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1 August 2018 hebridean housing partnership newsletter home ward Customer Services TENANT SATISFACTION SURVEY HHP values tenants opinions on the housing services we provide. The latest Tenant Satisfaction Survey has just been completed. HHP recruited four students on summer placement to carry out the survey. The full report will be published later this year. Students - Rebekah Campbell, Sharon Macleod and Katie Carmichael Overall tenant satisfaction with HHP is 88% up by 5%* Overall satisfaction with the home 91% up by 4%* 93% of tenants said HHP were good at keeping tenants informed about services and decisions up by 12%* 78% thought their rent was good value for money up by 12%* 88% were satisfied with repairs up by 5%* 92% of those who had major improvements, e.g. new kitchen, said the standard and quality of the work was good up by 7%* * compared to 2015 survey results Hebrides Take Control Tariff Hebrides Energy is a not-for-profit community interest company led by key local agencies including HHP and CnES who have teamed up with Scottish fairer energy supplier Our Power, to promote a range of new Hebridean Tariffs. The new Hebridean Take Control tariff is the first to offer an alternative for customers on restricted meter tariffs, including many island homes that are reliant on night storage heating. It is a variable rate tariff, currently at 16.28p for the standard rate and 10.47p for heating rate, with a standing charge of 32.04p per day. Savings will vary from house to house, however a recent comparison with SSE Total Heat Total Control Tariff shows an annual saving of when switching to Hebrides Take Control Tariff for a direct debit customer. There are also potential savings for customers on prepayment meters and those who pay on receipt of their bill. Why pay more for the same electricity? Hebrides Energy also provides options for consumers on standard or Economy 7 meters. Switching to a Hebrides Energy tariff is a short and simple process that can be completed online or by phone. There are no exit fees for those who wish to return to their original energy provider. To find out if you can save money, visit co.uk/hebrides or call For further assistance and advice on switching your energy supplier contact Tighean Innse Gall on or info@tighean.co.uk Universal Credit Full Service is coming soon. Do you know what to do? See inside for more information. NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Notice is hereby given that the twelfth Annual General Meeting of the Hebridean Housing Partnership Ltd will be held in The Town Hall, Stornoway, on Thursday, 30 August 2018, commencing at 12:15pm Registered Charity No: SCO35767; A Registered Society under the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014, Reg No: 2644R(S); Registered Property Factor: PF000183

2 Investment programme After the long hot summer, heating is probably not the first thing on your mind but HHP have just awarded 4 heating contracts to Alex Murray Construction Ltd. The contracts have been split into 4 as we could be replacing up to 205 heating systems this year. Our gas heating replacement programme is already underway and so far we have installed new efficient combi gas boilers in 30 out of 70 homes. Contracts have been awarded for bathrooms, roughcast, kitchens and fencing. We have also started our external wall insulation works in Dunmore Crescent, Leverburgh and we hope to continue with this programme to bring insulation improvements to other Swedish timber properties. This is the last year of our current framework contracts. Work on a new contract is underway. This new contract will last from 2019 to Our Stock Condition Survey is also complete and we will soon be sending out our popular investment booklet to let tenants know what work will be carried out in their homes during the next 4 years. DID YOU KNOW We have installed new heating systems to over 600 homes since Heating systems in more than half of HHP homes have been replaced since stock transfer in PROPERTY FACTOR CHARGES Since 2012 HHP have been the responsible factor for a number of properties throughout