Hello! And welcome to your email newsletter from Cairn! Scroll down to find out what's been happening.

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I am a huge champion of tackling inequality and a strong advocate of social justice. That is why I believe working for a housing association is the best job in the world as we get to make a positive difference to people’s lives.

Although I have only been in post for two months, I already have strong ideas about how I want things to improve. You will hear more about the changes I plan to make in time but here are some things you can expect from me:

• A strong focus on putting the customer first. We will not assume that we know what you want and will create a refreshed approach to meeting your needs.
• We will be an organisation where we deliver on our promises and commitments.
• We will design a fresh approach to tenant scrutiny and engagement. We will use modern and accessible methods to connect with you and drive improvements. The importance of having a strong tenant voice that is listened to can’t be overstated.
• We will be creative and innovative and find smarter ways of working.
• We will be a social business with a commercial mind – looking to drive value from every pound we spend.
• We will promote equality, diversity and inclusion. We will know who our tenants are and make sure we don’t intentionally or unintentionally discriminate against anyone, with services that meet the differing needs of you all.

This is an exciting time for Cairn, and with the launch of our new Business Plan, which you can read more about below, is a re-set for the organisation. It is an immense privilege to be your CEO and I look forward to meeting as many of you as I can over the coming years.

We are delighted to announce the completion of a new housing development in Forres. It provides 28 high-quality homes of varying sizes, all designed to meet the diverse needs of the local community. Read more about the development here.

The general election will take place on the 4th July, but you need to make sure you are eligible to vote first. To begin with, you must make sure you are registered to vote. You can do this here.

Then if you want to vote by post or by proxy (this is when a trusted person votes on your behalf) you have to apply for that too. 

Don't forget that if you don't have a recognised form of ID already, you will also need to apply for a voter ID online that you can take to the polling station.

We know that managing your energy bills can be worrying and, at times, confusing. The service aims to help you stay affordably warm at home and includes:

• Access to their online advice library at changeworksinfo.org/cairnhousingassociation
• Regular emails or letters over the coming months around energy advice
• Access to telephone advice for more in-depth support
• Tailored one-to-one support if you have more complicated problems such as energy billing issues or debt

If you would like help or advice, you can self-refer by:

• Calling 0800 870 8800, Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm
• Visiting changeworks.org.uk/referral/

The Rightsizing Scheme is a programme available to tenants in Highland. If you have a larger house than you need, you could be eligible for a financial incentive to move to a smaller one. This frees up your current home for a family on the waiting list who needs the extra space. Everyone is a winner!