08/03/2005

A group of Coventry girls from the Wood End, Henley Green and Manor Farm area did the City proud at the weekend by scooping the Community Cheerleading Senior Section FIRST PRIZE at the UK National Championships. Guts and determination won them the prize, and Coventry New Deal for Communities (NDC) are doubly proud because they provided the funding to get the girls there! 

The Phoenix Cheerleaders joined together 3 years ago to do something positive and fun with their free time - they meet every week at Wood End Community Centre. The group is run by a few dedicated parents who want to see their children enjoy a worthwhile hobby. That dedication definitely paid off on Saturday, as they saw their daughters cheering to success. 

When the chance to go to the championships arose, NDC got behind the team and funded the entire trip. There was a lot to organise before the girls could compete, and the cost of attending such a competition is often the reason that smaller community groups are unable to compete. The preparation and costs included intensive practise and coaching sessions for the girls in the build-up to the competition, professional costumes, competition registration fees, accommodation, travel, and much more. All of this was covered by NDC, so the girls could have the opportunity to compete. 

The Annual Championships were organised by the UK Cheerleading Association, and were held in Manchester. The Phoenix Cheerleaders, who have never competed at this level before, travelled up the M6, for a taste of the excitement, professionalism and adrenalin - they got all of this AND a stack of trophies. 

The Phoenix Cheerleaders had six teams competing at the championships, from age 5 through to 17 years. The main award was won by a mixed group of 8-17year olds, and the tinniest Phoenix cheerleaders (5 year olds) also did really well coming 5th out of 15 teams. 

There were approximately 1,600 competitors altogether from right across the UK, which made Coventry's victory all the more sweeter. 

Julia Masterson, one of the organisers of the Phoenix Cheerleading group said, "We are really grateful to the NDC for giving us the chance to compete at this level. Without their generous funding, these girls would not have had the chance to experience what they did at the weekend. 

I am so proud of the team for the professionalism they showed. Nobody would have known that this was our first time in serious competition, and when we won the top award, we were all absolutely delighted. We took the girls there for the experience, rather than the winning, but getting one of top prizes was the icing on the cake". 

Steve Baylis, Youth Co-ordinator for NDC said, "We made sure our funding providing the girls with everything they needed to compete on an even playing field with other teams from across the UK. It was important for us to provide everything the team needed to feel equipped and confident to do well. The only thing we couldn't do for them is perform - that was down to them! They seemed to have done that part very well by themselves and NDC are very proud of the way they represented our area, and the rest of Coventry". 

The Phoenix Cheerleaders are in the process of gaining charitable status, and this should definitely have strengthened their case. NDC funding will continue in the near future but the team will be looking for more sponsorship and grants from local businesses, and national charities such as the National Lottery and Sports England. 

So, it seems we have not heard the last of the feisty young ladies from Wood End, Henley Green and Manor Farm, and we hope they will go from strength to strength cheering loudly for the city of Coventry. 

There will be several open days coming up for any young people in the area that might like to join the cheerleaders. For more information on this, or any aspect of the Phoenix Cheerleaders, contact Julia Masterson on 07821 134 720 or Lyn Giles on 0776 52 608 92

21/01/2005

Wood End Community Centre was transformed into a scene from Pretty Woman today (Friday 21st January), as hair stylists, nail technicians, make-up artists and image consultants, pampered parents from the New Deal for Communities WEHM area, in a day long intensive makeover session.

The group of residents were all lone parents from the Wood End, Henley Green, Manor Farm and Deedmore (WEHM) areas of Coventry, and they were given the well-deserved treat by The Workshop in Riley Square, Bell Green, and Coventry New Deal for Communities (NDC). 

With her fresh look for 2005, Local Resident Karen Taylor, said, "I love this event - I never have any time to have my nails or hair done, and would never think of having image advice - the lady has given me some great colours to try out. It really is a great opportunity to relax, meet other lone parents from the area, and generally get pampered all day". 

The Workshop provides expertise, advice and practical support for everyone in the area who is looking for a job, training, advice or a complete career change. They have an innovative approach to help people find work, training or self-employment. 

The Workshop has been jointly funded by New Deal for Communities (NDC) the £54million community-led regeneration programme for Wood End, Henley Green, Manor Farm and Deedmore, along with European funding from ERDF and ESF.

