play a key role in shaping the Association’s future. In line with our rules  50% of the Association’s Board are drawn from the Association’s tenants so you will be on a Board with fellow members of our community.

LyngCA-AnnualReport2020-V4-231020 (1)

Help with rent arrears and problems with paying your rent.

If you cannot pay your rent, don’t ignore the problem. Talk to us as soon as possible. Whether the problem is caused by a change of circumstances, a budgeting difficulty, or a cut in benefits, you can take some important steps  to help get yourself back in control and avoid eviction.

It’s understandable you might be worried about notifying us that you’re going to be late with the rent but it’s far better to get the issue out in the open before you actually fail to pay up. It also allows you to

  • explain why you’re going to be late with the rent and ask for some extra time
  • be clear about what you’re doing to address the problem to help ensure it won’t happen again.

Call us on 0121 525 5969 – Monday – Friday 10am -4pm our staff are working in our office on a rota basis but we cannot deal with personal callers sorry.

6 October 2020 – Covid19 UPDATE

Throughout the Coronavirus Pandemic we have been working hard to continue meeting our residents’ needs while keeping everyone as safe as possible.

We have re-opened our office to visitors but we will need to talk to you from behind the protective screen rather than coming out to see you.   Please be aware that we may be required to close our reception area at short notice if regulations or guidance changes so please give us a call to check before setting off to see us. Our staff have continued to work from the Lyng Office (on a rota basis) so you can continue to contact us on 0121 525 5969 during normal business hours 10am – 4pm Monday to Friday

We continue to deal with repairs as usual but please be aware that there can be delays in obtaining materials or specialist contractors so some repairs may take longer than we would normally expect.

You will see that our service contractors are able to continue working as they are not working in individual properties so you may see them carrying out cleaning duties or servicing fire alarms and emergency lighting.

We are still reviewing the position each week and as Covid 19 restrictions are eased or increased we may need to vary our service availability accordingly but we will keep you informed of the situation if you do report a repair to us.

You can still call your Housing Officer or report repairs on 0121 525 5969.  Out-of-hours repairs should be reported on 0300 333 6540.

If you are having a problem paying your rent please speak to us for advice.

If you’re being paid less as a result of Coronavirus or if you’ve lost your job, you may be entitled to welfare benefits such as Universal Credit, statutory sick pay or employment and support allowance. You can read more – https://www.understandinguniversalcredit.gov.uk/employment-and-benefits-support/.
The Chancellor has set out a support package for the self-employed too. You can find out more about what your business can claim here – https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-a-grant-through-the-coronavirus-covid-19-self-employment-income-support-scheme

We are still undertaking gas boiler servicing but our contractor will check with you before attending to ensure that nobody in the household is suffering from Coronavirus or shielding from possible infection. If you are isolating for 2 weeks then once that period is over then please phone to re-arrange the gas service visit.

You will see our staff out on the estate as we are still carrying out our weekly safety checks on fire alarms and communal area equipment and our cleaning contractor is maintaining shared areas across the estate. If you want to speak to us when we are out please remember social distancing.

All our community activities are remain suspended until further notice, including the Toddlers Group, Youth Club, 5-11 Club and day trips. We will keep you updated via our website, Facebook and Twitter pages – so please keep an eye on them. We were hoping to arrange an event or trip during the school holidays but we did not feel that we could  do this safely and in line with Government Guidance but hope to restart youth activities in October with smaller groups spread across the week. We expect to start on Monday 12 October 2020 but please check on our Facebook page as we appreciate the rules might change and prevent us from opening!

Staff shortages, due to self-isolation or school holidays and difficulty with arranging childcare may still impact our team and contractors occasionally. So we ask for your patience and understanding during these difficult times. For the latest advice on keeping safe go to –  https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus or www.nhs.uk

 

Sandwell Council

For the latest information on Sandwell Council and it’s services please visit:-

https://www.sandwell.gov.uk/info/200354/coronavirus_advice/4430/coronavirus_-_advice_and_information

 

Energy

The government has provided an emergency package of measures with energy suppliers to ensure vulnerable people don’t face any additional hardships in heating or lighting their homes during the coronavirus outbreak.

To view the government guidance please click here. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-agrees-measures-with-energy-industry-to-support-vulnerable-people-through-covid-19

If you are struggling with energy bill or cannot leave your house to top up your pre-payment meters please contact your supplier.

Debt

If you are need of support with debt you can contact a registered company such as Citizens Advice or Step Change.

Citizens Advice contact number: 03444 77 20 20
Citizens Advice website – https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk

Step Change Contact number: 0800 138 1111
Step Change website – https://www.stepchange.org

 

 

Spring Lyngline

Our latest newsletter has been published and was delivered to residents in week commencing April 13th but you can also see it here :-LyngLine-Spring2020-FINAL-WEB-030420 (1)

August 2020 – Don’t Forget The Rules!            

Please follow the basic hygiene steps we can all take to help prevent the spread of the virus:

  • HANDS – Wash your hands regularly and for 20 seconds.
  • FACE – Wear a face covering in indoor settings where social distancing may be difficult and where you will come into contact with people you do not normally meet.
  • SPACE – Stay two metres apart from people you do not live with where possible, or one metre with extra precautions in place.

Rule of SIX

When meeting friends and family you do not live with (or have formed a support bubble with) you must not meet in a group of more than 6, indoors or outdoors.

This is against the law and the police will have the powers to enforce these legal limits, including to issue fines (fixed penalty notices) of £200, doubling for further breaches up to a maximum of £6,400.

Everyone should:

  • Practice social distancing when they are with anyone who is not a member of their household or support bubble (from September 14), it is illegal to meet in groups of more than six indoors or outside, with some exceptions).
  • Wear a face covering in enclosed public places like shops and on public transport, unless they are exempt on medical grounds.
  • Thoroughly clean frequently touched areas in the home or at work.
  • Continue to wash their hands more regularly with soap, for 20 seconds at a time.

Don’t forget – Tuesday 14 July 2020 – Black Country Day!

Dealing with the Lockdown! May 2020

During lockdown the local community have been getting creative and have been taking their opportunity for daily exercise. How have you been curing the boredom?

  Chalk drawing!

 


Rent Payments -When Unable to Pay At Local Shops Update 19/3/20

Coronavirus is causing unprecedented disruption to society with precautionary measures already affecting people’s normal movements. Although we do not foresee major interruptions to the Post Office or PayPoint service, many customers who make payments “over the counter” will now be advised or reluctant to visit these outlets. We therefore wanted to remind you of alternative allpay payment collection options that could be used by your customers.

Internet payments – Lyng tenants can make secure online payments at any time at www.allpayments.net using their Payment Reference Number (PRN) from their Allpay swipe card or barcode and their bank card
Telephone payments – for those customers who do not like to make online payments, this simple automated telephone system takes your customers through every step of the payment process which fully meets PCI compliance requirements, again using their PRN (this is shown on your Allpay payment card)
Mobile APP – available on both Apple and Android devices, this secure app can easily be set up with a bank card to make payments on a regular basis after a simple registration
Text payments – even without a smartphone your customers can register and make payments after a brief registration online

Help with rent arrears and problems with paying your rent.

