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SUMMER 2014
The Heart of Coastal Housing
The Italian Connection
GET ACTIVE Get Active, Get Swimming
Family Day Out On 31st July
Coastal Life
Coastal Life
Coastal Life
Ship wrecks & silver dollars
It’s good to be different
All at sea
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Summer 2014 COASTAL PEOPLE
COASTAL LIFE
4 My Life - Kevin Hedges 22 Journeys into work 24 In the Spotlight - IT
8 12 17 23 26 28 30 32 36
COASTAL NETWORK 6 Development update 14 Who’s responsible for repairs? 16 Recycling in Swansea 18 Out & About - Aberavon 20 Recycling Neath Port Talbot 37 Gas safety 38 Digital Inclusion 39 Social media 39 Fire safety
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FOR THE LOVE OF FOOD
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Living with schizophrenia Inspiration in retirement Amie’s bubble of difficulties A great place to work Get fit, get swimming RNLI water safety Tenants taking action Ship wrecks & silver dollars Garden showcase
COASTAL MONEY 10 11 21 23
Spot the loan shark Welfare Reform update Money doesn’t grow on trees Training awards
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GET FIT, GET SWIMMING
COASTAL REGULARS 34 Food files 41 Dave’s dilemmas 42 Insider information
COASTAL COMPETITIONS 26 Win £50 worth of swimming lessons 30 Win £30 towards a meal for two at Salento restaurant 40 Children’s poster competition 41 Competition winners
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WATER SAFETY
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The
sunny issue
Front Cover photograph by Viki Spooner
220 is designed and published in-house by Coastal Housing Group Ltd 3rd Floor, 220 High Street, Swansea, SA1 1NW www.coastalhousing.co.uk Data protection Coastal Housing Group reserves the right to use competition participants’ personal data to inform them of future promotions. Once you have entered a competition you may receive other related promotional offers. If you do not wish for your personal data to be used for this purpose then you ‘opt out’ by contacting the promoter in writing by email. The Promoter may not always be Coastal Housing Group and could be any one of a number of companies associated with providing prizes. Accuracy We try to make sure that the information printed in 220 including prices and availability is correct at time of going to press, but readers should still seek independent advice before relying on any content. We cannot be held responsible for any changes. Colours may vary slightly due to the printing process. We reserve the right to edit any material submitted. We cannot accept any responsibility for errors in articles or advertisements. Copyright No part of 220 may be reproduced in any format without prior permission from Coastal Housing Group. Circulation 6,000 readers Tenants, Staff, Partners, Contractors and Consultants, Councillors, MPs, AMs together with a wide range of people and organisations who have regular contact with Coastal Housing Group.
With a fine summer forecast (we hope!), this edition of 220 is sure to plant a seed or two for some great ideas for fun in the sun. Join us on Thursday 31st July at Coastal’s Tenant Fun Day, find your invitation on the back page –BOOK NOW to avoid disappointment! Stories to inspire you from Magnus who tells us what it’s like to live with the condition schizophrenia, Keith Bicknell who demonstrates that life starts after retirement and Amie Louise Martin tells us of her hopes and dreams whilst living with Autism. With summertime comes seaside fun, so to promote water safety we hear from our very own Lifeguard Roger Owen and RNLI volunteers Gary Morgan and George Curtis. Read about Coastal’s Kevin Hedges in My Life. Our IT department are in the spotlight and we’re Out and About in Aberavon. Who’s responsible for which repairs? Find out in our useful guide to reporting repairs. As usual, we have some fantastic prizes to give away - £50 worth of Swimming Lessons, £30 towards a meal for two at Salento restaurant and for the kids there’s a poster competition! And finally, see details of this year’s Garden Showcase, be sure to show off your hard work!
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eam T 0 2 2 e Th
IT IN THE SPOTLIGHT
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My Life
Meet Kevin Hedges, Housing Services Team Leader. A ukulele playing IT whizz with a love of all things techno.
Kevin Hedges
I’M SO PROUD OF... my son! At five years old, he can already speak one more language than me.
If I have time to myself I... play my ukulele. I have to wait for time to myself because it drives everyone else mad!
When I’m not working I’m... playing my ukulele... and cleaning windows!
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I GET FREAKED OUT BY... frogs. My fear of frogs started when I was eight years old. I was attacked by a ‘pack’ of frogs in my parents’ garden and they have plagued me ever since.
I once tried... watching the film ‘Grease’ - never again!
I AM MOST KNOWN FOR...
The thing I love about my home is... my ever growing collection of musical instruments that I cannot play.
having two names. Kevin and Dave. It’s a long story!
I’m very good at... cooking! I make a mean roast beef dinner but paella is my trademark dish.
I’M VERY BAD AT... stopping myself from finishing everything I cook!
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Building the roots of the
Community All our hard work at the start of the year paid off and Welsh Government funding was approved for all the schemes we submitted. Now we get to spend it!
In order to secure this funding there are certain standards that we need to adhere to such as
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•
Code For Sustainable Homes
•
Secured by Design
•
Design Quality Requirements
•
Lifetime Homes.
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Our Standards These affect how we build and design our properties and the ‘extras’ we include. You may have a water butt or a compost bin in your garden or a special bin in one of your kitchen units which will allow you to segregate your rubbish. You may have a large piece of seemingly irrelevant technology hidden in a cupboard but which actually helps to heat and ventilate your home, saving you money and helping sustain the environment.
We don’t build boring buildings We build buildings that we are proud to call ours and which we would be proud to live in ourselves. We strive to include quality, but affordable, fixtures and fittings and to produce an attractive and welcoming home for you. To do this, we work with a great selection of architects who really understand our ethos and who continue to impress us by coming up with innovative and interesting designs.
The choice of finish to a building can really make a difference.
Castle Quarter We are using a variety of types of bricks and stones to help the building both sit in its historical context but look new and exciting.
Pendarvis Terrace We are sourcing bricks similar to those used on the original school building. We are also saving many of the original features to include in the new properties such as the ‘girls’ and ‘boys’ name stones.
A lot of money is spent on things that can’t be seen such as the planning and design of a scheme or the ground works, drainage, foundations and insulation.. We are have a good framework of contractors who work closely with our Targeted Recruitment and Training Officer to bring something back to the community for free. Morganstone, who are building our Maes Y Ffynon scheme, helped a local community centre by doing some building and decorating work.
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Living with
Schizophrenia Magnus is 59 years old and lives in Mount Pleasant. He was born in Devon and his family moved to Neath when he was five years old.
M
agnus was caught up in illegal drugs when he was young and went to a drug rehabilitation unit when he was 21 years old. After rehab, Magnus decided to continue his education and went to Cambridge where he attained 3 A-Levels. He went onto Aberystwyth University to study for a Librarianship degree.
During Magnus’ second year at University, he was diagnosed with Psychosis and sectioned under the mental health act to a Hospital in Carmarthen. “I started to hear voices. I had delusions and felt paranoid. I was in a world of my own where nothing made sense.” After medication and abstaining from illicit drugs, Magnus was discharged from hospital and lived with his brother’s family in Birmingham before he moved into his own flat in Newton, Mid Wales. “One of the side effects of the medication was that I had the temptation to take illicit drugs. The medication made me ill and affected my mental and physical health. I had a raging temper and tremors. My hands would shake.”
