Curo News

"Coming from being homeless to where I am now, it’s fantastic” - hear Dug's story

Thu, 02 Sep 2021 10:57:40 Z

Curo works with South Gloucestershire Council to deliver Housing First across the local authority area, helping people find a home for good after long periods of homelessness. This is an innovative approach to addressing homelessness, by providing intensive support for people who need that bit more specialist help that is tailored to their needs.

Through Housing First, Curo have been able to support Dug to find a new home, where he can feel safe. However much more than that he has used this as a base where he can explore his passion for music.

"I came out of prison in June last year and I was put in temporary accommodation which wasn’t suitable because I’m in a wheelchair.

"Cathy [Dug’s support worker] got in touch with me and we found the place that I’m in now. It’s really worked out well.

"The support from Cathy has meant I can get my head sorted out, get myself focussed and it keeps me grounded. It gives me mental security, it’s a more stable environment."

By focusing on his strengths and passions he has a positive focus in life with something to look forward to with plans now to start a degree course in music production. This will help with his confidence building which in turn will help him develop the day to day skills that are needed to live independently, improve emotional wellbeing and resilience.

"Coming from being homeless at one point to where I am now, it’s fantastic.”

Curo also provides Housing First in Bath & North East Somerset - find out more here.

Rent on time - never be in arrears again

Wed, 11 Dec 2019 08:57:22 Z

“I paid my rent at the end of every month. So why was I still receiving text messages and letters from Curo saying I was in ‘arrears’?” Curo tenant Amy was puzzled, so she got in touch with our Customer Accounts team to ask for help.

“I was very confused and didn’t want to owe any rent to my landlord.”

We explained to Amy that Curo’s rents can be paid either:

weekly - paid on the Monday in full
fortnightly – paid at the beginning of the fortnight or
monthly – paying for the month to come

“Because I was making my payments at the end of each month, my rent account was always going to be in arrears at some point during the following month.

“They explained that I shouldn’t be in arrears in between my monthly payments. They also reminded me that their tenancy agreements ask customers to pay their rent on time, which I now understand.”

The next step for Amy was agree an affordable way for her to catch up with her payments.

“I couldn’t afford to pay one lump sum payment, so the Customer Accounts Team were very happy to make an agreement with me so I’d get to a point where I would be paying my rent on time.

“They asked me what I could afford and we agreed to an extra £20 a month on top of my rent. I now pay my rent by direct debit every month. I don’t have to think about it as it comes out of my bank account automatically.

“I feel so much better. I don’t get any arrears letters or text messages. I encourage anyone in my situation to do the same as rent is a priority bill – it’s the roof over your head.

“Also, by paying rent on time if I need to move, my four-week notice period will be already be paid!”

We also suggested that Amy registered with Curo’s secure online customer portal, MyCuro, to help keep track of her account.

“I can keep an eye on my account wherever and whenever as MyCuro is always open. I can make additional payments, book my own routine repairs and reschedule any booked repairs. All I needed was my tenancy number to register which was at the top of my rent statement.”

We’re here to help in Curo Customer Accounts if you ever need help with your account. Find out about the support we can offer here, or click here to chat with us or switch to Direct Debit.

How Passport to Housing changed my life

Fri, 25 Oct 2019 11:31:36 Z

Although not a Curo resident at the time, Joanne was referred to Curo's Passport to Housing service so she could get support to move home having been affected by the 'bedroom tax'. Joanne (pictured on the left with Curo Customer Advisor Debbie) shared her story with us:

I needed to move. My son moved out and that meant I was affected by the bedroom tax. On top of that, the property I was living in was unsuitable because of my health. I couldn’t deal with the stairs and I wasn’t able to get out as regularly as I would have liked. I felt trapped in my own home.

Because of my health I had to leave my job and that affected my income and triggered a claim for Universal Credit. I didn’t know where to start.

I was put in touch with Reach’s ‘floating support’ team. They helped me with budgeting, bills and my general finances since losing my income, and it was Jerry at Reach who referred me to Passport to Housing.

It was such a relief to have help and support. I quickly realised there are agencies out there who are happy to help and that don’t judge you.

My first appointment was booked with Debbie from Curo’s Passport to Housing service. Straight away she put me at ease and explained what she could do to help. I can get stressed in certain situations, but Debbie was open and friendly. Discussing personal information like finances can be embarrassing but I felt unjudged and very relaxed.

We worked out an action plan which detailed what I needed to do and what Debbie would do to get the ball rolling and get me ready to move. Debbie helped me apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment to cover the bedroom tax. This meant I didn’t run up any further rent arrears. She also helped me reduce the deductions from my Universal Credit, so I had more disposable income.