If you cannot pay your rent, don’t ignore the problem. Talk to us as soon as possible. Whether the problem is caused by a change of circumstances, a budgeting difficulty, or a cut in benefits, you can take some important steps  to help get yourself back in control and avoid eviction.

It’s understandable you might be worried about notifying us that you’re going to be late with the rent but it’s far better to get the issue out in the open before you actually fail to pay up. It also allows you to

  • explain why you’re going to be late with the rent and ask for some extra time
  • be clear about what you’re doing to address the problem to help ensure it won’t happen again.

Call us on 0121 525 5969 – Monday – Friday 10am -4pm our staff are working in our office on a rota basis but we cannot deal with personal callers sorry.

Coronavirus – Update 13 March 2020

The safety of our residents, staff & contractors is of paramount importance to us and we are closely monitoring information and guidance from the World Health Organisation, UK government and local authorities regarding the spread of the Coronavirus. Our focus is to ensure that we continue to meet resident needs while doing our part to keep everyone including our employees safe.
We will continue to maintain our normal services but as the situation changes we may be forced to restrict services in the next few days and weeks. Any changes will be notified to residents as we look to do everything we can to delay the spread of this virus.
We understand some residents may be feeling anxious but we ask everyone to play their part by following good hygiene practices to help reduce the risks. such as washing hands regularly and thoroughly for 20 seconds or more. Also by covering their mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing and binning the tissue and washing their hands afterwards.If you have a new continuous cough or a high temperature you should stay at home and try and stay more than three steps away from others at home. If you are no better after 7 days visit NHS 111 online www.111.nhs.uk or phone the NHS 111 helpline for further advice straight away. It is really important that you don’t go to your doctor or a hospital to be tested, to protect others.

Community Cinema Tuesday 18 February 2020

Come on join us at the Lyng Community Cinema for a showing of Aladdin!

12 noon at The Church of the Good Shepherd – drinks and snacks available – all funds raised support Children in Need.

Beat the January Blues by Joining Us – Toddler Sessions!

We have lots of exciting crafts planned so bring your little ones for some fun.
Toddlers runs from the Good Shepherd Church every Tuesday and Thursday, 9.15am-11am

 

Youth Club is Back!Youth Club back after the Christmas Break –

Good Shepherd Church every Tuesday, 4.30pm -7pm from January 7th 2020. The Association is delighted to be working with BBC Children in Need who provide funding for this activity.

 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Lyng Community Association

Please remember we are closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day but  we are open each week day 10am – 1pm for personal visitors to our office and 10am to 4pm for phone enquiries.

 

Adult’s Xmas Craft Workshop

Lyng Xmas Trip to Bath – Friday 6 December 2019

We still have places on the Lyng trip to Bath for the Christmas Market – its £10.00 for tenants and £12.00 for friends and family. We are setting off at 9am and returning in the evening so its looking to be a great day out!

To book please give us a call on 0121 525 5969.

Christmas Craft Fair

Lyng families had a fun-filled festive time at our popular Christmas Craft Morning.
The event, held at the church, was a huge success, with over 50 children joining us with their parents.
Activities included making magic reindeer food, marshmallow snowmen, iced biscuits, crackers, calendars, Christmas badges, cards and decorations – while enjoying delicious hot chocolate and other seasonal refreshments.
The children also took the opportunity to write their letters to Santa, who popped in for a surprise visit!

Lyng Cinema Returns

Tuesday 29 October 2019 sees the return of our Lyng Cinema – this time we are showing Dumbo

Residents – Shopping Trip to Manchester

The Lyng Community Development Team are running a trip to the Trafford Shopping Centre in Manchester on Saturday 9 November 2019.

Price is £10.00 for Lyng Tenants and £12.00 for Non Residents.

Please call 0121 525 5969 for details.

 

Come and Join Us – Toddler Sessions

This week at Toddlers we’re learning all about autumn. We have lots of exciting crafts planned so bring your little ones for some fun.

Toddlers runs from the Good Shepherd Church every Tuesday and Thursday, 9.15am-11am.

 

 

Macmillan Coffee Morning

No photo description available.

Join us for our Macmillan Coffee Morning on Tuesday 17th September, 9.15am-11.30am at the Church of the Good Shepherd with St John. Donations of cake are welcome.

 

Another Successful Summer Trip for Lyng

Over 160 tenants and friends joined us for this year’s  Lyng Annual Summer Trip to the Seaside.

This year it was Brean in Somerset and despite the weather being a little less sunny than usual everyone had a great time. We are already planning for next year so make sure you join us for a fantastic chance to meet all your neighbours and a great day out in the sun.

Lyng Summer Play Scheme and Trip

Matilda

Once again the Association ran it’s popular summer play scheme for children across the estate. During the week participants had days full of activities and fun connected to a Roald Dahl theme with the highlight of a trip to London to see the West End production of “Matilda”.

Estate Clean Up Produces 26 full Bags of Litter!

Litter Pick 2019

Many thanks to the young people of the estate (and those slightly less young!) for helping in the Lyng Estate Clean Up this summer. We picked up 26 full bags of litter but more importantly everyone got together to clean up the whole estate including the park area and private streets. We are aware that a lot of litter comes from people walking through on their way to and from the town centre but we were delighted to see everyone determined to make a difference to their community!

Fashion Show Success

Fashion Show June 19 V2

The Lyng Fashion show held in June attracted a sell out crowd in support of the Lyng Defibrillator Fund – the show raised £750.00 and the volunteer models showed off a variety of High Street clothing lines which were available to buy on the night.

Many thanks to our volunteers and everyone who attended.

 

 Lyng Toddlers Charity Walk

We were delighted to see the toddlers from Lyng’s Toddler Club stepping out to raise money in the National Big Toddle charity event. The group raised over £100.00 – many thanks to those who took part and the Mums and Dads from the Lyng of course!

Big Toddle June 19 V2        Group Toddlers June 19

Estate Clean Up – Meet Our Young Litter Busters

Teams of young people from our Youth Club and our associated  5 to 11 Club once again showed a real pride in their home area by clearing litter right across the estate followed by a session on the Eco Bus which focused on Recycling Plastic Bottles.

Many thanks to all the young people who helped us on this project.

 

Litter Pick 2019

 

 Summer Trip – A Day at the Seaside – Brean Somerset

The Association is running its hugely popular Summer Trip to the seaside again and this year we are off to Brean in Somerset. Just a couple of hours away down the M5. Last year we had fantastic weather and over 150 residents and friends had a community day out. We are taking bookings for this year – put the date in your diary – Wednesday 14 August 2019 – Residents £10 Children £5

1250323 Brean       437870 Brean

 Toddlers Session and Youth Group – Change of Venue

Just a quick reminder that both Toddlers Group and Youth Group will be taking place at West Bromwich Leisure Centre today (Tuesday 21 May 2019)

Lyng Fashion Show and Sale – Saturday 22 June 2019 from 7pm

comparing-black-t-shirts-on-a-clothing-rack-in-a-sun-lit-shop  retail-shopping-package

Just a reminder that we are organising a Fashion Show on Saturday 22 June 2019 from 7pm at the Church Hall – Church of the Good Shepherd on the corner of Lyttleton St and Moor St/Bromford Lane.

