Living - Residents' Newsletter - Winter 2015

Opening Doors – Enhancing Lives

www.clwydalyn.co.uk

Residents’ Newsletter – Winter 2015

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year

In this issue: Pg 6-7 Residents’ Conference Pg 8-9 Community Events Pg 12 Colouring Competition Pg 4 Be Online

Pg 5 Rent First

Telephone: 0800 183 5757 or 01745 536800 Email: enquiries@clwydalyn.co.uk Clwyd Alyn Housing Association is a Charitable Industrial and Provident Society clwyd_alyn_newsletter Xmas 2015 Final single page.indd 1

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WELCOME

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Residents Approved

Residents Approved OUR EDITORIAL PANEL

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CONTENTS

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 Universal Credit

3

 Be Online

4

 Rent First

5

 Annual Residents Conference

6-7

 Community Events

8-9

 Volunteers Needed

10

 In Case of Emergency

11

 Christmas Colouring Competition

12

Residents Approved

s p i T o Ec Residents Approved

Resident Approved

gareth.hughes-roberts@clwydalyn.co.uk

Like us: facebook.com/PennafHGroup Follow us: @PennafHGroup

www.clwydalyn.co.uk

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01745 536843

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We always want to hear about your local news - if you have any articles you would like to include in the next newsletter, please send them to Gareth on the contact details below by Friday 1 April 2016.

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CONTACT DETAILS

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Approved

Gareth Hughes-Roberts.

Residents’ Newsletter, 72 Ffordd William Morgan, St Asaph Business Park, St Asaph, Denbighshire, LL17 0JD.

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Universal Credit, it’s finally here!

What is Universal Credit?

Universal Credit is a 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. It is has now started to slowly roll out to new claimants in all counties across Wales.

Universal Credit will replace:

WREXHAM

 Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance

Wrexham Job Centre - March 16th 2015 Single claimants only

 Income-related Employment and Support Allowance

 Income Support  Child Tax Credit  Working Tax Credit  Housing Benefit It became operational in Clwyd Alyn patches on the following dates: YNYS MON Holyhead Job Centre - September 21st 2015 Single claimants only Amlwch Job Centre - September 21st 2015 Single claimants only Llangefni Job Centre - September 21st 2015 Single claimants only CONWY

POWYS Welshpool Job Centre - October 26th 2015 Single claimants only No announcement has yet been made by the DWP as to when people on existing benefits will move over to Universal Credit but it is anticipated it won’t be for some time yet.

Be sure to check out our twitter and facebook pages for further updates on Universal credit and other Welfare Reform matters.

You can also get further information by visiting the following sites: GOV.UK https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit/overview CITIZENS ADVICE https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/wales/benefits/ universal-credit/

Llandudno Job Centre - May 4th 2015 Single claimants only

03444 772020 - 10am - 4pm, Monday to Friday

Colwyn Bay Job Centre - May 4th 2015 Single claimants only

https://www.turn2us.org.uk/

DENBIGHSHIRE

TURN2US 0808 802 2000 - 9am - 8pm, Monday to Friday

Rhyl Job Centre - July 13th 2015 Single claimants only FLINTSHIRE Flint Job Centre - February 23rd 2015 Single claimants only Mold Job Centre - February 23rd 2015 Single claimants only Shotton Job Centre - April 7th 2014 Single claimants, couples and families

Money Saving http://www.moneysavingexpert.com http://www.latestfreestuff.co.uk/ https://www.groupon.co.uk/ http://www.vouchercodes.co.uk/ https://www.supersavvyme.co.uk 3

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BE ONLINE Congratulations to Liz Williams from Bro Trehinion for winning an iPad after signing up for our online Residents’ Portal.

Be Online Access your account details 24 hours a day!

The Residents’ Portal is now live, enabling you to access your account details 24 hours a day!

By now, you should have received a letter from us telling you about the new Residents’ Portal and information on how to register and access your account. New tenants will receive one within a few days of signing their tenancy agreement.

It is easy to register and once you have you will be able to access the following: In ‘My account’ you will be able to see:

 The personal details we hold on you

A big thank you to our Digital Champions for helping at our Resident’s Portal Workshop recently.

