In Touch winter 2017 issue 92

In Touch The magazine for residents of Wales & West Housing

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WINTER 2017 | ISSUE 92

ABBY LOOKS FORWARD TO HER FIRST EXTRA CARE CHRISTMAS A NEW HOME FOR THE NEWYEAR

THE DANGERS OF RENT-TO-OWN CHRISTMAS SHOPPING YOUR CHRISTMAS PRIZE PUZZLES

Christmas opening hours As usual our offices are closed from Christmas until the New Year In an emergency, please call our Customer Service Centre

0800 052 2526 CLOSED

3PM FRIDAY 22 DECEMBER TO 8.30AM TUESDAY 2 JANUARY Contact Us Wales & West Housing, Archway House, 77 Parc TÅ· Glas, Llanishen, Cardiff CF14 5DU Telephone: 0800 052 2526 Text: 07788 310420 Email: contactus@wwha.co.uk Website: www.wwha.co.uk You can also contact members of staff direct by their email. For example, joe.bloggs@wwha.co.uk

Follow us on twitter @wwha Did you know that you can now get more news and updates online?

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Other languages and formats

If you would like a copy of this edition of In Touch in Welsh or another language or format, for example in large print, please let us know and we will help you.

CONTENTS

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18 4 News 8 Your Stories 10 Build It: New developments for Wrexham, Flintshire, Cardiff, Holywell and Bridgend 14 New Year, New Home 16 Christmas Feature: Stay Safe 17 Your Quarterly Report 18 Charity news 20 Your stories – Abby bridges the Generation Gap 22 Christmas Money Matters 25 Social Media tips 26 Make It – Honeycomb Wreath 27 Fix It – How to Replace a Kitchen or Bathroom light bulb 28 Grow It – Make Your Own Indoor Garden 30 Good Health – How to Cope With Loneliness This Christmas 32 Cook It – Ways to Use Up Your Christmas Leftovers 34 What’s On – Christmas Markets and Santa Specials 35 Pet Talk 36 Christmas Puzzles 38 A Day in the Life of a Tenancy Support Officer 40 In the Picture

WELCOME FROM ANNE Dear residents Welcome to your new-look winter issue of In Touch.

For a while we’ve heard residents saying that the A5 version was too small and difficult to read. Following consultation with residents we have come up with an A4 design, which many preferred. I hope you’ll find it clearer, more colourful and easier to read.

You’ll still find all the news and the features you told us you enjoyed such as new homes, money matters, gardening tips, charity news and social media.

Plus there are new sections.

As many of you are no doubt preparing for the festive season, the theme is once again Christmas.

We all know it’s an expensive time of year, so there’s money advice on how to borrow sensibly and how to keep your home and belongings safe.

We also have some handy tips

on how to make the most of your Christmas leftovers, plus a recipe to bring festive cheer to your friends and family courtesy of a resident.

In our new Make It section there’s a clever idea on how to recycle cardboard tubes into a modern decoration. Plus there are ideas for festive days out and shopping trips in our What’s On pages. And we look at what you can do to combat loneliness over the holidays in our new health section.

There’s also advice on our low cost home ownership schemes if you or your relatives are looking to buy your own home in the New Year. Plus you’ll find two pages of Christmas puzzles, with double the prizes, because you told us that’s what you enjoyed.

So happy reading. I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a peaceful New Year.

Anne Hinchey Chief Executive

Cover photo: Resident Abby Kinloch helps staff members Leeanne Rogers (front) and Sheryl Jones to decorate the tree at Llys Glan yr Afon Extra Care Scheme, Newtown

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NEWS

“I love my new garden”

Iuestyn and his sister, Chantay.

Watch our video of Iuestyn’s garden transformation http://bit.ly/Iuestyn

WWH gives leukaemia patient Iuestyn the perfect place to play Young leukaemia patient Iuestyn Basset is loving his new garden thanks to Wales & West Housing’s staff, sponsors and contractors who banded together to give him a perfect place to play.

Iuestyn, aged six, lives with his Nan Toni John and sister Chantay, 10, in one of our homes in Brackla, Bridgend. Since he was diagnosed with the bone marrow cancer Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia two years ago, Iuestyn has been through several courses of chemotherapy treatment 4

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and blood transfusions and will continue treatment until next November.

Every Christmas since his diagnosis, Iuestyn has been rushed to hospital with infections as the treatment affects his immune system. As a result he regularly has to be kept at home, away from his friends. So his Nan Toni was desperate to create a safe garden for him in place of the mud bath in the back yard.

We were able to make Toni’s dream come true thanks to funds

Christmas 2015 Iuestyn was lucky to receive a Secret Santa from a local charity

Iuestyn was one of a group of young patients from the University Hospital of Wales who visited Parliament last Christmas

NEWS

raised at our Making A Difference Awards 2017 where Iuestyn was presented with a Special Inspiration Award.

One of the sponsors, Rhys Morgan of the Vaillant Group, was so touched by Iuestyn’s story, and smile, that he donated two auction prizes which raised £750 for the schoolboy. The family then wanted to use the money to make a difference to Iuestyn’s garden.

And we were only too glad to help.

WWH Asset Management Officer Andrew Lester and Commercial Manager Peter Jenkins began the project by levelling the garden. They also asked partners Jewson, Green Futures, 1st Communications and Air Control Ventilation to supply materials free of charge or at cost price. Staff from Cambria Maintenance Services also donated their time to build new steps and a picket fence.

Throughout the summer Andrew worked hard in his spare time to transform the garden, building decking and laying artificial turf, while colleague

David Benbow carried out the finishing touches around the play area. When it was all complete play equipment makers Plum Play also provided a sturdy climbing frame at a discounted rate.

Anne Hinchey, WWH Chief Executive, said: “Iuestyn has gone through so much in his short life, so we were delighted to be able to give him a safe and pleasant play area. I’d like to thank everyone, staff and sponsors, who worked so hard to make such a huge difference.

They have created a garden to be proud of and it’s been a joy to see Iuestyn having so much fun with his sister in his new play area.”

Iuestyn says: “I love everything about my new garden.”

And his Nan Toni added: “I can’t thank Wales & West enough for all they have done, especially Andrew who worked so hard. The garden has made such a difference to Iuestyn, he can play safely and I don’t have to worry about him.”

Freedom brings energy savings to Bridgend Forty of our homes in Bridgend are hoping to see a reduction in their bills this winter following the fitting of state-of-the art hybrid heating systems in their homes.

WWH has partnered with smart energy firm Passiv Systems on the £5.2 million Freedom Project to fit 75 homes with air source heat pumps, which use heat from the air outside, combi gas boilers and smart switching. WWH residents make up more than half of the homes included in the pilot project.

Over the summer months homes in Brackla, Kenfig Hill and Cefn Glas were fitted with the systems, which are designed to automatically select the most energyefficient and cost-effective operation at any given time of the day or night.

