Emergency Community Shopping Scheme Rules

1. Our Emergency Community Shopping Scheme Coordinator is Disclosure and Barring Board checked to confirm that they do not have a criminal record. This can be confirmed with Linda Brokenshire, Estate Manager either by telephone on 0161 682 5454 or by Email - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. We advise you not to hand money over to neighbours.

2. Please never open the front door to us and keep it locked. This gives us the best chance of not getting the Corona Virus. Anything handed over should be through the letterbox. Please don't be offended by us vigorously using hand santiser on our hands given the circumstances.

3. All deliveries need to be paid up front. We prefer Paypal or bank transfer as this makes things easier to manage. When using Paypal, always make sure that you use the option to transfer money to a friend. We cannot accept any responsibility for mistakes incurring Paypal fees. If you are unsure, telephone us first. The mileage fee will always be taken off the amount before the purchase of items or services (such as Switch 2) on your behalf.

4. We can't guarantee what time we will be able to undertake deliveries but we will do our absolute utmost to undertake same day deliveries to those submitting shopping lists before 12pm as long as we in receipt of cleared funds. Once you complete your shopping list, we will Email you with detailed of how to transfer funds to us. We will then return electronic funds within 24 hours by the method that you transferred money to us.

5. We don't have a separate bank account although the Emergency Support Scheme Coordinator (criminal record checked) does have one that they haven't used in a couple of years. We cannot lend money but do get in touch if you are stuck for heating, hot water or groceries (including over the counter medications). We also can't hold on to money as this may be considered a licensed activity and we don't want to get into trouble by just trying to look after you for free (other than the small mileage charge we incur ourselves).

6. Speaking of over-the-counter medications (those not on prescription), what you order is your own responsibility. We cannot take any responsibility whatsoever for medications that you choose to buy and take, this is the same for the food you order, if, for example, you have an allergic reaction or under any other circumstance whatsoever - we are running this for free with a small mileage charge that we get charged ourselves.

7. In terms of prescription medications, you should call the chemist and ask them to deliver to your home. If they won't do this, please complete a shopping list form and we will take this up with the chemist on your behalf and, if we can, we will pick the item(s) up for you but we will also need to take your prescription with us.

8. This scheme is just intended to be Christian and compassionate (no disrespect if you have another religion or none - we respect that too! ) but we don't want to be taken for a ride. It is very important that you make your shopping list clear, including what you expect to pay for an item, a rough guide to size (if you know) and the brand and item, if you don't care about the brand, please make this clear, if you want us to find you the cheapest possible item, please let us know on the shopping list - always detail allergies in capitals at the very bottom of your list, even if you ticked a box at the top of the shopping list

9. It is not practically possible to calculate the exact mileage for you, this is because some days we may be doing multiple trips to different places. This may mean that you pay slightly more than the actual mileage charged to us. Sometimes it will cost you slightly less depending on traffic and routes if we have to take an alternative route and nobody else has ordered that day. If there is excess money in the accounts, although it will be in the pennies between customers, we will split it equally with all people who have needed to use the scheme. The mileage cost is detailed for each supermarket on the shopping list form.

10. Before we can complete your delivery, you will need to show us proof of identity, this would ideally be a passport, a driving license or otherwise two forms of photographic ID or three letters in your name. We will not copy these and they will be immediately returned to you. We need to confirm you are who you say you are. We advise you to have these ready if the worst hits the fan. You will need to prove your age if you are ordering age restricted products.

11. We cannot deal with refunds of items. Please think carefully about your order, make sure that you provide enough money to cover everything that you need. Always mark your Switch 2 card with your address with a permanent pen so that we do not get them mixed up.

12. You will need to complete a form, both before we handle your money and after (before we hand over deliveries). This is to prevent any issues with how much money was provided and how much change was provided if you are paying in cash. We will film the handing over of money (if you are paying in cash) to cover our backsides and we will also keep that recording on file and you also will need to agree to us keeping the paperwork on file on an ongoing basis. This paperwork will not be shared with Avro Hollows' TMO, Northwards' Housing or Manchester City Council (or anyone else) outside of CDIRF.

13. We will keep copies of receipts too, on file, on an ongoing basis in case we get any questions from officials. We wouldn't blame them asking, there are some nasty people out there that would take advantage. It's a massive olive branch but we are also asking for a lot of trust from you if you have nobody else to turn to - don't feel awkward coming to us though - we will show you dignity and respect and we really do ask the same in return - it gives us a spring in our step to have your kindness.

14. For electronic funds transferred to us, we will return any change within 24 hours by the method that you sent it to us. This may be delayed if you do not promptly provide details for transferring back your change (it's worth Emailing us this information so that we already have it).

15. Please make sure you provide clear instructions on what we should do if any item is out of stock on the shopping list form.

