Supporting ASB Awareness Week

Having just moved in as a new customer, Neil found that the noise of his neighbour online gaming - shouting, screaming, swearing, and banging - was disturbing his sleep and preventing him from enjoying his home. Our Neighbourhood Manager asked Neil to start making a record of the noise and meanwhile tried reaching out to the noisy neighbour who was denying making any noise. Other neighbours confirmed that the noise had been going on for some time. With a patient and consistent approach, the Neighbourhood Manager identified that the neighbour was a vulnerable person who needed support. They involved GCH’s Enhanced Support Coach, Income Account Manager and Community Safety & Enforcement Manager. Over several months they began to build a good relationship with the neighbour who finally admitted to making noise and disclosed information about his personal circumstances. The team contacted his family and suggested other agencies who could support him. The neighbour agreed to see his GP and Restorative Gloucestershire for mediation. Both customers attend the mediation and gain a better understanding of their lifestyle differences and agree to share their mobile numbers to improve communication between them. The noise reports reduce, and Neil is content for the case to be closed.

Jane’s two grown-up sons were making her feel she was being held hostage in her own home. Both sons were heavily dependent on drugs and alcohol and displayed violent behaviour. Jane was suffering from a long-term illness and was working two jobs to stay out of her own home for as long as possible. Initially reluctant to take action that might make her own sons homeless, matters eventually reached the point where Jane removed herself from the property to stay with relatives.
We discussed options and potential solutions with Jane working alongside other professional agencies. With our guidance and help, Jane opted to be rehoused in another area. She was found secure accommodation with another council and her sons were removed from the property under the supervision of the police and GCH colleagues.
Jane now lives safely in another area away from a dangerous and volatile environment and with the proper care in place for her illness.

In March 2024, a violent domestic abuser lost his GCH home, when his partner successfully applied to court for a Transfer of Tenancy Order.
Vicky had been suffering from domestic abuse for years without telling anyone, but things changed after a particularly violent attack, when her concerned neighbours called the police and contacted GCH. The perpetrator was arrested, but as the tenancy was in his sole name, Vicky had no rights to the tenancy. Suffering from anxiety and worried about losing her support network, Vicky was fearful of moving out into temporary accommodation.
GCH worked with partner agencies to identify the best outcome for Vicky and supported her to obtain a Non-Molestation Order within six weeks. Meanwhile the police extended the perpetrator’s bail conditions while arrangements were made for a court hearing. At the court hearing, a Transfer of Tenancy order was granted.
Vicky said “It’s had a massive impact on my life because if I had to move out and start somewhere that I didn’t know and where I wasn’t comfortable, it would set my anxiety off a lot. The neighbours are really supportive as well. I found it easier to have a life here.”

Our Neighbourhood Manager received reports from neighbours of a distressing incident in their block of flats. A customer had been assaulted by her sister and during the attack, damage was done to a wall and carpet in the communal area. This left the neighbours feeling unsafe in their homes.
Our Neighbourhood Manager and Community Safety and Enforcement Manager investigated the incident by reviewing CCTV footage and discussing it with the customer. They explained that even though they were the victim of an assault, they are responsible for the behaviour of everyone living in or visiting their home. The customer has been recharged for the damage caused to the wall and carpet in the communal area and issued with a warning letter.
GCH is committed to ensuring that customers feel safe in their homes.

Robert, living in a block of flats with a communal front door, experienced first-hand the disruption caused by anti-social behaviour. The residents were experiencing noise nuisance and disturbance from unwanted visitors at two flats in the block. The visits could be at all times of the day and night, with door banging and arguing causing other residents to feel scared and intimidated.
Robert said: “There used to be issues with people causing major problems. It was impacting everybody who lived there, including the people in the flats in a way, because their lives weren't particularly healthy. The whole atmosphere in the block of flats was negative, dark, worried, anxious.”
The visitors to both flats were ‘cuckooing’ our customers and taking advantage of their vulnerabilities – alcohol abuse, disabilities and mental health issues. We initially tried to stop the behaviour by agreeing an Acceptable Behaviour Contract, finding alternative accommodation for one of the vulnerable customers, and eventually obtaining and Anti-Social Behaviour Order and a Partial Closure Order.
“I was well aware that it wouldn't happen overnight,” said Robert. “I knew it was going to be a process because obviously you're dealing with people's lives and where they live. But I knew everybody that was involved was committed for the long run and it worked out. The hard work GCH did along with the police have made it 100% better now. The whole block is happier, more content, more able to get on with our lives. We know that we can depend on GCH’s Neighbourhood team to help us.”

In communal settings, differences in personalities, routines and preferences can sometimes cause friction. One recent case from one of our Independent Living schemes involved a disagreement over festive lights during the Christmas period.

Irene had decorated her window and part of the shared garden with bright, colourful lights. She loved Christmas and wanted to bring some cheer to the scheme. However, one or two neighbours said that the lights were impacting their health and wellbeing, from disturbed sleep and overstimulation to difficulty relaxing in their own homes.

Although the lights were adjusted to reduce disruption, the situation remained tense, and several residents began to withdraw from community life. We supported all parties with individual conversations and then offered mediation as a way to rebuild understanding. With the help of Restorative Gloucester, two residents took part in a form of shuttle mediation – where messages are exchanged through a trained practitioner rather than in person.

The process has helped the residents reach an agreement about how they would treat each other and begin to rebuild trust. It was a positive step and showed how talking things through can really help when there’s a disagreement.