The idea is that the residents will be able to reduce their bills by taking advantage of time-of-use price differences between gas and electricity.

The Freedom Project has been undertaken by electricity distribution network operator Western Power Distribution and gas distribution network operator Wales and West Utilities using Network Innovation Allowance funding.

Above: WWH Chief Executive Anne Hinchey (centre) with Iuestyn, his sister Chantay and Nan Toni and the team of WWH staff and contractors from Cambria Maintenance Services, Jewson, Green Futures, 1st Communications and Air Control Ventilation.

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NEWS

Opportunity for tenants to influence housing in Wales If you are a tenant who wants your views heard by your landlord, the Welsh Government and other key community decision makers in Wales, then join Tenant Pulse.

If you join, TPAS Cymru will occasionally ask you about your views on important housing issues via short surveys. Each time you give your view you could win High Street vouchers.

For more information, visit www.tpas.cymru/pulse

Waste not Any leftovers from your Christmas lunch, including turkey, can be recycled in your kitchen caddy food bin.

Christmas cards can also be recycled, but wrapping paper unfortunately cannot be recycled.

After the 12th night your real Christmas trees can be recycled at Household Recycling Centres.

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Do you know someone who makes a difference?

Then tell us about them and they could be in line to win a Making a Difference Award 2018.

On Friday 9 March we’ll be holding our 10th Making a Difference Awards, where we celebrate the community spirit, courage, enterprise and kindness of our residents throughout Wales.

As it’s the 10th anniversary we’ve introduced some brand new and special awards. Do you have a neighbour who is always there to help you when you are in need? Or maybe you know a young person who will run errands for you or help with your gadgets. Or perhaps there’s a gardener who is always bringing their produce for you to cook.

These are just a few examples, but you may have others. And we want you to tell us.

The closing date for entries is Friday, December 22. It's easy to nominate - simply speak to your Housing Officer, Scheme Manager or contact our PR and Comms Team on Freephone 0800 052 2526 and tell them who you are nominating and why.

If they are successful in reaching the final both you and your nominee can enjoy a night out at the awards dinner at the Vale Resort, near Cardiff.

The Categories • •

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Good Neighbour: celebrates the kindness of those special people nearby.

Going Green: recognises residents who have made a real difference to their environment in the garden or recycling.

Wellbeing Champion: this new category recognises the individuals or groups who set an example or encourage others to improve their physical or mental health and wellbeing.

Bridging the Gap: another new category celebrating young and old people working together to make their community a better place.

Fresh Start: recognises those who have made it through tough times and turned their lives around or made their dreams a reality by getting back into employment, education or training.

Community Heroes: celebrates individuals and groups who have started something special in their WWH community to benefit those who live there.

Special 10th Anniversary Award: this is for an individual or group who have been exceptionally outstanding in their efforts to make a difference.

NEWS

Supporting rugby in the community

WWH Chief Executive Anne Hinchey with Llanishen RFC players in their new kit

This Christmas Wales & West Housing will celebrate a year since we moved in to our new head office in Cardiff. In that time we have worked to make a difference in the community by sponsoring neighbouring schools and community initiatives in the Llanishen area.

Recently we were delighted to sponsor kits for three junior rugby teams at Llanishen Rugby Football Club.

The club runs two senior teams, a competitive youth squad and 10 mini and junior teams from under-sevens to under-16s. One of their players was recently capped to play for Wales.

Chief Executive, Anne Hinchey, visited the club to present the young players from the Under 13s, U14s and U7s with their new

kits.

She said: “Llanishen RFC prides itself on being a community rugby club and developing partnerships to improve the community. It was looking for a local sponsor with a commitment to the local area and local people and we were delighted to help them and build what we hope will be a lasting relationship.

“The boys and girls playing for Llanishen can take great pride in their new quality kit, which will make them feel valued, welcome and part of the team.

“By sponsoring kit for three different age groups we hope the young players will feel closer to their peers which will lead to lasting friendships across the age groups.”

Under 14s player, Euan Phillips said: “The new kit is great. It looks professional and is a really great design which makes us all look smart. You feel good going onto the pitch looking like a proper rugby team and play better as a result. We would like to thank all at Wales & West Housing for their sponsorship” Joe Harvey of the Under 13s said: “We are really pleased to have been sponsored by Wales & West Housing, the shirts are really fantastic. We get a sense of pride from wearing our new kit and are proud to be part of the team.

Thank you to all who arranged this for the club.”

Ieuan Wilde of the Under 7s said: “I really like the kit. The colours are great and so are the logos.” wwha.co.uk

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YOUR STORIES

Football coaching sessions kick off at Merthyr MUGA Young residents in Twyncarmel spent half term learning to dribble and tackle with coaches from Merthyr Town Football Club.

The free coaching sessions at the Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) have been praised by parents as a “great way to get kids active.”

The sessions gave 7 to 11 year-olds and 12 to 16 year-olds the chance to brush up on their football techniques and learn new skills with qualified coaches Dominic Maloney and Christian Davies from Merthyr Town FC. The young people practiced dribbling around cones and passing to one another and ended the afternoon with a game of tag

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football.

The MUGA was reopened in the summer after WWH & Merthyr Tydfil Borough Council invested £35,000 to upgrade L-R Nathan, Christian Davies (Coach), Ioan, the facilities with Summer, Heather and Dominic Maloney (Coach) new fencing, new active.” play surfaces and The football sessions are the equipment. latest community partnership Organiser Alison Chaplin, WWH’s Community Development between WWH and Merthyr Town FC. For several years WWH Officer, said: “WWH were delighted to sponsor the sessions has sponsored the club’s Miniat the MUGA. It’s a great resource Football Festival, which takes place every May. for the Twyncarmel community and it was good to see the young people having fun and getting

Residents raise more than £700 for MacMillan

Residents make a difference to Alzheimer’s charity

Sydney Hall Court residents wanted to raise money for MacMillan Cancer Support and got into a true charity spirit, raising more than £700. Not only did they have a coffee morning, but they also had a bingo event and raffle, and went out into the local church community.

Pictured are Kath Oldfield, with Beryl Rowe (left) and Corina Prince (right), enjoying a bingo event with other residents.

Nant y Môr residents in Prestatyn got together to raise £650 for Alzheimer’s Society Cymru by holding a tombola and raffle followed by a social afternoon in September.

Pictured are residents Mary Forbes and Joan Higgins with Peter Hughes from Alzheimer’s Society Cymru and Support Worker Lisa. Our thanks go to fellow resident Alan Higgins who took the photograph.

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YOUR STORIES

It’s a fair cop!

Young residents in Llandrindod Wells had their finger prints taken when they attended a fun day in September.

It was all in the name of fun as PCSO Mike Davies, pictured, took the prints then put them in a key ring for them to take home.

