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Maryhill team receive cup from HBJ's Susan McDonald

Maryhill Win Again!  Success at the HBJ Gateley Wareing Charity Tennis Tournament Friday 12th March 2010

Lintel is delighted to announce that Maryhill Housing Association won this year's Charity Tennis Tournament.  In yet another nailbiting final with New Gorbals Housing Association, Maryhill were victorious and lifted the HBJ Trophy for another year. The picture shows a smiling Maryhill team holding their prize.
 








 

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City Building logo
City Building Builds New Partnership With LintelTrust 

LintelTrust is delighted to announce a new partnership with City Building.  City Building was formed in 2006, evolving from the former Building Services Department of Glasgow City Council. It is one of the largest construction firms in Scotland with an annual turnover of some £150m.  The organisation delivers quality construction services across both the public and private sectors. 

Willie Docherty, Managing Director said:

"As one of the largest Construction companies in Scotland, City Building are delighted to work in partnership with LintelTrust and look forward to developing our working relationship over the coming years".

Pauline Barbour, Director of LintelTrust added:

"Lintel is delighted to welcome City Building as a new partner organisation to the Trust, and also look forward to working closely with City Building over the coming years."

If your housing or commercial organisation is interested in finding out what becoming a partner of LintelTrust means, and its benefits, please contact Pauline Barbour, Director, LintelTrust on 0141 567 6235, or e-mail
linteltrust@sfha.co.uk to find out more. 

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Regenerators win 2009 Battle of the Bands

Regenerators Win Lintel's Battle Of The Bands 2009 

Over 180 people came along to support their favourite band at this year's 'Battle of the Bands' competition in Arta, Glasgow on 12th November.

Supported by SFHA, Cairn Housing Association, GHA and Queens Cross Housing Association the night got off to a fine start with our first band, The Hellfire Club from Partick Housing Association.  Next up were Le Reno Amps from Sanctuary (Scotland) Housing Association followed by The Regenerators from Queens Cross, and Colonel Mustard from Atrium Homes.

Throughout the evening the SFHA posse were in good form selling raffle tickets and encouraging big bids on our Silent Auction. 

We had some amazing donations this year for both the raffle and the Silent Auction, in particular our two tickets to T In the Park 2010 donated by Graham Roofing (Scotland Ltd).  Our raffle had a range of prizes including M and S vouchers donated by McTaggart Construction, Sanctuary (Scotland), and Sandra Smith; an IPod shuffle from RBS; a meal for 2 at ARTA; a pre-theatre meal for 2 and a beauty voucher from Connaught Partnerships; a voucher for a cut 'n' blow dry at GVR in Glasgow; 2 bright pink piggy banks from ScotWest Credit Union; a half bottle of Glenfiddich, a bottle of red, and a bottle of white wine from David Chalmers and various memory sticks from Scot ICT.   

We also had some great Silent Auction prizes, including stays in some great hotels and apartments including MITIE's donation of a 2 night stay in a luxury apartment in Inverary for up to 7 people, and two lots of overnight stays in the Radisson Edinburgh, and Crieff Hydro (donated by SFHA).  Alexander Sloan donated a mixed case of wine; Resource Telecom Group a Panasonic telephone; Documotive an IPod Nano; CES an IPod Touch, and Scot ICT a Dell Monitor.  Thanks to everyone who donated a prize and to everyone who won and bid!  (Could everyone who won a raffle prize and received a general voucher in lieu of the actual prize please contact me so I can arrange your prize to be sent to you - this includes the winner of the Meal for 2 at Arta, the pre-theatre meal at Rawalpindi, GVR Hairdressers voucher). 

The winning band in this year's 'Battle of the Bands'  were The Regenerators, so many congratulations to them.  The entire event raised in the region of £4,600 - an amazing result which will be put to good use by Lintel in supporting projects seeking funding from us in the near future.     