My biggest worry was the rent I owed and Debbie was also able to help with that. She made an application to St John’s Foundation who agreed to clear the arrears. It felt so good having someone on my side who knew exactly what to do – she made me feel confident. I knew I no longer had to bury my head in the sand because my problems were getting sorted and I could see light at the end of the tunnel.

Once my finances were sorted it was time to think about my move. I really wanted to be near my family for support but would have moved anywhere. I was so desperate for a better quality of life and to be able to get out and about rather than being isolated in my home because of the stairs. I was bidding on anything that came up on Homesearch because I thought I had to. Debbie explained that this wasn’t the case and that made me relax and stopped me panicking about moving.

I was overjoyed when I was selected for a one-bedroomed bungalow near to my family. As soon as I walked into the property I knew it was the right property at the right time for me, I was so eager to move in. Debbie also secured a payment from Welfare Support to help with my removal costs. I couldn’t believe it.

Very soon the property felt like home: it’s peaceful, I have lovely neighbours who always speak when they see me, checking I’m OK. It’s a proper community!

I would highly recommend Passport to Housing. They will help and support you, so go for it! It can be a big step to take but you won’t regret it, they’ll be on your side. I wasn’t even a Curo customer and was still able to access the service. I now feel so much better in myself.

Thanks to Debbie at Curo and Jerry at DHI Reach along with all the other agencies involved. You have changed my life for the better.

Find out more about Curo's Passport to Housing service.

Why become a Curo apprentice? Hear from someone who was...

Thu, 02 May 2019 12:29:56 Z

Daniel Mead joined Curo as an apprentice working in our house-building team. Having successfully completed his apprenticeship, he's now a Construction Administrator. We asked Daniel about his experience as a Curo apprentice.

The 14-month apprenticeship really helped shape me as a person. I've gained confidence, learned time-management skills, developed the ability to work in teams, absorbed extensive knowledge of the company and much more, all while making new friends along the way.

I've certainly learned more than I ever expected. I now have the knowledge to confidently complete tasks in an office environment and take on new challenges and events, whether that's working independently or in groups.

The weeks are always varied so you'll never find yourself doing the same things every day. Each week you will set the time to complete the college work set by your assessor... and keep above your targets! Whenever you have spare time you're encouraged to learn new information by signing up for Curo's learn-over-lunches, training and site visits to help build your knowledge and your profile across the organisation.

If an apprenticeship with Curo sounds like your cup of tea, register for job alerts to hear about every new apprenticeship as well as other vacancies as they arise.

Curo Apprenticeships - the perfect career launchpad

Thu, 02 May 2019 12:29:56 Z

An apprenticeship means you can earn while you learn in a way that's best suited to you. An apprenticeship with Curo is also the perfect career launch pad as Ellen Symonds and Beth Maggs, who both started their Curo careers as apprentices, explain...

"Joining Curo in 2016 as an apprentice was a great opportunity for me," says Ellen, who is now a Construction Administrator. "I wanted to be able to gain experience in an office environment and build on my skills, which I've definitely been able to do. Curo is a great company to work for and I've been able to use my skills and knowledge to progress on to permanent roles within the business.

"I would recommend an apprenticeship in Business Administration to anyone interested in building on their skills, while learning and working."

Ellen's comments are echoed by Beth who has progressed to the position of Senior Customer Care Coordinator having started as an apprentice: “Working at Curo as an apprentice was definitely a great move for me. I’ve been able to refresh my business administration knowledge and move on to permanent roles. I would recommend this to anyone: being able to build up skills while still learning and working with a great team of people.”

Find out more about apprenticeships with Curo, or see what's available right now.

Placement is ticket to a new career

Thu, 21 Feb 2019 14:35:59 Z

Michael had worked for most of his adult life on construction sites, but his dream was to use his creative skills in an office-based job. He decided to make the change, researching courses that would help him achieve his ambition.

Michael enrolled at Bath College where he gained maths, English and ICT qualifications and received advice from a recruitment agency which helped him see what steps to take next. Michael realised he needed some on-the-job experience to get started with his new career and put his newly-learned skills into practice.

As a resident with Curo, Michael heard about the housing association’s Accredited Work Placement Programme and saw how the scheme could help him to gain the necessary skills and experience to work in an office-role.

Curo helped Michael to find a placement which gave him the opportunity to brush up his computer skills, get used to working in an office environment and build his confidence.

Michael is coming to the end of his work placement after 10 weeks in the role. He has faced and overcome challenges along the way and learned a great many new skills which promise to serve him well in his new ventures.

“My work placement’s opened my eyes to the world of work,” said Michael. “It’s made me realise that the work I’m doing is what I want to do. I’ve made a good decision in changing my career and I look forward to the future with more confidence.

“I can use a computer with confidence and I know what I want to do and how to go about it. There’s always more to learn but I’m happy with what I’ve achieved so far.”

Find out about our Work Placement Programme here.