Monsoon, Marks and Spencer, Next, Wallis, Warehouse and many more clothing ranges will be available for purchase on the night.

Tickets just £2.50 – proceeds to Lyng Defibrillator Fund – call us 0121 525 5969.

Thanks -Sarah Pflug photo

Media Club Relaunches!

Lyng Cinema_n  will-francis-1070259-unsplash

As residents may recall we were successful in gaining funding for promoting the sciences to young people and as a result all the members of the Media Club transferred to our new Curiosity Club and took part in a variety of science based activities ranging from 3 D Printing to making rockets!

As that programme has now finished we are delighted to confirm that we are relaunching the Media Club which will again focus on a wide variety of activities covering a variety of different media.

We have started off with teaching our members to draw cartoons and how to use their imaginations to create fictional worlds!

We also took 80 people to the local cinema to enjoy a film.  For more details speak to Amy Rushton our Community Activity Co-ordinator on 0121 525 5969.

 

Healthy Eating? Why Not Grow Your Own Vegetables?

allotment harvest_n    markus-spiske-502390-unsplash (1)

Grow your own! If you fancy growing your own vegetables or fruit, why not take on a section of our Community Allotment for free? A couple of Lyng residents have started planting crops on the plot, which is behind the Kebub restaurant in Bromford Lane. There is a shed, some tools, a nearby toilet and water tap. If you’re interested, please get in touch on 0121 525 5969

jens-johnsson-516995-unsplash

 

 

paymyrent

Rent Changes from Monday 1st April 2019

We will be sending out the 2019 rent change letters in the next few days. Once again the basic rent will be reducing by 1% but the service charge will increase to take account of any changes in the costs of providing services. However when the two elements are combined into the total rent all tenants will see a rent decrease again this year.

2019/20 will be  Year 4 and the final year of the Governments rent reduction programme which has reduced basic rents by 1% each year 2016,2017, 2018 and of course 2019.

If you have any queries about your rent of the service charge please let us know.

Fab Lab visit 21 Feb 2017

 Youth Club Trips 2019

The Lyng Youth Club have an exciting programme for the early part of 2019 including :-

  • Trip to the Bowling with a meal at Nandos
  • Community Cinema – we will be showing “Inside Out”
  • Trip to see West Bromwich Albion v Sheffield United – many thanks to Ideal Boilers for sponsoring this activity.
  •  Trip to the Go-Karting track.

We meet every Tuesday evening – please contact our Community Events Co-ordinator-  Amy on 0121 525 5969 for details. Our Youth Project is funded by BBC Children In Need.

Toddlers Group 2017_o

Toddlers – Important Information

As of today (21st January), LCA Toddlers will no longer run on a Monday afternoon. The new days and times are as follows:

Tuesday, 9.15am-11am… Thursday, 9.15am-11am

Prices remain the same at £2 per family per session.

Happy New Year to All from Lyng Community

Association!!

We are open as usual over the holidays except for Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day.

Christmas Card Design Winners!

Here are the successful designs from our Children’s “Design a Lyng Christmas Card Competition”.

Xmas Card 2018 1st Xmas Card 2018 2nd place Xmas Card 2018 3rd

Well done to Sharon, Brooke and Harrison.

 

Christmas at the Lyng!

Santa Image with LCA  santa-image-lyng-xmas-party_n

 

Last Saturday we were delighted to host 100 people at our Childrens Christmas Party and once again Santa took time out of his busy schedule to meet the estate children and listen to their Christmas wishes.

Many thanks to all the volunteers who made it a very special day for everyone.

Our Other Christmas Events

Saturday 22nd – Lyng Youth Club are going to see Elf the Musical

Sunday 23rd Lyng Toddlers and Curiosity Club Trip to see Santa on the Severn Valley Railway.

 

York Xmas Market_n

Annual Christmas Shopping Trip – Friday 23 November 2018

Once again we are delighted to offer residents and friends a fantastic Christmas Market Trip – this year we are off to the Medieval City of York – with prices from £12.00 for residents its a great chance to enjoy festive shopping in a new destination. Drop into the office to book or give us a call on 0121 525 5969.

shop York

Youth Club Trips – October Half Term

This month the Youth Club are off to Blackpool to see the illuminations and enjoy the fairground during half term. They also have a separate trip going to Alton Towers later in half term week. Both trips are restricted to young people who participate in the Association’s youth activities. All our activities are open to young people in the local community so if you want to come along on future trips or just enjoy our varied programme  – speak to our Youth Club team on 0121 525 5969.

 

Test Your Heating!

With the weather getting colder now is the time to test your heating to make sure its functioning correctly.  Don’t wait for the first really cold day to find that your boiler has developed a fault over the summer months and can’t cope with the increased demands placed on it on a freezing day. If you have a problem please give us a call on 0121 525 5969.

ae235 Ideal boiler

 

Lyng Community Allotment – Come and Join Us!

10924818_652555514850437_1053681767703873818_n[1] untitled

 

We are relaunching our community allotment with a small section  for the younger members of the community but a larger section for any resident who wants to take on a section!

If you fancy growing your own food or just want to volunteer to help out – please give us a call on 0121 525 5969!

 

 

 

 Another Great Seaside Trip!

Barry Island Trip 18

A record breaking trip to Barry Island with over 170 tenants and friends enjoying sun, sea and golden sands.

Many thanks to everyone who supported the trip.

 

Big Seaside Outing Attracts Record Numbers!

Crazy Golf Barry Island Vale Of Glamorgan South Towns & Villages _83922020_barryisland2-1

We are delighted to report that we now have a record  171 residents and friends coming with us on the Big Seaside Outing on Friday!

After successful trips to places like Weston, Blackpool and Southport in past years this year we are off to Barry Island – which if you are a fan of TV’s “Gavin and Stacey” you will know well!

The forecast is for a sunny day so with golden sand, a funfair and all the usual seaside attractions its looking like being another fantastic day out.

For anyone who doesn’t need the beach we are providing a stop in Cardiff to allow a days shopping or visit to the castle so hopefully we have something for all residents to enjoy.

barry2 Barry_Island_Marco's_Cafe

Celebration of Completion of Lyng Redevelopment

Wendy - presentation 20th Dinner  Group Photo Lyng 20th

Past and present members of the team that worked on the redevelopment of the Lyng estate got together to celebrate the completion of the project last Friday with a dinner in West Bromwich. The dinner was hosted by Lyng Community Association and our Chair Wendy Bodenham took the opportunity to reflect on the long journey that so many people were a part of.

From a dream that started some 20 years ago through tears and triumph as the determination of local people, Sandwell Council and the tireless efforts of so many other great people who helped along the way ensured that the Lyng was reborn.