Thanks to all sponsors and to those companies who donated gifts; to all of the bands who played for free, to the SFHA staff who helped out on the night, but mainly to everyone who took the time to come along and play a big part in making this year's Battle of the Bands such a success.

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LintelTrust's Annual Launch and Review 02nd October 2009
Report
 
Nearly 100 guests attended Lintel's Annual Launch and Review held on Friday 2nd October 2009 at St Mungo's Museum of Religious Life in Glasgow.  Robert McDowall, Convener of LintelTrust, welcomed
everyone to the event which marked Lintel's 30th anniversary.  Throughout the event, Robert fed audiences some fun facts about how life was back in 1979, such as Phillips producing the first-ever CD and that Israel was the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest.  

On Lintels' own history, Robert noted that over £1million had been awarded in grant by Lintel over it's 30 year history, to help new organisations get started, and to help other sustain their activities.  He explained that, as Lintel is an unendowed Trust, all money had to be raised by way of donations and events.  He wanted it to be noted, however, that Lintel is not just about funding, it is also about benefits to those involved in making contacts and in networking opportunities.  

Three projects which had received grant from LintelTrust agreed to come along to the Launch to talk about their work, and the difference Lintel grant had mde to them.  Sarah Findlay from Starter Packs (Glasgow) started off the proceedings by explaining a bit about their background.  Based in Govan, the project operates throughout Greater Glasgow recycling and distributing household items to people with no resources.  The main aims of the project are to:
* alleviate stree for people moving into a house, or setting up home for the first time;
* help people settle into their home free from debt; and
* kick-start tenancy sustainment

The 'Green Agenda' is a priority to the project in that it makes use of unwanted items and reduces landfill waste.  The recycled items are basic ones such as crockery, kettles, pots, pans and bedding - definitely no plasma screen or other luxuries!

The Lintel grant allowed a sessional worker to be employed to work with housing association tenants and to allow volunteers to take part who themselves had experience of social exclusion.

The project is run on a business footing and is developing its portfolio of social enterprises to include fashion clothing which is produced in Govan from a variety of unwanted items such as curtains, duvet covers and other reclycled materials.  This commercial approach sets the tone of the relationship with housing associations, companies and other organisations.  

Starter Packs are keen to encourage companies to think of them by asking staff to donate items which can be recycled or by putting on fashion shows to raise funds.  

Looking ahead, Sarah anticipated things getting tougher for those who have least.  Inclusion, not exclusion, is the byword of Starter Packs (Glasgow).  Sarah also kindly offeed to organise a fundraising fashion show for Lintel in the future, which was warmly welcomed. 

Robert McDowall thanked Sarah for her excellent presention, and commented that helping people to remain in their own homes had been a key theme for Lintel over the years, with its particular focus on Care and Repair and Handyperson Schemes.  

Next up was Victoria Scott, Coordinator with StreetLeague.  She wanted to talk about the element funded by LintelTrust - the Directions2Work project.

Victoria explained tht StreetLeague began in 2001 in London, and gradually developed to other areas of the country, with start-up in Glasgow in 2005.  The organisation works with young unemployed people expecially those who are hard to engage. 
 
It offers 2 hours free football coaching to young people then gives them the option of volunteering or moving into education, or employment opportunities.  

Lintel's grant supported the 'Directions2Work' programme offering the chance to move on in life via the medium of sport.  StreetLeague were pleasd to report that 82 young people had gained accrediation through this, and that the organisation had also been successful in receiving grant of £1.7 million over the next 7 years  from the Inspiring Scotland funding programme to help with their sustainability.  

Robert thanked Victoria for her presentation, and asked for our final presenter of the day to take the floor.

Audrey Cuthbertson from Motherwell and Wishaw Citizens' Advice Bureau took the floor to talk about their Fuel Users Empowerment Project.  