the Outer Hebrides. This was due to the implementation of the Property Factors (Scotland) Act 2011 and resulted in a number of changes for some people who live in properties that adjoin HHP homes, or live in schemes which HHP are responsible for. HHP have always undertaken works to maintain common areas of all of our schemes but the Property Factors Act 2011 deemed that tenants in these areas/ blocks were subsidising private owners and that this should not continue. Since then HHP have billed owners for the costs associated with repairs and maintenance of the common parts of buildings and/or the surrounding environment. Some of the things that your factoring charges and rent cover each year are: Grounds Maintenance grass cutting Common Area electricity costs Common Door Maintenance Communal Lighting Maintenance HHP will also undertake any repairs to common areas where there is a health and safety risk or where owners have agreed to the shared costs. As each property may have different repairs and maintenance carried out throughout the year there will be differences in the amount charged to owners. Owners should receive invoices for services on either a quarterly or annual basis. For more information regarding the Property Factors (Scotland) Act 2011 and the Property Factors Code of Conduct please visit Publications/2012/07/6791/downloads Calabhaigh in Bloom Mutual Exchange Are you wishing to downsize or move to a larger house? Exchanges may take place between tenants of HHP s properties and those of other Local Authorities and Housing Associations. In some circumstances, a three-way Mutual Exchange may be permitted to enable tenants to exchange to more suitably sized or located properties. You can apply to go on the Mutual Exchange list. Please contact Customer Services on with your name, address, contact number, area and the type of property you are interested in moving to. A group of Calabhaigh tenants who wanted to improve the area contacted their Area Housing Officer with a request to erect a flower boat display on an embankment opposite the scheme. Plans were drawn up and a completed alteration request form was submitted to HHP. Permission was granted in time for the growing season! As you can see the boat is full of lovely colours and a great addition to the scheme which the tenants can enjoy looking out from their kitchen windows. We are currently working with the Woodlands Trust and will be involving tenants with a project to plant some native trees and shrubs along the embankment to help improve the scheme further. We welcome any suggestions from tenants wishing to carry out improvements to their scheme. Please contact your Housing Officer on , to discuss your suggestions further.

3 HOUSING DEVELOPMENT NEWS Langley Apartments (Former Stag Bakery), Stornoway, Isle of Lewis The new development on the site of the former Stag Bakery has progressed significantly in recent weeks. The timber kit is up and the two blocks have made quite a significant impact on the skyline. The 12 flats being built by Lewis Builders replace the derelict property that had been empty for quite a number of years. Norman M Macleod, HHP Chairman, Kevin Stewart MSP, Cllr Paul F Steele, Alasdair Allan MSP & Donald Mackay Calmax Construction Ltd. Corran Ciosmul, Castlebay, Isle of Barra Work is underway on 6 new homes at Corran Ciosmul, Isle of Barra. Housing Minister Kevin Stewart visited the site in June to cut the turf. A Scottish Government grant of 800,000 supports the 1.4 million project. The houses are due for completion by February SEALLADH A CHLISEIM, LEURBOST Sealladh a Chliseim is taking shape with all the properties nearing completion from the outside. The 10 houses are due for completion in December MackenzIe Avenue Work continues on the rented and Shared Equity properties at Mackenzie Avenue. The development is a mix of rented and shared equity properties. There are a further 14 shared equity properties being offered in the next phase of the project. Tom Na Ba, South Galson Four tenants moved in to their new homes at Tom Na Ba in July. The 2 x 1 bed and 2 x 2 bed houses were completed by Alex Murray Construction.

