Together Newsletter Winter 2019

Y W N O C I F E R T R A C N 2019 WINTER EDITIO

Our new Tenant Handbook has gone digital Get the most out of being a Cartrefi Conwy tenant with our new digital handbook.

www.cartreficonwy.org or on the MyCartrefi app.

s Merry Christma ry ve a s e ili m fa ir tenants and the ) We wish all our r opening hours u o r fo 5 e g a p Year. (See and a Happy New

Also inside...

Amazing year for Creating Enterprise Read more p.3

enquiries@cartreficonwy.org • Customer Service: 0300 124 0040 All calls with Customer Services are recorded • Audio and print copies of this newsletter are available

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Community Involvement at Cartrefi Conwy

Did you know?

Over 250 tenants take part in our activities and we have over 20 active community groups

We have a community involvement team who promote, encourage and support opportunities Fancy getting involved? Find out more on our website www.cartreficonwy.org for our tenants and the communities where they live.

We focus on: TENANTS’ VOICE - getting tenants’ views on what we do well, and what we could do better COMMUNITY ACTION - supporting community activities to bring people together PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT - working with tenants to tackle issues that limit what you can do in your day-to-day life HEALTH & WELLBEING - improving people’s general physical and mental health and wellbeing

Fifty young tenants took part in our Beach Club scheme at Colwyn Bay Water Sports Centre.

Helping you live with stress Many of our tenants tell us they feel better and are more able to deal with issues they face after taking part in activities to help reduce stress. Lydia, in the community involvement team, runs different activities that are free for tenants. These include:

Tenants taking part in mindful movement and learning to deal with stress therapy sessions.

• Mindful Movement and Relaxation • Art Therapy • Walking Groups • Gong Bath Meditation Call 0300 124 0040 and ask for Lydia and join in - we guarantee you will feel better for it.

Keep up to date with what is going on where you live on our website or Facebook pages.

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The walking group enjoy some fresh air and breath-taking scenery in North Wales. www.cartreficonwy.org

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We’ve recently been named: • Fastest Growing Construction Company in Wales • Fastest Growing Company in North Wales • Third Fastest Growing Company in Wales!

This year, Creating Futures have: • Supported 87 people back into employment – 32 were tenants • Hosted 200 people who came to our Jobs Fair • 39 volunteers gave 3,521 hours of their time • Gained funding from CITB for Passport to Construction Courses • Employed 14 tenants

through the employment academy Teresa is a young mum who wanted to boost her office skills. As a tenant she was able to volunteer through Creating Enterprise with Cartrefi Conwy Customer Service team. Teresa found new confidence, gained new qualifications during her time here including safeguarding and digital training. Through volunteering Teresa went on to find employment and is now a valued Cartrefi Conwy colleague working in the Governance team. Read more of our Real People Real Stories on our website and Facebook

Create your future with our Academy in 2020 Whether you’re looking for a new job, need help with your CV or just want to meet new people to build your self confidence, Creating Enteprise can help you!

This unique Academy also has a regular jobs café, a job vacancies board and FREE computers you can use. We also have paid employment opportunities for Cartrefi Conwy tenants. Visit: www.creatingenterprise.org.uk 01492 588980 employmentacademy@creatingenterprise.org.uk Open Monday-Friday 10am-12pm, 2pm-4pm in Mochdre 3

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Staying Safe in your Home with North Wales Fire and Rescue Service We’ve been working with North Wales Fire and Rescue Service to give you potentially life saving help and support for over 5 years now.

The success of this scheme relies on being able to talk with tenants in your homes to spot any concerns for your safety and wellbeing, and help you take action to improve this.

When was the last time you had a Safe and Well Check in your home?

If it’s been over a year, then get in touch to book one today. Call 0300 124 0040

and Remember if you spot a health ase ple live you safety risk where report it to us!

David Emmins from Bryn Castell helping Ceri Davies (his Independent Living Co-ordinator) to test the communal fire alarm. David silences the alarm whilst Ceri does her checks. If Galw Gofal calls he lets them know it’s a test. David was a hospital porter, where he did fire safety training with the NHS. Thanks for doing this David.

Staying safe where you live Your health and safety is really important to us.

Scrutiny Group Laura works closely with your tenants’ scrutiny group. This group of tenants reviews our services and looks in-depth at what we do well, and what we could do better.

This year, they have looked at our fire and safety processes. They produced a report that gives us a list of actions to improve on and asked us to remind tenants: Remember If you live in a block of flats, or a home with shared entry and exit routes, you need to keep these areas clear at all times.

We want to thank tenants for understanding that our reason for doing this is to keep you safe if there is a fire or other emergency.

Prescription Oxygen If you have oxygen prescribed by a GP at home, it’s important you let us know!

Electrical Works Has anyone other than Cartrefi Conwy or our contractors carried out any electrical or meter installations at your home, for example, Sky? If so, let us know!

We need to check that these works have not made your home less safe in the event of a fire.

We have been told we have to do this by our qualified Fire Risk Assessors and North Wales Fire and Rescue Service, because of: • the level of fire risk • items causing an obstruction in an emergency

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www.cartreficonwy.org

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Our offices are closed through Christmas and New Year Our offices are closed from 2:00pm on Tuesday 24th December and reopen at 8:45am on Thursday 2nd January.

We will still have essential cover for some of our services.

Remember when we are closed you can still get in touch online at www.MyCartrefi.org or via the MyCartrefi App to: • Report a repair • Make a payment • See your rent statements and more…

Are you struggling on Universal Credit?