Audrey explained that the project was a unique partnership between CAB and 6 housing associations in North Lanarkshire.  It came about as a result of a survey which showed that
* 64-80% of housing association tenants are on benefit;
* 27% have a long term illness or disability; and
* 69% are economically inactive.

Lintel funding levered in further funding for the project from the Abbey Charitable Trust and further contributions from the housing association partners has allowed 2 part-time staff to work with volunteers.  The direct, confirmed benefit to tenants from the project has so far been over £30,000 with more in the pipeline.  This all came from an initial outlay of £17,000.

Robert thanked Audrey for her project overview, and some questions were posed to the presenters.  He then moved on to the next part of the Annual Launch: Housing Question Time.

This year's 'Housing Question Time' theme was 'Credit Crunch - what it means for housing'.  Andrew Robertson, LintelTrust Trustee, chaired the session, and this year's panel consisted of Ken Dow, Chartered Institute of Housing; Jackie Cropper, Grand Central Savings; Craig Sanderson, Link Group; Leah Cameron, ScotCash; Graeme Brown, Shelter (Scotland); Mark Ewing, TC Young Solicitors;and Gillian McInnes, Argyll Community Housing Association.

Each member of the panel introduced themselves, and commented on their views of the Credit Crunch.  All highlighted:
* the critical need for work on financial inclusion
* research showing a significant increase in eviction cases from social rented housing
* the difficulties for tenants who borrrow small amounts of money at high rates of interest
* an increase in money problems for people who are in employment
* investment in services for people who are socially excluded saves the community money
* the challenge is to minimise the effect of the credit crunch and maximise the opportunities it offers
* there is a need for more personalised services
* the impact of the Government's Concordat and Single Outcome Agreements in extending the 'contract culture' in the voluntary and charity sectors
* the last few years have been 'scary' with the introduction of 'Firm Foundations' and the end of ringfenced funding for social care 
However, there have also been opportunities!  

Questions from guests covered a broad range of topics, with some interesting responses flowing from these.  

Opportunities - what opportunities???
* Mortgage to Rent has alowed housing associations to purchase houses and sites from developers.  This has helped more people move into social housing and allows housing associations as social enterprise organisations to 'plough back' money into the community.  However, there is a difficulty because of the ceiling on the price of rent to mortgage properties.  
* housing associations are established organisations with experienced staff and board members with a regular income stream from rent are well-placed to combine their weight with local intelligence to crate and support social enterprise organisations for instance in the filed fo renewables, waste, market gardening, and health initiatives.  

Has Scottish Goverment let the sector down?
* not completely, but given the budget envelope and the limited availability of credit, it hasn't taken the opportunity to reset priorities.  It has a fixed line.
* We have to take advantage of the fact that the budget is a draft and seek to influence change
* The Governement has sliced Wider Role from the housing budget - the grant will end next year.  All guests are urged to write to Alex Neil stressing the importance of this funding stream.  The loss of wider role funding creates a double hit as wider role grant is usually 'match funded' by the associations
* 70% of housing associations are involved in wider role activities.  The Scottish Government should start seeing wider role funding as an investment not a grant
* The investment in wider tole needs measuring.  The Social Retun on Investment (SROI) project aims to develop some financial proxies that can be used to measure impact.  Penny Morris is a useful contact, or Bill Grant.  

If there are more applications for evictions in the social rented sector, what has gone wrong?  Shouldn't housing benefit cover this?
* The maladministration of housing benefit has been a long-term problem
* some people would prefer to have their housing benefit paid direct to their landlord, but a choice should be offered
* around 70% of housing associations have a tenancy sustainment strategy - this makes good business sense AND good social sense.  