Working alongside Mid Wales Housing, the fun day was for MWH and WWH residents in Heighway Court, Llys Heulog and Finch Court.

Around 30 to 40 residents and children attended and were treated to cakes and hot and cold drinks, snacks and sweets and bacon rolls. They also had fun on a bouncy castle and played inflatable football.

Send us your stories If you want to see your events and news featured, send your stories to communications. team@wwha.co.uk or ring 0800 052 2526.

Vera is 105 Christchurch Court held a special birthday party to celebrate the 105th birthday of a very special resident Vera Vaughan.

Vera, who was born and grew up in Llandrindod Wells, has lived at Christchurch Court for 30 years.

For her birthday the local Visually Impaired Club arranged a party, which was attended by the mayor of Llandrindod Wells, Councillor Jon Williams.

A former draper in the town, Vera has played an active part in both

the retirement community and Llandrindod Wells itself. During her fascinating life she has been a member of the Queen Alexandra Corps, been blessed by Pope Pius XII and met the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret.

She is also is well-known in the community for her voluntary work, having helped out the Red Cross, British Legion, Llandrindod Hospital League of Friends and the Women’s Institute.

Retired nurse Margaret is 90 Congratulations to Margaret Gough who celebrated her 90th birthday with friends and neighbours at Llys Hafren in Newtown.

The retired nurse moved into the retirement scheme 17 years ago and is one of the residents who has lived there the longest.

Her neighbours clubbed together to lay on a beautiful buffet. And they raised a toast with homemade Baileys, thanks to resident Mike Jenkins. wwha.co.uk

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BUILD IT

Work is under way on 30 new affordable homes for Wrexham Wrexham councillors were impressed when they visited an affordable housing development in Park Road, Rhosymedre.

Leading social housing provider Wales & West Housing, in partnership with Wrexham County Borough Council, contracted Saxonby to build 30 much-needed attractive, energy-efficient affordable homes for families in the area.

The scheme comprises 18 x 2 bed houses, 4 x 3 bed houses, 1 x 3 bed house, 6 x 2 bed bungalows and 1 x 2 bed specially adapted bungalow.

The £4.11m development, with £2.48m funding from the Welsh Government, is due to be completed in August next year.

It follows the completion of 14 homes in Chatham’s Close, near Plas Madoc and 12 homes in Trem y Fron, Cefn y Mawr.

Anne Hinchey, Chief Executive for Wales & West Housing, said: “We’re delighted with these developments as our ambition is for everyone to have a home that they can be proud of, in a place they want to live.

“Our plan for the next five years includes investing £250 million, delivering 1000 energy efficient new homes across Wales

IN THE PIPELINE North Wales: Flintshire A public consultation exercise has been opened into our plans for 44 new homes at Holywell.

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L-R Paul Bennett, Site Manager, Councillor Derek Wright, Councillor Sonia Benbow-Jones, Chris Evans, Clerk of Works, Cate Porter, Housing Manager, Steve Porter, Operations Director WWH, and Claire Jones, Housing Officer.

and investing in our existing properties. This will create more jobs and work opportunities and bring a substantial economic boost to local communities and businesses.”

While visiting the site, Councillor Derek Wright, ward member for Cefn, said: “This is the type of development we need in the Cefn area, particularly as it’s being built on a brown field site. Hopefully this will be followed by further development on similar sites and we must ensure the infrastructure

is in place to support such developments in the future.”

Councillor Sonia BenbowJones, a ward member for Cefn, welcomed the investment providing new homes in Rhosymedre.

Councillor Benbow-Jones said: “These homes provide a muchneeded wide range of attractive, energy-efficient and affordable housing types for the local community.”

For more information, please ring 0800 052 2526.

The proposed development would be a mix of 28 twobedroom and 14 three-bedroom houses and two bungalows. The site is north east of the A5026 Halkyn Road, between the Community Hospital and Brignant and is close to the site of our Holywell Extra Care scheme.

South Wales: Cardiff Plans have been submitted to City of Cardiff Council to develop 70 new homes for older people in a popular suburb of Cardiff.

The scheme would see 70 units for over 55s being built at Chiltern, Llanishen. The site is close to train and bus routes and

BUILD IT

New homes for Flint in £1.4 million development project

WWH has contracted Anwyl Construction to work on a £1.4 million project on the outskirts of Flint. The scheme, to be named by a local school, comprises 23 affordable homes on Coed Onn Road. Completion is scheduled for early 2018.

It is the result of a partnership between WWH and Flintshire County Council and will consist of 8 three-bedroom and 12 two-bedroom houses and three bungalows, including one with special wheelchair access and other disabledfriendly facilities.

The homes also include ‘green’ features such as rainwaterharvesting water butts and compost bins.

To register your interest in these properties, please contact Flintshire Council Housing Options Team on 01352 752121.

Cardiff church makes way for new homes WWH is working on an exciting new scheme to redevelop one of Cardiff’s most iconic churches into affordable homes.

St Paul's Church, Grangetown, is a Grade-II listed church dating back to 1890 and appeared in an episode of the hit TV series Doctor Who. But it faced closure after a Church in Wales survey found that they needed to spend at least £1m to replace the roof and repair the building.

However, Cardiff City Council has granted planning permission for WWH to work with the Church in Wales to save St Pauls as a place of worship and develop new homes.

The scheme will see twelve apartments built in the nave of the church and two semidetached houses in its grounds.

Architects Austin-Smith/Lord LLP and WPM have devised a plan where an independent steel structure will be built within the church walls to avoid adding pressure on the existing church

is just a stone’s throw away from our new head office.

The plans propose the apartments would be laid out in four blocks with landscaping and communal facilities.

If granted permission, work would start next spring and is expected to be completed in 2019.

West Wales: Ceredigion Plans have been submitted to Ceredigion Council to build new homes overlooking the harbour at Aberystwyth.

The plan for eight residential apartments on the Plas Morolwg site, is the first phase in the redevelopment of the

building. A new entrance and landscaped frontage will also be developed.

The church altar will move into the smaller chancel, vestry and sanctuary areas and a new single storey extension will be built to connect the church and parish hall.

It is hoped that work will start in 2018.

Architect’s impressions of how the development could look

site.

A scheme to develop a 54 apartment Extra Care scheme on the remainder of the site is also proposed and we hope to submit plans to Ceredigion County Council in the near future.

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BUILD IT

Artist’s impression of how the development could look

Go-ahead given for Holywell extra care scheme Plans to build our second extra care scheme in Flintshire have been given the go-ahead.

The 55-bed extra care housing development will be built on the site of the former Ysgol Perth-yTerfyn in Holywell.

Councillors unanimously approved the proposals at a committee meeting in October.

This will be our fourth extra care scheme in Wales and will provide much-needed, high quality accommodation backed up by on-site care and support for adults with a care need.