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Magnus started using illegal drugs again which caused his mental health to relapse and as a result, he lost his flat. He returned to Neath to live close to his mum. “I failed tenancies before because I didn’t feel secure. I was on the wrong medication and I felt paranoid. I was a victim of vandalism and break-ins. I felt vulnerable in the community and exposed to drugs. I had a very traumatic time in Neath.”
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“I feel much more secure”
Magnus was hospitalised a number of times in NPT Hospital. Following an Appeal Tribunal, Magnus was discharged with support from Tracscare. “The turning point was five years ago when I went into a Tracscare home. They supervised my medication. I was prescribed antidepressants, the side effects were not so bad. They put me in a positive frame of mind and I didn’t have the temptation to take illicit drugs.” Tracscare enabled Magnus to complete his A-Level in Psychology. Magnus stayed in a 24 care rehab units in Birchgrove and Mumbles before he was ready for independent living.
“The flat is everything I could have asked for. Coastal services are excellent and I feel much more secure”. Magnus enjoys military modelling and goes to a war gaming club. He has also started writing an autobiography and is hoping to get published. “I have been clean from illicit drugs for four years now. I haven’t relapsed and I’m coping better now on the right medication. I am renewing my relationship with my family and rebuilding bridges. I am still improving mentally and physically.”
Last year, Coastal Housing Group offered Magnus a flat in Mount Pleasant which he accepted with support from Esgyn. “I received support from Esgyn from the moment I started my tenancy. They have been very helpful and contributed to my success. They are very positive and helped me with shopping, cooking and managing my flat”.
For over 35 years, Esgyn have provided a range of support services to enable people to live independently in the community and in their own homes. They help people to create opportunities, build on their strengths and live the life they choose. Esgyn cover Swansea, Neath Port Talbot, Carmarthenshire, Blaenau Gwent and Pembrokeshire. For more information, visit www.esgyn.org.uk
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Spot the
Loan Shark orrowing b u o y e r A shark? n a o l a m fro agreement n te it r w o N ts ment receip No pay ndly but out as frie d te r ta S iolent eats or is v makes thr issed ents are m when paym under 18s ds Lends to enefits car b r o k n a b Takes ’t from you owe doesn u o y y e n o ss The m tting any le e g e b to n seem money eve e r o m u o y oney Lends ady owe m e lr a u o y when
You can help too - Is there a loan shark in your area? • • •
Builds up victims through social connections - pub, school gates, etc... (most people get to know the loan shark through a friend) Neighbour seems to be isolated but has a regular ‘friend’ visiting Hangs around the post office on benefits day to get payments from other people.
Never approach someone you think is a loan shark! To report a loan shark call 24 hour hotline 0300 123 33 11. You don’t have to say who you are so the loan shark won’t know that it’s you. Or, tell us and we’ll phone the hotline for you. Get more information on www.direct.gov.uk/stoploansharks
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Lots of people can get caught by a loan shark coming up to Christmas Don’t wait until then – start saving now and start the New Year not owing a penny!
If you save £5 per week from now until Christmas, you could have £150 by the end of November. If you save £10 per week you could have £300.
If you start making regular payment to the Credit Union now, you will be able to make borrow money from them in time for Christmas. Credit Unions are a safe and easy way to borrow money without putting yourself in danger.
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Universal Credit is a new simpler, single monthly payment for people in or out of work, which merges together some of the benefits and tax credits that you might be getting now.
Universal Credit
Universal Credit will replace: • 2013
2013
2014
29 April 2013 onwards
29 July 2013 onwards
Between October 2013 & Spring 2014
People who are single, newly out-of-work and living in Ashton-under-Lyne or Wigan.
People who are single, newly out-of-work and living in Warrington or Oldham.
People who are single, newly out-of-work and living in Hammersmith, Rugby, Inverness, Harrogate, Bath or Shotton.
2014
From summer 2014
People in couples who live in one of the areas shown above.
2014
From autumn 2014
People with children who live in one of the areas shown above.
2016
By the end of 2016
Universal Credit will be extended to the rest of Great Britain.
2017
Between 2016 and 2017
After 2017
2017
New claims to existing benefits will close down and most existing claims will be moved over to Universal Credit.
Anyone with an existing claim for Income-related Employment and Support Allowance may be moved onto Universal Credit after 2017.
• • • • •
Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance Income-related Employment and Support Allowance Income Support Child Tax Credit Working Tax Credit Housing Benefit
The following website gives information on what will change for you and how you can get ready for the changes: www.secureonline.dwp.gov.uk/univers al-credit-preparation/ On the following website, you can check that you are receiving all of the benefits you are entitled to. At the end of the calculation, click on the 'Universal Credit' tab and it will tell you how much money you are likely to be able to claim under Universal Credit: www.turn2us.org.uk/benefits_search. aspx
If you’re getting Housing Benefit and of working age Your monthly Universal Credit payment will include a ‘housing costs element’ which will replace the help you currently get from Housing Benefit. If you have your rent paid directly to Coastal at the moment, this will change under Universal Credit. The money for your rent will be paid to you as part of your monthly Universal Credit payment. You will be responsible for using this money to pay your rent to Coastal.
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Born in Surrey, Keith Bicknell started his working life as an pathology technician and picked up so much knowledge of software programming he finished his working career writing software based in North London.
Inspiration in
Retirement N
ot ready to accept retirement in London, Keith moved to Swansea and joined the British Trust Conservation Volunteers (BTCV). He has been involved in several BTCV projects over the years and, despite no experience in a ‘trade’ has helped on many renovation projects. Most memorable were working at Stouthall, Reynoldston, Gower and Flat Holm Island, Cardiff •
•
Stouthall is a grade II listed building with a derelict and overgrown walled kitchen garden. Keith helped rebuild the wall, clear and landscape the garden. Flat Holm Island involved some dry stone walling and the whole experience gave him as huge sense of achievement.
His next project was as deck hand on board. His next project was at 63 years old, as deck hand on board a tall ship sailing from Dover to Swansea. As a deck hand, his duties included climbing to the top of the mast to carry out repair work with no safety harness! His longest trip was from Gibraltar to Falmouth and he was also on board a tall ship in the Millennium celebrations on the river Thames. His last journey in 2004, was in spite of only just recovering from a fractured knee cap. Keith’s less physical activities include singing with the Tabernacle Morriston Choir and Swansea Philharmonic Choir. He auditioned to sing with the Welsh Opera Community Choir and sang in an opera in Craig Y Nos. He is still an active member of a choir and sings with the Tenovus Choir. Since retiring, he’s travelled to Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, the Baltic, Greenland, Iceland, India and Dubai.
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In his 70’s, he travelled to Finland where he did a 15km walk in weather that saw the temperature drop to minus 24°c.
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“Entering his 80s didn’t stop him”
Entering his 80s didn’t stop him, when he raised £900 sponsorship for Ty Olwen by doing a tandem skydive! Just in case he’s not busy enough, Mr Bicknell has volunteered once a week for the last eight years in Morriston Hospital and for the last three years in a Residential Home for people with learning difficulties. He enjoys working with people and these experiences give him a sense of well being for himself as well as helping those he supports. What makes his journey even more amazing and inspirational is that he suffered quite a serious TIA/Stroke at 66 and spent time in intensive care. He recovered fully and continues to live life to the full!
Extra facts • • • • • • •
Met Sir Edmund Hilary whilst trekking through a village in Nepal. Did rock climbing as a hobby for many years. Is a whizz on the computer but useless with mobile phones! Does a lot of walking to keep fit. Uses small hand weights at home to keep fit Did the McMillan walk from Rhossili to Mumbles. Still gets asked to check software programmes
Most dangerous experience? Anything you still want to do?
