Hello and welcome to our summer edition of Here to Help for 2023.

After what feels like a long winter, the warmer weather has finally arrived which I’m sure will be very welcome. Not least as it means we can all turn our heating down (or even off) for a while.

I know many customers are still struggling with the cost-of-living crisis and there’s lots of ways we can help. From budgeting advice to accessing grants – check out the Money Matters section on our website. Behind the scenes, we do a lot of work with local authorities and MPs to make sure that the concerns and views of social housing customers are heard. As the dust settles on May’s local elections, we’ll be engaging with leaders from all over the country and, of course, keeping a watchful eye on our Customer Hubb to stay close to the things that matter to you.

Also in May, we witnessed a major historical event as King Charles III and Queen Camilla were officially crowned. Much like the jubilee celebrations, this was chance for communities to come together to mark this special occasion – very likely the first coronation most of us have seen in our lifetimes.

We’ve been joining in other celebrations too, taking part in PRIDE events in Birmingham and Swindon. I recently went to one of our Spectrum meetings (our dedicated LGBTQ+ networking group) and joined a fascinating discussion about the impact of colonialism on gender identities in African countries. Although it’s not something I’d thought much about previously, for me, it really demonstrated the power of our colleague networking groups in bringing these fresh viewpoints and different voices to the fore. It’s important for our customers as well because it helps us ensure we’re representing them fully too.

In this issue, we’ve got some great stories about the support we offer customers to be themselves or to help them connect with their communities. You’ll find news about EID celebrations, community days, updates from our Ageing Well Board, a chance to show us your gardening skills and more. We’ve also got some useful information on our new estate services contracts.

I hope you enjoy this latest edition and please remember that we’re always Here to Help.