April TORC News Bulletin🌸

April TORC News Bulletin

Welcome to the April edition of the TORC News bulletin. It’s officially the middle of Spring and the weather is brightening up, thank goodness, although a couple of our Easter events were still pretty wet!

Last month we did a call out for residents to join the community Resident WhatsApp Groups and we received a great response. Thanks to all residents who got in contact to join the groups. If you are interested in joining you can give your name and phone number here.

This month we have a good few TORC updates and notices – a survey on the rent review and reminders about TORC Helpdesks and the ‘visitor parking’ trial. We also have some events to register for next month so make sure you check those out.

Don’t forget to follow TORC on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Bethany – Tenant Engagement Officer

LATEST NEWS

‘Rent Review’ Feedback Survey

Over the past few months, all TORC residents have gone through the process of our ‘annual rent review’. This year we also introduced a new digital version of the rent review using the ‘keyholder’ online platform. We are now asking you to share your thoughts and experiences with us by completing a quick feedback survey. It includes questions like:

– Do you think that the new digital process is an improvement?

– Were you satisfied with the customer service?

– How satisfied were you with the overall process of the digital rent review?

Your input will help us better understand how we can improve our services and make sure that we are meeting your needs as a resident. We understand that your time is valuable, but we assure you that your participation in this survey will not go unnoticed. We value your opinion and want to ensure that all residents have a say in how we operate. Your participation in this survey will help us achieve just that.

TAKE THE SURVEY

TORC Helpdesks

A common error that the TORC team have noticed is that queries related to repairs or adaption requests are being sent by residents into the housing email inbox (the info@ account). TORC has two helpdesks – one for housing and general queries and the other for repairs and maintenance. It is important that you send your request to the correct email account, this is so that we can ensure the service we provide is efficient and you are responded to by the correct team member in a timely manner.

Housing Helpdesk

Email: info@torcsustainablehousing.ie

Phone: 014852020 – option 2

Repairs Helpdesk

Email: repairs@torcsustainablehousing.ie

014852020 – option 1

Community Easter Events

As children went back to to school after the Easter holidays last week, we take a look back at the community events that were held in Roscommon, Clonakilty and Galway and Shannon over the Easter break. To kick off the holidays, 54 residents in Shannon enjoyed going to the cinema to see ‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie’ on the first day it came out. 

There was the Spring egg hunt in Roscommon where residents were blessed with beautiful weather! The children aged 7+ were on the ‘egg hiding team’ and laid all the eggs for the little hunters with baskets.

The resident gatherings in Clonakilty and Galway were both a bit of a wash out weather-wise! But at each event we had about 60 residents come down for some hot drinks, Easter buns, chocolate eggs, spring colouring activities and most importantly, to have a chat with their neighbours. TORC TEO Bethany also had the opportunity to talk to residents about their ideas for community summer events for their scheme. We served all of the hot drinks in our very own TORC branded travel cups that residents could keep (a great way to be sustainable and not contribute to single-use plastic).

‘You Said, We Listened’: Visitor Parking in Clonakilty & Galway

Last year we received a lot of feedback from residents in Pairc Thiar and Clairin about parking. Residents raised concerns at Residents’ Groups meetings that guests were parking their cars in prime residential spaces and blocking residents from parking closer to their homes. In response to this, TORC is trialing designated ‘visitor parking’.

In January, the Facilities Management team installed ‘Visitor Parking’ labels to 7 spaces in Galway and 6 spaces in Clonakilty. After a trial period of 6 months, the visitor parking will be reviewed and in July we will be asking residents for their feedback on the initiative and whether it should continue.

UPCOMING EVENTS

1/ Bike Doctor & Cycle Skills Event – Clonakilty

Bike Week is a celebration and promotion of the benefits of cycling. To mark Bike Week this year, TORC has partnered with community bike workshop group ‘Cycle Sense’ to host a ‘Bike Doctor’ event for Pairc Thiar residents. Bicycle Mechanics will be on site to service residents’ bikes for free. This will include:

• Diagnosis
• Oiling chains
• Tire pumping + puncture fixing
• brake adjusting

There will also be repair demonstrations, bike accessory giveaways AND the ice cream van will come to provide some free ice creams to residents. Register for this event using the form below.

REGISTER HERE

2/ ‘Neighbour’s Day’ Event – Pairc Goodman, Skibbereen

To Celebrate European Neighbours Day, TORC is hosting a gardening event with residents in Pairc Goodman, Skibbereen. The details are yet to be confirmed but there will definitely be some indoor and outdoor plants to give away to residents as well as a horticulturalist to guide residents on summer gardening and to provide advice on the Community Garden Project (and an ice cream van for the kids too!). Make sure you put the event in your diary!

Friday the 26th of May – time to be confirmed

If you have an idea or a suggestion for this event, please WhatsApp Bethany on 087 627 5605.

3/ Shannon Summer Sports Camp – Survey

In the Tenant Engagement Survey at the beginning of the year, a resident from Drom Cuilinn suggested that hosting a ‘sports Day’ for children in Drom Cuilinn would be a good idea. TEO Bethany has contacted the Clare Sports Partnership who would be willing to host this camp for residents. However, we need to find out how many children would be interested in attending and their ages. If you are a resident of Drom Cuilinn, please complete the survey. If there is enough interest, we will go ahead with this summer project.

COMPLETE THE SURVEY

4/ Roscommon: First Aid Training

TORC is running an in-person First Aid Training session for residents of Douglas Drive in Roscommon in May. It will be held at the South Roscommon Family Resource Centre on:

Tuesday the 23rd of May from 5.30 – 7.30pm

In this highly informative two hour class, you will learn essential life-saving techniques enabling you to act quickly in the event of a family medical emergency. On completion of this Family First Aid Course, learners will be familiar with: 

• Adult & Child CPR
• Choking
• Burns/Scalds
• Meningitis
• Bleeding

To register for this training, email getinvolved@torcsustainablehousing.ie or WhatsApp Bethany on 087 627 5605.

5/ Spring Bingo 

The Easter edition of the online Bingo unfortunately had to be postponed. The event is now scheduled for Thursday 25th May at 11.30am. All residents are welcome.

If you previously registered for the Easter bingo, there is no need to register again, but if you have not registered, use the link below. Deadline to register for bingo tickets is May 18th.

REGISTER HERE

6/ TORC Top Tips for Tenants

One of the most common causes of blocked toilets that the TORC Repairs team have witnessed is: TOILET FRESHENERS!

Please be careful when using toilet fresheners and replace them regularly. Better yet, give the plastic clip on ones a miss and use a ‘cistern block’ or a deodorizing spray instead – it could save you a blocked toilet! Keep the area around the toilet bowl clear as well – items such as soaps, extra toilet paper, brushes and combs can easily get knocked into the bowl and fall down the drain eventually leading to a clogged toilet drain.

© 2023 TORC Sustainable Housing | 1 Empress Place, Summerhill North, Cork City, Co. Cork, T23 N73P

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