Most memorable moment since retiring?
Travel on the Eurostar
Skydive
A power cut on one of the tall boats meant the water pump wasn’t working and we had to manually remove the water from the boat.
Favourite place he’s ever been to? With all the places he’s travelled, his favourite place is... Gower!
Keith sums up his life by living by the Latin saying: “Mens sana in corpore Sano – Healthy mind in a healthy body.” SUMMER 2014 220 COASTAL MAGAZINE
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A Guide to
Reporting
Repairs People are often unsure of how to report a repair or what repairs they are responsible for. Here is a simple guide to help you on your way! If you need to report a repair during office hours call 01792 479200 or, if you’d prefer, you can also email us at ask@coastalhousing.co.uk
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What repairs are you responsible for?
What repairs are Coastal responsible for?
•
Replacing light bulbs, fluorescent tubes/starters, fuses and batteries
•
Replacing plugs and chains to baths, basins and sinks
•
Roof, chimneys, gutters and down pipes
•
External walls, doors and window frames
•
Paths, steps, walls and fences
•
Altering kitchen units to fit new appliances (this will require Coastal approval)
•
Electrical wiring sockets, switches and mains wired smoke alarms
•
Repairing or replacing washing lines or posts (unless communal)
•
Sanitary and bathroom appliances
• •
Toilet seat renewal and fitting
Fitted fires, gas central heating systems or fixed electrical heaters
•
Replacing bathroom fittings such as toilet roll holders
•
Internal walls and doors (except for minor cracks or damage you may cause).
•
Plumbing in new appliances
•
Providing additional power sources and sockets (this will require Coastal approval)
•
Replacing lost keys, changing locks, gaining access
•
Glazing, unless a criminal reference number is provided
•
Meter cupboards and doors (contact your supplier)
•
TV aerial repairs (unless you are part of a communal system).
If you have an out of hours emergency call 0845 680 8888 Emergencies are usually defined as situations that are actually or potentially dangerous such as a fire occurs, there is a major water leak, complete loss of electrical supply (not just to one room) or the complete failure of your heating system to the whole property during cold periods. If you report an emergency then you must stay in until a contractor arrives to assess and fix the repair.
Useful Tips: Before reporting that you have no electric, check that it is not a faulty appliance tripping electrics and that the trip switch is turned on. If you are on a meter then check there is credit in the meter, this also applies to reporting no gas/heating. If you think you smell gas you should report gas leaks to Transco the national gas emergency line, on free phone 0800 111 999. If you have a leak, then switch the water off at the stopcock to prevent further damage. If you would like to make additional improvements to your home then you will need to fill out a “Right to Improvement” form to get authorisation to do so. Any improvements made will need to be returned to their original state if you leave the property.
Introducing the Coastal Repair Team Coastal have an in-house team of multi-skilled tradesmen that take on the majority of your repairs needs. They are a capable bunch tackling everything from carpentry to plumbing and everything in between! The team is made up of 9 people: Keith, Chris and Leon from the ‘void team’ who carry out all the works on our empty properties making them ready for the new tenants to move in. Adrian, Martin, Nick, Stephen and Don make up the ‘reactive team’ who carry out all the day to day repairs and they are all led by Team Leader Kevin David who’s a dab hand at everything!
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Recycling & Refuse Collection
Swansea Recycling is a hot topic at the moment, so Coastal have set up a recycling group to help tenants recycle their household waste.
S
ince April 2014, Swansea Council only allow households to put out a maximum of three black bin bags every two weeks. Therefore, recycling at home has never been more important.
Your on-site caretakers are always happy to help and they work closely with the council on recycling matters, so if you ever need any help or have any questions then please feel free to ask them. They may also have a supply of green, pink and food waste bags. If you need extra garden waste bags you can purchase them for 50p from any council library. For information and advice, or to order recycling equipment please visit: www.swansea.gov.uk/recycling Email: recycling@swansea.gov.uk Tel: 01792 635600
Swansea collections are split into Green Week and Pink Week as shown below:
GREEN WEEK
Kitchen waste
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Paper and Cans and card glass
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Garden waste
PINK WEEK
Kitchen waste
Plastic
Non recyclables
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Amie’s Bubble of difficulties My name is Amie Louise Martin. I have something called Autism that controls the brain. I act childish and I do act different to other girls.
I
look normal but I think differently and I get really shy. I may want to say something and my words won’t come out or I will say it in my head and hope someone will read my mind. Nobody can read your mind! I sometimes try to act like other girls but I fail and then I hate having autism but, in a way, I love being autistic because if I wasn’t then I wouldn’t be me.
I used to freak out over everything but, once I moved out and lived on my own, I calmed down and stopped. Now, I happen to be my Mum’s best friend and I get along with my little sister and I don’t feel angry all the time.
“I want things that every girl wants, like to be a Mum and to keep living on my own.”
Some people don’t understand you but there are others who do. The best feeling ever is when you get told that you are special for who you are. We should all feel special in every way. I walk along roads wondering what will happen next. Life is a climb but I know the future is great. I want things that every girl wants, like to be a Mum and to keep living on my own. I want big dreams. I want to live my dream to help others and to maybe be a writer one day. I want to help everyone with autism and show them that being different is not a crime and it’s ok. You can live the dream you want. It just takes time and hard work. You can change if you want to. If you have dreams, go ahead and live them. Don’t listen to anyone who says you can’t do it because YOU CAN!!
I have a page on FaceBook and YouTube called amiesbubbleofdifficulties. I am also on YouTube with my boyfriend called Dawkinstv where we record our life and capture every little memory of being autistic.
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Out & About...
Aberavon In this issue of 220, we visit the historical Welsh community of Aberavon. The town derived its name from being near the mouth of the River Afan, which also gave its name to a medieval lordship.
A
rea Housing Managers Mike Godfrey and Mari Mansaray work together with area caretakers Mark Jones, Mike Williams and Lee Pearce to manage the area. They provide regular contact with tenants on a range of tenancy matters and work hard to keep schemes looking good, making them pleasant places in which to live and enjoy.
“The industrial revolution brought change to the area in the late 1700s in the form of a copper works and a chance to utilise the river Afan for trade and resources.”
Aberavon and Coastal Housing Facts:
219 HOMES
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159 FLATS
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56 HOUSES
1
BUNGALOW
THE FIRST DEVELOPMENT WAS COMPLETED IN 1990
THE LAST DEVELOPMENT WAS COMPLETED IN 2013
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A Brief History of Customs House Customs House was built for the Port Talbot Railway and Docks Company in 1897, funded by Emily Charlotte Talbot of Margam. The building was used as social services offices for Neath Port Talbot council until roughly 2011. Demolition began in early 2012 to make way for our new residential and commercial mix building which completed 2013.
Famous People from Port Talbot ABERAVON SANDS Aberavon Beach, also known as Aberavon Sands, is threemile stretch of sandy beach located on the north-eastern edge of Swansea Bay in Sandfields, Port Talbot. With its high breaker waves, it is popular with surfers. A traditional ‘bucket and spade’ resort for the South Wales Valleys during the 1940s, 50s and 60s, Aberavon Beach was once an area of sand dunes known as Aberavon Burrows.
•
Rhod Gilbert, comedian, lives in Port Talbot
•
Paul Potts, opera singer and the winner of Britain's Got Talent in 2007, lives in Port Talbot.