John O'Sullivan, The Workshop Manager, said, "My team and I, over at Riley Square, meet lots of lone parents who are trying to get back into work or get extra training, and so it was great to give them something fun, AND USEFUL that can give them a confidence boost for the year ahead. Working so closely with NDC means we can join powers and really gear our service and events to suit resident's needs. NDC hold many resident groups and surgeries, and we obviously meet many of the areas people in our job, so we can work together to improve services and events that are open to them ". 

Ruth Nelson, NDC Quality of Life Theme Manager said, "Quality of Life is all about boosting the feel good factor for residents, and I think today has definitely done that. After Christmas, people tend to feel a bit deflated and are in need of a lift. We hope today's event has given them both a physical make-over, and a positive outlook for the year with tips and advice from The Workshop". 

The Pamper Day was completely free and ran from 9.30am until 3.00pm at the Wood End Community Centre on Hillmorton Road. If you want to hear about other similar NDC events then call 02476 622 964, or for more information on what The Workshop can offer then call 02476 583860.

01/02/2005

Young people in the Coventry New Deal for Communities (NDC) area of Coventry were expressing themselves in the right way this Saturday when many of them descended on Watcombe Day Centre for a day of fun activities, and some serious consultation! 

The day's events included a ‘beat the goalie’ competition, a ‘most baskets’ competition and a skateboarding exhibition, all for the young people to get a feel for the type of facilities they could soon have on their doorstep. 

The event was the idea of the Manor Farm and Henley Green Residents Surgery Group, which is run through NDC. They are currently tackling the issue of young people in the community and are focussed on delivering some real results for the area's young people. Reg Lee, a regular attendee at the resident surgery said, “Our group meet up once a week with the Community Development Team from NDC and we talk about things we want NDC to help us with. At the moment, we are working on providing more activities for our area's young people. A couple of ideas we have had are a skatepark and multi use game area (MUGA). We have visited a similar facility in Bedworth and we think it would be a great place for young people to ride skateboards or scooters, and for it to be their area! Saturday's event was to find out how they feel about the idea and I am looking forward to the feedback". 

13 year-old Anthony from Wood End said, "It would be good for the area to have more things for people my age to do and I'm glad I came today so I could tell people from NDC what I want for the area. Some of the ideas they have are really good and I suppose they do need people like me to speak up regularly so we can get these ideas off the ground". 

The official consultation process was in the form of a questionnaire for the young people to fill out. The skatepark and MUGA were just a couple of ideas mentioned on the day - other possibilities were more youth clubs, better sports facilities, help to get into college, help to learn to drive, and help with sexual health issues. It is hoped that the interest in Saturday’s event will help to set up an NDC Youth Forum, to develop some of the projects mentioned. 

At present, NDC have various projects to appeal to the interests of teenagers - there is the POD scheme that gives young people aged 8-19 a weather-proof base for arts, crafts, games and drama, as well as arranging days out. There is a Media Mania project that allows any young person to develop skills in DJ-ing, music mixing and video production. There are regular football and multi-sports sessions as well as fishing and rugby. 

Ruth Popejoy from the NDC Community Development Team said, "I meet with the Manor Farm and Henley Green Resident's Surgery every week and they are really determined to get some equipment and activities for the young people in the WEHM area, and today's event brings them a step closer to making it a reality. We are really supportive of the group and NDC has set aside funding for whatever project the residents decide will best suit the young people's needs". 

The Youth Activities Event was held at Watcombe Day Centre, Watcombe Road, Henley Green on Saturday 29th January, and ran from 11.00am - 3.00pm.

22/02/2005

Motivation, confidence and inspiration is what the New Deal for Communities (NDC) Workshop in Bell Green is hoping to promote through their forth-coming Lifestyle Days on the 25th February and the 4th March at Henley Green Community Centre. 

The Lifestyle and Information days are aimed at promoting an all-round more positive approach to life, with help and advice available on everything from keeping fit and exercise, through to health issues, benefit information, projects running in the area, stress relief, head massage, and of course advice on employment and training!

Not that this should be mistaken for a recruitment open day!! Tony Millsopp from the Workshop in Riley Square, Bell Green said, "This event really is aimed at encouraging wider development for residents. It might be that someone is unemployed and doesn't feel ready to return to work at this time, but they are really interested in sports and keeping fit. If so, we want them to come along and find out what is going on in the area for them. We are keen to make this event as generic as possible, to attract all kinds of residents. No tricks! We might be the Workshop but we are also about enhancing the future prospects of residents, and that is not always jobs in the first instance". 