Finally the story is complete with the final properties occupied and Lyng Community Association now well established in the  centre of the local community providing 200 homes and management services to another 154 homes as well as a host of activities and events that make the Lyng a great place to live.

Some of the original Board Members of the Lyng Community Association are seen in the photo above.

 

Youth Club News

LCA YC XII   LCA YC XVI

The LCA Youth Club runs on a Tuesday evening from 4pm-7pm and is open to anyone aged 10-17. It is youth-led which means the young people decide what activities and/or trips they want to try and they guide the staff members on what they think they need in terms of education etc. Recently, the young people have highlighted the need for talks on confidence, discrimination and mental health. In response to this, some of the young people were invited to the Albion Foundation to complete workshops surrounding these topics. It was a massive success and we are hoping to work closely with the Albion Foundation on a larger scale in the near future.

We endeavour to take the young people on trips at least once a month and this is also youth-led. There is a trip to Drayton Manor planned for Friday 1st June. With this trip, we are trialing a new ‘bring your friend’ initiative. There has been a massive increase in the amount of people wanting to attend and this has also brought new faces to the youth club.

The youth club have been experimenting with different forms of art recently. We have had a brilliant workshop with Alex Vann (an artist and a singer/songwriter) where the youth club created, performed and recorded a song in the space of 3 hours. Their confidence soared after this activity. We have also had several pottery workshops, where many of the young people identified a new talent.

In the near future we are hoping to arrange a football tournament at the request of some of the newer members. There will be several other activities surrounding the World Cup. We have already been creating flags of the participating nations and have created individual football strips. We will also be ordering in food to eat whilst supporting England (or which ever team the young people choose to support!) in their World Cup journey.

Great Trip to Hereford

Residents and friends of the Association had a great day out at Hereford on Friday  with warm weather and a shopping stopover on the return trip.

We try to balance our community trips so there is something for every age group and interest. Many of our older residents have enjoyed trips to Hampton Court Palace and boat trips based around Stratford on Avon whilst the families have been to places like Southport, Blackpool and Weston. We have more trips in the pipeline for the summer – our Spring newsletter will feature the full programme for the rest of the year.

Curiosity Group – Trip to Water Treatment Plant

 

Curiosity Visit to water treatment plant_n water treatment plant_n

We were delighted to take a group of our budding young scientists to the Water Treatment Plant to see what happens to our waste water.

The Curiosity Grant funds us to take members of the community to learn more about and we hope to become very excited about science and scientific installations.

By inspiring the young people in our community we hope to help them see a wide world of opportunity and chances to make the most of their potential.

 

Estate Litter Pick and Easter Egg Hunt

 

Litter Pick Easter 18_n             Easter Egg litter pick_n

Was great to see so many children and adults take part in the Lyng Easter Egg Hunt and Litter Pick across the estate . Everyone who helped collect litter not only had an Easter Egg to enjoy but also earned a credit towards the next summer trip to the seaside.

Every year we organise a community trip to the seaside where over 160 residents of the Lyng  have a day out with their neighbours and create fantastic memories of the seaside. Everyone who puts something back into the community either through helping the estate clean ups or helping others in the area receives credits towards their coach fare for the big summer trip.

 

Exciting Day at The Big Bang!

We were delighted to take two parties of young people (the Media Club and the Youth Group) from the Lyng to the Big Bang last weekend.

The Big Bang UK Young Scientists & Engineers Fair is the largest celebration of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) for young people in the UK.

NEC Big Bang Photo March 2018              Big Bang March 18

Funded by a #curiosity grant, 35 young people took part in various activities and experiments including coding, forensics, testing reflexes and a whole lot more.  Lots of ‘oohs, aaahs’ and ‘no ways’ heard from both the young people and the volunteers.

 

Great Day at the Snow Dome

To celebrate the half term break yesterday –  over 50 residents from the Lyng had a fantastic day in the snow.

Snowdome photo Feb 2018     snowdome 2018_n     snowdome Feb 18 group

 

The Children in Need funded Lyng Youth Project who also attended the trip has a great programme of trips and activities lined up for the next 6 months  – new members are always welcome – just come along to the Church Hall at the corner of Moor St and Lyttleton St  – Tuesdays from 4pm to 6pm .

 

Young People’s Trip to Snowdome – Thursday 22 February 2018.

Snowdome

We are delighted to announce a half term trip to the Snowdome – leaving Lyng at 9.30am and returning at around 4.30pm.

The age groups are 5 to 17 with activities suitable for each age group. Our Youth Leaders together with sessional workers and volunteers will be supervising the trip

The trip is free of charge funded by the Association and from our Children in Need Grant . Booking forms will be circulated in the next few days to all Lyng properties and at Lyng Youth Club.

 

New Courses for all – Starting February 2018

drawing pic Comm Dev 2018

Pottery for Beginners Course Mondays 9.15am – 11.15am

Art Class  – Thursdays 10am – 11.30am

Fees £2.00 per session for LCA tenants £3.00 for others.

Refreshments and materials provided.

Church Hall – Church of the Good Shepherd Corner of Lyttleton St and Moor St.

Phone 0121 525 5969 to sign up .

 

Happy New Year to all our residents and everyone in the Lyng neighbourhood!. 

Back to work and activities due to start again :-

Toddlers Group 2017_o

Monday 15th January 2018  – Toddlers Afternoon Group 1.15pm –  2.45pm at the Church Hall

Tuesday 16th January 2018 – Toddlers Morning Group – 9.15am  –  11am at the Church Hall

Tuesday 16th January 2018 – Afternoon – 1pm – 3pm – Job Club at the Church Hall

Tuesday 16 January 2018 – Youth Club  4.15pm – 6pm at the Church

Wednesday 17th January 2018 – Morning 10am – 12.30pm  – Welfare Benefits Assistance – at the Lyng office – please phone to book or slot or drop in.

Thursday 18th January 2018  – Media Club 4pm to 5 pm (members only – please ask for further details)

We are arranging an adults pottery class for January 2018 – more details to follow.

Merry Xmas to all

As usual the office will be closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day but we will be open again on Wednesday 27th December through to Friday 29th December 10am – 1pm for telephone enquiries.  We will be closed on New Years Day as usual but back again on Tuesday 2 January 2018  from 10am – 4pm.

Santa at Lyng 2017_n

 

 Lyng Xmas Party 2017 – another good one!

Many thanks to everyone who helped on the day especially Santa for giving up his time to meet all the younger residents of the Lyng.

Santa seems to be getting younger this year.

 

Build Up to Christmas Begins

Lyng Christmas Craft Workshop  – Saturday 18 November 10.30am – 12.30 pm at the Church Hall corner of Moor St and Lyttleton St

Lyng Indoor Car Boot Sale – Saturday 18 November 2pm – 4pm  at the Church Hall corner of Moor St and Lyttleton St

Lyng Christmas Shopping Trip to Cardiff  – NOW FULLY BOOKED SORRY

Lyng Children’s Christmas Party – Saturday 16 December 2017 -Booking Opening in December!