•
Richard Hibbard, rugby union player (Wales and Lions international)
•
Michael Sheen, Welsh actor was brought up in Port Talbot.
ABERAVON HISTORY In the 1950s many of the sand dunes of Aberavon Beach disappeared as part of the development of the Sandfields estate. At this time a 1.25 mile sea wall was built primarily for sea defences. The estate was built to accommodate the growing population, especially the families of workers at the new Port Talbot Steelworks. Before the borough of Port Talbot was formed, we had Aberavon town and neighbouring villages, such as Taibach and Baglan. The industrial revolution brought change to the area in the late 1700's in the form of a copper works and a chance to utilise the river Afan for trade and resources. For industry to work, you need workers, and the town and surrounding areas had to grow to accommodate a surge in the work force over the next 150 years. In that time we have seen copper works, tin works, coal mines and now steel works come and go.
Interesting facts •
In April 2011, actor Michael Sheen led a 72-hour National Theatre Wales production of a modern retelling of The Passion. The play began at 05.30 am on Good Friday with a seafront scene, which was watched by hundreds who had heard about it by word of mouth. By the time the first main part of the play was performed on Aberavon Beach at 3.00 pm, up to 6,000 people had gathered to watch.
•
Port Talbot coastguard celebrated its centenary in 2008 with a history of rescues in the last 100 years.
•
Aberavon hosted the National Eisteddfod in 1932 and 1966.
•
The Afan Lido leisure centre was opened by the Queen in 1965. (But later burned down.)
If you would like to live in Aberavon, call us on 01792 479200. SUMMER 2014 220 COASTAL MAGAZINE
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Recycling & Refuse Collection
Neath Port Talbot Recycling has become an important part of daily routine for many people throughout the borough. Here are just some of the important reasons for recycling. It reduces the need for land fill and helps curb global warming.
R
ecycling protects wildlife and biodiversity. It reduces air and water pollution and saves on using our natural resources. It also helps save the trees that naturally reduce the Carbon Dioxide which we produce and in return emit the very oxygen that we breathe. Very important reasons don't you think? Coastal Housing is very pro active when it comes to recycling issues and would like to encourage its tenants to get involved in making a difference. Below we have some information on the current recycling arrangements in the Neath Port Talbot areas.
On Grey weeks, you can put out all of your waste. Please remember to rip up large pieces of cardboard. Good quality textiles can be donated to your local charity shop. Items that are not fit for purpose and are worn out should be recycled. Don’t forget to shred personal details from recycled paper. On Green weeks your black general waste bin and your plastics WILL NOT be collected. Items which are not crossed off are to be presented for collection. Remember that separate clear bags are to be used for cardboard, paper, textiles and garden waste. Glass and tins are placed in the box.
For information and advice, or to order recycling equipment please visit: www.npt.gov.uk/recycle Email: environment@npt.gov.uk Tel: 01639 686868
Neath Port Talbot collections are split into Grey Week and Green Week:
GREY WEEK
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GREEN WEEK
General waste
Plastics
Food waste
Garden waste
Glass, cans & foil
Newspapers & magazines
Cardboard & Tetra paks
Textiles
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XX General waste
Plastics
Food waste
Garden waste
Glass, cans & foil
Newspapers & magazines
Cardboard & Tetra paks
Textiles
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Money doesn’t grow
on trees For Coastal to keep building new homes for you - we need money! Our funding team is working hard behind the scenes to keep Coastal at the top of the tree. Together, Sian, Hayley and Mathew are busy getting the best deal for Coastal because this means the best deal for you! SIAN Meets the lenders to get a feel for how much we can borrow and much it will cost
HAYLEY Brings the money in by dealing with all the legal and banking side of things
MATHEW Reports on our assets and loans. Management use this information to make decisions for the future
T • •
•
he team have to make sure that there is enough money in the pot for Development to keep building new homes in Swansea and Neath Port Talbot. There are three different types of lending:
Traditional Loan 84% of our funding is by this method Development Loan We buy a plot of land and use the land as ‘security’ to develop homes for you. Bonds Like a traditional loan but you repay the whole amount at the end instead of monthly.
Coastal Housing, and 16 other Welsh Housing Associations have got together to get funding from a new Welsh Bond. Coastal is pleased to be one of the first of these Housing Associations to receive money from this new loan. The team are proud to say that their efforts have helped to develop Coastals assets to over £340 million and that this can continue to grow.
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Journeys into work
Clare Watkins, Coastal’s Training Placement Officer, keeps you up to date with the training and employment opportunities we have for local people and tenants.
F
ollowing on from my last article in the Spring 2014 edition of 220, when I told you all about the job and training opportunities we have both internally and with our contractors, I thought I’d let you know about some of the other things going on at Coastal at the moment. The response to my last article was really positive and I had lots of enquiries about the placements we are offering.
As a result we had two more tenants starting work trials in May. After spending a week on site with R & M Williams, Contractors to see how they got on, they had a review with the site manager and then started full time work the following week on the redevelopment of the historic warehouse within the Urban Village, Swansea.
Our new development, Customs House in Port Talbot, had its official opening in April, and I had chance to speak to Carl Sergeant, Housing Minister, about the community projects and work provided during the build. There were 18 jobs created for local people. We also make sure we do something in the local community on each build, and at Customs House we built an outside classroom for the local primary school, Central Primary. If you want to know more about Coastal Housing Group’s ‘Journeys into Work Programme’, then email: clare.watkins@coastalhousing.co.uk
Heard of Cyfle, Building Skills? If you know someone who is interested in an construction apprenticeship now is the time to check out Cyfle www.cyflebuilding.co.uk. Cyfle is the South West Wales shared apprentice scheme. Apprentices are employed by the scheme directly and are then placed with an employer to gain their experience whilst learning at college. This means that even if the company isn’t able to keep them on for their whole apprenticeship the scheme will find them another employer giving them more security and making sure they learn all the skills they need for a successful career.
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Coastal supports the scheme by providing placements as well as representing the housing associations in the area on the board. The next round of apprenticeship applications will be starting in the summer. If you’re interested the contact in Swansea/Neath Port Talbot is Gemma. Tel 01554 748181
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What a great place
to work It’s official, Coastal Housing Group is a great company to work for. Named one of the best places to work in the UK in ‘The Sunday Times 100 Best Organisations to Work For’.
W
e came 25th in the Not-For-Profit category, which was made up of hundreds of entries from national charities, public sector bodies and housing associations. We achieved Best Companies 2 star accreditation which reflects outstanding levels of staff engagement within the organisation.
Chief Executive, Debbie Green, said:
“It is a fantastic achievement for us to be placed so highly and recognised as a great company to work for, not just in Wales, but the whole of the UK."
25th
Coastal Housing Group Training Awards Do you, your partner, or family member living with you, need help with the cost of further education or training that would help secure a job or better paid work? Then Coastal may be able to help with costs. We have a fund to help tenants of Coastal Housing Group. Set up twelve years ago, in recognition of the donation of a property to Coastal by the local branch of the Soroptomists - an international organisation for women in management and professions and known as our ‘Soroptomists Bursary’. Although, in the spirit of equal opportunity, it was later agreed we could use the award for men too.
Want to know more, then give us a call on 01792 479254; email: ask@coastalhousing.co.uk
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IT
in the
Spotlight Kathryn, Mat, Marc, Rhian, Mark, David and Shane make up our I.T. Team - These ladies and gents are Coastal’s very own technological geniuses! They look after our computers, telephone system, software, hardware, internet, the storage and security of data and information, and mobile phones. Generally if there’s something attached to a wire, I.T. will fix it!!
