Standing together

If you would like to set up a tenants' and residents' association (TARA), or if you already have one which needs support, then why not contact Hull United Tenants' and Residents' Association (HURAT)?
In recent months, HURAT has worked with more than 18 TARAs across the city, helping them to secure funding and giving guidance on day-to-day running issues.
"The benefits of having a TARA in your area are enormous," says HURAT community development worker Alan Brown.
"Not only does it help promote a sense of community – but it can provide a collective voice for local people to stand together against problems such as crime and antisocial behaviour.
"Residents might also be able to get funding through a TARA to help improve their communities.
For example, an environmental project."
Recent HURAT activity includes:

• Helping residents' associations at Freetown Way and Wellington Lane to secure funding that will help them work with local people
• Members, staff and volunteers from HURAT attended annual general meetings (AGMs) at Wellington Lane RA, the Marina RA, Bodmin Road RA, and the BOUND Together RA
• HURAT development workers attended and addressed meetings of both Heron and Plowden TARAs in January, February and March, helping with constitutional and governance matters in addition to offering advice

"HURAT staff are always polite and friendly and, even though they are often busy, they manage to find the time to talk to us on the telephone and help us with our queries and problems," – says Dave Skelton of Freetown Way TARA.
Would your TARA like some support from HURAT or would you like to receive a copy of HURAT News?
Please call 331313/12 or email alan.brown@hurat.org.uk for further advice and help.

tenant news in brief

Flavour of the month Dance performances and food tasting will feature at the next Tenants' Forum meeting. The meeting, on April 26, at the Octagon, Walker Street, between 10am and 4pm, aims to celebrate Hull's cultural diversity. "Equality and diversity in our city is extremely important to us," says forum chair, Penny Rodmell. "And hopefully the event will raise awareness about the many different communities in Hull." For more information, or to book your place, call 300300. New members welcome. No entrance fee. TARA News Join the family The Garths Family Association (GFA), which meets at 7pm on the first Tuesday of each month at Biggin Hill Primary School, Biggin Avenue, is inviting new members to apply to join. The GFA aims to improve the quality of life for residents in the Bransholme Garths and Castle Grange area by promoting community spirit, raising awareness of local issues and providing support for residents. Membership is free (although donations help with running costs). Not beaten by floods Bransholme Roebank Residents' Association (BRRA) raised £105 for the Hull Flood Relief Fund with a tombola stall in Bransholme's North Point Centre. "Due to last summer's floods we were unable to hold our usual stall at the Bransholme Carnival so we ran this instead!" said association member Olive Owen. Tell us what's happening? Help fill this space with your tenants' and residents' association (TARA) events news, by sending it to FREEPOST NEA 11619, TARA Notice Board, Kingston upon Hull City Council: Housing, Hull, HU1 3BR. Did you know... That your wheeled bin lid must be shut so the waste collection crew can empty it? Reduce. Re-use. Recycle. SORTED!

Diary of a Decent Home

The home of Raymond and Leah Portz in Sibelius Road is one of thousands to be upgraded as part of the city's Decent Homes programme. This is their story.

Raymond and Leah Portz in their new Decent Homes kitchen at their home in Sibelius Road

Nobody is keen on the thought of having people working in their homes - and it was a particularly daunting prospect for Raymond Portz and his wife Leah, both aged 71.
However, their concerns were soon put to rest once the work began on rewiring their home and renovating their kitchen.
"The contractors were so considerate and polite," says Mrs Portz.
"They cleaned up every night before they left, and even vacuumed the carpets and put dust sheets over everything."
The couple have now urged other residents not to be worried about having Decent Homes work carried out, and just to "go with the flow."
And they have praised their customer liaison officer Andrea Wilkinson, who visited them every day to see how work was progressing.
"If we had a question or a complaint, she sorted it – she was magnificent," says Mr Portz.
The work to the Portz' house, carried out by one of the Council's partnership contractors Connaught, included removing their old pantry, filling in some small windows and creating a more practical kitchen space.
The couple also chose the style of their cupboard doors, work surfaces, flooring and tiles.
The only problem now is that their grandchildren don't know where the biscuit tin is!

How the work progressed Mid-Jan 08 - the couple receive a letter confirming that work would begin in early February. Three days before work starts - customer liaison officer Andrea Wilkinson visits them to talk through the process. Monday February 4 - eight electricians arrive to start the rewiring, while other workers remove the kitchen and replace small windows with a wall. Tuesday lunchtime – electricians finish and kitchen is ready for plasterers, who arrive on Wednesday. Thursday - kitchen units arrive, which are installed on Friday. Monday February 11 - tiles are put on the walls and an electrician returns to finish fitting the socket front covers. Friday February 22 - a surveyor returns to check everything and confirms that the work is completed.

The £189 million Decent Homes programme aims to ensure that the city's council homes are in a reasonable state of repair with modern facilities and services by 2011.