 Who is registered at living at your address  Amend your records where they are incorrect  View your rent account details regarding rent due and what has been paid

In Contact Details you will be able to see:

 Landline telephone numbers we hold for you  Mobile telephones numbers we hold for you  Your e-mail address  Letters that we have sent to you  Letters you have sent to us You will also be able to add other ways for us to contact you.

We will use these contact details to contact you unless you tell us otherwise, or if they are no longer relevant you will be able to delete them from your record.

Under ‘My Property’ you will be see:

 The name of your Housing Officer  Repairs previously reported whether completed or not  Letters sent to you related to your property You will also be able to report a non-urgent repair.

You can register and access your account by visiting: www.clwydalyn.co.uk and clicking on ‘Residents’ Login’.

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Rent matters and we are here to help. If you’re having difficulty keeping up with your rent, you need to talk to us. Call 0800 183 5757 for cheaper calls from a mobile call 01745 536800.

Rent First

Paying your rent keeps a roof over your head – get in touch if you are struggling.

Keeping up with your rent payments can be hard, especially at Christmas time. We know that some of you are particularly struggling this year following the changes in benefits. But remember, it is vital you pay your rent, if you don’t pay your rent, you could end up losing your home.

Easy ways to pay your rent Residents’ Portal

Housing Benefit Direct

Visit www.clwydalyn.co.uk and login to the Residents Portal

This can be paid directly to us by the Housing Benefit Department if you request this.

Residents who receive Universal Credit will receive a payment towards their housing cost (rent) as part of their Universal Credit entitlement, which will paid direct to the resident. You will therefore, need to make payment arrangements for your rent.

Payment By ‘Swipe Card’ You can use your ‘Allpay Card’ at any Paypoint, Post Office or by telephone or internet

Phone Payments Make automated phone payments by debit or credit cards by calling 0800 183 5757 or 01745 536800.

Remember to have your ‘Swipe Card’ ready.

Standing Order

Direct Debit

Rent Statements

Take your rent payments by standing order.

You can pay your rent by direct debit from your bank/building society or post office account (please note that Direct Debit payments can currently only be taken on 1st or 16th of the month).

You will receive a rent statement from us once a year. This will show all the payments you have made during the course of the year, and the balance of your account.

Post Office Giro

Cheques

Giro slips will be issued to all new residents so that rent payments can be made pending the issue of the ‘Swipe Card’.

Make cheques payable to: Clwyd Alyn Housing Association Ltd

Pay Online

You can now pay your rent with the iPhone and Android App, visit allpay

You can pay online with ‘allpay’.

iPhone and Android App

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RESIDENTS CONFERENCE

Our Annual Residents Conference: the Best Ever!

Our Annual Resident Conference recently took place at the Beaufort Park Hotel near Mold on the 23rd October 2015. The event is a great opportunity for Residents from across the six counties where we work, to get together and meet and also talk with Staff and Board Members from the Association.

Around 80 Residents attended from as far afield as Holyhead and Welshpool.

The theme of the day was: Digital Inclusion, but what is it all about? Basically, getting the skills and knowledge to access the benefits of the internet. Being internet ‘savvy’ provides us with the opportunity to, improve our lives, cut household bills, find a job, and maintain contact with friends and relatives.

The day started with an inspiring video message from television presenter and creator of the website MoneySavingExpert.com, Martin Lewis.

We were also delighted to welcome Lesley Griffiths A.M. the Minister for Communities and Tacking Poverty who opened the afternoon session of the conference.

Eco

Tips

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RESIDENTS CONFERENCE

The workshops themselves were also well received and included: Applying for Universal Credit: what’s all the fuss about? The UK government’s new flagship benefit called Universal Credit is being rolled out across North Wales. Residents attending this workshop had the opportunity to find out just exactly what Universal Credit is and how and why it might affect them.

Stop it Now! Stay safe on Line. For many of us, the internet has changed our lives over the past few years. However, with this almost unrestricted access to information and knowledge, comes the possibility for abuse.