W
e love our jobs! The best bits include - learning how to fix things that most people don’t know about; learning something new every day; helping our fellow colleagues with their problems; seeing the look on colleagues’ faces when showing them a simple shortcut; being able to get on with work at our own pace and having bigger computer monitors!
WE ARE COASTAL’S FOUNTAIN OF TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE... We can be described as: Thoughtfu
Sick
le!) ssex sty (Joey E
Hyper
Loud
l
Average
Thinkers
Miserable
GROWING UP WE WANTED TO BE... a Dentist, a Fireman, an Air Hostess, a Lego designer, a Maths Teacher, Joanna Lumley’s other half, good looking and slim...
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IN OUR OPINION, THE GREATEST INVENTIONS ARE: Velcro, Sat-Nav (especially on your mobile phone!), the internet, the defibrillator, the sewing machine, microchips and the tin opener.
WE’VE TRAVELLED THE WORLD BETWEEN US MOST MEMORABLE DESTINATIONS... Chicago, Fiji, Jamaica, Blackpool, Morocco, Paris and Tuscany, but our favourite places on earth are the Mangroves Forest and Caves in Thailand, Mewslade Bay in Gower, anywhere with our families and there’s nowhere better than your own bed.
Between us... We manage
954,000
folders/files on the server
Our largest foot size is
11
We’d all pick a Saturday night at the movies over Bowling!
The gadgets we just couldn’t live without are the PS4, iPod touch, iPhone, pacemaker, bottle opener and the TV remote control!
IF WE WON BIG ON THE LOTTO WE’D BUY... We look after
18km
Houses, flash cars, a big diamond ring (for Shane’s wife!), a gorilla suit disguise, a chauffeur, open a sanctuary for dogs and fund a brand new season of Knight-mare.
of cables
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Get fit, get
swimming Swimming is a great form of exercise. It’s also fun and a good way of letting go of any stress. More importantly, learning to swim is a forever skill, which could also save lives. There are lots of individuals of all ages that haven’t taken the plunge and are yet to learn to swim.
WIN
Competition Win £50 towards swimming lessons!
(We will reimburse the cost of swimming lesson sessions, up to the value of £50, upon receipt of purchase) Please send your name, address & telephone number to: Freepost Plus RSXA-CJHX-XUXE,Coastal Housing Group, 3rd Floor, 220 High Street, Swansea, SA1 1NW or by email to: ask@coastalhousing.co.uk Closing Date: 31st July 2014. Only one entry per household
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In our bid to promote water safety this summer, Coastal tenant Roger Owen from Swansea tells us of his love for his job and for swimming. With more than 30 years experience of keeping Swansea swimmers’ safe, Roger’s the ideal person to inspire you to want to learn.
How long have you been a lifeguard, and how did you first get into it? I started lifeguarding in 1983 at the old Swansea Baths and Morriston Community Pool. I’d always loved swimming and spent most of my time at the pool. My mentor and Water Safety Officer at the time, Gordon Grey, suggested I start as a relief lifeguard and get paid for swimming. Given that I had just finished my job as a sales representative, it seemed a great idea. I did my pool test, qualified and I am still doing it now!
Why do you enjoy being a lifeguard? The clean and safe work environment; meeting people; knowing my job reassures swimmers that they are safe while swimming and keeping myself fit! The keeping fit is not a choice mind you - we have to train monthly and undergo a stringent pool test every 13 weeks. Working in a Leisure Centre, it must not be forgotten that a large part of the day involves the setting-up of lots of fitness classes.
What are the health benefits of swimming? As said by many health professionals, swimming is an activity that uses virtually all the muscles in the body. You can swim at your own pace according to your own ability. At Swansea leisure centres, our fitness instructors can give "dove tailed" advice to suit every individual’s needs or requirements.
Tell us the best moments of your career? My best moment was to see our swim teachers persuade a child to leave go of a float, while screaming their head off! Then months and even years later watching that same child swim along like a fish! Highlights also include meeting Prince Charles, Jimmy White, Ivor Allchurch, Simon Weston and Phil Schofield.
How many people have you rescued? This is quite impossible to answer! While at Swansea Leisure Centre, we "fished out" everyday - this is a term we use for a non contact rescue by using a rescue pole, torpedo buoy or throw bag.
What advice would you give to someone who is afraid to learn to swim? Visit your local swimming pool and speak to a qualified swimming teacher. They will reassure and give you confidence you never thought you had. You WILL get better with every visit, trust me. Lessons are usually held for babies, children and adults – age is no limit when it comes to swimming!
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With the summer sunshine comes heaps of fun at the beach - we have got together with two RNLI volunteer members to promote water safety!
Stay water safe this
summer Years 1 & 2 of Waun Wen Primary School enjoyed their recent school trip to The Mumbles Lifeboat Station, where they had a valuable lesson on Water Safety.
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Gary Morgan
George Curtis
Coastal’s Gary Morgan is more than just an Assets Manager – he volunteers with the RNLI and is the Senior Helmsman at Bury Port lifeboat station, making him the person in charge of the lifeboat when it goes afloat and thereafter makes any decisions in relation to the call out that the boat is on. He’s also the local Education Volunteer which includes him visiting schools, clubs and societies to advise them on water safety around the beaches and open water. Gary hosts visits at the lifeboat station, giving safety presentations and explaining about the boats and equipment used.
Coastal Tenant George Curtis volunteers to spend his spare time with the RNLI - he’s a Shore Crew Member at the moment, waiting to join the lifeboat crew. His role involves helping to launch the lifeboat on training days and shouts (rescues) and making sure the crew are safe during and after the launch. He helps with making sure the station is clean and tidy, and if required gets to search the beach for missing people in the RNLI Landrover!
Gary has been with the RNLI for 24 years. He grew up with his father being a member and his sister also followed suit. We asked Gary what inspired his involvement, he said “it was a case that all our friends were involved and we work well together so we joined together, it gives a sense of giving something back to the community that we live but I enjoy it and that’s why I joined”.
He wanted to join the RNLI since he was a little boy after seeing the lifeboats on family trips to Tenby and Cornwall. At 16 shortly after moving to Port Talbot, he started going to the station to see how things worked and joined the Shore Crew aged 17. George explains “I was inspired to join because of my mother who passed away, she was a big supporter of the RNLI and always give contributions to them whenever we visited a lifeboat station”.
His best moments: Saving a life which you know would have been lost if it wasn’t for you and the team!
George enjoys giving something back to the local community being part of a big lifesaving organisation. He also enjoys having lots of friends through the RNLI and learning new skills.
Gary’s best water safety advice:
George’s best water safety advice:
Read the safety signs in the area you are going and know the tide times when you go to the beach. Make sure you tell someone when and where you’re going and what time you are coming back.
Always swim between the red and yellow flags because this is the safest part of the sea where the lifeguards patrol, and never go out of your depth.
What the flags mean Flags are there to help you safe, but do you know what they mean?
Red Flag This means danger! Never go in the water when one is flying.
Red and Yellow Flag These mark the area where it is safest to swim. Make sure you swim, bodyboard and use inflatables between these flags because lifeguards are on patrol here.
Checkered Flag These mark the area for surfers, kayaks and other non-powered craft. Do not swim or bodyboard in this area.
Orange Windsock An orange windsock indicates that the wind conditions are especially dangerous - do not take inflatables in the sea when you see this windsock
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The Salento Restaurant on Swansea Marina opened on 14th February this year. An auspicious date for a truly romantic Italian restaurant. The Salento is the dream of Coastal Housing tenant, Luigi Sabato.
