Thirteen

We’re holding a staff event on the afternoon of Wednesday 12 September. This means that staff will be unavailable from 2pm and for the rest of the afternoon.
For emergency repairs only, please call 0300 111 1000. You can get more information about the other ways to contact us and pay rent on our website https://www.thirteengroup.co.uk/news/staf f-event . Normal services will resume from the morning of 13 September.

Look out for information about our two bedroom bungalows available at Willow Fields, the second phase of our new housing development off Raby Road in Hartlepool.
Properties are available for shared ownership, an affordable way to get onto the property ladder through a part buy, part rent scheme.
A series of showcase events are coming soon, where you'll be able to take a look around the bungalows on offer and speak to a member of our team for information.
... Dates and times will be released shortly. In the meantime, you can chat with a member of our sales team by calling 01642 947070, or emailing sales@thirteengroup.co.uk.
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A community centre in Stockton has been renovated to benefit the estate's residents.
Thirteen’s property services and neighbourhoods team worked in partnership with Stockton Borough Council to transform the un-used building on the Primrose Hill estate. The week-long project saw the team of joiners, painters, plumbers and electricians carry out significant repairs and improvements, including installing a brand new fully fitted kitchen.
The team was delighted to welcome the Mayor of Stockton-on-Tees Councillor Eileen Johnson to the opening ceremony. Read more at www.thirteengroup.co.uk

The Tees Pride 10k in Middlesbrough is about to start! Good luck to all of our staff members taking part. Look out for the team in their Thirteen t-shirts.

The Hartlepool Action Lab brings together people and ideas to tackle issues to do with poverty in the town. You can drop-in and get involved on September 4 at the Belle Vue Centre, Kendal Road. Share what’s happening in your community and your ideas for future action to make Hartlepool a better place to live. Drop in any time between 6 and 8pm for a chat.

84-year-old Yvonne moved into Barnaby House, one of our supported housing schemes in Eston, last May and she says it saved her life.
Born in South Bank, Yvonne worked in the shipyards at Smith’s Docks as a tack welder. It was there Yvonne met her husband from Denmark who worked on the ships.
The mum-of-two was married for 48 years before her husband suddenly passed away, she remembers: “He was a wonderful husband and a father.”
... A couple of years ago, Yvonne lost her twin sister. She said: “I was living in a flat on my own before I moved here. I was a mess. I was anxious and I didn’t feel like I had anything to live for.
“Moving here has saved my life. I like everything about living here and there’s always someone to talk to. I was made to feel so welcome and I make sure I do the same for others. We like to welcome new people.
“All of the staff are brilliant, from the housing team, cleaners to the care staff, they all helped and supported me when I moved in.
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After a knee replacement, Brenda moved from a flat nearby into a bungalow at Markby Green, one of our supported housing schemes in Middlesbrough.
Brenda needed somewhere more suitable to live, so she didn’t have to climb the stairs. That was 14 years ago and she’s never looked back.
Growing up nearby, 78-year-old Brenda used to work on the sewing machines at the Dannimac clothing factory on Southbank Road in Middlesbrough. It’s no surprise to see her running a popular knittin...g group called Knit Wits.
She said: “Every Tuesday we get together in the on-site community centre. We’ve knitted for the local hospitals and charity fundraisers. It keeps us busy. We’ve even got our own Facebook page!
“We enjoy organising our own trips out. We had afternoon tea and we went on a trip on the Teesside Princess recently.
“I love living here, it’s a really nice community.”
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38-year-old Annabel wanted to live somewhere she felt safe. After hearing about Acorn House - one of our supported living schemes in Thornaby - from her social worker, she couldn’t wait to find out more. Two years on Annabel is still very happy in her home.
She said: “I feel at home here. I chose the apartment that I wanted and I planned the room out myself.
“I’ve got arthritis in my fingers and sometimes it can be quite painful so I need help sometimes. The staff help m...e with my tea if I need it. I like it here.
“I know that if I need to call for help I can, but I have my own independence. I go out on Tuesdays and Thursdays on my own and I enjoy watching TV, listening to music and playing on the Wii Fit."
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The first timber frame property is progressing well at Bishopton Road, our new development at Grove Hill in Middlesbrough!
The development will offer 92 homes for affordable rent, including two and three-bedroom bungalows and two, three and four-bedroom houses.