Passport to Happiness

Mon, 20 Aug 2018 08:30:00 Z

Curo customer Ann Davis shares her experience of using Curo's Passport to Housing scheme:

After I split up from my partner I was left with a joint tenancy in a three-bedroom property and became affected by the ‘bedroom tax’. That limited the amount of support I could claim to help with my rent. I fell into further rent arrears because of this and because of problems with my Universal Credit claim.

I used to do four jobs until I became ill and had to give up work. This had a massive impact on my income. I became stressed and anxious. It felt like I wasn’t in control of my life anymore.

I’ve been homeless in the past and never want to be in that position again. Before my meeting with Curo’s Passport to Housing I felt very low and thought about taking my own life. I was very scared of losing my home I didn’t know where to turn and what help and support was available to me.

I was referred to Passport to Housing by my Account Manager at Curo, Louise, as I needed to downsize to a one bedroom property. When I met Louise she was firm but fair; she was doing her job and had to be straight with me and say I was at risk of losing my home if my arrears continued to increase.

I felt very scared to meet with Debbie from Curo’s Passport to Housing. I thought she might not be able to help me as I’d already engaged many other agencies and got nowhere.

At my first meeting we went through an income and expenditure plan. Debbie quickly realised that I should have been receiving more Universal Credit. She listened to me without judgement and I felt very relaxed in her company, knowing straight away that she’d help me with all my financial and housing difficulties.

I was struggling to feed myself and to pay for gas and electricity. Welfare Support helped me on several occasions, ensuring I could eat and have some warmth in my flat.

Debbie referred me to the Citizens Advice Bureau to help sort out some of my more complicated debts and they met me at my home. Debbie also spoke to me about other benefits I might be entitled to due to my poor health. We later secured sickness benefit which improved my income greatly.

I felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders.

Debbie identified what debts I held and requested a backdated payment from Universal Credit. I couldn’t have been happier.

Throughout the process Debbie kept me up to date on progress and I felt reassured that something was being done to help me. Debbie talked to me about an appointment I had to attend with the benefits agency to see if I was fit for work. This gave me the confidence to attend the meeting knowing it would help with my Universal Credit claim.

I was successful in bidding on a property but still had outstanding rent arrears. I was told I was eligible for extra benefit through Universal Credit because of my health and received enough money to clear my arrears.

Debbie did so much to ensure my move went ahead. She even successfully applied for funding through Welfare Support to cover my removal costs.

I now have my own garden and I’m living in a one-bedroom property in a quiet area that I can afford. My health is slowly improving, I feel more in control and I’m happier to deal with things that I would have put off before… opening my mail for one!

I’d urge anyone who is struggling financially to get help sooner rather than later – the support is out there.

If you’re looking to move or downsize, do use Passport to Housing. I know I would have been evicted and homeless without Debbie’s help.

Pictured, L-R: Curo New Customer Advisor Debbie Brinsmead-Williams, Curo customer Ann Davis and Curo Executive Director of Customer Experience Paul Harris.

Find out more about Passport to Housing.

We are Curo: building high quality new homes - Nina's story

Wed, 05 Jul 2017 12:17:34 Z

Bath resident Nina describes how she got onto the housing ladder through Curo's Shared Ownership scheme.

Watch more customer stories.

Passport to Housing: "I feel like I'm someone again"

Tue, 28 Mar 2017 01:00:00 Z

Thanks to Bath resident Beverly who sent us this letter about her experience as a Passport to Housing customer. Beverly wanted us to share her letter so that other people in her situation could hear first-hand about the help available.

Pictured, L-R: Curo New Customer Advisor Debbie Brinsmead-Williams, Beverly and Jeremy Palmer of Reach.

Dear Debbie,

Just to let you know I am so happy and settled in my new home, and feel like I would not have been in this position now without you.

As you know I was in a very bad and dark place at my previous property and had been looking to move for some time. Because of bedroom tax and huge arrears on my account I could not see any way out.

I can’t thank you enough for the help and support you showed me with the work that needed to be done at the property before I could move, and the grant you secured to pay for this. Having lived there for 30 years I didn’t know where to start and my ill-health held me back.

Before Passport I was suffering badly with depression and anxiety and my health was very poor. No one had been able to help me in the past three years and I couldn’t see how another appointment with another person could help me out of my situation. When we met I was so relieved at how down-to-earth you were and how you listened to me without judgement.

You put me at ease and made me feel that it would be possible to move if we worked together. Whenever I needed to see you or speak to you, you took the time to contact me and nothing was ever too much trouble.

I had always felt that I was a no one, now I feel like I am someone again for the first time in five years. You really understood what I was going through and did everything you could to help me as well as working with my support worker, Jeremy from Reach, who you also had a really good relationship with.