People with disabilities have particular difficulty in obtaining suitable housing.  A national database is needed.  
* Ownership Options assists with housing information and advise for disabled people seeking to purchase
* Shared ownership may help some people but some lenders are now asking potential shared owners for a deposit which could rule them out
* the guidance on shared ownership is onerous
* Housing Associations are providing more new housing to varying needs standards but there is greater difficulty with knowing what adaptations have been carried out to existing stock and making this information available to those seeking housing
* In Aberdeen good progress has been made towards a local database and this could be rolled out nationally via the Disabled Persons Housing Service there (DPHSA)
*LintelTrust has supported DPHS 's and Glasgow Centre for Inclusive Living's on-line database with entention to other areas of Scotland planned
* Disabled people need to shout louder!

How does the Credit Crunch impact on those who have least?  Does the system make it more difficult for the most marginalised of people? 
*
 There is a majore problem with financial literacy.  It is a disgrace that application forms for benefits are so complex.  Almost half of thsoe who seek financial advice need assistance with completing forms.  
* For some people (particularly refugees, immigrants and those form an ethnic community) translation services are vital
* The people who sek advice for organisations like ScotCash and Grand Central Savings are among those who are the poorest and most marginalised 
* These organsiations have strong links with Credit Unions
* It is important for people to work together more collectively.  The management of debts and loans relies on parnership working
* for most, joined up working is just a cliche
* The systems are allowing us to rely on voluntary organisations and charities for what should be core services.

If the panel could look 20 years into the future, what would they see?    
* fewer housing associations and more larger ones is likely, as is housing associations working more closely with other sectors
* credit will not necessarily be cheaper and ther will be an ongoing squeeze on public finances
* there should be no need for organisations like ScotCash!
* ther will be an increasingly elderly population and lack or provision for them
* there will be significant immigration into Scotland
* financial inclusion wil be embedded into the curriculum at school
* there should be a more flexible housing system perhaps within 5 years, with people able to choose tenure and staircasing up or down

Andrew Robertson thanked the panel for their stimulating contributions.

Robert McDowall closed theis year's Annual Launch by thnaking the presenters, and panel again, and also extending thanks to Link Group, Queens Cross Housing Association and DTZ Consulting and Research for again sponsoring the Annual Launch and Review.  He thanked the many organisations and individuals that support LintelTrust, with donations, assistance in kind, and taking part in events and activities.  He stressed that LintelTrust is not just about raising funds and distributing grants, it is about bringing people together, and about networking.  Lintel events and activities throughout the year provide that opportunity, and participation and support in the coming year will be much appreciated.      
 


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Melville Charity Five-A-Sides 24th September 2009 -  Dunedin Canmore victorious 

Dunedin Canmore Group
  won the annual Melville HA/LintelTrust Charity Five A Side Football Tournament, which took place at "Hampden and Wembley" pitches at Gracemount Leisure Centre, Edinburgh.

Nine teams took part this year, comprising City of Edinburgh Council; Dunedin Canmore Group; The Apollo Group; Scottish Public Sector Ombudsman; Cairn HA; Melville HA; Mitie Property Services (UK) Ltd ; Carillion Property Services; and Laidlaw Scott each battling it out for the chance to become champions.

The Dunedin Canmore team managed to beat off the competition to make it through to the final where they drew 2:2 with "The MITIE Panters", going onto triumph on sudden death penalties. Stuart Phillips scored the winning goal whilst goalkeeper Robert Buchanan made an impressive save against the other team's penalty to avert disaster.

Each team member was awarded with a medal and the official shield has gone away to be engraved.

Lintel organises the 5-A-Side tournament on behalf of Melville who have sponsored this event for many years and have raised in the region of £1500 from this event. This money will go to one of the projects seeking support from Lintel and is likely to be given out following the next Trustees' Meeting held in early December.
 

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Striking it Lucky for Lintel!


LintelTrust has just held its 15th Annual Charity Golf Tournament at Forrester Park Resort, Cairneyhill, Fife with another scorching day for our players, and guests, and it looks like near enough an amazing £10,000 has been raised to support good quality housing projects in Scotland.  
 