4 Universal Credit - Full Service is Coming Claimant Journey I need to claim Universal Credit. What do I do? I apply on-line. If I need help, I can call the Universal Credit service centre for assistance. I receive a text message to remind me about my interviews at the Jobcentre and a journal message reminding me what to bring. I attend my interviews in the Jobcentre and take any evidence that has been requested. I accept my online Commitment within 7 days. I can view my UC statement on line and tells me when I will get paid. I am also advised about my on-going responsibilities as agreed in my commitment. I get information or advice about how to claim Universal Credit (UC). I call the service centre to arrange an Initial Evidence & My Commitment interview in the Jobcentre. My work coach arranges appointments to bring in any additional evidence, or asks me to upload them to my journal. Business Process UC Service Centre Claims to Universal Credit (UC) are made on-line. Assistance is available, via the Universal Credit Service Centre. In exceptional circumstances, claims can be made by telephone or face to face. Claimants can also apply online at the Jobcentre. UC Service Centre The Service Centre (SC) arranges an Initial evidence and Commitment interview and advises of evidence to provide. The claimant has to call the SC to do this, but if after a calendar month, no appointment has been arranged, the claim will be cancelled. Job Centre Any additional information required generates To do s (tasks for the claimant to complete). Evidence is gathered and the Commitment is completed. Evidence is uploaded to the claim and To-do s are completed. UC Service Centre The SC works throughout the claimant s assessment period (AP), to ensure that all outstanding To-dos are completed. This means that all evidence has been verified, and that the UC claim can be assessed. I am asked to attend the Jobcentre. I attend the Jobcentre and engage in work related activity. Job Centre The claimant is invited to attend the Jobcentre to undertake specific work related activity as agreed in the commitment. There is on-going interaction at the jobcentre. I notify my change of circumstances via my journal. I receive a notification to advise me that my Universal credit entitlement has changed or stopped. UC Service Centre Claims Closure The claimant may be asked to provide evidence, following their change in circumstances. At the end of the AP the claimant is notified of their new entitlement.

5 SUMMARY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE FOR 2016/17 Message from the Chair I am pleased to present the Annual Report for the financial year 2017/18 and my first since I was appointed Chair of HHP. HHP have completed 12 new homes available for social rent and 8 Shared Equity homes this year. Continued Investment in tenants homes resulted in over 3 million being spent in 2017/18 on improvements including new bathrooms, heating systems and kitchens. Alleviating fuel poverty continues to be a key priority and this is demonstrated by our investment in new heating systems with 172 new heating systems being installed this year. HHP in conjunction with other Highland Housing Associations and Councils continue to lobby MSPs, the Government, OFGEM and SSE on energy prices within the Highlands & Islands which are the highest in the UK. 2017/18 saw a large allocation of development grant being awarded to the Outer Hebrides and we continue to engage with senior politicians at the Comhairle to determine how HHP can best deliver the additional development requirements in the context of the Local Housing Strategy (LHS). At the end of 2017/18 there were 79 homes under construction. As Universal Credit continues to roll out it makes the collection of rent more challenging, yet for the eighth year running arrears have gone down. The timeous payment of rent by our tenants along with strong organisational teamwork has made this possible. Whilst operational performance has provided much to be optimistic about for the future, the population forecasts & weakening demand for housing across the most rural areas of our islands is a continuing concern and one which the Board is monitoring closely. Finally, I would like to thank my fellow Board Members and our staff for all their endeavours during 2017/18 and acknowledge the support of our key partners the Scottish Government and Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar. Norman MacLeod HHP Chair SUMMARY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE FOR 2017/18

6 Annual Return on the Charter (ARC) SUMMARY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE FOR 2017/18 HHP submitted its fifth Annual Return on the Charter (ARC) in May How we have performed in relation to the indicators will be published later in the year in a special report for tenants. A summary of some of the key indicators is detailed below with a comparison to 2015/16 and 2016/17 ARC data. DETAIL ARC 2017/18 ARC 2016/17 ARC 2015/16 REPAIRS Emergency repairs completed Non-emergency repairs completed ARREARS Total arrear as a % of rent due 3.15% 3.46% 3.82% Former tenant arrear written off 18,908 28,222 31,207 VOIDS Void at year end Void for more than six months Void loss 1.17% 0.85% 0.73% LETTINGS General needs New applicants added to housing list Number of applicants on list DEVELOPMENT New build GENERAL Rent increase 3.9% 3.2% 2.1% SUMMARY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE FOR 2016/17

