News & Events

30 Oct Consultation - Review of Anti-Social Behaviour Policy We are looking for your comments and feedback on our Anti-Social Behaviour Policy.

09 Oct Winter Warm Home Discount resuming on Monday 16th October 2023 Vulnerable Scots have been urged not to miss out on £150 worth of help for their energy bills with the reopening of a UK Government scheme. Click the story headline for more information.

21 Sep New Housing Officer Joins Knowes HA Knowes HA have been successful in recruiting a new housing officer, Kara Halpin, who has taken over the housing area of former housing office Nikki Quinn. You can contact us with any tenancy related issues by phoning 01389 877752 or by email to info@knowes.org.

21 Sep New Builds Abbeylands Road You may have heard that Knowes HA have received planning permission for building of 27 new properties on the old Abbeylands Bowling site. This is great news, however the development of the site is still some years away and we would urge anyone interested in the site to check our website and Facebook page for updates as we are unable at this this time to consider anyone for the new build until nearer completion of the properties.

19 Sep OFFICE CLOSURE - Friday 22nd - Monday 25th September 2023 Please note that our office will close for the September holiday weekend from 4pm Thursday 21st September and reopen at 9am on Tuesday 26th September. For Emergency repairs please contact West Dunbartonshire Council Building Services on 0800 197 1004. For Gas Central Heating emergencies, contact City Building on 0800 595 595.

28 Jul View our summer newsletter and Report on the Scottish Housing Charter results! Our Summer 2023 Newsletter is now available to view here - https://www.knowes.org/data/knowes_magazine_summer23_2807_web_2023_08_01_15_01_50.pdf

01 Feb Knowes HA receives £20,000 from The National Lottery Community Fund! We are delighted to announce that we have been awarded £20,000 from The National Lottery Community Fund to provide support to our tenants during this difficult financial crisis. We would like to say a big THANK YOU to The National Lottery Community Fund!

17 Jan Reminder - Tenant Rent Consultation 2023/24 - Closing Date for Responses Extended Until 20/01/23 We are extending the time period for return of the rent consultation exercise to Friday 20th January 2023. If you are a tenant of Knowes HA it is important that we get your views with regards to setting rents for 2023. The full consultation can be found in your copy of the Christmas newsletter which was sent to you before Christmas or you can fill this in online by clicking the story headline.

12 Jan Updates to our housing management system will take place on Friday 13th January 2023 Knowes’ housing management system will be down on Friday 13th January to allow for essential maintenance. Customers will still be able to phone Knowes HA to make payments and report repairs but will not be able to access their accounts via the portal and staff will not be able to advise on account balances or the progress of repairs for tomorrow. Normal service should be resumed for Monday. We apologise for any inconvenience to our customers.

04 Jan The Thistle Tenant Risks Team are here to help! The Thistle Tenants Risk Team offer call backs for tenants and owner occupiers wishing to discuss home contents insurance, the cover available and payment methods. To request a call back visit www.thistletenants-scotland.co.uk and complete the enquiry form or email tenantscontents@thistleinsurance.co.uk and leave your contact details and someone will call you at a convenient time.

23 Dec Winter Newsletter 2022 View our winter newsletter on this link - https://www.knowes.org/data/Knowes_HA_Winter_Newsletter_2022_12_12_16_36_16.pdf

22 Dec Office Closure over the Festive Period - Contact Numbers to Report an Emergency Repair Our Office will close on Friday 23rd December 2022 at 4pm for the festive period. For emergency repairs please contact West Dunbartonshire Council Building Services on 0800 197 1004. If you are reporting an emergency repair on Wednesday 28th December, Thursday 29th December or Friday 30th December between 8am and 4pm, please contact West Dunbartonshire Council Building Services daytime number on 0800 073 8708. For Gas Central Heating emergencies, contact City Building on 0800 595 595.

21 Dec Volunteer for Awestruck Academy at their Christmas Dinner and Party Event Awestruck are doing a free Christmas dinner on the 29th of December. They are looking for volunteers to help set up, serve the Christmas dinner. If you would like help or looking for more information please contact them directly by emailing awestruck-art@outlook.com

16 Dec Our Office Will Close Today at 2:30pm Please note that our office will close today at 2:30pm. You can still contact us by calling 01389 877 752. Thank you.

16 Dec WDC Bin Collection in Faifley - Changes due to Weather Conditions Please note that WDC will not be operating bin lorries today in Faifley due to the road conditions and the various hill accesses.

12 Dec Our Rent Policy is due for review in January 2023 - Provide your feedback Our Rent Policy is due for review in January 2023. You can read our draft Rent Policy by clicking this link. If you have any comments, queries or suggested changes please get in touch by phoning 01389 877 752 or email info@knowes.org - thank you.

