The document summarizes various topics covered in a newsletter from Places for People, a housing organization. It announces a winner of a prize draw, encourages readers to provide feedback, and promotes online services for managing one's home. It also discusses nominating good neighbors for awards, looking after one's home online, money advice services, expanding digital services, new online bank accounts, the Universal Credit rollout, renovations to a Bristol housing facility, and a new initiative called Living+ to support customers.

1. LET’S
TALKNews from your
communities
Spring 2016
WIN!
AN iPAD
See inside for more info
New-look online services
Look after your home online
Good Neighbour Awards
Nominate your Good Neighbours
Extended repairs hours
We’ve extended the hours
of your repairs service

2. Let’s Talk | National Newsletter02
And the winner is…
In the last issue of Let’s Talk, we asked for
your thoughts on your new-look newsletter.
Everyone who got in touch was entered into
a prize draw to win a £50 Love2Shop voucher.
The lucky winner was Donna Daley of Pontefract,
West Yorkshire. Donna, like lots of other customers, told us that
she liked the new design, and found the articles helpful and
interesting.
Tell us what you think
We had nearly 300 customers give us their opinion
on the last issue.
We’ve listened to what you told us, and we’ve tried
to give you even more of what you like in this issue.
If you want to let us know your opinion, head to
placesforpeople.co.uk/lets-talk.
Did you know that you
can now receive Let’s
Talk by email? If we
hold your email address,
you’ll automatically get
sent an online version of
your newsletter.
Fancy reading Let’s Talk
on a brand new iPad?
If you log into your new
online account before
1 May, we’ll enter you
into a prize draw to win
an iPad.
Head to page 4 for
more information.
WIN!
IN THIS ISSUE
–
03
Good Neighbour
Awards 2016
–
04
Look After Your
Home Online
–
06
Your Money
Advice Team
–
07
Managing Your
Money Online
–
08
Bristol Housing Service
Transformation
–
09
Introducing
Living+
–
10
Repairs Service Hours
Now Extended
WIN AN
IPAD

3. Spring 2016 03
Celebrating
unsung
heroes
Matt and Lisa heard screams when
flames from a shed fire started to creep
into their neighbour’s house. They
quickly called the fire brigade and made
sure the family were led to safety.
Matt said: “It’s only something that we
thought any ordinary neighbour would
do. We didn’t think it was anything
special, but to be recognised does make
you feel very proud. It is lovely to be
nominated and appreciated.”
The Good Neighbour Awards is your
chance to recognise the people who go
the extra mile for your neighbourhood.
Whether that’s volunteering to run
community groups, caring for others,
or just being a friendly face in your
community.
33 trophies were presented to worthy
winners from across the country at last
year’s event. Matt Donaldson and Lisa
Pickering from Blackburn, Lancashire,
were nominated for the award by their
neighbour after they saved her and her
six year-old boy’s life.
If you know a good neighbour, don’t stop
at nominating them for a Good Neighbour
award. The British Citizen Awards are
held twice a year and celebrate normal
people doing extraordinary work for their
communities.
Winners are presented with a Medal of
Honour, and will be invited to a ceremony
at the Palace of Westminster along with
the person who nominated them.
If your neighbourhood has an unsung
hero, make sure you nominate them for
a British Citizen Award.
Nominate your Good Neighbours at:
placesforpeople.co.uk/starawards
Nominate someone for a British
Citizen Award at:
britishcitizenawards.co.uk
DO YOU KNOW
A GOOD
NEIGHBOUR?–
Nominations for the 2016 Good
Neighbour Awards are now open.
The annual event, held in October, celebrates
the difference that our customers make to their
communities.

4. Let’s Talk | National Newsletter04
We’ve been making some changes to
our website, so it’s never been easier to
view your rent account, make a payment
or report a repair. It’s the perfect way
to keep your details up to date and see
your repairs and payment history.
Whether you’re always on the go or
prefer the comfort of your living room,
you can manage your home from any
location and at a time of day that suits
you. What’s more, you can access your
new-look account from your favourite
device, whether that’s your PC, tablet
or smartphone.
Signing up for an online account is easy;
all you need is your email address and
payment reference number. It only takes
a couple of minutes.
Head to my.placesforpeople.co.uk
to sign up for an account today!
If you’ve used our online services before,
then setting up your online account is
even easier. All you need to do is reset
your old password and you’re good to go.
Win an iPad
Check out your new-look online account on a brand new iPad. To be in
with a chance of winning, all you have to do is register for an account
and log-in before 1 May. It’s that simple!
Sign up today at my.placesforpeople.co.uk
For terms and conditions visit placesforpeople.co.uk/lets-talk
WIN!
LOOK AFTER
YOUR HOME
ONLINE–
Taking care of your home has never been
quicker or easier thanks to your new-look
online account.