7 Financial Overview Statement of Comprehensive Income for the year ended 31 March March March 2017 Non-accountant's guide Turnover 11,194,205 9,989,189 Income from rents and other activities Operating Expenditure (8,590,346) (6,792,497) Cost of maintenance and management of properties and other activities Operating Surplus 2,603,859 3,196,692 Loss on disposal of property, plant & equipment (173,603) (218,318) Interest receivable 15,571 9,568 Bank interest on deposit accounts Interest payable and financing costs (367,925) (354,611) Interest on money borrowed Surplus before tax 2,077,902 2,633,330 Actuarial (loss)/gain in respect of pension scheme 2,425,000 (1,502,000) Total comprehensive income for the year 4,502,902 1,131,330 Statement of Changes in Reserves for the year ended 31 March March March 2017 SUMMARY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE FOR 2017/18 Unrestricted Fund Opening Balance 26,127,291 24,995,961 Surplus from statement of comprehensive income 4,502,902 1,131,330 Prior Year adjustment Unrestricted Fund Closing Balance 30,630,193 26,127,291

8 Statement of Financial Position as at 31 March 2018 SUMMARY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE FOR 2017/18 31 March March 2017 Non-accountant's guide Tangible Fixed Assets Tangible Assets-Social Housing 77,108,646 73,557,295 Houses we own Tangible Assets-Property, plant & equipment 1,514,469 1,528,478 Offices and equipment Investments 2 2 Share in Subsidiary & ESCO 78,623,117 75,085,775 Current Assets Stock 241, ,884 Trade and other debtors 1,106,305 1,422,744 Money owed to us Investments 6,164,763 4,506,628 Short term deposits Cash at bank and in hand 4,044,434 2,724,142 11,557,135 9,042,398 Creditors: amounts falling due within one yea (3,849,683) (2,491,833) Money we owe others Net current assets 7,707,452 6,550,565 Total assets less current liabilities 86,330,569 81,636,340 Creditors: amounts falling due after more What we owe on loans for building our than one year (10,529,203) (10,583,000) houses & money due to Scottish Government Deferred Capital Grants (44,034,970) (41,687,852) Housing Grants received Pension Liability (1,136,000) (3,238,000) Provisions for liabilities Net Assets 30,630,396 26,127,488 Capital and Reserves Share Capital Number of members 1 shares Income and Expenditure reserve 30,630,193 26,127,291 30,630,396 26,127,488 HHP is a registered society under the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014, Registered Number: 2644R(S),Registered Office: Creed Court, Gleann Seileach Business Park, Willowglen Road, STORNOWAY, Isle of Lewis HS1 2QP. It is a charity registered in Scotland, Charity Number:SCO35767, registered as Registered Social Landlord with the Scottish Housing Regulator, Registration Number:359 and registered as a Property Factor, Registration Number PF info@hebrideanhousing.co.uk Web: Phone:

9 Last year HHP continued the rolling replacement of smoke detectors in HHP properties. Unfortunately access has proved to be an issue in a number of properties. Recent tragic house fires serve as a reminder that smoke alarms play am pleased to present the Annual an extremely I important role in the safety of tenants. Peter O Donnell, Investment Report for the financial year 2017/18 and Managers says A smoke alarm can safe your life so I my would first urge tenants sinceto Iallow was appointed Chair of HHP access to replace smoke alarms. HHP. The recent tragedy at Grenfell Towers came will ensure that your alarm is working and as a shock to all Housing Associations. could save the lives of you and your family. SUMMARY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE FOR 2017/18 Fire Safety/ Hold down the button until you hear the loud alert tone then release Smoke DeMaintenance Message from the Chair Vacuum your smoke alarm to remove dust build up and cobwebs every 6 months Vacuum with a soft brush attachment around alarm vents Use a surface insect spray to prevent insects nesting inside Never paint over or cover smoke alarms Smoke alarms will generally sound a HHP have completed 12 new homes regular warning beep if the battery HHP would like to make our tenants aware Check your smoke alarm s use by date needs replacing available for social and 8 Shared that none of the cladding or insulation used All rent Smoke alarms have a use by date (usually Smoke alarm maintenance may require in Grenfell Towers is to behomes found on anythis 10 years from datecontinued of manufacture). Check Equity year. you to use a ladder. Please take care or HHP property. The HHP board has asked the use by date of your smoke alarm and in tenants homes resulted in seek help for a report oninvestment fire safety measures. replace it on