16. Regretfully, we cannot accept loyalty cards. We will provide you with your receipt though and you may be able to add your loyalty card points on to your card from your receipt once you have recovered.

17. Any residents that are well that want to offer some practical help, please understand that we can't let you handle money, but your practical support with grocery picking and loading the car/van would be brilliant (obviously we give you a lift but we mustn't take advantage of our vehicle hire company's generosity).

18. In terms of people assisting us, the Emergency Community Scheme Coordinator will need to do the deliveries to the door themselves, this covers the backsides of people with good will and is easier for Data Protection reasons so you wouldn't be coming door to door (that also reduces the risk of you catching this horrible virus too and protects your loved ones). If you do have any symtoms, you need to let us know straight away please as it would stuff up the scheme otherwise if our Emergency Community Scheme Coordinator comes down with it too.

19. We cannot accept any liability whatsoever for residents or anybody else assisting us including for broken items (whilst we will do everything we can to avoid this).

20. If you do not provide enough money to cover your groceries, we will get a random selection of items for you, attempting to use our common sense - it's impossible to know what you already have in your cupboards, fridge and freezer though so, again, please make sure you provide enough money.

21. The scheme is open to everybody, including those usually not allowed to join the resident's chat forum. The usual rules remain in relation to registering for the resident's chat forum that can be found when clicking the registration page without logging in. We don't wish this illness on our worst enemies let alone the "official opposition". They are also welcome to emotional and practical support over the phone or by Contact Form/Email too. In times of crisis, we need to forget our differences but also honour our resident's chat forum terms and conditions. This will make no difference to your confidentiality as the usual rules apply in terms of registering for the chat forum.

22. If the Scheme Coordinator becomes ill and has to self-isolate, frankly and currently, we are up the creek without a paddle. They suspect that they have already had it (no symptoms currently) but they cannot be sure if they have already had it. If you pay any money under these circumstances, you can rest assured it will be returned to you very, very quickly. We have to say, therefore, that this scheme can be withdrawn at any time and without reason to cover all bases - but we are not going to take the biscuit here because we wouldn't be setting this up otherwise and we'd sound like we were setting up a legal contract with you (we're not). Have your say on how you want us to act under these circumstances - it's your organisation after all.

23. These rules will regularly change as we develop them but this is the brunt of it, for now. In an emergency, when everything else fails (ordering online from the supermarkets is not possible, friends and family can't help (at your own risk) and Social Services can't help, and you need us to do your shopping and pick up essentials, you need to check these rules to make sure you are happy with them.

24. We won't take the (insert your favourite word here) but we will cover our backsides and try and do the best by you at the same time. We hope that's honest and straight down the line enough. Apologies that these rules are a bit blunt when you are feeling at your worst, Please realise we care immensely about you and we've tried to be as friendly as we can in rules that need to be easy to read. If there's anything you are not sure about (we might not have thought about it ourselves) don't hesitate to let us know by completing our Contact Form (on the main www.croydondrive.org.uk website), Email or phone.

25. Lastly thanks for your cooperation and please go easy on us as we do the best we can for you. You can call us for emotional and practical support whenever you like and whenever we can pick up the phone. If we are not available, there is a voicemail facility, let us know your preferred method of contact and your contact details and we'll get back to you ASAP. This can be to your mobile phone, landline or Email.

26. A repeat - keep a very close eye on these rules and also we can't accept any legal liability for anything at all that we do, that means everything on the website, the social chat forum, on our phone lines and in shopping for you, everything but if you're reading carefully, we're thinking about safeguarding you at the same time.

27. Use of this scheme is the same as you signing to say you agree to all of our rules detailed (and as updated). You also agree, to the same extent, to not hold anyone whatsoever that helps us with delivering this scheme (vehicle hire company etc) in any way liable whatsoever.

Further Information..

The estate comprises of four tower blocks and two rows of houses split into two flats (there are no cows but most of these flats do smell of cheese due to the damp in them). Some of the flats across the estate contain 1 and, shockingly, 2 and 3 bedrooms.

Avro Hollows' Tenant Management Organisation purport to manage the estate on behalf of Manchester City Council, in association with Northwards housing (Northwards' Housing will, however, deny all knowledge of this). The estate is most definitely not run for the benefit of the local community with some residents describing the estate as an "open prison".

To find out more...please read our article "more about the estate" below.

Who We Are..

This website and its online community was set up by a resident on the Croydon Drive Estate who may or may not be closely related to C.G.B. Spender (the truth is not out there). It is entirely free to use and to become a member and it always will be. Personally identifiable information is not collected or stored protecting the anonymity of members. We only publish the tower block of the residents (so the person writing will be 1/72 or 71 people - dependent on the specific tower block).