60-year-old Jeff moved into Bellamy Court - one of our supported housing schemes in Middlesbrough - with his wife nearly 10 years ago.
When he was 21, he had an accident working as a labourer and until about seven years ago he was doing alright. He remembers: “I completely lost the feeling in my leg due to the injury caused to my spine and nerve damage, so I need a wheelchair. Being back in the chair really got me down."
Jeff is the chair of the residents association and has ...lived in Pallister Park all of his life. He said: “I was one of the youngest when I moved in, but now I’ve seen more people of a similar age. It seems more common to see younger people living in independent living accommodation.
“I have my independence here, but it’s secure too. We can go away and I don’t have to worry. We like going to Blackpool on holiday and we know everything’s going to be alright here."
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22-year-old Emily has found her confidence and says it’s like having a second family since moving to Acorn House - one of our supported living schemes in Thornaby.
Emily, from Ingleby Barwick, moved into Acorn House two years ago, when her parents divorced and sold the family home. She said: “I moved at the same time that my mum moved. My family live close by so it’s really nice to visit my mum and sisters.
"I like my own space, but I get on well with everyone here and we have a laugh together.”

Keith has recently moved into Cedar House - one of our supported housing schemes in Elmtree, Stockton.
The retired health and safety officer, who worked offshore and has travelled the world, said: “I’ve recovered from cancer and I’ve got a bit of arthritis so I needed somewhere where I didn’t have to climb stairs, but I wanted to keep my independence.”
Keith, 66, who is involved in fundraising for local charities in the town, has settled into his new home very recently: He s...aid “I’ve only been in here a couple of weeks and it already feels like home. My family live close by and they’ve helped me to get the flat just how I want it. I love living here."
Find out more about our supported housing schemes on our website at https://www.thirteengroup.co.uk/page/supp orted-living.
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This Friday (31 August) we're supporting the National Housing Federation's Starts at Home day, which celebrates how supported housing helps people to regain their confidence and independence.
All week, we'll be sharing stories from customers living in some of our supported housing schemes.
Keep an eye on our Facebook page for updates.

The goverment is looking for customers and tenants to get involved and have a say on its 'new deal for social housing' Green Paper. If you'd like to get involved, have a look at the website: https://www.thirteengroup.co.uk/page/cust omer-consultations

Our offices will close for the bank holiday at 5pm, re-opening as usual on 28 August.
The contact centre will be open for emergency repairs only on 0300 111 1000, but you can also use our self-service website to report issues and find information about your tenancy.
Visit https://www.thirteengroup.co.uk/page/self -service-website to get started.

Bricklayer Tony Waite is cycling over 300 miles from London to Paris next month.
He’ll be raising money for Prader–Willi syndrome (PWS) and the Butterwick and Teesside Hospice.
Tony’s daughter, now 21 was diagnosed with Prader–Willi syndrome, a rare and complicated condition, when she was just a couple of weeks old. Caused by a defect on chromosome number 15, it affects just one in every 15,000 children born in the UK and is characterised by learning difficulties, low pain ...threshold and growth abnormalities.
Read more at www.thirteengroup.co.uk and donate at https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/AntonyWa ite
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As part of our new ‘clean sweep’ campaign, teams have been in Park End today doing a fantastic job improving the environment and building pride in our local communities. Read more about the campaign at https://www.thirteengroup.co.uk/…/thirt een-is-making-a-clea…

Please note that essential maintenance will be carried out on our ICT systems from 3pm today (Wednesday 22 August).
If you are calling to report a repair, please be aware that we will only be taking emergency repairs until around 9am on Thursday 23 August. If your repair is non urgent, you will be asked to call back on Thursday. Out of hours calls will be transferred to our external service provider and will be processed as normal.
We apologise for any inconvenience and thank you in advance for your patience.