Lyng Youth Group and Childrens Pantomime Trip – 21 December 2017 – NOW FULLY BOOKED SORRY

 

Lyng Media Club to represent Sandwell in National Art Campaign

We were delighted to represent Sandwell in the national arts promotion campaign run by Creative People and Places. The media club involve young people in various arts and media activities and is run by the Association as part of its Community Development programme.

Rachel__low res copy

Thanks to Steven King for the photo.

Lyng Estate Wins Britain in Bloom Certificate

21.9.17 - IYN - 338

It was great to see the efforts of the Lyng residents in improving their environment being recognised with a Britain in Bloom Award. The Certificate was presented at an formal awards ceremony earlier in September and Rachel Jennings our Community Development Officer received the award on behalf of the scores of volunteers who worked so hard over the summer.

Another Successful Summer for Lyng

We have had a fantastic summer with a successful Play Scheme and a great community trip to Southport where over 150 residents and friends had a superb day at the seaside.

31 children took advantage of the Lyng Summer Play Scheme which was focused on knights, shields and swords and included a trip to Warwick Castle

Summer Playscheme
20770428_1249267791845870_239553135255338550_n                                Summer Playscheme

 

The trip to Southport was a great success and followed on from our previous year’s outings to Blackpool and Weston.  Every resident who has taken part in the estate litter picks or contributed to community activities were able to travel for  discounted price as a thank you for making the estate a good place to live.  The trip gets everyone together for a shared experience and a fun day out.

Southport Donkeys

NEW YOUTH WORKER

A part-time youth worker has been recruited to help run our new youth club sessions alongside Project Co-ordinator, Mandeep Dosanjh.

Amy Rushton is from West Bromwich and works with West Midlands Fire Service, teaching young people about fire safety.  She’s also been volunteering with Sandwell Young Carers to support children in their caring roles.

“The idea of the youth club is to inspire young people through fun activities,” says Amy.  “I’m very excited to be working on this project and everyone here has made me feel very welcome.”

Anyone aged 10-18 with a B70 or B71 postcode is welcome to come along to the youth club which is held at the Church of the Good Shepherd with St John on a Tuesday evening.

 

MORE COMMUNITY PROJECTS PLANNED

LCA Board Away Day 2017

More community projects and schemes are on the cards as Lyng Community Association agrees its focus for the future.

Board members gathered for an ‘away day’ to discuss what’s been achieved to date and plan for the years to come.

“Now all the new LCA homes have been built, it was agreed that LCA should build on its community development work including holiday play schemes,” says Community Development Officer, Rachel Jennings.

“We’ll also be looking into offering training and work experience placements for Lyng jobseekers, as well as taking on the park area once Barratt has moved off site later this year.”

 

 

 

Lyng Community Association and the Family Matters Project

Lyng Community Association is working with the Family Matters Project to support unemployed people into volunteering, training or employment.

Come along and find out more at the weekly Lyng Job Club – at the Church of the Good Shepherd with St John – its at the corner of Moor St and Lyttleton St in West Bromwich.

Everyone welcome and we have free IT access so you can look for jobs and training as well as get professional support and advice.

Tuesdays Job Club  – from  – 1pm  – 3pm

Family Matters Logo

 

 

LCA Mason Chappel - Boulder Central

Young people get together and get active!

Local youngsters have discovered a new taste for action and adventure, thanks to a grant from Children in Need.

We’ve used the money to set up a brand new youth project and members have already been busy trying their hand at lots of new activities, from climbing, quizzes and a board games workshop, to creating some fabulous 3D artwork, with many more sessions planned.

Project co-ordinator, Mandeep Dosanjh, says the project is proving a big hit with youngsters from the Lyng estate and the wider area.  Young people must be aged between 10 and 18 and live at a B70 or B71 postcode to join.

She said: “We launched the youth club with an evening at Boulder Central indoor climbing centre in West Bromwich and all the young people had a great time!  It was something most of them had never tried before and it was a terrific start to the project.

“Our plans for the future include water sports activities such as canoeing and a pottery session.  We’re also hoping to organise a daytime activity one weekend a month.”

The youth club meets every Tuesday evening at the Good Shepherd Church in West Bromwich.

 

Fab Lab Visit by Lyng Media Club

Fab Lab visit 21 Feb 2017

The Lyng Media Club visited the Fab Lab (part of Sandwell College) to use the 3D Printing equipment this week. Some fantastic designs and amazing finished products were produced by the members of the Media Club.

Many thanks to the College and Creative Black Country for their help in inspiring the engineers of the future.

Equipped with superb 3D printers, laser cutters and more, the Fab Lab will support the development and interaction of smart technologies in the West Midlands Region.

Fab Lab visit

DONATE YOUR UNWANTED FURNITURE

If you are looking to replace any items of furniture  and your old furniture is still in good condition – then  Community Transport -Furniture  (CT Furniture) would be interested in hearing from you.

CT Furniture accept donations of good quality furniture that they refurbish and in turn supply to other people in need of furniture. Collection of donated furniture is free.  They have a shop in Sandwell  and information can be found at www.ctfurniture.org

If you are in need of furniture they do have a good supply of items

CT Furniture are also looking for volunteers to help run the organisation so if you are looking to get some experience in order to get back into the workplace – they would be delighted to hear from you. If you need any help with applying for a role at CT Furniture such as preparing an application form then come along to the Lyng Community Association Job Club Tuesday afternoons 1pm – 3pm  – (from 28 February 2017) at the Church of the Good Shepherd and we’d be delighted to help.

 

YOUTH PROJECT UNDERWAY

Mandeep Dosanjh, Project Co-ordinator

We’re pleased to welcome Mandeep Dosanjh to the LCA team.

Mandeep has become the Project Co-ordinator for our brand new youth-led project which is set to empower teenagers to plan and run their own activities.

“The project is being funded through a Children in Need grant and is aimed at local 10 – 18 year olds,” says Mandeep.  “Some have already signed up and I’ve begun meeting with them to get an idea of the types of things they’re interested in.

“We’ll then look to recruit two Youth Workers who’ll help me work with the youngsters to develop their teamwork and planning skills so they can create their own activities.”

Mandeep, who has recently gained a degree in Health Studies, is keen to put her knowledge and skills into practice to enable young people to gain real self-respect by taking control of their activities.

 

 

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MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR to all!!

 

 

Lyng Children’s Christmas Party Success!

Santa paid a visit and everyone had a great time last Saturday!

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 Great Lyng Bake Off Triumph for Katy!

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Lyng resident, Katy Donaldson, has been named as the Great Lyng Bake Off champion!

For the past seven weeks, residents have been cooking up a treat during our brand new Cake Decorating course at the Church of the Good Shepherd with St John.  The course culminated in a special Great Lyng Bake Off competition when six residents showed off their new skills by making Christmas trees out of home-baked cookies and edible decorations.

Chairman of the LCA Board, Wendy Bodenham, and Wendy Bent from The GAP Centre judged the festive creations and declared Katy’s chocolate tree as the winner for the snappiness of her cookies and her icing skills!