Without your help I would not have dealt with my debts which are now under control and manageable. I can now open my post knowing it won’t be a threating letter.

I can’t thank you enough for arranging for my arrears to be cleared through a discretionary housing payment, which was the last barrier to moving.

I no longer feel isolated or alone, having moved to a property that is right for me which I love and am slowly making it into a home. I am coping much better with my depression and anxiety and feel that I am in a much better place. I’m actually going out this weekend with friends which will be a first for years.

Having a bed to sleep in is amazing, as you remember I was sleeping on the sofa and did not use the upstairs of my previous property. I now have carpets which have been laid with the grant you secured, which again I have not had in many years.

It was a real possibility before you started working with me that I was going to be evicted from my property, and thanks to the service this did not happen which I am so pleased about.

I cannot recommend the service enough and would like to say to anyone thinking of going through passport to housing to do it 150%. We need more people like you who can listen, understand and help people without judgement.

I now have more confidence, no money worries and a fresh start to my new life and I feel like I am living again!

Many thanks Debbie for everything.

Beverly talks about her experience with Passport to Housing in this short film:

Passport to Housing

A stay at the Wellbeing House: Michael's story

Tue, 20 Sep 2016 01:00:00 Z

Michael, pictured, is one of many people who have stayed at our Wellbeing House since it opened in 2015. The Wellbeing House is a spacious Victorian property in Bath, offering a place for people to stay if they’re experiencing mental or emotional distress.

Michael has Myalgic Encephalopathy, or ME, a debilitating illness that affects around 250,000 people in Britain. Michael also suffered from anxiety and depression and was being supported by his local Mental Health Team who referred Michael to the Wellbeing House.

When Michael came to the Wellbeing House he was living in shared accommodation and was having problems with other tenants causing noise. Michael had lost his job because of the effects of ME and was finding it difficult to get enough rest. At an already difficult time, this unpleasant and noisy home environment heightened Michael’s anxiety and depression.

By coming into the Wellbeing House Michael was able to get the peace and quiet he needed. He stayed at the house on three different occasions and we were able to signpost him to other agencies who could help him further.

Today Michael says he feels on the road to recovery – he’s also moved out of his shared house and now has his own Curo property.

Find out more about the Wellbeing House.

The right move... Sally and Aaron's Passport to Housing story

Wed, 15 Jun 2016 01:00:00 Z

Weston couple Sally and Aaron needed to move, but debts meant taking on a new tenancy was going to be hard. Sally explains how Curo's Passport to Housing service helped them clear their debts and make the right move...

"Living in a fourth floor flat was impacting on Aaron’s health - mobility issues meant he wasn't able to get out and we felt trapped in our own home. Aaron began to feel really depressed and that created a lot of emotional stress for us both.

"We heard about Passport to Housing from B&NES Council's housing options team. Passport helped us sort out our debts by entering us into a payment plan. This stopped creditors taking enforcement action through the courts and prevented us getting County Court Judgements, making us better off each week.

"Completing a income and expenditure form helped us understand our finances and put a budget plan together. This has made us feel much more confident about dealing with financial matters in future.

"Our journey with Passport to Housing started in March and we moved into our new home in May. It’s amazing... we're so happy. Speechless! It is so much more than we expected.

"We now have a ground floor flat with wheelchair access, just a short distance from the hospital.

"We'd highly recommend Passport to Housing and have already been telling our family and friends."

Pictured: New Customer Advisor Debbie Brinsmead-Williams (centre) with Sally and Aaron outside their new home.

Get your Passport to Housing

'On cloud 9'... Della's Passport to Housing story

Wed, 15 Jun 2016 01:00:00 Z

Keynsham resident Della was hit by the 'bedroom tax' which reduced the support she could get to cover her rent. Della talked to us about how using our Passport to Housing service helped her to take charge of her money and move into a new home that she could afford.

"Before Passport to Housing I was struggling with my finances. I was affected by the bedroom tax as my daughter had moved out. I didn’t want to fall into arrears, but I didn’t think there would be any way I could move... I really felt there was no way out of my situation.

"Passport to Housing helped me with budgeting, reducing my outgoings, and I realised I'd have to sell my car as I could no longer afford the upkeep.

"Curo applied for a Discretionary Housing Payment to cover the bedroom tax shortfall for a while. This gave me breathing space to look for a smaller property and meant I didn't fall into rent arrears.

"When I found a suitable property, Curo secured a week’s rent up-front and covered the moving costs from welfare support.

"In May this year I moved into my dream home, and I don’t need a car it's so central. I’m on cloud 9!

"Passport to Housing has given me confidence and control of my finances. I would say to anyone thinking about Passport to ‘do it!’"

Pictured: New Customer Advisor Debbie Brinsmead-Williams with Della and her chiwawa 'Gok'.

Get your Passport to Housing