Drop in and talk to us about: • How to apply • Your rent details • Your Universal Credit amount Katy is our Universal Credit Coordinator and she runs sessions every Tuesday at Llandudno Job Centre or every Friday at Colwyn Bay Job Centre between 2.00 - 4.00pm. She also runs sessions in Llanrwst and Mochdre. Call 0300 124 0040 and ask for Katy.

If you have a housing emergency during this time please call 0300 124 0040 anytime, day or night.

Happy holidays and stay safe everyone…

Over 1,000 of our tenants are now using MyCartrefi to pay their rent and manage their tenancy. It is the easiest and quickest way to pay your rent.

Sign up now at www.MyCartrefi.org or search for MyCatrefi App in your App store.

Asking for some help and support costs you nothing At Cartrefi Conwy, we have a dedicated money support and welfare benefit team offering help to tenants and households across the region. They can help you to check you are claiming all the benefits you are entitled to. This year they have supported 320 tenants to access over £305,000 in extra income.

They run drop-in sessions every week at Chester Avenue Community House in Kinmel Bay and in our Madoc Street office in Llandudno. You can also get in touch by emailing welfarebenefits@ cartreficonwy.org, or call 0300 124 0040 and ask to speak to Liza or Danielle, or fill in a self-refer form online - https://cartreficonwy.org/take-controlmanaging-your-money/get-financial-advice/.

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Here are some other useful UC updates Advance Payments You can only apply for an advance online if you have had an interview at the jobcentre . This is to reduce the level of fraud that was seen earlier in the summer. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/universalcredit-advances#how-to-apply-for-auniversal-credit-advance

Childcare Costs If you have accepted a job offer, you can claim for childcare costs for the month before you start work.

Talk to your work coach as soon as possible about your job offer, and the support options available.

If your job comes to an end, you must tell the Department for Work and Pensions immediately.

Support with childcare costs can be claimed for at least a month after your employment ends, to help you maintain your childcare as you move between jobs. https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/ cmselect/cmworpen/1771/177105.htm https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/money/flexiblesupport-fund-universal-credit-benefits-how-applyfsf-eligibility-explained-494627 5

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What a mess We have set up a special task force to look at new ways of dealing with waste management near our homes.

We have introduced CCTV in areas where fly tipping is an issue. It is tenant’s own responsibility to use the right bins for their rubbish. We urge you to let us know if you see members of the public disposing of rubbish illegally so we can stop this happening.

Fly-tipping Fly tipping is dumping rubbish in the street or leaving bin bags outside, instead of using bins and recycling boxes.

Congratulations to the Green Finger Club in Kinmel Bay who won the Green Flag Community Award this year.

Tre Cwm becomes the second housing estate in Wales to get Green Flag Award – well done to the Tre Cwm Community Action group.

It makes our communities look dirty and messy, and can be a fire risk.

Fly tipping is also expensive. You can get a £400 fixed penalty notice for fly tipping, or a fine of up to £50,000 or 12 months in prison. We will also take tenancy action against Cartrefi Conwy tenants who dump their rubbish.

If you are struggling with your rubbish, don’t dump it!

Talk to erf@conwy.gov.uk or 01492 575337 to find out more about extra bins, recycling, bulky collections and what you can or can’t take to your recycling centre.

Why not download the Conwy Recyling app free, and:

Peulwys Community organise litter picks to help their community keep their Green Flag status.

• Receive a weekly collection reminder, so you never forget your collection day or which containers are due for collection • Receive alerts if your collection is delayed, or your collection day changes • Find out what items can and cannot be recycled, and which container to use • Locate your nearest recycling bank or recycling centre • Request replacement food waste bags, and much more! http://www.conwy.gov.uk/en/Resident/ Recycling-and-Waste/The-Conwy-App.aspx

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Make the most of where you live You might be surprised what there is to take part in, from walking to cooking to meditation, and much more. Keep up to date with what’s going on on our Facebook page.

The Trendy Travellers group launched in August. They meet every two weeks in Colwyn Bay for chats, quizzes and days out together. Everyone welcome call Colin on 01492 518018 for information.

This year’s older person’s day was all about ‘dance around the clock’ and look after your tick tock…

The Give Where You Live group in Llanrwst secured more funding from the Big Lottery Community Fund to relaunch this scheme. Residents give up their time to do something for someone in their community and get something done for them in return.

Get in touch with Alison to find out more on 07753 865915

0300 124 0040

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our recent ll a to s n o ti la tu ra Cong

! s r e n n i w d r a Home Rew

hundreds the chance to win u yo s ve gi ds ar w Re our online Don’t forget Home ng your rent, using yi pa y pl sim r fo th on on… of pounds every m talking to us. Read d an e m ho ur yo r te services, looking af

I’m Involved £100 prize draw every 3 months

I’m Connected £200 prize draw every month

I Pay £200 prize draw every month Home Rewards I Pay £200 cash prize draw for paying your rent.

Gwynne Jones gets a high five from Katie Stone and her son Sam who live on Llys Cynfran.

A very happy surprise for tenant Ms Gardner who won our Home Rewards I Pay Award. Congratulations.

I’m Proud £100 prize draw every month Open to all our tenants who have received a Home Partner visit in the last month and take care of their homes, keeping them clean and tidy.

We finish the year with three Welsh Housing Awards We were so proud to have won three awards at the Chartered Institute of Housing Welsh Housing Awards. We won: • Best New Small Development for Llys Cynfran in Llysfaen • Most Community Focused Contractor with Creating Enterprise • Postive Place Making for the environmental works at Tre Cwm Plus our Managing Director was honored with an award for outstanding commitment to the Chartered Institute of Housing in Wales.

8 0300 124 0040

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www.cartreficonwy.org

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