The public welcomed revised

plans for the extra care scheme when they attended two consultation events held earlier this year.

Shayne Hembrow, Deputy Chief Executive & Commercial Director of Wales & West Housing, said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with Flintshire County Council to explore the need for extra care housing in Holywell. The feedback from the public has been very positive.

Wales & West Housing believes in making a difference to people’s lives, homes and communities and this scheme will offer an

excellent option for those living in the Holywell area.”

Flintshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing, Councillor Bernie Attridge, commented: “Housing remains one of the Council’s top priorities – not only are we building new council homes and developing more affordable housing through NEW Homes, but we continue to work in partnership to build specifically designed extra care housing for our local residents.”

For more information on the scheme please ring 0800 052 2526.

New homes for Bridgend

The scheme is due for completion in spring 2019.

The development will be a mix of 20 houses and four flats.

The scheme has been designed to include the retention of existing mature trees and additional new trees and landscaping will be provided.

Specialist ecology work has also been carried out to mitigate the effect on wildlife on the site.

A spokesperson for WWH said: “This development will

help address the need for new housing, particularly affordable housing, in Bridgend area.

The proposed development will be of a high quality design with appropriate landscaping and public open space and will connect well with existing development.”

The site borders on to Parc Derwen, a 1,500 private housing development on the outskirts of Bridgend, which includes a new primary school.

Work has started on a £3 million scheme to build 24 affordable new homes on the site of a former farm at Coity.

The site of Parc Farm at Heol Spencer, Coity, has already been cleared and building work is due to start by the end of the year.

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NEWS

Powys residents celebrate first extra care scheme

Residents of Llys Glan yr Afon extra care scheme joined Councillor Rosemarie Harris, Leader of Powys County Council, at the official opening of WWH’s first extra care scheme in Powys.

During the ceremony Councillor Harris cut a ribbon and was helped by residents, local schoolchildren and guests from the local community as they buried a time capsule.

Guests enjoyed cakes made

by Castell Catering, the catering arm of Wales & West Housing, who provide delicious nutritional meals for residents in The Orangery restaurant. Pupils from Ysgol Penygloddfa and Ysgol Dafydd Llwyd also sang at the ceremony.

The state-of-the art £7.5m

48-apartment development in Newtown is the first of its kind in Powys and has been part funded by the Welsh Government. It has been developed in partnership with Powys County Council and built by Anwyl Construction.

Llys Glan yr Afon is our third extra care scheme, following the award-winning Llys Jasmine in Flintshire and Nant y Môr extra care scheme in Denbighshire.

Councillor Harris was impressed by the scheme.

She said: “It is clear that Wales & West Housing have

huge experience in offering a high standard of care and facilities. There is a growing demand for quality social care accommodation in the area, and I’m also pleased that the housing association has also forged good working relationships with many local organisations.”

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NEW YEAR, NEW HOME

New year, new home

Why Low Cost Home Ownership could be the way forward for first-time buyers Getting on the first step of the property ladder has become increasingly hard.

Levels of home ownership in the UK are at their lowest level in 30 years and rising prices and high private rents make it harder than ever for many people to buy their own home.

But Wales & West Housing’s Low Cost Home Ownership (LCHO) scheme is available to help firsttime buyers to purchase a brand new home in the area where they grew up and want to continue to live.

There’s been a massive rise in

average house prices in the UK in the last decade, yet wages haven’t kept up making it more difficult to save for a first home.

According to HM Land Registry the average price of a property in Wales is currently around £150,000. That means the average deposit needed is £17,000. It would take around seven years to save enough of a deposit if you could afford to save £50 per week.

Some of the most expensive areas of Wales for first-time buyers are Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan in South Wales, Pembrokeshire

Average house prices Local authorities

August 2017

Bridgend Caerphilly Cardiff Carmarthenshire Ceredigion Conwy Denbighshire Flintshire Merthyr Tydfil Pembrokeshire Powys Rhondda Cynon Taf Swansea Vale of Glamorgan Wrexham

£148,930 £130,238 £196,625 £133,397 £177,548 £159,398 £145,371 £162,291 £95,253 £164,798 £176,216 £101,675 £140,661 £207,463 £150,615

• Figures taken from the Land Registry 14

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and Ceredigion in West Wales and Conwy in North Wales. In such expensive areas it can be difficult for first time buyers to afford homes in the areas they want to live to be close to their family.

LCHO homes are built in partnership with local authorities and private developers on prime development sites giving you the opportunity to live in a brand new home in sought after communities at affordable prices.

WWH’s LCHO scheme currently has two and three bedroom homes for sale in Llanbedr and will soon have properties in

NEW YEAR, NEW HOME

Q&A Aberthin and Rhoose in the Vale of Glamorgan and Gypsy Lane, Hay on Wye, Powys.

We are currently taking expressions of interest from potential buyers for these homes, which will come onto the market in the new year.

To be eligible to apply you must: • be in employment with sufficient income to raise a mortgage • be unable to purchase a suitable property on the open market without assistance • be a first-time buyer, or in the same position as a first-time

buyer • be over 18 years of age • be a UK citizen or have indefinite leave to remain in the UK If you are interested in purchasing a property under the LCHO scheme call on 0800 052 2526 and ask for our Housing Options Team who be able to discuss with you the range of options available.

How much will I need to save for a deposit?

You will not need a deposit for 100% of the value. By taking part in this scheme you will need a deposit of between 5%-15% of the 70% equity that you will hold in the property, So if a house is valued at £120,000, you will need a deposit of £4,200 (5%) and a mortgage of 84,000.

As they are cheaper, will the Low Cost Home Ownership homes be lower quality?

No, they are built to the same quality as any other property for ‘sale’.

What will it cost per month?

Low cost home ownership is often cheaper than renting. There may be a small annual cost to maintain a communal area or grounds but this will normally be shared amongst all residents at the housing development.

Will the homes be big enough for a growing family?

The sizes vary from one to three bedrooms, depending on the area and the scheme.

What happens if the value of my LCHO home rises?

If your home increases in value, so does the value of your 70% share in the property.

If the value decreases, so will your share.

What if I want to move, will it be difficult to sell?

Not at all, your home will be marketed in the same way as any other property for sale. In fact, it might be more attractive to new buyers as they are more affordable. wwha.co.uk 15

CHRISTMAS FEATURE: STAY SAFE

PUT SAFETY ON YOUR CHRISTMAS LIST Follow this guide to keep your family and home safe through the holidays Dry trees, hot fairy lights, rolls of wrapping paper, lots of parties and gallons of festive spirits… it’s no surprise that Christmas is a key time for house fires. But don’t let your celebrations go up in smoke this year. If you follow these tips from the charity Electrical Safety First, you can make sure you and your family stay safe.

Prepare to Party!

