Newsletter February 2019

This year we hope to bring you lots of different activities to take part in, with group talks, quick polls, online and face-to-face focus groups, workshops, and much more.  


Don’t forget to spread the word to friends and family and get them to join up to Hackney Matters, and you will earn 25 points worth £2.50 for every person who joins.  

This is a new module on the right side of the website which makes the process much easier, so just enter the email address of the person you are referring and once they join you will automatically be credited with the points. Simple!

 

 

Disability Forum - Would you be interested in joining?

The Council is looking to set up a forum for Hackney Council tenants and leaseholders with a disability, and would like to hear from people who are interested in getting involved. The aim is to help the Council better understand the needs of residents with disabilities and how services can be improved to make them more accessible. 

The forum is open to any Council tenant or leaseholder/freeholder with a disability. 

The Council are initially trying to find out if there is any interest from residents in setting one up and then explore what that group would look like.

To register your interest please login on the website www.hackneymatters.org.uk, scroll down to the Activity List and select “Disability Forum”.


Quick Poll - Community Strategy

 

 

The Community Strategy sets out the Council's overarching vision for Hackney as it grows and changes over the next decade.  It will provide a backdrop for all of the Council’s decision making throughout this period and a focus for working in partnership with residents, businesses, the voluntary and community sector, and statutory agencies. 

The strategy builds on what residents have told the Council already through the Hackney: A Place for Everyone consultation about the challenges and opportunities presented to those who live and work in the borough.

Take part in this Quick Poll, login to the website www.hackneymatters.org.uk and you will see it under the video.


Feedback from “My Rent Account” workshop

The new "My Rent Account" is a way for residents to manage all their account information in one place.  This involves viewing their rent account balance, making online payments, viewing rent charges and payment activity, seeing their housing benefit payments and finding out how their rent is calculated.  The aim of the workshops was to test out the new platform and make sure it meets all the needs of the user.

Two workshop were held in December 2018 and January 2019.  8 Hackney Matters panelists took part. 

The aim of the first workshop was to test all the features on the new rent account via desktop and smartphone.  This identified some usability issues and bugs which ICT were able to fix.

The aim of the second workshop was to get feedback on the test website.  This did not identify any issues.

Feedback from the sessions was very positive, and the user testing has been significant in ensuring the new platform works correctly.

Thank you to all the Hackney Matters panelists who attended these sessions.


Group Talks

Don’t forget to have your say in our group talks; “Make Hackney Better”, “Local Issues” and “Outdoor Events”.  

All your feedback is valuable and helps the Council to make a difference for everyone.


Vox Pop Video - “What does it mean to be a Hackney Matters panelist?”

 

 

When you go onto the website, you will see a video of two of our panelists talking about what it means to be a Hackney Matters member, and why residents should join the panel. 

We would like to recruit new members, and what better way than to hear it directly from members of the panel. 

If you would like to feature in a future video, please complete the quick registration in the activity list and we will contact you. 


Have Your Say - Hackney Council Consultation Hub

You can give your views on a number of open consultations by visiting the Council’s Consultation Hub (Click here).  All consultations are open for everyone to take part, but some may be area specific, so go and have a look and have your say.


Made In Hackney Community Cookery School

 

 

Join a Made In Hackney cookery class to learn how to cook healthy, affordable plant-based food. In venues across the borough, their cheery team offer free to attend and by-donation one-off classes and six courses (both for adults only and for families), in addition to day long masterclasses in specialist food themes that they charge for. 

You can also sign up to volunteer with them or attend their legendary community celebration events. 

To book a class visit www.madeinhackney.org/whats-on/ 



February Competition Time

This months competition will be a small trivia quiz.  There will be 2 multiple choice questions to answer about Hackney, and we will pick a winner randomly from those who answer both questions correctly.  The winner will receive a £20 Love2Shop voucher, and the correct answers will be revealed in the next newsletter.  

 

Login to the website and in the Activity List select "February Quiz Competition".

 

Good Luck!

 


December Photo Competition Winner

We asked you to send in photos that represented the Festive Season, whether it was a festive place in Hackney, or a selfie of yourself celebrating the festive times.  We wanted bright, colourful and festive photos.

Congratulations to our December 2018 photo competition winner Amber Parkes with this winning photo entitled “The Three Fashion - Wise Men”.