06 Dec Cherry On Top Cakes by Jackie Opens at Skypoint A new café and cakery has opened at Skypoint, Lennox Drive, Faifley! Jackie is a self-taught baker from Faifley opened her cakery and coffee shop ‘Cherry On Top Cakes by Jackie’ at Skypoint, Lennox Drive, Faifley on 25th October 2022. The cafe has been revamped with a new menu that includes an amazing selection of homemade baking. Pop in and get a breakfast, a light lunch or try some delicious homemade cakes! Open Monday to Friday, 8am till 5pm.

18 Nov Join the Scottish Housing Regulator's National Panel of Tenants and Service Users Help to improve social landlord services by becoming a National Panel member! The Panel is a way for tenants and people who use social landlord services to share their views via surveys and other feedback. The Panel are always open to new members. For more information and to join please visit www.bit.ly/shr-panel or call 0800 433 7212.

10 Nov Working4U’s Thrive Youth Employability Programme Working4U’s next Thrive Youth Employability Programme will commence in January 2023. Are you aged 16-24 and keen to learn new skills, build your confidence, explore career pathways and take on new challenges? A possible £40 a week allowance may also be included in this. For further details, please register your interest at https://bit.ly/3qWsi0U

27 Oct Safe and Warm Team (Energy Advisors) from CAB to attend our next Customer Working Group meeting The Safe and Warm Team (Energy Advisors) from CAB will be attending our next Customer Working Group meeting on 10th November at 7pm at our office. The Customer Working Group is made up of our residents who come together every few months to discuss important topics and help the Association make positive changes. New members are welcome at the next meeting. If you would like to come along please email asweeney@knowes.org for more information.

19 Oct Phoenix - Read about the Autumn Activities on Offer in their Magazine Phoenix are putting on some great autumn activities for everyone to enjoy. Read the latest edition of their magazine here.

11 Oct Flourishing Faifley Halloween Disco - 28th October 2022 at Skypoint Flourishing Faifley are holding their first free family Halloween Disco on 28th October 2022 at Skypoint Community Centre in Faifley from 6.30pm - 8pm. Free Entry and kids must be accompanied by an adult. Prizes for best dressed boy, girl and family, fun and games, dancing and a tuck shop. Skypoint Address: 96b Lennox Dr, Clydebank G81 5JY

11 Oct October Week Activities at the Secret Garden - 17th, 18th, 19th October 2022 Looking for something to do with the kids this October week? Pop along to the Secret Garden for FREE pumpkin picking and activities. There will even be free tea, coffee and biscuits for adults!

05 Oct SQA Leadership Award - Sessions Taking Place on Monday 17th October 2022 SQA Leadership Award Sessions are taking place on Monday 17th October 2022. This course is free and will help you to increase your confidence and learn about what makes an effective leader. Not only will you enhance your skills and knowledge but you will also gain an SQA Qualification! If you are interested contact lisa@comlinks.org.uk or call 0141 952 4382.

Customer Portal App Are you looking for more convenient way to pay your rent, report repairs and more, then our Customer Portal App is the way. If you are a tenant or a factored owner our app can be downloaded from the Apple App Store or Google Play.

Notice to Tenants - Important Information regarding Repairs Service Knowes HA’s main repairs contractor, McGill (formerly McDougalls) is currently undergoing a period of restructure. During this time McGill will only be providing an emergency/urgent repairs service to Knowes’ tenants. Therefore in order to ensure that we continue to provide our normal repairs service to you, we will be placing your repair orders with one of four back up repair companies. These companies are as follows: Valley Group, MP Group, JCM Joiners and MJM Joinery.

Knowes is looking for new members of our Management Committee Are you passionate about the provision of good quality affordable housing to the residents of Faifley? Do you feel that community housing associations like Knowes should be managed by local people who understand the area? Would you be available to meet with like-minded people once a month to discuss housing issues and help shape the future of social housing in Faifley?

Common Close Cleaning Schedule 2022-23 For those tenants and owners who receive the common cleaning service here is the new schedule for the days in which the service will be carried out in your property.

17 Oct Worldpay We are currently experiencing some technical difficulties with Worldpay. Unfortunately, we are unable to process any payments at present and hope to have this resolved quickly. We will notify you once this issue has been resolved. We appreciate your patience.

09 Oct Faifley Art Group Exhibition, 5th October - 21st November 2023 The Faifley Art Group exhibition will take place between 5th October - 21st November 2023. The exhibition showcases the wide variety of work created by members of the Faifley Art Group. Works are for sale. Click the story headline for more information.

19 Sep Please note that our office will close today between 11am and 1.30pm for staff training Please note that our office will close today between 11am and 1.30pm for staff training. For emergency repairs during this time, please contact our contractor, West Dunbartonshire Council Building Services on 0800 197 1004. For gas central heating emergencies, please contact City Building on 0800 595 595. Please note these numbers should only be used for emergency repairs. For all other repairs, please report these to the office when we re-open.