Dunedin Canmore Housing Association sponsored the team trophy, and Fife Housing Association sponsored the individual trophy. Our other main co-sponsors this year were Castle Computer Services, and Cruden Group, so many thanks to them for that.  Supporting sponsor, IT First Associates sponsored the Nearest the Pin Prize, and Wates Living Space sponsored a mens and ladies prize for the longest drives. 

The victorious team this year was IT First Associates, comprising Steven McGuire, David Stewart, and Phil McGuire, who scored a magnificent 50 points.

The Individual Trophy this year went to Mike Hargreaves of Kingdom Housing Association with 42 points.

Murray Macmillan of Link Putters (one of the two Link teams that took part) was the scratch prize winner, with 71 points; Carol Kerr also of Link Putters scooped the Ladies Prize, with 26 points; Eddie O'Hara of Castle Computer Services won the longest drive (men's), and Maureen Middleton of Link Drivers won the ladies.  Last, (but not least!) Jim Bauld of TC Young won the Nearest the Pin prize.

A raffle was also held which raised £555 to go towards the final total. LintelTrust will be holding the event next year on Friday 11th June 2010 again at Forrester Park Resort, so please make a note for your diaries!
 
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MITIE Good News for LintelTrust!

LintelTrust is delighted to announce that MITIE has agreed to become one of it's partners.  MITIE is one of the UK's leading providers of property services.  They work within the social housing sector delivering services such as responsive repairs, voids reinstatment, asset management, refurbishments and regeneration projects to over 150 housing associations, ALMO's and local authorities.  

 Craig Boath, Regional Director with MITIE in Scotland  said, "We are delighted to be partnering with LintelTrust.  We undertake a variety of work with housing associations in Scotland and we are committed in our involvement with the local communities in which we work."

 Pauline Barbour, Director of LintelTrust added, "Lintel is very pleased to announce MITIE as a new partner organisation to the Trust.  MITIE is a very well-known company in Scotland, and we hope to work closely with them over the coming years to enhance their work."

If your housing or commercial organisation is interested in finding out what becoming a partner of LintelTrust means, and its benefits, please contact Pauline Barbour, Director, LintelTrust on 0141 567 6235 or e-mail linteltrust@sfha.co.uk to find out more.     

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LintelTrust Welcomes Drumcog as a New Partner Organisation! (April 2009)

LintelTrust is delighted to announce that DRUMCOG (Drumchapel Community Ownership Group) has agreed to become a partner to the Trust.  DRUMCOG comprises Cernach HA and LHO, Drumchapel HA, Kendoon HA, Kingsride Cleddans HA, Pineview HA and LHO, and Tenant Managed Homes (Drumchapel).  DRUMCOG's Chairperson, Susan McDonald MBE said, "The members of DRUMCOG have worked together very successfully over the years and are pleased to affiliate to and be associated with the LintelTrust".  Pauline Barbour, Director of LintelTrust added, "LintelTrust is delighted to welcome the members of DRUMCOG as partners to the Trust.  We hope to work very closely with members to support the work they do in their communities and let others know of their successes through Lintel."       

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Wates Romps Home with a Winner for LintelTrust!

Wates Living Space (a partner of LintelTrust) recently sponsored a Charity Race Night and Disco (held on 21st April 2009 in Glasgow), with all proceeds going to LintelTrust.  SFHA kindly sppnsored the Programmes/racecards for the night, and the following companies and individuals sponsored the races: Miller Pattison, TC Young Solicitors, Martec Engineering, Whiteinch Demolition, ISS Waterers Landscape, and the Murray Family.  With an extra donation made after the event by Martec Engineering, an amazing £1000 was raised from the event. 

LintelTrust will keep everyone up-to-date on any interesting aspect of its work under this heading.  Please continue to check for more LintelTrust news!

LintelTrust, Pegasus House, 375 West George Street, 4th Floor, Glasgow G2 4LW
Tel reception 0141 332 8113; Direct Dial 0141 567 6235
Email linteltrust@sfha.co.uk