The Lifestyle Days are part of the Workshops dedication to providing an innovative approach to finding people jobs and training opportunities. As it is funded by Coventry NDC, the Workshops main focus is getting the WEHM area's residents on a positive track for a bright future. Tony continued, "We realise that residents who have been out of work for a long period of time are not going to walk in and suddenly decide they want to work full time. What they need is some support and encouragement in every aspect of their lives, so they can realise their potential. If that then leads them into training or employment, then great, and what is even greater is that if they are NDC residents then we can fund any training they want to pursue". 

The Workshop, which is based in Riley Square, Bell Green, has been running since June 2004, and is the first employment and training centre in the North East of Coventry. It is already renowned for offering its customers a different approach to self-development by holding pamper days for loan parents and events aimed specifically for incapacity claimers - always with the emphasis on enjoyment and realising potential. 

The first Lifestyle Day is on the 25th February (this Friday) and there will be another one held the following Friday, on the 4th March. The events run from 9.30am to 3.00pm and residents can drop into Henley Green Community Centre at anytime during the day.

02/02/2005

Burglary has fallen dramatically in the Coventry New Deal for Communities area (Wood End, Henley Green, Manor Farm and Deedmore - WEHM), with a 76% reduction throughout December, and a continued 44% drop in January. This is testament to the hard work of West Midlands Police and the New Deal for Communities scheme (NDC). 

There were 26 cases of burglary in December 2003, and only 7 in December 2004, and January showed a drop of 7 cases, from 16 in January 2004 to 9 in 2005. 

NDC has been working in partnership with the police to reduce crime and improve the negative reputation the area holds for criminal behaviour, and two significant projects they have been working on over recent months, seem to have done the trick! 

The SmartWater project launched in October 2004 saw NDC fund a mass protection campaign providing every home in the WEHM area with a forensic solution to protect all of their valuable belongings. This supported a wider campaign funded by the City Council to protect ALL Coventry schools, the Youth Offending Service and Whitley Depot. 

To also combat the December insurgence of burglary, NDC provided £10,000 of funding to the police to pay for additional staff overtime and hence increase police presence within the area. 

Inspector Rick Burgess of Foleshill and Wood End Sector said, “We are always pleased when burglary levels drop so significantly within an area, and in this instance it is great news for residents. The WEHM area has suffered in recent years with problems of crime and anti-social behaviour, and these recent statistics indicate that we could be seeing a turn in trends. We hope it is a taste of things to come, and we continue to work together with NDC, to combat crime in the area”. 

Karen Buttle, Coventry NDC Crime Theme Manager said, “We think that SmartWater has had a dramatic effect on burglary in the area since its launch in October 2004, and our recent statistics support this. It is the first pro-active mass protection campaign we have carried out in the area, and we have had great support from residents and the police. 

"We are continuing to close the net around burglars by ensuring police stations, mobile police officers and second hand dealers across the city are equipped with UV equipment that can detect Smartwater on the spot". 

It’s forensic capability is what makes SmartWater feared most by the criminal. It is designed to make the process of securing a conviction much easier, and with the solution being colourless, odourless and un-removable, the burglar will probably not even know they have been marked. 

Karen continued, “The SmartWater project, and the increased police presence, has really given our residents piece of mind. They feel safer in their homes and confident that the area is better protected. We are working closely with the police to ensure we use SmartWater in the most effective ways possible, and to spread the word amongst the criminal community that the WEHM area is no longer the place to come and thieve, as you will be caught AND prosecuted".

NDC has a specific theme area designated to tackle Crime in the area. They work under Karen Buttle (above) and cover a wide range of different initiatives including SmartWater, Safety in the Home, and the Warden's Scheme. Their main aim is to reduce the fear of crime and levels of reported crime in the area.

07/03/2005

Residents in the Wood End, Henley Green, Manor Farm and Deedmore areas of Coventry (WEHM) are getting "checked out" this Friday 11th March, at the New Deal for Communities (NDC) Health Day at Henley Green Community Centre. 

The event is organised by the NDC Quality of Life Team, and is based on the very successful men's health day that was held last year, where a similar number of free tests were given to residents. The advice and testing on offer this time around will be given out by the NDC health projects, such as the dietician and nurse, as well as other local agencies. 

There will be a whole host of things going on, from free cholesterol checks, blood pressure checks, body mass index testing, dental advice, relaxation advice, help with stopping smoking, dietary and healthy eating advice, and hot soup and bread all round! 