 

 

What’s On! – Activities Restart In January after the Christmas Break Mondays Toddler Group 1.15 – 2.45pm Church of the Good Shepherd with St John

Tuesdays Job Club 1 – 3pm Church of the Good Shepherd with St John

Tuesdays Media Club 4 – 5pm Church of the Good Shepherdwith St John (places are now full)

Wednesdays – Welfare Benefits Information 10am -1pm  at Lyng Community Association Office

Fridays Boys’ Football – We are looking to recruit a new coach and start training shortly. West Bromwich Leisure Centre

We will be starting our new Youth Project in January 2017 – we will be writing about this shortly.

September 30 2016

COMMUNITY PLANTING IS BLOOMING LOVELY!

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The Lyng estate is blooming lovely following the planting of 5,000 crocuses in aid of the Purple4Polio campaign.

Last Saturday, green-fingered residents of all ages helped us to plant thousands of crocuses in the flowerbed at Turks Head Lane Park and around the Church of the Good Shepherd with St John.

Crocuses were also given to local residents to put in their front gardens and hanging baskets to create a sea of purple across the Lyng estate.

West Bromwich Rotary generously donated the bulbs as part of Rotary International’s nationwide Purple4Polio initiative which is helping to rid the world of polio.

Bill Elliott, Immediate Past President of West Bromwich Rotary, said: “As our main focus is on supporting local community organisations, we decided to donate the crocuses to LCA and help local residents to plant them in the community.  As a result, we’re planning to become more involved with LCA and to support its gardening club.”

 

 

WE’RE HAVING A BALL!

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The LCA Media Club has been going from strength to strength with members being invited to take part in a host of events recently.

The young reporters stepped back in time when they were asked to report on The GAP Centre’s glittering 4th Annual Charity Ball. Dressed as 1950s reporters, the youngsters interviewed renowned guests at the Ball at the Village Hotel in Dudley, and took a selection of unofficial photographs and video clips to record the charity event.

Media Club members meet weekly to learn new skills and the Club is proving so popular that places are currently full.  Member, Tsharn, aged 10, says: “Media Club has given me confidence and it’s lots of fun.”

 

 

LCA CELEBRATES FINAL HOMES

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We’re celebrating the completion of all 200 homes for affordable rent on the Lyng estate.

After years of hard work, the final 10 properties have been handed over to LCA and tenants moved in within three days!

Mum-of-two, Zahra, has moved from Lyttleton Street into one of the Lyng’s newest homes.  She says: “The Lyng estate is a great place to bring up a family and our new home meets our needs perfectly.  I love the Lyng and I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.”

The final 10 properties are a mixture of two and three bedroom houses in Leopard Lane and have been used to re-house existing tenants looking for bigger homes for their growing families, and to house families off Sandwell Council’s housing waiting list.

Tony Nash, General Manager of LCA, said: “This is a milestone moment for Lyng Community Association.

“It is wonderful to see the real sense of community spirit which has developed among the families who live now here.”

 

Church Kitchen Upgrade Completed

We were delighted to work with Sandwell Council and their contractor Lovell to refurbish the kitchen at the Church of the Good Shepherd  – many thanks to everyone who helped with this project and to the Church and Hazel for ensuring we now have great facilities for our community activities – including cake making from this week!!

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October 24 th 2016

August 18th 2016 – Annual Estate Trip to the Seaside!! –

Come and join 150 other residents on the trip to Weston – we leave 8am THIS THURSDAY – BUT you must book and pay in advance.

Come into the office and book your place – £8.00 OR £3.00 if you have credits from your community participation!

 

August 15th 2016 – Lyng Community Cinema

Lyng Cinema_n

We have 2 film sessions coming up in the summer holidays, Star Wars, The Force Awakens will be shown on 17th August and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory on 24th August. The Media Club is currently designing the posters.  Please keep an eye on the Lyng Facebook page for Event invites and details.

PS – Many thanks to Em Neads for her popcorn mountain donation!  Plus thanks to everyone for all the sweets – all we need now is a Kia-ora orange !! (ask your mum/dad/gran)

PPS – You can still buy Kia-Ora today, but it’s nowhere near as popular as it was in the 1970s and 1980s. At that time it was pretty much the only drink you could purchase in a cinema – it came in a clear plastic carton and the juice was such a luminous orange colour it doubled as a handy lamp, helping you to locate your seat in the darkness.

 

August 10th 2016 – Lyng Media Club

The Lyng Media Club have been super busy lately – amongst the highlights was the chance to learn about sports commentary –  all you need is a way with words and poetry in your soul and of course a sheepskin coat .

Commentary Box _n

 

 

August 3rd 2016 – Residents Meeting

Just a quick reminder to everyone that the next residents meeting is Wednesday – 3 August 2016 at the Church Hall at the Church of the Good Shepherd.

We are starting at 6.30pm and on the panel will be staff and Board members from Lyng Community Association and representatives from West Midlands Police.

July 2016 – Lyng Community Association to set up Youth Project in Partnership with Children in Need.

Children in Need

We were delighted to receive confirmation of the success of our Children in Need funding bid. We will shortly be recruiting Youth Project Workers who will be speaking to the young people across the estate and in the surrounding area so that the Youth Project is shaped by the young people themselves.

 

July 2016 – Community Planting Project

We were delighted to see so many residents turn up for the Community Park planting event. Working in partnership with Barratt we added a splash of colour to the estate just before the Britain in Bloom judging. Many thanks to everyone who helped us. We will get the Britain in Bloom result in September.

Lyng Planting Day July 16  July 2016 planting day

May 2016  – Lyng looks to lead the way in girls’ football

Girls football team

Lyng Community Association (LCA) is looking for new recruits to prove that girls are really on the ball and is looking for girls aged from six to 12 to join the team. Working with FA qualified coaches from West Bromwich United FC, LCA launched boys’ and girls’ football practice sessions last year. But, while the boys’ sessions have really kicked off with several teams being created, the girls’ team is struggling for players.

The plan is to create a mixed age girls’ team which can play in the Sandwell Minor League in the future. While other clubs only focus on boys, West Bromwich United is keen to give girls the same opportunities to play football. A Women’s & Girls’ Development Officer has been appointed with the aim of having as many girls’ teams as boys’ in the years to come.

Dean Hollowood, Chairman of West Bromwich United FC, said: “Women’s football has been in the news a lot recently with last year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup helping to inspire girls to take up the sport. “We also have an open age ladies’ team in the club so youngsters have something to aspire to. We would urge local girls to come along and have a go.”

Rachel Jennings, Community Development Officer for Lyng Community Association, added: “LCA aims to build a real community spirit and football is an excellent way to do this. “Through football, girls can meet new friends and learn how to think and work as a team, while staying fit and healthy and having lots of fun!”

Girls’ practice sessions are held every Tuesday at West Bromwich Leisure Centre from 6pm to 7pm and cost just £1.50.  Girls can just turn up or visit www.wbufc.co.uk for more details.