Keeping children and young people safe from harm on the internet was the focus of this workshop.

Digital Communities Wales. This workshop asked the question: ever wanted to know more about computers? What is a tablet or a device?

How do I get some training to help me get started? Residents had the opportunity to ‘find their feet’ and make sure that they did not miss out on opportunities to save money, look for work, find information, keep in touch with family, learn new skills and access important services.

As well as the workshops, there were lots of interesting trade stands to view, including the North Wales Credit Union and the Open University. PenCartref, which is now offering a new Handypersons service was on hand to provide advice and information, including a competition for two hours of free work.

Congratulations to Leo Farrell from Kinmel Bay who is getting help to tidy up his patio area.

Residents were also able to find out more information and sign up for our Resident Portal.

Much fun was also had with the Green Screen provided by Digital Communities Wales, which allowed Residents to be photographed on the Great Wall of China, in front of the Pyramids, with the Wales football team or with Daniel Craig as James Bond!

Community Housing Cymru (CHC) and Digital Inclusion. Community Housing Cymru is the trade body for Housing Associations in Wales, including Clwyd Alyn. This workshop gave Residents the opportunity to find out how Associations across Wales are helping their Residents to become digitally included, building skills, and knowledge and providing access to the benefits of the internet.

Barclay’s Bank. You may have seen the Barclays adverts on the television. Residents who attended this workshop were able to hear more about their Tea and Teach sessions and learn about their Digital Eagles programme.

Residents were also able to take the Barclays driving test!

TAPE Community Music and Film from Colwyn Bay worked with a number of our Residents to provide a video documentary of the day.

Last but by no means least, congratulations to Rosehill Residents from Wrexham who won the best kept estate competition, which recognised the huge amount of community and environmental work Residents do to keep the estate looking as nice as possible.

Congratulations also to Mary Broadbent from Halkyn who won the Good Citizen award for the sterling work she does supporting older members of her community.

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COMMUNITY EVENTS Our residents have been really busy over the last few months, with lots of exciting projects and community events, from community fun days to baking bread, raising money and being creative! A big thank you to everyone who got involved.

If you would like to read more about the community events highlighted on this pin board or other events, visit: www.clwydalyn.co.uk/news

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Gardening Competition

Here’s a selection of entries from our 2015 Summer Gardening Competition 8 clwyd_alyn_newsletter Xmas 2015 Final single page.indd 8

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Residents at Pentre Mawr using their artistic air and painting their plant pots to brighten up the scheme.

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VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Volunteers Needed Would You Like to get More Involved in Working with Clwyd Alyn to Improve the Services You Receive?

We want to work with our Residents to make sure you have every opportunity to get involved in shaping the services we provide at a pace and time to suit you. We understand that not everyone wants the same level of involvement and that’s why we have produced a variety of informal and formal involvement opportunities for you to choose from. Here is some information about how you can get involved from the comfort of your own home, including:

 Our regular newsletter called ‘Living’ which is designed and put together by Residents.

 Our web site and in particular our ‘Getting Involved Section’.

 Adding your name to our volunteer database so that we can contact you in the future with opportunities for you to get involved that you might find of interest.

 Taking part in our various surveys from time

to time, so that you can tell us what you think about the services you receive.

 Expressing an opinion about the service you

have received through making a complaint or passing on a compliment.

Don’t take our word for it however, here is Mike Bradshaw’s experience of getting involved at Clwyd Alyn: 5 years ago David Lewis, the Corporate Director of Asset Management Services put me in touch with Gareth Hughes-Roberts, Community Involvement Officer and I joined Quality Partners (Residents who have been trained to inspect landlord services) who do two audits a year of their choice.

For example, we are currently looking at Service Charges and have previously looked at rent arrears and welfare reform, landscape maintenance and services for older people, making recommendations for improvements to Clwyd Alyn to make the services better.

I haven’t looked back since. It is a great experience to be involved and change things, plus make new friends.

I am now on Service Panels and Focus Groups and am now one of four Resident Customer Ambassadors who work with Staff to improve the overall service provided to Residents.