The event is part of the NDC's commitment to improving the health and quality of life of residents in the WEHM area. One of the main factors in living longer is to keep getting checked out. Issues like blood pressure and cholesterol can lead to more serious problems if they are not kept an eye on, and these issues can affect people of all ages. 

NDC Quality of Life Officer, Esther Higdon, is arranging the Health Day, she said, "We are really keen to ensure the residents in the area take care of their health. We had a really good response to the men's health event last year, when we did a similar thing with the testing on offer. If this is what residents want more of in order to keep healthy and live longer, then we will continue to hold them. The event will have lots going on, and we expect a really good turn out". 

The event will be held at Henley Green Community Centre on Wycombe Croft Road, Henley Green, on Friday 11th March, 12 noon until 3pm. It is for residents in the Wood End, Henley Green, Manor Farm and Deedmore areas, and is completely free to attend.

10/03/2005

Residents from the Wood End, Henley Green, Manor Farm and Deedmore areas of Coventry (WEHM) descended on Riley Square in Bell Green last Friday for a taste of I.T, courtesy of New Deal for Communities. 

The IT Taster Day was organised by the NDC website project, which runs from Riley's Learn Base in Riley Square, Bell Green.

The day was aimed at attracting residents into the Learn Base to 'have a go' at IT and learn some really useful skills. Whether residents had never turned on a computer before, or whether they had a fairly good understanding and wanted something else challenging, the event had something to suit everyone. 

Joanne Ginnever, NDC Web Designer and a tutor at Riley's Learn Base said, "We have a whole range of different people through our doors, with a whole range of different abilities. What I have picked up on is that residents sometimes find it quite daunting to walk through our doors for the first time, especially if they have little or no experience of IT. The Taster Day allowed residents to come in for a drink and something to eat and feel more relaxed. 

The event was a real success with over 30 people coming into the centre for some advice. There was a buffet lunch, refreshments all day, free NDC goodies, and plenty of information. Some residents even got cracking at the computer then and there, and others spent more time considering which course they might like to do. 

One of the residents at the event, Paul Allchorne from Wood End said, "Although I had been to Riley's Learn Base before and have actually completed a couple of courses, my wife Becky hadn't. I took her along to the event, with my little girl, and Joanne explained what type of thing she could do. She did the same thing with me when I first came to the centre, as I had hardly any knowledge of computers. In couple of months I have been able to learn to design web pages and even had it put online. I honestly never thought it would be as easy as it was. They are also a really friendly bunch in Riley’s Learn Base and I quite enjoy going down there – probably why I am on course number 3!"

The Learn Base is open to any resident in the area but if you do live in the WEHM NDC area (Wood End, Henley Green, Manor Farm and Deedmore) then NDC will fully fund your course. Joanne Ginnever will be there to help you get started and each time you pop in to do some more on your course. 

The courses are done on a drop-in basis with no time limits, so you can still do them even if you work full time or have children. The centre now also does Learn Direct courses, which gives residents even more interesting areas to learn about. 

If you are interested in getting skilled up in IT or doing an online course then you really must pop into Riley's Learn Base, Bell Green and speak to Joanne Ginnever from NDC, or you can call her on 024 76 667779.

19/09/2005

The £300 million Coventry New Deal for Communities (NDC) redevelopment of Wood End, Henley Green, Manor Farm and Deedmore (WEHM) has reached a major milestone after the Keepmoat, Westbury and Bovis Homes consortium was named as the preferred developer.

The plan will generate 3000 new and refurbished homes, roads, open spaces and play areas over the next ten to 12 years.

After months of rigorous assessments by the Masterplanning Partnership, made up of Coventry NDC, Whitefriars Housing Group and Coventry City Council, a team comprising Keepmoat, Westbury, and Bovis Homes has been selected to take on the redevelopment of the WEHM area in North East Coventry.

The selection panel, which involved residents, Whitefriars and NDC board members, and councillors, chose Keepmoat, Westbury and Bovis Homes from a shortlist of other national housebuilders. The Masterplanning partnership will now begin detailed discussions with the winning team, aimed at completing legal and financial processes by early in 2006.

Henley Green resident and member of the selection panel, Roger Tipton said: "It was a very tough decision choosing the preferred developer. All of the submissions were strong but we felt, and I did personally from a resident's perspective, that the plans of the Keepmoat, Westbury and Bovis Homes Consortium best reflected our vision for the future. They will work very well with the community and ensure we are well looked after".

