Housing
 
 
 

home pic
index pic

info pic

fun pic

health pic

money pic
support pic
house pic

transport pic

work pic feedback

Learning Difficulties Partnership board

 
 
house

To find information in Spot On

Put 1 or 2 words in this box, and then click on 'GO'

  


powered by FreeFind

own room
living at home

Your home


Your home is the place where you live.

 

 

Your home could be with your family.

 


Your home could be living with other people in a house where there is support for you.

 

 

Your home could be living in a place of your own with some support when you need it.


 

Your home could be a residential care home.




You have the right to be involved in deciding where you will live.

 

 


The South Gloucestershire Council has made a booklet.

You will find more information on housing in it.

It is called "Our Housing Strategy for people with learning difficulties 2003-2008"

 

 

Click here for an Accessible summary of Our Housing Strategy for people with learning difficulties 2003-2008.

Click here for the complete version of Our Housing Strategy for people with learning difficulties 2003-2008.

Different places to live

Do you want to find out about the advantages and disadvantages of difference sorts of places to live?

Step by Step is an accessible website that gives you lots of information and ideas to help you choose where you might like to live.

Click here for more information about Step by Step

 

Finding a new place to live

The Open Doors leaflet tells you how you can find a new home. It also tells you how to contact the people who can help you.

Click here to read the booklet 'Open Doors'

 

A useful website - Housing Options

 

 

Supporting People

You may also find 'Supporting People' helpful

Click here for information about the supporting people team

Click for information about paying towards supported housing - CCH96 April 2007

 

Gas and electricity

We all use energy in our homes. Most of this energy comes from gas and electricity. We use gas and electricity every day to keep us warm and light our homes. We also use it to do things like cook our food, watch TV and have a hot shower. So energy is really important.

We all have to pay for the energy we use in our homes.

Energywatch, the gas and electricity watchdog has produced a special pack called Positive Energy: All you need to know about energy and your home.

There is an introduction and 5 fact sheets in this pack. Energywatch has kindly allowed these factsheets to be included in Spot On. Mencap helped energywatch to produce this easy-to-read guide for people with a learning disability.

-      Click here for Introduction: About the Positive Energy pack

-      Click here for Factsheet 1: Choosing your energy company

-      Click here for Factsheet 2: Paying for your energy

-      Click here for Factsheet 3: Free services from your energy company

-      Click here for Factsheet 4: Energy sales people

-      Click here for Factsheet 5: Saving energy and money at home

The packs are free and available to anyone who might find them useful.

If you would like a copy of the pack or any help and advice from energywatch you can contact them in the following ways:

Telephone:       0845 906 0708

Typetalk:          0845 758 1401

e-mail:              enquiry@energywatch.org.uk

Website:           www.energywatch.org.uk

Write to:            4th Floor, Artillery House

                         Artillery Row

                         London

                         SW1P 1RT

 

Extra help for people with learning difficulties

Bristol Water

Bristol Water offers extra consideration for people who have particular needs. Their Customer Care Plus register means they can identify and respond quickly to the needs of customers who require extra care.

The range of special services are free of charge and are available to anyone living within the Bristol Water region.

For more information about Customer Care Plus:

Telephone (from Mondays to Fridays between 8.00am and 6.00pm)

        0845 600 3600

         0845 605 6585 (Minicom)

Website: Go to the Bristol Water dedicated Customer Care website at: www.bristolwater.co.uk/customerplus.

Wessex Water

Wessex Water recognise that some customers who have particular needs need extra consideration. Their Customer Care Plus register means they can identify and respond quickly to the needs of customers who require extra care.

The range of special services are free of charge and are available to anyone living within the Wessex Water region.

For more information about Customer Care Plus:

Telephone (from Mondays to Fridays between 8.00am and 6.00pm)

         0845 600 3600

         0845 605 6585 (Minicom)

Website: Go to the Wessex Water dedicated Customer Care website at: www.wessexwater.co.uk/customerservice

Unwanted telephone calls and letters

Getting unwanted telephone calls or letters from people and organisations can be very annoying.

You can stop people you do not know telephoning you or sending you letters, particularly those who will be trying to sell you something.

Telephone

You can do this either by contacting each company directly and asking them not to call you or you can register with the Telephone Preference Service.

You can register with the Telephone Preference Service via the Internet, by telephone or by letter.

Click here for more information about the Telephone Preference Service

Letters

You can do this either by contacting each company directly and asking them not to call you or you can register with the Mailing Preference Service.

You can register with the Mailing Preference Service via the Internet, by telephone or by letter.

Click here for more information about the Mailing Preference Service

Faxes

There is a similar service to stop people or organisations sending you unwanted faxes.

You can do this either by contacting each company directly and asking them not to call you or you can register with the Fax Preference Service.

You can register with the Fax Preference Service via the Internet, by telephone or by letter.

Click here for more information about the Fax Preference Service

 

Everyday living

Wherever you live, there are many things you will find useful to know.

Keep safe and secure

One of the things that worry people the most is the fear of crime.

It is important to know how you can keep safe and secure in and around your home.

We all want to feel safe at home and when we go out.

Most of the time we are safe.

But there are some things you can do to help you feel safer.

The Stay Safe booklet is an easy, accessible guide.

The Metropolitan Police in London originally produced The Stay Safe booklet. With the help of the Metropolitan Police, the Avon and Somerset Constabulary, the Avon and Somerset Police Community Trust and Lifeskills we have been given special permission to include it in Spot On.

In The Stay Safe booklet you will find information about:

-           Stay safe at home

-           Stay safe when you go out

-           Stay safe on buses and trains

-           Stay safe in taxis and minicabs

-           What to do if there is real trouble

-           People who can help you

Click here for The Stay Safe booklet

 

Plain Facts

You will find these Plain Facts sheets about Housing and Everyday Living helpful. Plain Facts aims to make the findings of research easier to understand.

The Norah Fry Research Centre at Bristol University produces Plain Facts.

Click here for more information about the Norah Fry Research Centre, Bristol University

Click here for Issue 9 (June 1997) - Having your say about housing

Click here for Issue 12 (June 1998) - Crime and abuse

Click here for Issue 19 (January 2001) - KeyRing: A service that helps people who live independently

Click here for Issue 20 (January 2001) - Pushing open the door; different choices about where to live

Click here for Issue 25 (December 2001) - Going away to school

Click here for Issue 26 (December 2001) - Leaving home for the first time

Click here for Issue 33 (August 2003) - Somewhere good to live

Click here for Issue 50 (Summer 2007) 'Support for Living'