or before that date. A licensed electrical contractor is Smoke Alarm Testing over 3 million being spent in 2017/18 on improvements including required to disconnect or install mains Testing & Maintenance Test your smoke alarm every month powered smoke alarms. new bathrooms, heating systems and kitchens. AlleviatingAll other fuelsmoke alarm maintenance do not require a Smoke alarms need little maintenance. A Check your smoke alarm by pressing the a key priority and this is demonstrated by our licensed electrical contractor few minutes poverty of your time continues during the year to be test button investment in new heating systems with 172 new heating systems being installed this year. HHP in conjunction with other Highland Housing Associations and Councils continue to lobby MSPs, the Government, OFGEM and SSE on energy prices within the Highlands & Islands which are the highest in thefor UK. help and advice contact your local Job Mackellaig Place Flats available Centre, CAB or contact us on being awarded /18 saw a large allocation of development grant for rent now!hebrides and we continue to engage with senior to the Outer politicians Further details:- at the Comhairle to determine how HHP can best deliver the additional development requirements in the context of the Local An excellent opportunity to rent 2 bedroomed Housing flats in Lochboisdale, Isle of (LHS). At the end of 2017/18 there were 79 homes Strategy South Uist. under construction. No waiting list and ready for immediate let. As Universal Credit continues to roll out it makes the collection of rent The area has good bus routes and is more challenging, close to local amenities such as; a yet for the eighth year running arrears have gone hotel, ferry terminal, bank, garages, post down. The timeous payment of rent by our tenants along with strong office and café. The flats also benefit organisational teamwork has made this possible. Whilst operational from overlooking the harbour and new residential plots. performance has provided much to be optimistic about for the future, Viewings can be arranged upon request. the population forecasts & weakening demand for housing across the Unfurnished Flats are available from most rural areas of our islands is a continuing concern and one which per week. Furnished the Flats Board also available from is monitoring closely per week. Contact HHP for furtheri details on 0300 Finally, would like to thank my fellow Board Members and our staff for Penny Irvine from, Mackellaig Place regarding our little community were shared and we decided tosupport take that forward all their endeavoursinduring 2017/18 and acknowledge of by Daliburgh, South Contact Uist writes your Area Housing the Officer tous improve approaching HHP to help our our key partners thewescottish Government Comhairle recently participated in a great getpayment arrange yourand and startnan youreilean area. together in memory of Jo Cox, MP. As part Buffer now ~ 0300We 123now 0773plan to set up a residents Siar. of the get together we started discussing association and hope to continue to community issues and what was important Norman MacLeod improve our community and develop our to us as a neighbourhood. For further information or advice please contact your ideas. Although, as neighbours, we had spoken HHP Chair If you are interested in getting many times before, the get together helped Housing Officer on 0300involved, us to realise that we had many shared contact Penny or Jane Ballantyne on interests and experiences. Our views

10 HHP Out and About in Uist We were out and about again this year attending both the South Uist Games and North Uist Games. There was a high turnout of visitors. We met many tenants, residents, a Councillor and Dr Alasdair Allan MSP. HHP balloons and the squidgy pop eye stress balls were very popular. We had lots of interest in our stands. Thank you to Zero Waste at Market Stance for lending us their tent free of charge. New Food Bank in Balivanich The new community food bank in East Camp, Balivanich, Benbecula opened on 9 July They aim to provide fresh produce grown at the Community Allotments at Tagsa Uibhist. Local groups and individiuals including Tagsa Uibhist, CAB, UCVO and staff from HHP identified a need for a Food Bank in the Southern Isles. Many low income household budgets are stretched due to food and fuel price increases, changes and delays to the welfare benefits system eg. new Universal Credit, causing financial hardship. The Uist & Barra Foodbank is grateful to all the businesses and individuals that donated their time and materials. FES donated tradesmen s time to help fit out the premises through the Community Pay back scheme. Special thanks to the East Camp Trust for the use of their rooms. HHP s Katie Walker, who has been involved in setting up the foodbank said, the generosity of tradesmen, local businesses and the public donating food, labour, supplies and materials has been overwhelming. Opening the food bank couldn t have come together without their help. Sgoil Lionacleit pupils also got involved as part of the Youth & Philanthropy initiative and awarded an incredible 3,000 to the Foodbank. Uist and Barra Foodbank trustees thank Eilean Siar Foodbank that has supported partner agencies in the Southern Isles over the last few years by providing emergency food parcels. Food and essentials are being collected at donation points in local shops, the CAB office at 46 Winfield Way, HHP office at 17 Winfield Way and UCVO office, Airport Road and in the Co-op in Castlebay. If you can spare some time to help the Uist and Barra Foodbank please contact the Western Isles Volunteer Centre on or uist@volunteering.co.uk IT S A FOUL BUSINESS HHP receive a number of complaints about dog fouling each year, particularly in summer. Tenants and residents, who keep dogs must ensure that their dog does not foul neighbouring properties or common areas. This includes open grassed areas, pavements, footpaths, parks and play areas. These areas are for everyone to enjoy. Dog waste can carry diseases eg. infection from roundworm which spreads toxocariasis, which can be transmitted to people especially children playing in grassed areas. You may have noticed common grassed areas which have not been cut as regularly. Grounds maintenance contractors will not cut grass which contains significant amounts of dog waste. HHP accepts that dogs will foul when being walked by their owners. However it is an offence for the person who is in charge of a dog not to pick up the dog s waste and dispose of appropriately. Tenants who do not clean up after their dog could have their permission to keep the dog removed and the local authority have the power to issue on the spot fines. CnES Consumer and Environment Services can offer help and advice regarding dog fouling and also issues such as microchipping, noisy, stray and dangerous dogs. They can be contacted on or eh@cne-siar. gov.uk

11 TENANT PARTICIPATION Afternoon Tea with The Forum & HHP The Western Isles Housing Association Communities Forum together with HHP hosted our annual tenant event on Friday 19th June. The focus was on talking and listening with tenants and any would-be tenants about anything from repairs to heating to general housing conditions. It was very busy from the outset with tenants coming from as far as Leverburgh to Breasclete to Ness. It was a relaxed atmosphere where tenants chatted or sought advice with the Forum, HHP staff, FES or joined one of the heating system masterclasses with HHP s Peter O Donnell. Tighean Innse Gall (TIG) gave on the spot energy and tariff advice including 16 people who were given a quote there and then. Beautiful cakes and fresh baking were enjoyed in the Cearns Café. Catering was both supplied and served by community group Cearns Community Association. Thank you to all those who joined us for the event and especially those who came over to talk with the Forum members Alastair, Calum and Alexander and also joined by Tracey Walker. It was good to hear your views and comments many of these have been passed to HHP to be acted on. Thank you to HHP & HHP contractors who donated prizes to the Forum s prize raffle. Good, lots of available information and people wanting to listen Very good, especially the lovely cakes Nice to see something different and the focus on other groups Very informative and helpful Forum News Alex Gardner writes. Jane Ballantyne, Alistair Mackenzie and myself set off from Leverburgh Pier on Thursday morning, of 12th July, on a mission to meet and talk with HHP tenants across Uist and Harris. We had a calm and pleasant ferry crossing. We proceeded to the Stepping Stones in Balivanich where we met with tenants, one of whom had travelled from Daliburgh to meet us. We visited this tenant the following day, listened and conveyed his comments to HHP in Balivanich the following day. Lochboisdale has a very pleasant outlook and the tenants there have established a floral display in an old abandoned boat at the rear of the apartments. Onwards to Church Road where we were met by tenants, two of whom had just been offered a home. They allowed us to accompany them to inspect the house. This was very informative. A report of this inspection has been passed to HHP; hopefully this can be acted upon. After our return to Leverburgh, Jane and Alastair knocked on a few tenants doors to find out if there were any issues bothering them before we met with tenants in the community hall. Hopefully when we visit Barra in September we will have occasion to look in on some of the tenants there. Come along and meet us we will be available on the 13th September 2018 at: Barra Fire Station pm For more information please call Jane on Excellent idea, good opportunity for staff and tenants to meet What do you want to see in this newsletter? We want to hear your ideas CustomerServices@hebrideanhousing.co.uk For more information about Tenant Participation and getting involved in how services are delivered contact Jane jane.ballantyne@ tpasscotland.org.uk Telephone , Mobile Facebook Jane generally works Monday Thursday 8am pm. She is also available to meet with people in the evening or on a Saturday.