Many house fires are started by electrical beauty products like hair straighteners being left switched on. Before leaving home for your party, make sure you unplug your straighteners /styling brushes and put them away.

Candle Care

Never leave candles unattended.

Keep decorations, cards and wrapping paper away from candles, fires, lights and heaters.

Computer Says No

Never leave your laptop or mobile device charging on the bed.

Always use a hard surface and don't overcharge your devices, as this can cause some adaptors to become a fire risk. Also avoid charging your phone overnight or using cheap, unbranded chargers as they may overheat.

Kitchen Sink Dramas

The majority of fires start in the kitchen. Too much alcohol

whilst cooking is not a safe combination and with a house full of family and friends it's easy to get distracted, but never leave cooking unattended. And always turn off kitchen appliances when you have finished cooking.

New Year's Resolutions

If you're planning to give up smoking by switching to e-cigarettes, make sure you use the correct charger. If you use a cheap, unbranded one it may be a New Year’s resolution you regret.

Safety in the Community

Be a good neighbour and check on older relatives and neighbours to ensure they stay safe this Christmas too.

DO’S & DON’TS OF CHRISTMAS LIGHT SAFETY After 12 months packed away in the loft, Christmas lights can easily become electrically unsafe and create a fire hazard. Follow these simple precautions and checks to make sure your lights create twinkles not terror.

ALWAYS • • • • • • • • • 16

read and follow the manufacturers' instructions check your Christmas tree lights conform to the British Standard (BS EN 60598). check they are not damaged or broken before use and look out for loose wires use only replacement bulbs of the same type and rating as those originally supplied ensure all outdoor lights are connected via a 30mA RCD protected socket replace failed lamps immediately to prevent overheating ensure plugs and transformers are plugged in indoors, even if the lighting is suitable for outdoor use switch off and unplug your lights before you go to bed or go out keep lights away from flammable decorations and materials that can burn easily wwha.co.uk

• • • • • • •

NEVER

use lights outdoors unless they are specially designed for such use connect different lighting sets together connect lights to the supply whilst still in the packaging remove or insert lamps while the chain is connected to the supply overload sockets - try to avoid the use of extension leads or adaptors attempt to repair faulty lights - replace them use lights that are damaged or faulty

And finally, in the event of fire in your home, call 999.

For more advice on keeping your family safe, visit www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk

YOUR QUARTERLY REPORT

The Quarterly Report is changing We like to keep you up to date on how we’re doing as an organisation and the things we are doing to improve services for our residents in our Quarterly Report section of In Touch.

These reports are usually presented as a series of infographics designed to give you an up-todate picture of how Wales & West Housing is performing.

Now you have a new-look In Touch, we are working to give our quarterly reports a fresh look too.

The new designs will be brighter, easier to read and informative covering the work we are doing in North, South and West Wales.

We’ll be showing you what we’re doing to •

fix your homes

•

help you to pay your rent

•

finding new homes

•

dealing with anti-social behaviour

•

building new homes

•

how we perform as a business and respond to your needs

If you have any comments, let us know by emailing contactus@wwha.co.uk or calling us on 0800 052 2526.

Did you know…?

We want you to find all information regarding our performance and future plans easily.

As a result, we’ve put all our reports in one place on our website for you. This includes our infographics, annual report, financial statements, Welsh Government financial viability judgement and Welsh Government

regulatory report. To view these reports, visit our website www. wwha.co.uk and click on the ‘our performance’ link on the bottom right of the homepage.

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CHARITY NEWS

Cyclists cross Wales to for Age Cymru

Our first WWH Ride the Nation 360km cycle ride between our offices in North, West and South Wales has raised a whopping £14,000 for Age Cymru.

A group of 14 riders set off from our North Wales office at Ewloe in Deeside on September 23.

During the four-day challenge the cyclists covered a daily average of 80 to 100km and climbed more than 4,500m - higher than Snowdon.

They ended the second day at WWH’s offices at Newcastle Emlyn before reaching their final destination in Cardiff.

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They were helped along the way by residents at our retirement schemes at Gerddi’r Ffynon, Aberystwyth, and Cwrt Anghorfa, Pyle, Bridgend, who provided refreshments for the riders and cheered them on their way.

In preparation for the event staff at WWH’s West Wales office Cwrt y Llan, Newcastle Emlyn, held a spinathon outside the Three Compasses pub in High Street, Newcastle Emlyn on August 31.

Throughout the day staff, sponsors and members of the public, cycled in 30 minute sessions to raise money

for the Ride The Nation Team.

This, together with a bake sale, contributed towards the final total.

WWH Chief Executive, Anne Hinchey, said: “I am so proud of our staff who took on this incredible challenge. Not only have they raised vital funds to support the work of Age Cymru, they have also showcased the work Wales & West Housing does to improve the quality of life for our older residents.”

“We know that Wales has an ageing population and all too often older people are left at the margins of our society, so this is a great example of bringing our older residents and staff together

CHARITY NEWS

raise £14,000

Our riders enjoyed welcome breaks with residents at Cwrt Anghorfa in Pyle and Gerddi‘r Ffynnon in Aberystwyth

Staff, sponsors and members of the public raised extra funds during the Spinathon in Newcastle Emlyn

for a common cause. What an achievement!”

Age Cymru’s chief executive Ian Thomas said: “We’re so grateful to the WWH staff for taking on this fundraising challenge. We’re fast approaching our busiest months as we help thousands of older people prepare for the long dark winter months.

“Any support we receive, be it financial or otherwise, is very much appreciated at this time of year.”

Well done to all the riders who

braved the roads and hills and an enormous thank you to everyone who dug deep to support them and Age Cymru.

We’d also like to thank our headline sponsors, Anwyl Construction and Solar Windows, as well as Darwin Gray, Healthy Performance, Tubular Solutions, WYG and Blake Morgan for their sponsorship.

Wear a jumper for Age Cymru this Christmas Christmas is coming – so it’s time to get out your favourite woolly jumper and wear it with pride to raise pounds.

WWH will be holding their Christmas Jumper Day on Friday 15th December and we’re encouraging everyone, residents, staff and friends to get involved and raise money for our charity Age Cymru.

Why not organise your own Christmas jumper day where you live. Get everyone to join in and pay £2 to wear their jumper. If you can’t make it on the day, do it another time.

What about a Christmas jumper decorating day when you can get together in a group and add some bling to your ordinary jumpers?

Or perhaps a sweater singalong – get everyone together in their jumpers to sing Christmas carols and charge them £2 to join in?

If you’d like to get involved, any donation can be handed to your Scheme Manager. We’d like to see your festive knits, so don’t forget to send us photographs! You can email them to communications. team@wwha.co.uk or send them to In Touch, Communications Team, Wales & West Housing, Archway House, 77 Parc Tŷ Glas, Llanishen, Cardiff, CF14 5DU. wwha.co.uk 19

YOUR STORIES

Abby bridges the generation gap “I love it here - there is so much more space.”