5. Spring 2016 05
Getting online could help you stay
up-to-date with news, find local
services, or just find out when the
bins are getting collected. It’s also the
easiest way to keep in touch with friends
and family, wherever they are in the
world, through social media or online
messaging.
Going digital could also
save you money on
everything from your weekly
grocery shop to buying
train and bus tickets. You
can manage your bank
account using the internet
and your bills might even
come down, just because
you choose to pay online!
Mick Cuthbert, a Places for People
customer in Northampton for over 20
years, explained the difference that
getting online has made to him:
“I wasn’t an early adopter of the internet
and I’m not a techy person. There used
to be a running joke at work about me;
people would keep me away from the
computers because they crashed every
time I came near!
“But now I use the internet for
everything from paying bills to staying
in touch with people, as well as for the
occasional bit of online shopping. It’s
easy to keep in touch with family using
Skype, and I can contact friends that
are abroad without worrying about an
expensive phone bill at the end of the
month. It’s a much cheaper and more
convenient way of staying in contact
with people.
“Although I don’t actually buy that
much online, the internet is great for
comparing prices before you buy.
You can make sure you always get
the best deal.
“I pay a lot of my bills using Direct Debit,
including my rent. Doing my banking
online is far more convenient than
having to go and visit my branch. I can
check my balance from the comfort of
my own home, and make any changes
to payments that I need to – no more
having to take 25 pieces of paper, bills
and identification into the bank to sign
some forms!”
“I’d really recommend people find
out more about getting online, go on
courses and attend events if they get
the chance to.”
“Getting online makes life so much easier.
You don’t have to rely on the phone
or meeting people in person anymore,
and getting things done is much more
convenient. You can take care of things
while you’re on the go or from the comfort
of your living room.”
Find out more about getting online, and
what events are taking place in your area
by talking to your Neighbourhood Officer.
If you switch to paying your rent
by Direct Debit, we’ll enter you
into a prize draw to win £100!
Call 0845 850 9571 to set up
your Direct Debit today. Once
you’re set up, your payments
will automatically come out of
your bank account.
You’ll be able to check where your
payments are up to using your
Places for People online account.
WIN £100 WHEN
YOU PAY YOUR
RENT THROUGH
DIRECT DEBIT
DON’T HAVE A
BANK ACCOUNT?
The Government has announced new
Better Basic bank accounts for people
not eligible for a current account.
If you’ve not been eligible for a current
account in the past, then you can now
apply for a new-style bank account.
Better Basic accounts are online
accounts that come with Debit Cards,
so you can save time and money too.
Turn to page 7 for more information.
The benefits of using the internet don’t stop
with saving time looking after your home.
SAVE TIME AND
MONEY ONLINE

6. 06 Let’s Talk | National Newsletter
Our free, confidential
service helps customers
access an additional £325
per customer on average.
Last year alone, they
handled nearly 1,500 cases
and saved customers a
total of more than half
a million pounds!
One customer contacted us once their
housing benefit had stopped. Our Money
Advisor Gareth Evans got in touch with
the customer to help out, he said:
“Our customer had received a letter from
Housing Benefit asking for the details of
his income. At first, we didn’t understand
why they would be asking for this; they
should already have had all the
information they needed.
“I called the local council to find out
more. Our customer was a former British
soldier, but the council hadn’t been
including the customer’s War Pension in
their claim since 2012, even though they
had done for years before that. Because
of this, the council was looking to charge
the customer more than £8,800.
“We helped the customer get in touch
with the Royal British Legion to make
sure they had as much support as
possible while I worked with the council.
The council accepted that they had made
a mistake, and we had the customer’s
payment written off.”
The customer said: “The Money Advice
Team were brilliant; they really helped me
understand what had been going on.
At first, I didn’t realise my money had
been stopped because I didn’t receive
any notice from the council – and the
documents the council then sent to me
were so complicated. You’d need to have
a maths degree to understand them!
Contact your Money Advice Team
by calling 01772 666 444
“Gareth helped me get in touch with the Royal British Legion
and fill in the council’s forms. It’s good to have someone to
talk to who understands your problem, and I’d recommend
them to anyone in difficulty.”
The Department of Work and
Pensions (DWP) is currently
trialling a new digital service in
the Sutton, Croydon and Tower
Bridge areas of London.
If you live in one of these areas,
unlike the rest of the country, there
are no restrictions on who can and
can’t claim Universal Credit.
The DWP has recently announced
that the following areas will also go
live before May 2016:
Hounslow, Purley, Thornton Heath,
Musselburgh and Great Yarmouth
The Government then intends to roll
the service out nationally.
EXPANDING
DIGITAL SERVICES
YOUR MONEY
ADVICE TEAM–
Worried about changes to your benefits, or
just need some friendly advice and support?
The Money Advice Team can help you manage
your money, claim rent-related benefits and
provide support if you’re having trouble
paying the rent.