Speaking for the consortium, Ashley Lane, Director of Westbury's partnership division, said, ". Our consortium is delighted to be selected as the preferred developer. Desirable homes and a thriving local community are central to the quality of life in any neighbourhood and we will be working closely with local residents and businesses to merit the trust which has been placed in us. It's been a tough selection process and we are looking forward to getting started on what is undoubtedly an exciting and challenging project."

Whitefriars Housing Group, which is set to get 1000 new rented houses for social letting, is a key partner in the redevelopment. Whitefriars' Chair Peter Lacy said: "Today's decision signals a huge step forward in the plans for the NDC area. We, along with residents, have been working towards this day for a long time, and it is fantastic that the Keepmoat, Westbury and Bovis Home consortium is now on board. Its plans best met the brief put together with local people and we soon hope to start making the proposals into reality.

"Residents in the area have faced a complex and lengthy process over the past 12 months through the developer selection, and can now look forward to seeing a more visual idea of how their area is going to look."

Coventry City Council strongly supports the plan as part of the regeneration of North East Coventry. Deputy Leader of the Council, Councillor Tony O'Neill said: "This decision shows the power of effective partnership working. The proposed development will transform the area and make it again a popular community in which people choose to live whether they want to buy or rent their homes."

The decision to appoint the Keepmoat, Westbury and Bovis Homes consortium will now be put to the City Council’s Cabinet, Whitefriars and NDC Boards for endorsement.

25/11/2005

Artistic new talent is set to be showcased at the 'Creative Blockz' Community Arts Festival this weekend.

The event will feature young talent from across the city, including music recorded by local artists at recording studios at Hillfields Youth Centre.

It will be a chance for local young people to show their work done over the past few months through a series of projects made possible by funding from Coventry NDC, Coventry City Council and the Small Arts Grant Council.

Visitors will also have the opportunity to express their creative side in a range of different art-related workshops, including photography, art, airbrushing and holistic therapy.

Three lucky local residents will also have the chance to be transformed in a series of makeovers thanks to the help of a make up artist, stylist and holistic therapist.

There will be a fashion show featuring collections from local designer Amarit and high street shop New Look being modelled by local residents from Henley Green.

The event will also be packed performances from bands, solo singers, a gospel choir and dancers.

The line up includes:

The free event is being co-ordinated by community arts and photography organisation Studio Skizm.

"It's been fantastic to work with so many talented young people and give them the opportunity to get their work seen," said Natasha Graham, Managing Director of Studio Skizm.

"We want young people to consider the arts industry as a career, not just an interest. We're encouraging them to be ambitious and use their talents."

"We are proud that projects that initially started in the Coventry New Deal for Communities area of Wood End, Henley Green, Manor Farm and Deedmore have been so successful they have now been rolled out to the whole city," said Patricia Barrett from Coventry NDC.

"It is great that so many young people can now benefit from these projects and are proud that we are helping make that possible."

The 'Creative Blockz' Community Arts Festival is being held at the Butts Theatre, Coventry Technical College between 3 - 7.30pm on Sunday 27 November.

Admission is free and there will be free food available.

01/11/2005

Residents in Wood End, Henley Green, Manor Farm and Deedmore (WEHM) are getting the chance to meet the developer team responsible for building their new homes.

The “Meet the Developer” roadshows have been jointly organised by the Masterplanning Partnership (Coventry New Deal for Communities, Whitefriars Housing Group and Coventry City Council) to introduce the newly appointed developer to the community.

The developer team, comprising Bovis Homes, Keepmoat Plc and Westbury Homes, has been selected to take on the massive redevelopment of the WEHM area in North East Coventry.

The developers will be pumping £350 million investment into the area with the construction of 3,000 new homes in the next ten to 12 years.

In a series of roadshows, members of the community will get the chance to find out who the developers are and what they have done for other areas. Residents are also being encouraged to share any views they may have regarding the redevelopment.

Ashley Lane, who is heading up the consortium of developers said; “The team are really looking forward to meeting residents in the area and fielding their questions. We hope we can impress them by showing work we have done for other redevelopment projects in the country and reassuring them that they will see lots more of us in the build up to work beginning out on site”.

30/11/2005

Santa Claus and the tooth fairy will be among the people urging parents to "dump the dummy" and "bin the bottle" this Friday in Wood End.