Photo caption: Members of LCA’s girls’ football team (left to right) Amelia Azher, Zarrah Azher, Chloe Turner, Lena Letowska, Millie Nicklin, Ava Gordon and Emily Walkerdine are appealing for more players to join them.

If you are a parent with a toddler  then please come along to LCA’s Toddler Group sessions which take place at the Church of the Good Shepherd with St John every Monday during term time, from 1.15pm to 2.45pm. They cost £1 per family.

 

Board Membership

If you live on the Lyng and want to play a role in the running of Lyng Community Association then please contact us about how you can join the Board. We have reserved places on the Board for tenants and would be delighted to hear from you if you are interested. If you are unsure about it then why not come along and observe a meeting so you can get a better view about what is involved and how you can help us shape the Association and the Lyng estate. Call us on  0121 525 5969.

May 2016 – Help to Get Back Into Work With Lyng Community Association

Congratulations to Lyng residents – Tammy Walker, Sarah Smith and Kerry Mason, who have completed their Level 3 Diploma for the Children’s and Young People’s Workforce.  Thanks to a partnership between  Lyng Community Association (LCA) and Sutton Coldfield Training, the trio were able to access the training for free through LCA’s Toddler Group.

Tenants achieving childcare qualifications a

 

As a result, Sarah and Kerry have both gained jobs and all three have developed new skills, confidence and valuable experience in working with children.

If you are a resident and looking to return to work or just want to get some job experience or training – come along to the Lyng Job Club on Tuesday afternoons from 1.00pm to 3.00pm at the Church Hall on the corner of Lyttleton St and Moor St.

Call us on 0121 525 5969 for details.

If you are a parent with a toddler  then please come along to LCA’s Toddler Group sessions which take place at the Church of the Good Shepherd with St John every Monday during term time, from 1.15pm to 2.45pm. They cost £1 per family.

 

April 2016 – Rent Decrease

The Association is pleased to confirm that from 4 April this year residents will see a DECREASE in their weekly rent (this is the basic rent not including any service charge). This is because the Government has changed the way rents are set by housing associations like Lyng and for 2016 and the following three years Associations are expected to reduce their rents (but not service charges) by 1% each year.

Service charges will continue to reflect the cost of providing each service so there will continue to be modest increases in the service charge element of the total rent but overall residents will see a decrease in their weekly total rent.

All residents have been sent a letter confirming the new rent payable from April 4th 2016.

If you have any questions about the new rent please give us a call on 0121 525 5969.

 

 

March 2016

Low Cost Home Contents Insurance

The Association is working with a small group of other social landlords in the West Midlands to offer low cost home contents insurance to tenants. The policy includes cover against fire, theft and water damage on a new for old basis and is offered through Aviva.

With costs starting at £1.09 per week for £8,000 of cover its worth finding out more – just contact us on 0121 525 5969 or drop into the office and pick up the brochure and application form.

If you are over 60 – then you’ll be pleased to hear that older residents get even better rates!

Please remember – Lyng Community Association does not insure tenants belongings, furniture or decorations so if there should be a fire or flood you may have to replace everything you own from your own pocket.  Avoid the worry by taking out home contents insurance and make sure that if the worst happens you are covered!

Insurance graphic

 

February 2016

Lyng Media Club visit BBC Studios in Birmingham

The Lyng Media Club were excited by the opportunity to visit the BBC Studios in Birmingham to learn about journalism and the technical skills required for a career in broadcasting.

To learn more about the Lyng Media Club please call Rachel our Community Development Officer on our main office number – 0121 525 5969

media club at BBC Feb 2016 2_n

Courtesy of our funding award from Creative Black Country.

 

February 2016

We are delighted to confirm the start of the boys football training sessions – on Fridays 6.30pm to 7.30pm at the West Bromwich Leisure Centre which is on the opposite side of the road from the Lyng Community Association office on Moor St. The sessions are for boys aged 6 to 10 years old and the aim is to start a Lyng team to compete in local league football.

All sessions are led by FA qualified coaches and the charge is £1.50 per session payable on the night.

football thoughts                      football

January 2016

We are delighted to announce the start of the girls football training sessions – Tuesdays 6pm to 7pm at the West Bromwich Leisure Centre. With F.A. qualified coaches from West Bromwich United leading the sessions its a great way for girls aged 4 to 11 to get involved in football and of course keep fit. We are hoping to start a girls team that can compete in local girls leagues once the sessions become more established.

The charge is £1.50 per session payable on the night

6 October 2015 – Britain in Bloom Award for the Lyng

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Lyng Community Association is delighted to reveal that they have received two awards from Britain in Bloom; level 3 (developing) for the Lyng Estate and level 2 (improving) for the Lyng Community Association Allotments.

The awards were presented as part of the ‘It’s Your Neighbourhood’ category at a regional ceremony last week and serve as fantastic recognition for all of the hard work and dedication shown by residents from across the Lyng estate.   As one of only three entries from the Sandwell area, the efforts of the estate received high praise from the Heart of England judges, who were delighted to see what had been achieved through the combined efforts of the local community, including the Young Gardeners’ Club; a group of five-year-old children from the Lyng estate.

Rachel Jennings, LCA’s Community Development Officer, comments: “We were absolutely delighted to receive two awards from such a prestigious organisation as Britain in Bloom. A lot of hard work has gone in to establishing the allotments and creating an environment throughout the estate for our residents to enjoy.“The Britain in Bloom judges took the time to not only view the entries but also to meet some of the residents who have been central in making them look and feel as they do today, and we all feel very proud that their efforts have been recognised at such a high level.”

 30 September 2015 – Lyng Job Club Launch

Lyng-97

Lyng Community Association (LCA) is delighted to announce the official launch of the Lyng estate Job Club. The Job Club, which has been established in partnership with employment development agency, SWEDA, operate every Tuesday, from 1-3pm, at the Good Shepherd with St John Church of England Church on Lyttleton Street, West Bromwich and has been set up to provide valuable support to residents from the Lyng estate looking to find employment.The sessions, which will be available on an appointment only basis, following an initial drop-in session from 1-3pm on the launch day – Tuesday 6th October, will provide residents with a range of advice and training covering everything from how to use a computer to interview preparation techniques.

Adrian Waters, Employment Advisor/Training Officer at SWEDA  is part of the joint project: “SWEDA is delighted to support communities on the Lyng Estate through the Central Skills Hub (CSH) project. The project will support local people to develop their employment skills including preparing a CV and help with job searching. “SWEDA has been supporting local communities since 1989 and has a team of highly skilled, qualified and experienced advisors.”This project has been awarded funding from the People’s Health Trust using money raised by HealthDesire through ‘The Health Lottery’.

 

 

15 September  -Flying the flags at award-winning West Bromwich estate

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The award-winning Lyng Housing Estate  played host to a team of Danish housing experts from KAB, the largest housing association in Copenhagen on 15 September 2015. The visit was the second of its kind this year and was marked by a ceremonial flag exchange, representing the sharing of knowledge and best practice between the two organisations. The group of more than 40 Danish visitors were given a guided tour of the estate by staff at Lyng Community Association (LCA), during which they met local residents and learned about the multi-million pound regeneration programme, as well as the various community schemes and activities run by LCA for local people.