It is not a breach of a resident's tenancy agreement to join Croydon Drive Independent Residents' Forum. The right to set up tenant groups is in fact specifically protected within resident's tenancy agreements.

The starting point for the forum was to create an online presence. The forum itself has the ability for members to send private messages (not read by the forum admin) and Members are encouraged to use their common sense in remaining anonymous and protecting themselves online. There is a reporting feature above all posts should anybody be concerned about the content - particularly where it is discriminatory or hateful - humour is of course allowed within reason.

Members are encouraged to have their say and provide feedback on the existing forum sections (including the popular "The Vent" and various general interests categories) and to request new ones. This also extends now to website content. We strongly urge residents to register using the unique registration code letters, most recently posted through doors in August 2019 by one of our kind elves.

The Croydon Drive Independent Residents' Forum is, unfortunately, not open to Contractors, Employees or Volunteers (including members) of Avro Hollows' Tenant Management Organisation, Northwards' Housing or Manchester City Council to protect the integrity of the forum and the anonymity of members and access is not permitted from locations run by them to protect the security of login details.

To ensure that our security policies are upheld vigorously for the benefit of members, we regularly lookup IP addresses that are logged when members log in. Our independence policy was ratified by members in 2018.

The Croydon Drive Independent Residents' Forum is set up by residents to further the interests of residents. It's that simple. A large part of that is to take the current Directorship (Avro Hollows' TMO) to task where they fail residents through causing as much embarrassment as possible.

If any residents struggle to register (you need to sign up using the register option), please do use the contact form link above (or the contact link on the forum itself).

If you are a resident who has not yet registered - what are you waiting for? A very warm welcome awaits!

About Our Estate..

The estate has security gates at every entrance where many tenants cannot get in and out of all of the gates without pressing the buzzer (although thieves can) and it has so many cameras that it puts Big Brother to shame. All tenants have their mugshots taken to aid with tracking them from the moment they leave their flat until they leave the estate (perhaps further?) and there is a 24 hour live feed available to lucky viewers on Channel Commsec.

Cameras are monitored by Commsec Security (when it suits them - incidents that tenants report are rarely ever captured) who, until at least very recently, controlled the access controls in Greater Manchester Police buildings - what do you know! Until recently, it was commonplace for gate intercom calls to go unanswered (including in 2020 to 7 fire engines attending a small kitchen fire in Lancaster Court), particularly in the winter, leaving tenants to get soaked. Commsec Security are, however, excellent at bellowing over the multiple speaker tannoy system from their offices about 1.5 miles away and regularly using foul language at the weekend when the Estate Manager isn't working..

There are entrance intercoms on each tower block. On two of them, tenants do not ever get to speak to their visitors as the dial pad has been removed and replaced with a camera, and, on the other two, Commsec Security like to randomly divert intercom calls to them when they get bored. On all four tower blocks, Commsec Security like to have a conversation with your guests instead, particularly when your food (and takeaway driver) is getting cold.

The MGMT..

We do have a highly motivated* Estate Manager (*highly motivated in going out of her way to cause trouble even though she has not been here very long) and, along with the Directors, the team ensure that the majority view of residents is never put forward and they won't think twice about harassing residents if they don't like you.

Employees are not disclosure and barring board checked and at least one has a serious criminal record, even though their employment at Avro Hollows' (which is paid for by Manchester City Council) could lead to them entering your home. "What happened to safeguarding" you might ask...

We take this moment to pay homage to the old Estate Manager who was a complete legend. More news on her leaving is due to hit you soon but it will make for very grim reading when we get her permission to publish it and we suspect the press will be very interested in Avro Hollows' TMO's behaviour too.

Our residents have had issue after issue with getting repairs carried out and with the way in which Manchester City Council and Northwards' Housing have managed new kitchen and bathroom provision on the estate. It is touch and go whether anybody answers the lift breakdown alarms and the quality of connection is so poor that they can't hear you when they do answer.

Contractors work without consulting residents and are as disruptive as possible. Complaints go nowhere when forwarded to Northwards' Housing. To this end, and more widely, Avro Hollows' TMO could not give a toss about what the resident majority want despite receiving around £250k a year of Manchester City Council funding. It's high time they went.

The Board..

The TMO board are extremely selective about who they invite to their meetings (you'd have more chance of being invited to bank with Coutts) and the majority of tenants do not get a look in or a say on anything at TMO board meetings where they are no longer announced for fear of tenants protesting.

Avro Hollows' TMO are certainly not there to make the experience of living on the Croydon Drive estate a "really happy one" unless you are one of a select few on the board with access to around £250k a year grant funding (from Manchester City Council).

Welcome to the Croydon Drive Independent Residents' Forum where we do things differently and respect each other.