Coventry New Deal for Communities' Oral Health Promotion Officer is behind an event encouraging parents in the Wood End, Henley Green, Manor Farm and Deedmore areas, to help their children keep a healthy mouth!

The event, being held in Moat House School in Wood End, is running from 10am - 3pm on Friday 2 December, and will combine essential oral health information with a fun and festive twist.

The interactive day aims to discourage the prolonged use of a dummy or feeding bottle, and encourage the use of a feeder cup at an appropriate age.

There will also be advice at hand on improving children's social skills, and speech and language – all integral parts of a child's oral health.

As well as raising awareness of dental and oral health, activities will include fruit tasting, fruit face painting, story time, fun with balloons, playdough and a bottle juggler.

Oral Health Promotion Officer Sue Smith is funded by Coventry New Deal for Communities and is responsible for delivering positive messages to parents in the area. She said, "This will be a fantastic opportunity for parents to encourage their children to give up their dummies and bottles in a fun way. Children will get the chance to hang their dummies off the Christmas tree and in return will receive a present from Santa. Those who bin their bottles will receive a free feeder cup.

"We were keen to make this step really enjoyable for children and offer as much support and advice for parents as possible".

07/12/2005

Health is taking centre stage as 'Health Rocks' comes to Wood End on Friday 9 December.

Health Rocks is a fun event aimed at raising health awareness among residents living in the Coventry New Deal for Communities' (NDC) area of Wood End, Henley Green, Manor Farm and Deedmore.

There will be fun activities for all the family including hair braiding, aromatherapy and dance displays, along with food and music from around the world.

For those interested in healthy living, there will be nutrition and weight loss advice available. There will also be an opportunity to have a health MOT with free blood pressure, cholesterol, sickle cell and thalassaemia checks and breast screening advice on hand.

The free event has been organised by 'Unity Action Forum' (UAF), an enthusiastic local residents' group who aim to be 'a voice for all people' and ensure residents have a fair say in what is happening in the area. UAF is working in partnership with NDC, which is funding the event.

"Health Rocks will be loads of fun with plenty of activities for all the family," said Angie Mannings, a member of UAF.

"The event's aimed at everyone in the NDC area and we're really pleased that we can offer sickle cell and thalassaemia checks as it's important that members of the black community get checked out as they may not even be aware they are carriers as there are often no symptoms."

Patricia Barrett, Community Development Manager at Coventry NDC, said "This is a great way to raise awareness of common health issues and make it easy for people to drop in for health checks or advice without having to book an appointment at the doctor's surgery. We hope that people will leave reassured that they are in good health and with simple ideas for healthy living."

'Health Rocks' will take place from 3-7pm, Friday 9th December at Wood End Community Centre, Hillmorton Road. It is a free event and everyone is welcome to attend.

For more information about 'Health Rocks' contact Patricia Barrett at NDC on 024 7662 2964.

15/12/2005

Coventry New Deal for Communities (NDC) is sending out a strong warning to burglars this Christmas who may be thinking of targeting their area - they've out smarted them.

NDC has ensured that every household in the Wood End, Henley Green, Manor Farm and Deedmore areas is 'SmartWater' protected, which is bad news for burglars.

SmartWater is an invisible solution with a unique DNA code that stains thieves on contact. Even the slightest trace of SmartWater can link offenders - whether burglars or those who handle stolen goods - to a specific crime.

Karen Buttle, NDC Crime Theme Manager, is heading the high profile SmartWater campaign. She said, "We have been running this campaign throughout 2005 and it has been very popular to date. It has helped to reduce fear of crime in the area, which is one of NDC's key aims. We know that burglars fear SmartWater because of its powerful forensic capabilities and its high conviction rate, and this is a real confidence boost for residents in knowing they are well protected.

"All homes in the area have SmartWater and as it's the festive season, we are reminding residents to ensure they use it - especially as it’s a time when they will be getting new presents."

NDC is also offering residents some top tips for a happy and safe Christmas:

• Keep your doors and windows locked and presents out of sight
• Keep receipts and purchases separate
• Don't put your presents under the tree - it's the obvious place for thieves to look
• Don't let burglars see what you've got for Christmas - don't leave boxes from expensive presents in view when putting rubbish out for collection

Be smart and make sure Santa's the only one handling your presents this Christmas! Residents living in the NDC area of Wood End, Henley Green, Manor Farm or Deedmore can get help or more information on SmartWater from the Wardens on 0800 197 7570.