I applied for and was interviewed to go on the Service Improvement Committee which is made up of Residents and Officers and sits just below Clwyd Alyn’s Board of Management. I now sit on this committee, which has approved policies on domestic violence, empty homes, rents and service charges.

Yes, at first you feel nervous but that is soon overcome by the friendliness of all Clwyd Alyn Staff from the Chief Executive right down the line of Staff and it is all first names. No exceptions.

Getting involved with Clwyd Alyn has changed my life and I so look forward to attending meetings and making a difference and, I am still learning!

So, if you feel you would like to get involved and join a group then please get in touch with Gareth Hughes-Roberts or myself.

Thank you Mike Bradshaw

Stop Press: New Volunteering Opportunity Are you interested in volunteering to run Digital Inclusion workshops or Job search clubs to help our Residents? Don’t worry if you feel you may not have the skills and knowledge, we could support you so that you could deliver workshops and/or drop in sessions for the local communities where you live.

To find out more, please contact Vivien Edwards, Co-ordinator ODEL Learning and Training on 01745 354371 or 07786 172 923.

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Getting Involved to help your communities Have you ever thought of using your skills to help the community where you live? Why not contact your local Voluntary services Council?

They have a wealth of information about volunteering and lots of opportunities as well.

We have given the contact details below if you are interested in finding out more about the opportunities available in your area:

 Association of Voluntary Organisations in Wrexham (AVOW) Tel: 01978 312556 info@avow.org

 Conwy Voluntary Services Council (CVSC) Tel: 01492 534091 mail@cvsc.org.uk

In case of emergency It’s important that you look after your home and let us know as soon as possible if anything goes wrong. For more information on repairs in general, refer to your handbook named: Guide to your home and services.

Repairs can be reported by contacting PenAlyn The PenAlyn Customer Service Team is open from 8.00am to 6.00pm Monday to Friday.

Call Freephone on: 0800 970 7272 For cheaper calls when using a mobile: 0300 343 7272 You can request a call back during office opening hours and we will call you back at no cost to yourself.

Calls outside these times are handled by our partner Galw Gofal on 0845 605 0553

 Denbighshire Voluntary Services Council (DVSC) Tel: 01824 702441 office@dvsc.co.uk

Report a ‘non urgent repair’ through the Residents’ Portal.

Emergency Repairs

 Flintshire Local Voluntary Council (FLVC) Tel: 01352 744000 info@flvc.org.uk

 Medrwn Môn

If the repair is an emergency we will try to get an operative to you as soon as possible. Emergency repairs are those that threaten your health, safety and welfare and may include:

 Gas leaks - Report immediately to the National Gas emergency helpline on 0800 111 999.

Tel: 01248 724944

 Powys Association of Voluntary Organisations (PAVO) Tel: 01597 822191

 Bare electrical wiring  Overflowing sewage  Broken external doors leaving a property unsecured

Eco Tips

   

Burst pipes, severe leaks No heating in severe weather No hot water Please see our Safety & Advice section when dealing with emergency repairs.

tat ur thermos10% o y n w o d Turning gree could save by one de annual heating bill, off your ing appliances off h while switcdby could save you from stan 40 a year. £

Clwyd Alyn Housing Association Residents’ Newsletter - Winter 2015 11

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Christmas Colouring Competition

Parents! Once your child has coloured the picture in, send it to us by the 15 January 2016, in the pre-paid enveloped provided. Please be sure to fill in your name and address and contact details. Only one entry per child, however if you have more than one child in the family, please either use the Welsh version or photo copy the original. Photocopies of the original images coloured in will be accepted. The prizes will include two £10 vouchers donated by Tesco. There is one prize for children aged up to six years old and one for children aged between seven and eleven. The competition will be judged by Claire Parry, Community Champion at Tesco, Mold and Louise Blackwell, Clwyd Alyn’s Community Development Officer.

Parent’s Name …………………………………………………..............

Address …………………………………………………..........

Child’s Name …………………………………………………................

...................................................................................

Child’s Age …………………………………………………....................

Contact Number …………………………………………....

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