Stories to Inspire You
Luigi Sabato
“all the food is homemade”
Restraunter
L
uigi’s passion for food comes from a family of three generations of restaurant owners; a tradition that had started off with his Great Grandfather. Growing up in restaurants in the Puglia region on the coast of southern Italy, it is quite literally in his blood. However, owning his own restaurant was not what he had originally planned for himself.
Luigi left Italy eight years ago determined not to follow in his family’s footsteps and instead of food, decided to follow his other passion of film and photography with the aim of a career in the film industry.
Studying film and photography at the Swansea Met University, he graduated with a BA Hons. To make some money to fund his university fees, Luigi started to sell games consuls on ebay. When he finished his studies he started his own company selling games and electronics. The business took off and he was regularly travelling to Europe – usually once a month to France and Italy. Meanwhile, his sister who also had a restaurant in Italy, as did his Mum, decided they were all living too far apart from each other. So to bring the family back together, Luigi gave up the games and bought the restaurant. Now his Sister works with him as a 2nd Chef and front of house manager, while his Mum lives nearby. Whilst Luigi, like most Italians, can cook, he prefers to leave that to his sister, and also his Chef Valentina who has come from a 3-Star Michelin Restaurant in Florence. The menu at Salento is entirely Italian. All of the food is homemade, ingredients are locally sourced and fish is fresh from the trawlers moored up virtually on the restaurants door step. The restaurants signature dish, and their ‘best seller’ is ‘Nonna Ada’s Egg balls’ which is a recipe from Luigi’s Grandmother. Its a recipe that he grew up with that no-one else can do the same way as its personalised and unique. Luigi would not reveal all of the ingredients in the egg balls, but basically it is a savoury pastry made up of eggs and Italian pecorino cheese and served with home made tomato sauce... delicious.
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The menu offers a choice of set with two-course lunch starting at £9.95 and dinner for £15.95 with a daily special board. LUNCH 1 course 2 courses 3 courses
£7.50 £9.95 £12.95
Salento is open Tuesday – Saturdays 12.00 to 2.30pm and 6pm to 11pm. As weekends are busy, we recommend on a Saturday you book in advance. Tel: 01792 446700 Facebook.com/salento marina Salento Restaurant, Pilot House Wharf, Trawler Road, Swansea SA1 1UN
WIN
Competition
We’re giving away lunch for two people to the value of £30.00 at Salento. For you chance to win just answer this question:
What region of Italy does Luigi come from? Please send your answer, along with your name, address and telephone number to: Freepost Plus RSXA-CJHX-XUXE,Coastal Housing Group, 3rd Floor, 220 High Street, Swansea, SA1 1NW or by email to: ask@coastalhousing.co.uk Closing Date: 31st July 2014. Only one entry per household
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Shipwrecks and silver dollars No-one knows the name of Gower’s most famous shipwreck (or where she came from). She is simply known as the ‘Dollar Ship’ because of the 17th century gold moidores and doubloons sometimes found in the sand.
SWANSEA MUSEUM REPORTS THAT:
“In the second half of the 17th century, a ship, supposedly carrying the dowry of Catherine of Braganza, was wrecked. In 1807 and 1833, quantities of silver coin (identified as Peruvian dollars) were uncovered by the tide.” As well as the coins, cannons from the wreck can also be found in some nearby gardens.
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C
oastal tenant, Mike Davies spent many years, as boy and man, at the spectacular Rhosilli Bay and with an interest in shipwrecks of the Gower, Mike was especially intrigued by the famous ‘Dollar Ship’ and the bounty she carried. Mike’s time at Rhosilli Bay was spent wondering if he would find any silver dollars on the ebb tide.
The beach is approximately three miles long and, at low tide, a huge expanse of sand is revealed. Burry Holmes is at the northern end and at the southern end you can find Worm’s Head. Look due West and you will see the stretch of water where the 17th century ship was wrecked.
In recent years, Mike has been in touch with a retired Metropolitan Police Officer who now lives in Canada. He was evacuated from London to Rhosilli during WW2 and his imagination had run wild with tales of storms, shipwrecks and smugglers. After retiring, he and his family had emigrated to Canada, but he had never forgotten the freedom of Rhosilli beach. Mike and he formed a friendship as they shared tales of the Gower. They were surprised to discover that they each had similar photos of standing alongside the ‘Cleveland HMS (L46) escort destroyer’ when it washed up on Rhosilli beach in 1957 following years of service. The Cleveland’s naval history included being torpedoed on her way to North Africa; protecting ships during the Atlantic convoy crossings and aiding in Dunkirk. In one letter, he told Mike that he had a map that showed where the silver dollars are and, as it was no good to him in Canada, he gave the map to Mike! MIKE SAYS: “Now, every time Rhosilli Bay calls, I take the map with me but I have yet to find those silver dollars. If I ever find them, I’ll let you know but don’t forget that next time you visit Rhosilli Bay, you could be the very person who finds those 17th century silver dollars on the ebb tide!” SUMMER 2013 220 COASTAL MAGAZINE
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Did you know?
For the
Love of food Delicious summer recipes for less
MANGOS A mango tree can grow as tall as 100 feet. The bark, leaves, skin and pit of the mango have been used in folk remedies for centuries Mangos provide 100% of your daily vitamin C, 35% of your daily vitamin A and 12% of your daily fibre Don’t judge a mango by its colour – red does not mean ripe, Squeeze gently to judge ripeness To speed up ripening, place mangos in a paper bag at room temperature
Mango Salad Serves: 2
LIMES Lime juice was the world’s first SO2 (sulphur dioxide) preserved drink. Lime juice is the exception to all other citrus juices, it has very high acid content and low sugar.
Ingredients: 2 mangoes, slightly unripe 1 carrot 8 cherry tomatoes 1 punnet of salad cress 25g of coconut, grated 2 tbsp of walnuts, roasted and crushed 1 tsp of black peppercorns, crushed Sea salt Dressing 2 tsp of honey 2 limes, juiced 4 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil
Method: 1. In a small bowl, mix together the honey, lime juice and olive oil. Set aside. 2. For the salad, cut the mangoes and carrot into matchsticks and toss them together in a large salad bowl to mix well. Quarter the cherry tomatoes and drop them into the salad bowl. 3. Divide the salad onto four serving plates and top with the walnuts, salad cress and shredded coconut. Sprinkle the salad with crushed peppercorns and sea salt to taste. 4. Drizzle with the dressing and serve.
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Easy Strawberry Cheesecake Did you know?
Cuts into 12 slices Ingredients: 250g digestive biscuits 100g butter, melted 1 vanilla pod 600g soft cheese 100g icing sugar 284ml pot double cream For the topping 400g punnet strawberries, halved and stoned 25g icing sugar
ALMONDS Method: EQUIPMENT: 23cm loose-bottomed tin, baking parchment, plastic food bag, rolling pin, large bowl, dessert spoon, chopping board, kitchen knife, electric mixer, spatula, serving plate, blender or food processor, sieve 1. MAKE THE BASE: Butter and line a 23cm loose-bottomed tin with baking parchment. Put 250g digestive biscuits in a plastic food bag and crush to crumbs using a rolling pin. Transfer the crumbs to a bowl, then pour over 100g melted butter. Mix thoroughly until the crumbs are completely coated. Tip them into the prepared tin and press firmly down into the base to create an even layer. Chill in the fridge for one hour to set firmly. 2. Remove the vanilla seeds from 1 pod: Slice the vanilla pod in half lengthways, leaving the tip intact, so that the two halves are still joined. Holding onto the tip of the pod, scrape out the seeds using the back of a kitchen knife.