7. 07Spring 2016
If you’re worried about banking fees, or
you don’t qualify for a current account,
we have great news!
New Better Basic bank accounts have
been launched. The accounts don’t
charge a fee for missed Direct Debits,
and don’t allow users to run up an
overdraft.
These new style accounts will offer
customers a debit card, so purchases
can be made online and cash points can
be used without worrying about getting
into debt.
If you don’t have a bank account, find out
if you’re eligible for a Better Basic
account by visiting your local bank.
Accounts are available from :
• Barclays
• Santander
• NatWest
• RBS
• HSBC
• Lloyds Banking Group
• TSB
• The Co-operative Bank
• Nationwide Building Society
UNIVERSAL CREDIT
ROLL-OUT CONTINUES
NEW ONLINE
BANK
ACCOUNTS
In May 2016, Universal Credit will be
rolled-out to:
• Bath and North East Somerset Council
• Newcastle City Council
• Rugby Borough Council
• Sedgemoot District Council
• Waveney District Council
Over 300 Places for People customers
are already claiming Universal Credit.
Eventually, 6 benefits will be replaced by
Universal Credit, with claimants moved
over to Universal Credit. The benefits
being replaced are:
• Income-based Job Seeker’s Allowance
• Income-based Employment and
Support Allowance
• Income Support
• Working Tax Credits
• Child Tax Credits
• Housing Benefit
If you receive Universal Credit, you’ll
receive a single monthly payment that
includes your housing costs. That means
it will be your responsibility to manage
your money and pay your rent to Places
for People.
In order to receive Universal Credit you
must have a bank account that you can
manage online. This is where your
payment is made to.
The roll-out of Universal
Credit continues across
the country. 300 of our
customers currently claim
this new benefit which aims
to ensure you are better
off in employment.
In 2016, the roll-out of Universal Credit will pick up
speed. All single jobseekers making a new claim
will have to apply for Universal Credit.

8. Let’s Talk | National Newsletter08
BRISTOL
HOUSING
TRANSFORMED
IN A WEEK–
A housing scheme for the homeless in Bristol
has been given a new lease of life after
Places for People joined forces with two other
national companies.
In just five days, more than 40 people set
about providing the facility with a fresh,
new look. New kitchens for staff and
residents were installed and the common
room was turned into a café with a new
floor, tables and chairs. New decking and
a gazebo were installed outside, and the
building was redecorated on the inside.
Places for People colleagues teamed up
with Novus Property Solutions and
Keepmoat to make a difference to the
local community. With their help, and
thanks to donations from companies like
Dulux, the project was finished on time
and in style.
Run and managed by Places for People
Individual Support, the Bristol Complex
Needs facility offers support and housing
for homeless men as they work towards
living independently. Charlie Pascoe,
Team Leader, said: “The renovation has
been a great achievement and
demonstrates everyone’s commitment to
supporting our local communities. The
project has made a real difference and
will really help our customers to get their
lives back on track.”
The renovation has received a very
positive response from customers and
those who work at the scheme. One
comment included:
Since the refurb, the
scheme feels like a
really serene and
homely place. People
are taking more
pride in where they
live and taking more
responsibility for
keeping the scheme
in a good condition.
“The kitchen gets
used more often
now by individuals,
as well as for
communal meals;
it was even used for
a group Christmas
Dinner!”