At 19 Abby may be the youngest resident at our Llys Glan yr Afon extra care scheme, but she likes sharing her art with her older neighbours.

Abby Kinloch, 19, has never looked backed since moving into Llys Glan yr Afon. At 19, Abby is the youngest resident in the extra care scheme and has settled quickly into her first home since moving in last June.

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Abby has Asperger’s Syndrome.

Her move away from her family home in Newtown has helped her to become more independent.

“I love it here – there is so much more space in my apartment than I had with my mum, dad, brothers and sisters. But I’m not living that far away from them. It’s been so exciting.

“I was a bit nervous when meeting the other residents, being the

youngest. I needn’t have worried – Llys Glan yr Afon is for any adult age - we’re all getting on really well together.”

Not only has Abby settled down quickly, she has also been running craft workshops with the residents. And she is looking forward to spending her first Christmas with residents at the scheme. She helped to decorate the scheme for Christmas and is making an angel to sit on top of

YOUR STORIES

Crocheting for cancer charity

the Christmas tree.

Kim Scott-Menelaws, former Supported Housing Assistant at WWH, said: “Abby brought along a snowman she had made out of a sock – the residents wanted to know how to make them, so Abby brought in socks and rice and we all started to make animals as well as snowmen!”

Abby says: “I got the idea from college – a teacher asked me to make them and we sold a few at Newtown market for £72!”

Since the age of two, Abby has been a fan of Pokemon, having collected nearly all of them.

Abby’s creative skills have earned her a place at Wellington College, where she has just started a course in art and IT. She also has had a work placement at Morrisons supermarket. “I’d like to study animation one day – and involve Pokemon of course!”

Kim said: “Abby is considerate for her age. There are no loud parties, she runs an upcycling club and encourages residents to do things – she brings a lot of joy and happiness to other people’s lives.

She’s the kind of resident you would want to live with.”

Cardiff resident Vera Piper doesn’t let her arthritis stop her crocheting to raise money for charity.

Vera, who lives at Western Court retirement scheme in Cardiff, started crocheting blankets and gifts for Velindre Cancer Centre more than three years ago after her late husband William was treated there.

Over the years she has made dozens of shawls and numerous toilet dollies for the charity.

She said: “When my husband was at Velindre Hospital, the staff looked after him and my family very well and I wanted to do something to say thank you.

“This year I have made 22 shawls and 30 toilet dollies for them. They always send me a lovely letter thanking me for supporting them with my work.”

As well as crocheting for Velindre, Vera likes to make shawls for friends and family when they are poorly. “They get warmth and pleasure for the cheerful colours,” she says.

“I have arthritis in my hands, so I like to crochet and keep my fingers moving while I can. Sometimes I have to take a break, but I get going again when I feel better.”

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MONEY MATTERS

Savvy Christmas shopping

How to afford Christmas without falling into the debt trap With Christmas just around the corner it’s hard not to get caught up in buying more and more presents as your children’s lists grow longer with the latest phones, tablets , games and gadgets at the top.

With the cost of such presents running into hundreds of pounds, it’s tempting to buy from retailers where you can pay in weekly instalments if you don’t have enough savings of your own.

These ‘rent to own’ retailers, such as BrightHouse, can be an attractive option and with weekly payments at between

£5 and £10 they can feel affordable. But be warned you may be paying for this Christmas for years to come and the total amount you will eventually pay is far greater than the item is worth.

For example an Apple iPad 32GB Wi-Fi bought from BrightHouse costs £702 with payments of £6.75 per week for 104 weeks (two years). The same iPad can be purchased directly from Apple or other shops for £339.

Similarly buying from catalogues may seem a good

option in the short-term as many offer interest-free credit. But if you don’t stick to your agreed payments and fail to pay within the set time (usually between three and 12 months) the interest can start mounting up quickly. Some charge an average of 30%. So an item costing £250 from a catalogue could end up costing more than £335 over two years.

So what are your options if you don’t have the savings to pay for those expensive, must-have Christmas gifts, other than setting your children’s sights a little lower?

Borrowing money at a lower rate of interest 0% Credit Cards There are usually a variety to choose from. The better your credit score, the more options, but you even if you have a poor credit score you can still get one but usually over a shorter period of borrowing.

You MUST pay back at least the minimum amount every month or you will lose the 0% interest offer and you MUST pay it in full before the end of the free offer or the interest rates will shoot up and cost you more.

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MONEY MATTERS

If you already have bad credit use this 0% period to clear some of your existing debts rather than build up more debt.

A loan from your bank or credit card can offer you an option to pay back a set amount each month over an agreed period of time. Payday loans would charge you more to borrow money and pay it back in one month.

If you are on income based benefits ie. income support, pension credit, JSA, ESA you may be able to get an interest free budgeting loan from the Department of Work and Pensions – contact the Jobcentre for more information on applying and eligibility.

££££

££2 2£20 0£02£020

£20 £20 £20 £20 £20

Illegal lending (loan sharking) is a criminal offence.

Illegal money lenders operate without a license, often targeting vulnerable people.

• Most loan sharks start out friendly, but their behaviour changes when payments are missed.

Credit unions People who already save with their local credit union can access credit up to three times the amount of their savings for a 1% charge per month (12.6% APR).

Those who are not existing customers but need to borrow in an emergency can borrow up to £500 with a higher interest charge of 2% per month (26% APR).

There is usually a decision within one week but it is possible to get a much quicker decision in urgent cases. Credit unions will always lend responsibly and work out a

realistic budget with customers.

There are branches in every council area in Wales. To find one near you visit their website http://creditunionsofwales. co.uk or call the information line on 0808 129 4050.

Moneyline Cymru is available for people who cannot use a credit card, bank, building society or credit union. They are responsible lenders and it is cheaper than using doorstep lenders. Call them on 0345 643 1553 or for more information visit www.moneyline-uk.com.

Beware the loan sharks • Few loan sharks advertise, and are often heard of by word of mouth.

• Most loan sharks offer little or no paperwork.

• Quite often take cash cards/ post office cards and pin numbers as collateral for loans If you are a loan shark victim, or think there may be a loan shark operating in your area, contact the Wales Illegal Money Lending Unit (WIMLU) on the 24 hour hotline 0300 123 3311 (all calls

are completely confidential).

Specialist officers are on hand to support and assist victims and advise on debt and other problems.

Borrowing from an unlicensed lender is not an offence.

The offence will have been committed by the lender. WIMLU will not take action against any individual who has borrowed money but will offer support to help you manage your money.

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MONEY MATTERS

Protect yourself and your home No-one wants to think about bad things happening over Christmas, but how you would manage if there was a break-in or accident in your home?

Insuring the contents of your home may not be top of everyone’s priority list. But in the event of the unexpected happening, causing damage or loss to your presents and possessions, it’s good to know you’d be covered.

