Hello and welcome

As we welcome sunnier days and warmer weather, I hope that you've had an enjoyable start to the year.

We know that the recent rent and service charge review will have been a cause for concern for many of you. With the cost-of-living continuing to increase, we understand that you may feel frustrated or worried. As always, I want to make sure you know that support is available to you- the most important thing is to talk to us as soon as you can so we can help.

I'm extremely grateful to our customers who work with us to tell us how we can improve the support we offer. This insight is invaluable to us as we seek to help as many people as possible.

There's much more information inside this issue that can take you through the support we can offer, as well as explaining why we've increased rents and service charges.

While we're looking ahead to an exciting year, I'd like to take a moment to look back. We recently celebrated our 10th birthday! Just a decade ago, we came into our first day as Stonewater, and since then have continued to grow and thrive. We're looking to the future of smart home technology, continuing to invest in updating and decarbonising our existing homes and refitting our over 55s accommodation to create bright, modern spaces.

So, what stands out for me most from the past ten years? It has to be the people I've encountered along the way- from customers who volunteer time to help us to do better, to colleagues who've started a career with us while living in our homes and have gone on to thrive as part of our organisation. Among the important articles we have for you in this edition, is a lovely one from Kim Gibson, Fuel Engagement Customer Partner, sharing more about the work she does to make a difference to customers lives.

I hope you enjoy the rest of our newsletter, and remember that if you need us, we're here to help.