12 May View our Spring Newsletter! Our Spring 2023 Newsletter is now available to view here - https://www.knowes.org/data/Knowes_Newsletter___Spring_2023_2023_05_12_15_47_39.pdf

05 May Auchencraig Woodland Outdoor Volunteering on Monday 22 May - 11am-2pm Join your community to help improve Auchencraig Woodland for all to enjoy! A marquee and refreshments will be provided. Monday 22nd May @11am-2pm. No Booking Required.

30 Mar Flourishing Faifley's Free Family Easter Event on Saturday 8th April 2023, 12pm - 2pm Looking for something fun to do with the kids during the Easter holidays? Why not attend Flourishing Faifley's free family Easter event at the Secret Garden! This includes free entry, free activities, free fun and games and a free easter egg for every child.

22 Mar We will be Carrying out Essential System Updates on Friday 24th March 2023 We will be carrying out essential updates on our server tomorrow between 12:30pm and 1:30pm. Customers will still be able to phone Knowes HA however we will not be able to access specific account information during this time. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

22 Mar Alternatives Support Group for Family and Friends The group will commence on Thursday 6th April at Alternatives Clydebank Base located at 34 Alexander Street, G81 1RZ. The support group is aimed at those affected by a significant others substance use. For more information please email info@alternativeswd.org or call 0141 951 2420.

16 Mar Job Opportunity - Community Links Scotland are looking for an Energy Advisor Based in Clydebank, 25 - 36 hrs/week flexible working, 12 month fixed term contract, £29,500. If you are interested in this opportunity and would like an application pack please email louise@comlinks.org.uk

10 Mar Dementia Safeguarding Tags - West Dunbartonshire Launch on 22nd March 2023 Due to the successful implementation of the Dementia Safeguarding Tags in Argyll and Bute, Police Scotland are due to launch these in West Dunbartonshire during a launch day on Wednesday 22nd March from 10am to 3pm at the Dementia Resource Centre, Miller Street in Clydebank. People can freely drop in throughout the day, have a chat with the Dementia Advisors, Police Scotland and receive information or have a tag programmed for you or a loved one.

27 Feb Flourishing Faifley - Year 1 Annual Report Flourishing Faifley's Annual Report is available to view here: https://www.knowes.org/data/Annual_Report_Year_1___Flourishing_faifley_2023_02_27_12_14_07.pdf

17 Feb Do you have any questions about the new Faifley Community Campus? The Project Team for the new Faifley Campus welcomes the opportunity to present details of the current design proposal to the Faifley Community. This will enable residents to communicate directly with the design and advisory team and for them to answer any questions. The event will be held at Skypoint on Thursday 23rd February at 6pm.

10 Feb Alternatives Community-based Recovery Have you been affected by someone's substance use or have you experienced loss through this? Alternatives provide a Family Support Group including - Local Peer Support Groups 1-2-1 Support Selfcare & Wellbeing Activities Bereavement Counselling CRAFT Training For more information email Glynis@Alternativeswd.org or call 0141 951 2420.

09 Feb We are carrying out essential maintenance updates to our Customer Portal We are carrying out essential maintenance updates to our Customer Portal therefore you may not be able to access all the information you need on this at the moment. If you wish to view your rent statement please contact your Housing Officer. Thank you for your understanding.

01 Feb Isabel Pringle 1961 - 2023 It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Isabel Pringle, a former employee of Knowes HA, on 23rd January 2023. Isabel worked with Knowes HA for 17 years as Corporate Services Assistant before leaving us in August 2022. Isabel will be missed by everyone at Knowes HA and our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with all her family and friends. The funeral service will be held for Isabel on Monday 13 February at 9:30am Clydebank (Dalnottar) Crematorium.

31 Jan Working4U Cost of Living Event at Edinbarnet Primary School on 1st February 9.15 till 11.15 Working4U are holding a Cost of Living Event in Edinbarnet Primary School tomorrow, 1st February 9.15 - 11.15. Come along and hear about support that is available to help ease the burden of the current crisis. Along with representatives from Knowes HA there will also be advisors from Home Energy Scotland, Scottish Social Security, Faifley Food Bank and Upcycling Project, Parent Network Scotland and W4U Learning will be on site to offer support. Free tea, coffee, biscuits and a raffle included.

29 Jun Little Book of Big Scams If you are worried about and bogus callers, the Scottish Business Resilience Centre have released the 5th Edition of the Little Book of Big Scams offer advice to the public.

09 Jun Register of Electors - 2022 Anyone aged 16 or over and living in Scotland can now register to vote in Scottish Elections

14 Apr Debt Advice and Support Christians Against Poverty can help with people who maybe struggling financially

14 Apr Faifley Foodshare If you live within the local Faifley area, Faifley Foodshare is her to help.

08 Mar New Customer Kiosk now available A new Kiosk has now been installed within the office for customers use.

18 Feb Are you a Parent Living in West Dunbartonshire Would you like to increase your family income?