Community Housing Cymru and the National Housing Federation run a My Home Contents Insurance scheme for residents.They offer flexible regular Pay-As-You-Go payment options and you don’t even need a bank account. Plus there is no excess to pay, so if you have to make a claim you don’t have to pay the first part of it.

The policy covers fire, theft,

flood, water damage and other household risks and damage to decoration.

For example, if there was a flood in your home, or the person living above you were to have a flood, leaking into your property and damaging your items, you could make a claim to get your damaged items replaced.

The insurance also covers damage to internal decorations too and accidental damage to toilets and washbasins and windows.

With all insurance policies, you have to make sure that it is right for you, your needs and the value of your possessions. Call My Home on 0345 450 7288, to find out more, or apply for insurance cover.

All change for new money On October 15 the old round pound coins stopped being legal tender. So what happens if you’ve found some at the bottom of your Christmas savings jar? While you can no longer spend them in shops, you can take them to your bank or Post Office, where you can deposit them into any high street 24

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bank account, if you have one.

Or if you’re feeling generous you can give them to charity.

The new polymer £10 notes have been around since September but on March 1 2018 the Bank of England has announced the old paper ones will no longer be legal tender.

If you are buying electrical items and other gadgets for Christmas presents, remember to register the warranties. All new items will come with some form of manufacturer warranty, from games consoles to fridges. Some companies even offer extended warranties and will replace your item if it is faulty. But to make use of the guarantee you will need to register your items.

So don’t throw your guarantee card out with the recycling.

SOCIAL MEDIA

He’s making a list, he’s checking it twice… but is he doing it online?

Do you shop online? If so, you have probably used Amazon, but did you know you can create a wish list?

A wish list is perfect for Christmas shopping, you can create a list and share it with your friends and family so they can see what you may like for Christmas, or alternatively you could ask a loved one to make an Amazon wish list, send it across to you and you can get your shopping done in one swoop!

Another great thing about Amazon lists is that you can check when items drop in price, making sure you get the best deals. You can get push notifications to your

phone and share this list as you please. You can also find friends and remember their wish lists, making sure you buy the perfect present every time!

Dry January and beyond Looking forward to the festive period of over-eating and too much drinking? What about afterwards when we all feel ‘bleugh…!’?

It isn’t easy to look ahead when Christmas is just around the corner but why not keep this little app in your back pocket for when you start feeling like you’ve had too much and embrace the Dry January challenge?

Dry January is a campaign from Alcohol Concern to help ‘ditch the hangover, reduce the waistline, and save some serious cash by giving up alcohol for 31 days.’ As the name implies,

‘Dry January’ is all about cutting out the booze in January (and beyond). So, with the help of their supportive app, why not give it a go?

According to Alcohol Concern the benefits of cutting out alcohol for a month can make a real difference, including: • Weight loss • Better sleep • More energy • Clearer skin • Time – no more hangovers to sleep off!

• The sense of achievement for finishing your month • The stats show most people drink less booze even after the month is over!

• The realisation that you’re actually just as awesome without the alcohol • Money – unless you spend it on

new gym gear!

The Dry January and Beyond app is available for free in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. The app will allow you to keep a personalised diary – recording the amount of alcohol you drink. It’ll tell you the units, calories and cost so you can see what you’ll save if you cut back the booze. wwha.co.uk 25

MAKE IT

Have a crafty Christmas

Upcycle the rolls from your wrapping paper, toilet rolls and mailing tubes to make this honeycomb wreath

Make this wreath to adorn your front door. Here’s how...

You will need: • empty cardboard tubes • a sharp knife • a 6 inch bowl • glue or glue gun • bells, pinecones, holly, 26

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baubles and other festive decorations.

What to do: 1. use a knife to cut each tube into 2 inch pieces 2. lay a bowl rim down on a flat surface and arrange the cardboard pieces around it

3. glue the pieces of tube where the sides meet (a glue gun works best if you have one) 4. customise your wreath by adding bells, holly, baubles, pinecones or any other festive decoration

FIX IT

How to change a bulb in a kitchen or bathroom light IMPORTANT! There are generally two types of light fitting in our homes, the Thorn screw-on and the Robus clip-on light fittings.

Thorn screw-on

Before starting work, make sure you turn your lights off at the fuse box.

1. Remove cover. Use screwdriver to remove all fixing screws. Make sure the cover is held securely as you remove the last screw to prevent it falling on the floor. You may find the cover is “sticky” and will need a bit of gentle persuasion to loosen it.

2. To remove the lamp bulb hold either side of the plastic fixing firmly and pull towards you to release.

4. If the cover is dirty and requires cleaning use warm soapy water and make sure it is completely dry before refitting.

5. To replace the bulb, line-up the pins and press firmly to click the bulb into place. Do not press on the glass.

There are generally two types of bulbs – some have two pins, and others have four.

3. Once removed check the underside of the bulb or inside the light fitting to see whether you need to buy 16W 2D or 28W 2D, available at most electrical or DIY shops. If you have a smartphone take a photo or write the details down. Do not take the bulb with you as they could break.

6. Line up the holes on the cover and screw back into place. As before you will need to hold the cover in place while you screw it back on.

Tighten the screws, but do not over-tighten.

Robus clip-on fitting 1. To remove the cover hold with both hands and twist anticlockwise, to the left, one quarter of a turn.

You will need to make sure you hold the cover firmly as you twist to stop it falling.

3. To replace the cover line up the locator clips.

Check all the spring clips are in the open position and have not clicked shut.

2. Follow steps 2-5 as above.

Some models have one large bulb, others have two smaller bulbs, but the principle is the same.

4. Twist clockwise into place until the clips click.

Hold in place and make sure all three clips are in place before letting go.

Tools you will need: •

A safe and sturdy set of steps (do not use a chair or stand on furniture)

•

A Posidrive/cross head screwdriver

If you have a Thorlux LED glow dome you will need to call our repairs team on 0800 052 2526.

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GROW IT

Gardens are blooming at Ty Brynseion

The keen gardeners at Ty Brynseion in Merthyr Tydfil can plant all year-round now they have taken delivery of a new greenhouse.

The gardening group has totally transformed the gardens at the retirement scheme from a wet wasteland into a garden to be proud of.

Residents David Morgan, Brian Griffiths, Joey Ferreira, Rob Jones and David Smith first came together in February to make something of the communal gardens .

Throughout the year they have worked hard, with a little help from Cambria Maintenance Services, to build raised flower beds and hanging baskets. Where there was once a grey concrete patio, there is now a colourful, pretty garden and seating area. Where there was once a wet wasteland, there is now a productive vegetable garden.

And to top it all they have been granted a £425 Making A Difference Environmental Grant to buy a greenhouse. Their application was supported by Scheme Managers Karen Lewis and David Morgan and Martin Lambert,

The finished greenhouse

20 28

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the Asset Management Officer.