9. Spring 2016 09
That’s why Individual Support is
becoming Living+; it’ll give customers
much more than a place to live. Living+
will give customers the confidence and
support needed to live life to the full,
whether that’s peace of mind, security
or just good company.
One Living+ customer is Tesfu who
came to the UK from Eritrea. He fled
to the UK to escape persecution,
but arrived homeless and spoke very
little English. Arriving with very few
possessions (other than his cherished
begena – a traditional Eritrean musical
instrument) in a completely different
culture, Tesfu worked hard to make
a new life for himself.
Aided by the encouragement and
dedication of the Living+ team,
Tesfu has completed ESOL classes,
took part in English and Maths
lessons and has worked with
external support services to improve
his opportunities of securing
employment. Tesfu’s determination
to succeed has enabled him to be
ready to move on to a new chapter
in his life.
Find out more about Living+
by visiting our website
placesforpeople.co.uk
For the past 25 years,
Places for People Individual
Support has provided care
and support for people
up and down the country.
Over this time the type of
care and support, and the
way Individual Support
works, has changed. But our
main aim has always stayed
the same; to help our
customers lead successful
and fulfilling lives.
PLACES
FOR PEOPLE
INDIVIDUAL
SUPPORT IS
BECOMING
LIVING+
A Cycle Reclamation Project in
Norton Grange has helped young
people to get on their bikes. The
project gives children the chance
to build themselves a bike from
recycled parts.
The project teaches young people
about road safety, recycling and gives
them practical skills for maintaining
their new bikes. Once they’ve finished
building their bike, participants are
given a certificate from ASDAN
(Award Scheme Development and
Accreditation Network).
Places for People’s Community Safety
Unit worked with Stockton Borough
Council and local police to organise
the project. The project not only saves
families the cost of buying a bike,
but also teaches the young people
involved how to work as a team, and
gives them a boost in confidence
and self-esteem.
Paul Gallagher, Places for People’s
Community Safety Officer who helped
organise the project, said: “Projects
like this are a great way for local young
people to come together, make friends
and learn new skills. The project lets
us put something back into the
community, and gives young people
opportunities to reach their potential.
“Projects like this are also a great way
for children to meet and get to know
organisations like the Police. And by
giving people positive activities to take
part in, we’re able to head-off anti-
social behaviour before it even starts.”
YOUNG PEOPLE
IN STOCKTON
GO UP A GEAR

10. Let’s Talk | National Newsletter10
WE’VE
EXTENDED
YOUR REPAIRS
SERVICES–
We’re always looking to improve the services
that we offer to our customers. That’s why we’ve
extended the availability of repairs appointments
to evenings and weekends.
Appointments for routine repairs are
now available from 8am to 8pm Monday
to Friday, and from 8am to 4:30pm on
Saturdays. You can report a repair online
by signing up for an online account.
Log into your account and fill in your
repair details, then we’ll arrange an
appointment at a time that works for you.
You can also report a repair by calling
our Customer Service Centre between
8am and 8pm Monday to Friday, and
from 8am to 5pm on Saturdays and
Sundays. Emergency repairs can also
be reported by phone at any time.
The changes to our repairs services
comes in response to feedback we
received from customers. We’ve been
listening to what you had to say, and we
want to make sure that our service is fit
for your needs.
MON – FRI
8am – 8pm
APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE
SAT – SUN
8am – 4.30pm

11. Spring 2016 11
Low cost content
insurance for
Places for People
customers
Low cost contents insurance
We all know that accidents happen,
and anyone could become a victim
to fire, flooding or burglary.
Insuring your home’s contents gives you the peace of mind that
you’ll be able to replace your possessions. Places for People
has teamed up with Aviva to offer home contents insurance.
Customers will be able to benefit from:
• No excess – nothing to pay when you make a claim
• Contents replaced as new (except clothing and household linen)
• Rented goods included
• Fixed rates for three years
• Insurance provided by Aviva Insurance Limited, the UK’s
largest insurer
For more information, visit
placesforpeople.co.uk/customers/get_insurance
Underwritten by Aviva Insurance Limited. Registered in Scotland, No. 2116. Registered Office:
Pitheavlis, Perth PH2 0NH. Authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by
the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority.
Emma got one...
Now she can start decorating the nursery
You could get one too! Borrow between £250 - £3,000.
Our new online application process makes applying for a
loan simple, and we’ll give you a decision straight away if
we think we can help.
• Affordable, accessible borrowing
• Choose to repay monthly or weekly
• Set a repayment period anywhere from 6 months to 3 years.
Apply online today at placesforpeople.co.uk/loans
Credit will be offered subject to status. Your rate is fixed for the term of your agreement.
Applicants are reminded not to commit any funds to expenditure until a loan decision is made.
We and the Places for People Group may send you information by post about products and services that we think will be of interest to you. If you would rather we did not do this please
contact optout@placesforpeople.co.uk. Places for People Financial Services Ltd is registered in England and Wales. Registered number: 5555828. Registered office: 80 Cheapside,
London, EC2V 6EE. Places for People Financial Services is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority with firm reference number 663756
Simple
loans.
Quick
decisions
69.9%APRREPRESENTATIVE

12. 12 Let’s Talk | National Newsletter
Save up to £300* a year on your gas and electricity
bills when you switch to Places for People Energy.
See if you could save. Visit pfpenergy.co.uk
Since we launched last year,
over 20,000 people have
already switched to us. Find
out how much you could save!
*Average customer saving between August 2015 and March 2016.
We keep things simple so we
can keep our prices low. We’re
cheaper than other energy
providers, and it only takes a
couple of minutes to switch.