12 August 2018 hebridean housing partnership newsletter home ward School Age Children? 5-8 yrs = yrs = 55 Department of Education and Children's Services Roinn Foghlam is Seirbheisean Chloinne CLOTHINGGRANTS yrs = 60 Are you on a low income? Are you getting your entitlements? Phone for an application form Family budgets never seem to stretch far enough. Comhairle nan Eilean Siar have a number of schemes in place offering financial support. Statistics suggest that there are a large number of households who are entitled to these but are not claiming. Free School Meals Taking advantage of this could save your household in a year. The cashless catering system, which is now utilised in all the island secondary schools, means peers would be unaware of whether a pupil was in receipt of free school meals. Clothing Grants These vary depending on the age of your children but you can receive up to towards the cost of uniform. Education Maintenance Allowance This is for children who are over school leaving age (16 but also dependant upon birth date) who continue to stay in full time education. This allowance provides per week yrs = 65 The school meal and clothing schemes are open to low income families in receipt of benefits. The EMA is for families with 1 child and an income below 24,421 or for 2 child families below 26,884. For further information please contact the Department of Education and Children s Services on or education.resources@cne-siar.gov.uk. Ways to pay your rent Did you know that you can now pay your rent online? tinyurl.com/ hhppayments To access this method of rent payment go to: tinyurl.com/hhppayments This takes you to the Comhairle s 24 hour secure internet payments service. Select HHP Housing Rents and you can make your rent payment using this secure site with most major credit or debit cards. Customer Services Community Skip Service Community skips are available for your area through your Community Council or Residents Association. Once the skip has been agreed through the relevant community group, a locked community skip will be sited in various locations in your local area and will be available for the disposal of items of bulky household waste at set times. The skip will be supervised at all times when it is unlocked. The skip will be available for waste disposal at agreed times which will be publicised by your local Community Council or Residents Association. This service is for the disposal of bulky household wastes only. The disposal of Commercial and Industrial wastes into the Community Skip is strictly prohibited. The skip will be monitored and any waste materials left at or near to the skip will be regarded as Fly-tipping and reported to the Police and SEPA. For further advice about the disposal of waste materials not permitted for disposal into the skip: media/2668/communityskipservice.pdf or contact the Zero Waste Western Isles team on In the Southern Isles, contact You can also pay by the following options: // By rent payment card at any Post Office or Paypoint/Payzone // At your local HHP office // By Direct Debit mandate on a weekly or monthly basis // By Bank Standing Order // By telephone using your debit or credit card phone // At your local Comhairle office HHP is a registered Charity (No. SCO35767); A Registered Society under the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014 Reg No 2644R(S); Registered Social Landlord Reg No:359; Registered Property Factor: PF Designed and printed by SignPrint, Rigs Road, Stornoway HS1 2RF, T: E: info@sign-print.co.uk