Advantage, the new scheme to support and thank YOU!
Advantage is a new package of support and benefits that aims to make a real difference to you and our community. Advantage aims to provide support and opportunities to you through education and training, help you cut costs by giving discounts at national and local shops and businesses, giving support and guidance on a range of life and consumer issues via the Advantage Helpline, rewarding you for keeping to the terms of your tenancy agreement with the opportunity to win some great prizes throughout the year and improving the areas you live by providing funds for community projects.
To download an Advantage Grants Application Form click here
You may find it easier to fill in the Word version of the application form, if so, click here for the Form.
To download an Advantage Grants Guide click here
Deadline for applications have now closed. Watch this space for the next date in the new year.
Do you enjoy football?
Over 30 youths from the Huyton area re-painted underground passage ways in Rimmer Avenue, Huyton during school half term.
The project was part of the ‘Dream Scheme’ which is funded and organised by Knowsley Housing Trust (KHT) Advantage scheme, KMBC and the Police.
The ‘Dream Scheme’ is unique in that rewards youths aged from 6-16 years old for their effort in helping transform their community.
This transformation in re-painting and brightening up the passage ways in Huyton was done by the youths in their own free time as part of the scheme. The end result of the makeover was tremendous with the tunnels now bright, colourful and friendly looking. The young people themselves said they would now feel safer walking through the brightly coloured subway.
KHT Customer Involvement Officer Mark Perryman said:
“The project is fantastic in that the kids get rewarded for putting something back into their community. The area in turn benefits from their effort and everyone is delighted with the end result.”
Creating Places that puts smiles on faces
KHT Advantage, in partnership with Princes Trust and Musical Youth, offered the first of its Get Started with Music courses in August. The course which involved 12 young people from Knowsley entailed writing and composing their own music, recording and producing a CD, locating a suitable venue and delivering a performance for friends and family. Amazingly, this all took place within 5 days and the gig in one of Liverpool’s premier live music venues, The Picket, will be long remembered by those who were present.
KHT Community Day:
Advantage had a heavy presence at KHT’s Community Day on Thursday 6th August. Advantage had 7 stalls inside the 
sports hall at KGV Playing fields in Huyton. With 7 stalls including; Knowsley Works who secured 8 people for interviews with employment officers, Knowsley College who had 14 people signed up and committed to courses, Advantage Opportunities stall had 72 young people sign up to Dream Schemes and 6 people sign up to Prince’s Trust events, the Advantage Helpline/Discount Card stall received some great feedback on the card and helpline, KHT Advantage gave away a range of information about Advantage, Regen stall gave away some priceless advice and IMX took 10 referrals for welfare benefit checks and singed up tenants to the credit unions- all in all a very successful day!
Advantage entered into prestigious housing awards:
Advantage have been entered into CIH’s UK Housing Awards 2009 in the category ‘Encouraging innovation and 
efficiency’. Despite competition from over 329 entrants, the Advantage scheme has been shortlisted as a finalist! This is fantastic news for KHT and scheme Advantage. Winners will be announced on Wednesday 11th November in London’s Hilton Park Lane Hotel. Chief Executive of KHT Bob Taylor said:
“I am delighted that the Advantage scheme has been short listed for an UK Housing Award in the encouraging innovation and efficiency category. Since the scheme was launched in April this year we have seen some fantastic achievements being realised and the incredible impact Advantage is making on people’s lives within the Knowsley community. This is a great achievement and shows Advantage is getting the recognition that it deserves.”
Advantage Dream scheme:
Under the ‘People’ part of Advantage we run Dream Schemes. Dream schemes are availble to young people aged 6-25 years and encourage young people to get involved with community work. Dream schemes are delivered by local residents associtations and in return for helping 0ut and mucking in, all young people receive an award! Christmas wreaths have been made along with litter picks. A recent one in Kirkby was a great success with several bags of litter removed, new shrubs planted and bollards painted. The green area is now a pleaseant and clean place for the local community to play. 
Advantage at Harrogate!
The Advantage Team went to Harrogate in Yorkshire on Wednesday 17th June to the CIH housing exhibition. KHT had a stall there for four days and one of the days was Advantage themed. Below is a picture of our stand which has a cut out of Advantage Champion Kiera, and one of our prize winners Mr Watts who won a plasma screen TV. The day was a great success with lots of people finding out about Advantage.
Do you have the Advantage?
The Curran family do…
Winner of £1500 worth of vouchers
The Curran's with Louise Harris- Head of Advantage
Mrs Wilson does…
Winner of £2000 holiday voucher
Ms Rowlands does…
Winner of £1500 worth of high street vouchers
UPDATE:
The first ever Advantage prize draw was conducted in May and prize winners have now been announced. Refer to the ‘Prize Winners’ link on the left handside to see the lucky winners!
The Thompson family have the Advantage.
Nintendo Wii and Wii Fit winners
Do you want to be entered into the next Advantage prize draw?
All you have to do is stick to your tenancy agreement, allow KHT access for gas servicing, have no ASBO’s, court injunctions or no Order of Seeking Possession against you and a clear rent account. This quarter’s winners won £2000 holiday voucher, Wii and Wii Fit’s, Plasma screen TV’s, laptops and gift vouchers.
Be sure to look at our ‘Recent News’ posts and ‘News’ posts, it gives you information of a range of facilities and events which are going on in the local area.