Almonds are one of the best sources of the antioxidant vitamin E. One ounce of almonds gives you more than a third of the Daily Value. Whole natural almonds will keep well for up to two years in the fridge. Their long storage life is due in part to vitamin E which helps keep them fresh.
“A mango tree can grow as tall as 100 feet”
3. MAKE THE FILLING: Place 600g soft cheese, 100g icing sugar and the vanilla seeds in a bowl, then beat with an electric mixer until smooth. Tip in 284ml pot double cream and continue beating until the mixture is completely combined. Now spoon the cream mixture onto the biscuit base, working from the edges inwards and making sure that there are no air bubbles. Smooth the top of the cheesecake down with the back of a dessert spoon or spatula. Leave to set in the fridge overnight. 4. UN-MOULDING AND TOPPING: Bring the cheesecake to room temperature, about 30 minutes before serving. To un-mould, place the base on top of a can, then gradually pull the sides of the tin down. Slip the cake onto a serving plate, removing the lining paper and base. Purée half the 400g punnet strawberries in a blender or food processor with 25g icing sugar and 1tsp water, then sieve. Pile the remaining strawberries onto the cake, then pour over purée.
Top tip... When preparing to make your cheesecake, make sure all ingredients - the cream cheese, sour cream, eggs and even the sugar - are at room temperature. This will allow the ingredients to blend together better, giving you a smoother cheesecake.
WALNUTS Walnuts have always been considered important for their medicinal properties, including curing bad breath, reducing inflammation, and healing wounds.
STRAWBERRIES If you're watching your waistline, why not sprinkle a little black pepper over your strawberries instead of the usual calorific cream? It doesn't sound that appetising, but you'll be pleasantly surprised... We're all smiles - did you know strawberries can help whiten your teeth?
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Garden
Showcase This summer we want to see what you have been growing in your garden. We’ll be out and about during the two weeks from Monday 30th June to Friday 11th June looking at: •
GLORIOUS GARDENS - big, small on grass, on a patio
•
HANGING BASKETS GALORE - the fuller the better
•
BEAUTIFUL BALCONIES - dress to impress
•
QUIRKIEST CONTAINERS - in a boot, a hat, anything will do
•
VEGETABLE SPOTS - in a plot, in a pot
•
WILDLIFE AREAS - best bugs, birds and bees nests
•
COMMUNITY GARDENS - where’s the best place to sit out
We’ll be awarding great prizes for the best efforts, plus all entries will go in to a prize draw to win a subscription to a gardening magazine of their choice.
If you want us to call and see you during the two weeks of 30th June to 11th July, or you want to nominate your neighbour or housing scheme, then let us know by contacting us: Tel: email: Facebook: Twitter: By post:
01792 479200 ask@coastalhousing.co.uk www.facebook.com/coastalhousing @coastalhousing Freepost Plus RSXA-CJHX-XUXE, Coastal Housing Group, 3rd Floor, 220 High Street, Swansea, SA1 1NW
CHILDREN UNDER 12 CAN ENTER OUR TALLEST SUNFLOWER COMPETITION We want to find the tallest sunflower EVER. So to give them a chance to grow Skyhigh, we’ll be measuring them week commencing 11th August. If you want to enter your sunflower then contact us.
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WIN
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Gas Servicing We have a legal duty to carry out a service of our gas appliances in your home every 12 months. It is a condition of your Tenancy Agreement that you will provide us with access for the service, as well as any other access requirements to carry out work on the property.
The gas service will give you peace of mind knowing that your heating system is safe and working as it should be. • We will send you an appointment and tell you when we will be calling to carry out the service. • If you cannot be at home on that day, make sure you let us know and we will arrange another date and time which suits you. • Its an important service, so we need to make sure its carried out on time. • If you do not provide us with access as we request, and don’t get in touch to arrange another appointment, then we will have to take a different approach. • If the first servicing appointment is missed, and we haven’t been contacted, we will take steps to serve you with a Notice to end your tenancy. • If you still do not get in touch and we are still unable to gain access, we will speed up the legal process which may result in you losing your home. • So please give us access to carry out your gas servicing - it will make sure you have peace of mind and it saves us a considerable amount of wasted engineer time and administrative work.
Remember, if you are unable to make the appointment we give you please contact us to rearrange so we can carry out this important service.
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Glyneath Te a Party - Digi tal Inclusion Fu n in the Sun!
I was invited to pop along to a tea party at Glynneath recently to let tenants know how digital technology can help with hobbies and interests (as well as save money online).
I
t was great to meet up with tenants from Llys Yr Ysgol and Heathfield Court and show them how fun and easy it is to use a tablet. I took along my ipad and showed tenants how to take photos by simply clicking two buttons and we made a small video as well
We had a look at how to find information online by surfing the Internet. A holiday trip to Turkey was mentioned so I searched online to find out facts and figures about the country. We looked at the currency, the weather, the temperature in June, the holiday resorts and places to visit. We also looked for Turkey on You Tube and I showed everyone how easy it is to watch videos online. We looked at other people’s holidays in Turkey and everyone could see for themselves how lovely the country is. We talked about recent stories on the news saying that 72 hours storms were brewing over South Wales. We looked at “Weather Apps” which showed BBC and Met Office forecasts. I use these for practical things - like when it is best for me to out the washing on my line! I brought along a mifi dongle to access the Internet which meant that we could look at the internet outside instead of in a class room. You can buy one for about £15. It was a lovely fun afternoon, helped by the sunny weather. Everyone really enjoyed and the tenants are now planning to meet up in the communal garden regularly to chat and share their life stories and experiences.
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TOP APPS Speedo Fit - This swimming fitness app lets you set goals and track your open water or pool swims so you can monitor your progress. You can find local swimming pools along with their opening hours and swim timetables, as well as pool phone numbers.Facebook or Twitter!
Use your Smartphone to seek out cheaper deals With an app for just about anything, we thought we would ask our colleagues what apps they are using to save money. Here are their top five.
RNLI Beach Finder - If you’d rather swim in the sea than a pool, have a safe trip to the beach with this handy app from the RNLI. You can search for UK beaches complete with photos, beach descriptions, lifeguard season dates and patrol times, and information on local hazards. Check live weather updates or take a look at a five day forecast to plan ahead. Water Your Body - Its important to stay hydrated, particularly over summer when you’re more active and in the sun. For less than a bottle of water (£0.69) this app can give you a water intake goal designed specifically for you and lets you set your own reminders and alerts to drink more water. Tides Near Me - This free app allows you to quickly find out the time of the last and next tide with fully automated tide tables, charts and predictions. Perfect to find out how much beach there is to spread out on before you arrive!
Join in the conversation… Tweet us @coastalhousing Follow us on Facebook
Freestyle Swimming - An app for competitive swimmers or people looking to improve their technique. With top tips from Ben Titley, Great Britain Head Olympics swimming coach, interviews with athletes and examples of land based and core strength drills performed by elite swimmers, it’s like having a personal coach in your pocket for £1.99!
Fire Safety • • • • •
Are you over 65 years of age? Do you have trouble hearing your smoke alarm? Do you have difficulty leaving your home? Do you receive any assistance in your home from external agencies? Are you a smoker?