Community Trip to Blackpool a Big Success

This year’s Lyng Community Summer Trip was to Blackpool (last Friday – 7 August) when around 150 people had a fantastic  day out at the unusually hot and sunny seaside resort.  All the children who had taken part in Lyng community activities such as the estate litter picks were able to travel for just a pound as did those adults who participate in the Lyng Timebank (4 credits) who also enjoyed the trip for just a pound!  It was a chance for the whole community to come together and enjoy a traditional seaside outing with friends and neighbours .

Blackpool trip_n  If you want to know more about Time to Trade  please contact Rachel on 0121 525 5969 for more details.

Young Gardeners Club in line for a Britain in Bloom award !

The Lyng Community Allotment was delighted to see the Judges from the Britain in Bloom Awards in July. The Judges were impressed that the residents and children of the Lyng had transformed the allotment into a bountiful source of healthy produce with potatoes, onions and plums already being harvested. The Lyng Community Allotment is led by a group of 5 year old residents from across the estate who with the help of our fantastic volunteers and parents have really put Lyng back in the headlines for community spirit and endeavour.

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Black Country Day – Lyng celebrates with free food !

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Black Country Day 14 July 2015

We were delighted to see so many people turn up to support our Taste of the Black Country on Tuesday 14th July 2015 – the national day for the Black Country.

Many thanks to everyone who helped on the day – we had a great day serving traditional Black Country food Faggots and Grey Peas , Bacon and Grey Peas and a more recent addition samosas to everyone walking down the main street or working in the Lyng area. Many people had never tasted these local delights so it was great to offer a Taste of the Black Country. All donations made will be passed to a local charity supporting carers.

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Fire Alarm Tests

If you live in a flat please note that we will be carrying out weekly fire alarm checks on Tuesday mornings – 10am – 11am.

Tenants Scrutiny Panel

We are still looking for tenants to join our scrutiny panel that looks at issues such as office opening hours, repairs response times and repairs priorities as well as policy changes – so if you want to have your say come and join us. Its informal and friendly – coffee/tea and biscuits and discussion about how to improve the Lyng service and estate. Just let us know and we’ll invite you to the next meeting. Call us on 0121 525 5969.

 

Lyng Allotment Wins £500 Grant

We were delighted to receive a £500 grant from Tesco Community Awards towards our new Lyng community allotment. We have taken on an allotment for the community to use  and for our Under 5’s Gardening Club to get the chance to grow their own food and give them an appreciation of a healthy diet. We are constructing raised beds so that wheelchair users can also participate in the allotment project. If it goes well we may look to extend the project – if you want to join us please contact Rachel in the Lyng Office on 0121 525 5969.

Christmas Party 2014 – Santa visits The Lyng!!

We were delighted to host a very special visitor to The Lyng on Saturday 13 December 2014 when Santa dropped into the Lyng Christmas Party at the Church Hall on Lyttleton St.

More photos on https://www.lyng.org.uk/christmas-party-2014/

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NEWS UPDATE!

In May 2014 we were delighted to be named Best Regeneration Scheme in the Housing Excellence Awards and we have now followed this in November 2014 with further success in the Builder and Engineer Awards – the Lyng Estate winning the  Residential Project of the Year 2014 Award.

This makes it a hat trick of awards as the Lyng estate won a MADE design award for being one of the top 20 developments in the West Midlands over the past 5 years.

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TENANTS MEETING – SATURDAY 29 NOVEMBER 2014 at 10.30am The Church Hall on Lyttleton St/Moor St

Report – Coffee/Tea and cakes were provided and the tenants that attended had the chance to meet the staff and Lyng Board members to tell what they thought about the new service.

With residents from Turks Head Way, Lyttleton St, Frank Fisher Way and Charity Bick Way present there was a good cross section of views.

The feedback to the Association was:-

1. The new maintenance arrangements were working well with particular praise for Andy the Lyng Maintenance Officer and Bournvillle Property Care staff who were looking after electrical and gas repairs.

2. The external painting contractor who worked on the external decoration of Phases 1 and 2 (the homes built in 2004 and 2006) on Charity Bick Way, The Sidings, Turks Head Way, Old Flour Mills and Southwell Walk had done a very good job and tenants were delighted with the way they had completed the work.

3. The summer trips to Weston Super Mare and to Gloucester Christmas Market were greatly enjoyed and a few suggestions were put forward for future trips in 2015.

4. A request was made that the noticeboards in the flats at Charity Bick Way and The Sidings be used for displaying posters from the Police covering surgeries and general crime prevention – this was agreed and posters are now on display.

5. Concern was expressed about litter on the estate and the lack of litter bins – it was explained that at present neither the Council nor Barratts (who still own the park area and the unadopted roads) were keen to install new bins as they would create  a need for a contractor to maintain and empty them. However the Association would approach the Council regarding the request to see if any bins could be installed if the Lyng Site Supervisor was prepared to empty them.

6. Concern was expressed about dogs fouling – it was agreed that an item about controlling dogs would appear in Lyngline (the estate newsletter) and if the dogs were owned by tenants then the Lyng Housing Officer would address the problem.

7. Concern was expressed about the condition of some front gardens which were overgrown – again where these are Lyng properties the matter would be addressed by the Lyng Housing Officer.

Next meeting – the next meeting was scheduled for January 2015 – date and venue to be confirmed- a flyer would be sent out to all Lyng Community Association tenants in January.

 

Builder and Engineer Awards 2014 – Another award for the Lyng estate!

Lyng Community Association won the 2014 Residential Project of the Year Award at the Builder and Engineer Awards in Manchester in November 2014.

We are delighted with this our third award this year! We feel the awards reflect the impressive efforts by so many people over the past 15 years so that we now have a real community living  in an award winning estate.

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Cheaper home contents insurance

 

We have been working in partnership with WHG at a great deal for Lyng tenant’s contents insurance and have agreed lower prices from April 2013.

Premiums are payable weekly from just £1.06 per week making an annual premium of only £53, with lower rates for people aged 60 and over with the added guarantee of fixed rates for the next three years.

The cost of replacing your belongings can add up, so be smart and think about how insurance could benefit you if the unexpected happens.

What our insurance scheme offers:

• you can pay weekly

• friendly claims service

• no excess (nothing to pay) when you make a claim

• contents replaced as new for old  (some limitations may apply)

• cover for rented goods • accidental damage cover.

Insurance cover is provided by Aviva and £1.06 per week is based on standard cover for £8,000 sum insured. This quote is subject to eligibility criteria. Premiums quoted include insurance premium tax (IPT) at the appropriate rate.

For an application form or for more information on tenants home contents insurance call the WHG Insurance Team on 0300 555 6666.

Please note the insurance service will continue beyond 31 October 2014 when our management agreement with WHG ends. So Lyng tenants can continue to enjoy the benefits of this low cost contents insurance.

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