South Wales Fire and Rescue Service has started a programme of Home Fire Safety Checks. They use these checks to help reduce the deaths and injuries caused by accidental fires. Firefighters and community fire safety staff can visit you at home to offer advice on how to make your home safe and, where appropriate, fit a smoke alarm for free. The Fire Service target areas and situations where they know there is a higher risk of fire, including the homes of older or disabled people, but anyone living in South Wales can request a home fire safety visit. If you are concerned that your home may be at risk of fire or know someone who you think needs their help then please arrange a visit.
To arrange a visit, ring the Fire Service for free on 0800 1691234 or apply online at www.southwales-fire.gov.uk
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Children’s poster
Competition Design a poster for Coastal Housing to help encourage our tenants to recycle as much as possible. Things to think about: Benefits to the environment / tips for recycling / effects on wildlife / what you can recycle
“If your picture is eye catching enough we may use it across coastal sites.” WIN Please return your designs to: • • •
The Recycling Team, Coastal Housing 220 High Street, Swansea SA1 1NW ask@coastalhousing.co.uk Give them to your site caretaker
Please ensure you include your name, age, address and telephone number with your design. Closing date for entries is 31 July 2014 If your picture is eye catching enough we may use it across coastal sites. There will be prizes for 1st 2nd & 3rd best picture.
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Dave’s Dilemmas Dave The Sheep helps sort out your life
Q
WHAT DO I DO WITH MY TIME? My son has just told me that he and his family are moving to Brighton because of his job. I’ve always lived in Port Talbot but I seem to have lost touch with friends since I retired. This was fine when I could visit my son but now I don’t know what I’ll do with my time. I’m really starting to worry about feeling lonely when they go. What should I do?
DAVE SAYS:
There are lots of retired people in the same boat as you, especially with families living further apart for work. If you have a skill, or just some time, that you’d like to share, you may want to think about volunteering. The skills, knowledge and experience that you have gained through your life are the perfect ingredients for giving back to the community. Our popular ‘Social Circle’ is a great way to meet new friends. We have lots of events from monthly coffee mornings (in Swansea and Neath) to day trips further afield. For more information, ring Julia on 01792 479266. Want to brush up on your computer skills, why not contact Nigel Lewis, Coastal’s Digital Co-Ordinator. Nigel can help you to get online and provide advice and support. How about keeping in touch with your son and his family through SKYPE? Alternatively, if you are already confident online, maybe you could volunteer and give Nigel a hand. Whatever, you choose to do, there are a lot of opportunities out there!
Competitions In this edition we have three exciting competitions for you to enter. Here are last edition’s winners: Essential Cycle Packs Mr Baglow of Norton, Swansea Laura Parker of Margam, Port Talbot John Lowe of Cadaxton, Neath Andrea Sarsfield of Mount Pleasant, Swansea Rachel Paul of Bryn, Llanelli Gary Mallon of Sandfields, Port Talbot John Davies of Hafod, Swansea Michael Skone of SA1, Swansea Dennis Wogan of Pontardawe, Swansea Glen Barnett of SA1, Swansea
Readership Survey 1st prize Mr Barnett of SA1, Swansea 2nd prize Miss Richardson of Mount Pleasant, Swansea 3rd prize Mrs Guard of Mumbles, Swansea
Chocolates from Simple Confectionary Leighann Voddin of Waun Wen, Swansea
Mary Berry & Paul Hollywood Cookbook Ms Macadams of Mount Pleasant, Swansea
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Insider information HomeSwapper Want to move home then log on to: www.homeswapper.co.uk A free service for Coastal tenants, it will help you find potential swaps from a variety of social landlords – both local and across the uk. Simple and easy to use, with no limit to the number of refusals you make. Want to know more, then give us a call on 01792 479200
Making a comment or complaint If you have a problem with any of our services we’ll try our best to resolve it quickly and effectively. All complaints are logged and then passed on to the relevant person in the organisation to deal with it, who will become your named contact. You can also speak to the manager of the relevant team about your complaint. If the problem is out of our control to fix, we will let you know. If you are not satisfied with the outcome, then you can write to the Chairman of our Board of Management, Kay Howell, at our Swansea office address.
Free Gas Safety Checks By law, all gas boilers and gas fires in housing association properties need an annual safety check by a Gas Safe registered engineer. This will include: • • •
Annual servicing flue and ventilation check Carbon monoxide check Mains wired smoke alarms check.
You MUST allow the gas service engineers working for Coastal Housing into your home to do their work. If we try, and fail, to get access, we will take legal action against you. “Carbon Monoxide can KILL, make sure you get your FREE gas check”
Public Services Ombudsman The Public Services Ombudsman for Wales will look into any complaint from a member of the public about the way they have been treated by a public body, including a housing association. Public Services Ombudsman for Wales 1 Old Field Road, Pencoed, Bridgend, CF35 5LJ Phone: 0845 601 0987 Email: ask@ombudsman-wales.org.uk www.ombudsman-wales.org.uk
Address to Serve Notice Section 48(1) of the Landlord and Tenant Act 10987 requires that we provide you with an address at which notices may be served on Coastal Housing Group Ltd, your Landlord. Coastal Housing Group Ltd, 3rd Floor, 220 High Street, Swansea, SA1 1NW
Out-of-hours emergency office number: 0845 680 8888 42
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How do I pay my rent? There are lots of ways to pay your rent you just need to decide which way is best for you. Paying your rent Direct Debit Set up a Direct Debit over the phone, or we can send you a form. Housing Benefit Payments
Debit or Credit Card Debit or credit card payments can be made over the phone: 01792 479200 On-line Pay on-line at www.allpay.net Allpay Card at Paypoint Using an Allpay Card at Paypoint stations, or at a Post Office In person Pay in person at our offices in Neath and Swansea
What if I can’t pay my rent? • • • • • •
Tell us why you can’t pay. It is important that you contact us straight away if you are having problems paying your rent. By talking to your Area Housing Manager, we will be able to help and advise you. We will be able to agree a payment plan with you which will make sure you meet your rent payments and clear any rent arrears. We can go through your budget to see if we can help you save money in other areas. If you don’t contact us, and you don’t pay your rent, then you could end up losing your home.
What if I need to apply for Housing and Other Benefits? To find out what benefits you may be entitled to you can contact.
Housing Benefit Dept Swansea Tel. 01792 635353
Housing Benefit Department Neath: 01639 686838 Port Talbot: 01639 76345
You may also want to get in touch with organisations who can help such as: Citizens Advice Bureau: Tel. 08444 77 20 20 www.citizensadvice.org.uk
Carmarthenshire County Council Tel. 01554 742277 www.housingbenefits@carmarthen shire.gov.uk
Shelter Cymru: Tel. 0845 075 5005 www.sheltercymru.org.uk Money Advice Service: Tel. 0300 500 5000 www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk Your Benefits are Changing: Tel. 0300 3031073 www.yourbenefitsarechanging.co.uk
Government Services and Information www.gov.uk
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Wild West Tenant Fun Day Thursday 31st July, 2014 St. Helen’s Rugby Ground, Brynmill, Swansea SA2 0AR 10am - 4pm
rides • stalls • savage skills mountain bike stunt show fancy dress • bucking broncoe • sports events • coconut shie face painting • tin can alley • refreshments and much, much more
Free transport available For tickets to attend this fun filled FREE event, please contact us on 01792 479200 ask@coastalhousing.co.uk
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entrance will be by ticket only
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