The group paid for staging and sourced pallets to make a wooden walkway and gravelled both inside and around the greenhouse.

Community Development Officer for Merthyr Tydfil and Powys Ali Chaplin also helped them to erect the greenhouse.

The improvements have been supported by many residents at the scheme who have helped with fundraising to buy plants and kept the gardeners refreshed with mugs of tea and coffee.

Scheme Managers Karen Lewis and David Morgan said: “The gardening has brought the whole scheme together as well as improving its looks. With the new greenhouse they will be able to grow their own plants from seed and protect delicate plants throughout the winter.”

Bring the

How to make it You will need:

Vegetable plot after planting

Residents enjoying their new patio area

• a glass container with or without a top • gravel, sea glass or beach stones • activated charcoal (found at nursery or pet supply stores) • plants • potting mix • moss (optional) • shells, figurines or small ornaments (optional) • gloves for handling the charcoal and moss

GROW IT

e outdoors inside with a terrarium Not everyone has the luxury of a garden, so why not perk up your living room with an eye-catching terrarium! They are quick and easy to make and, depending on the type of container you use, they can also be inexpensive.

The plants to use are generally small houseplants, which often cost just a few pounds each, so the whole project, depending on the size of jar, can be as cheap or expensive as you like.

Indoor gardens come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and are also a great oxygen booster.

To save money check out your local pound shop, where you can find cheap, yet great looking, glass containers or even goldfish bowls.

To make it less expensive you could reuse a glass jar. But bear in mind that if you use a small container, you might be restricted in the size of plants you can use.

As a rule of thumb, the larger your container the greater choice you will have when it comes to picking your plants. If your container is large enough you might even want to include some shells, figurines or ornaments.

Caring for your terrarium Give your container a good wash, inside and out, to remove any price labels and get rid of any unwanted grime. Then leave it to dry thoroughly.

Once dry, put a layer of moss in the bottom of the container to soak up extra water. (If you don’t have any moss you can use at least a 2 inch (5cm) layer of stones instead.

Add a ¼ to ½ inch (0.5-1cm) layer of activated charcoal on top of the stones to help with drainage and control any odour that might occur. Then put at least a couple of inches (5cm) of potting mix on top of the charcoal but don’t fill it too much – you want to make sure your plants will fit in when

you put the lid back on.

When choosing terrarium plants, make sure they are small enough to fit in your jar without touching the sides.

Look for plants that don’t mind a humid environment and thrive on low to medium light.

Also try to get a mix of sizes, leaf textures and colours.

Before planting, consider the design of your terrarium. Will it have a back and a front? If so, put the tallest plant at the back or in the middle.

Remove the plants from their pots. Dig a hole in the potting mix. Place your plant in the hole and gently pat the soil around it.

Caring for your terrarium is easy.

Check every couple of weeks, feel the soil and if it’s dry add water using a spray bottle until damp.

If your terrarium is closed, take the top off at least once a month to air it out. If you see lots of condensation or have added too much water, leave the top off to dry out.

Do not fertilize your terrarium as you don’t want to encourage growth.

Pull off any leaves that show signs of yellowing or damage and prune plants if they grow too large.

Don’t worry if you don’t have green fingers. Try filling your indoor garden with artificial plants and other miniature items. Or for a wintry scene fill it with Epsom Salts for a snowy effect and put in some bottle brush trees. wwha.co.uk 29

GOOD HEALTH FEATURE

Don’t be

lonely

this Christmas

It’s the time of year for friendship and families, but when you’re on your own Christmas can be just like any other day – only longer!

Research says that 40% of us will feel lonely at some time.

It’s estimated that 1.1 million people are lonely and without the support of a good social network, it can have serious impact on your physical and mental health leaving individuals more prone to depression and other illness.

People can be lonely for all sorts of reasons such as:

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- losing a loved one, friend or pet - health problems, making it difficult to go out and do the things you enjoy - living away from friends and family - being at home with young children - losing the social contact and enjoyment you used to get from work - lack of transport - financial difficulties make it difficult to afford travel or paying for activities

You don’t have to be older to be lonely - many younger people are lonely too.

A recent report says that being lonely can be as bad for your health as having a long-term illness like diabetes, high blood pressure or smoking 15 cigarettes a day!

Debra (*not her real name) lives on her own in North Wales. She fled domestic abuse and found herself living in a refuge in a new town, miles away from her friends and family. The loneliness she felt led to depression.

GOOD HEALTH FEATURE

She said: “Even when I was married I was lonely when my husband was at work.

“One day I saw an advert for a fun day at my local community centre. I decided ‘This is it. I either make an effort and join in or stay at home alone for the rest of my days. It took a lot of courage taking that first step.”

There she met another woman who was new to the area and during the chat she was invited to join a computer class. From there she met members of her local tenants group and was invited to their meetings.

“Everyone was so friendly and

seemed interested in me that it gave me the confidence to start volunteering in the community.

Since then, I’ve hardly stopped for breath.

“I still suffer loneliness, especially at weekends when most people meet up with their families. Depression can land on me at times, but I keep on with my volunteering and getting out and about, which keeps me going.

“My advice to people who feel lonely is to get out and join in with community events, if you are able. It takes guts to make that first step, but it will be worth it.”

I feel lonely – what can I do?

First of all, think about what you would like. Would you like to get to know your neighbours better, or do you want to get out more and meet new friends?

If you can’t get out, would you like a new friend to chat to on the phone, by letter or at your home? Maybe you’d like to make new friends by volunteering and helping others?

If you’d like to get to know your neighbours better, try having a chat to them - they might be feeling lonely or fed up too! Find out if you have common interests or maybe you’d like to try a new activity together. Our Making a Difference grants can provide equipment or materials to get your community activities going.

Chat with any member of staff or call Claire Hammond, Resident Participation Strategy Officer on 0800 052 2526 or email claire. hammond@wwha.co.uk

• You can chat online at Gransnet www.gransnet.com • Single parents can find help at www.gingerbread.org.uk, 0808 802 0925.

• RNIB has a telephone book club for a small cost. 0845 330 3723 or visit www.rnib.co.uk • Hard of Hearing Support Groups across Wales. www.wcdeaf.org.uk or text: 01443 485686 • Mens / Womens Sheds www.mensshedscymru.co.uk, 01267 225526 • www.helpfulpeeps.com • Age Cymru, support and advice for older people 08000 223 444 • Friends of the Elderly 0330 332 1110.

• Mind Infoline 0300 123 3393, www.mind.org • If you are under 25, call Get Connected on 0808 808 4994

It all adds up….

Ever wondered what your usual tipple adds up to in terms of units or calories and how much it costs?

Check out our booze calculator below to see how much it’s taking out of your pocket and adding to your waistline.

2 pints of beer every day = 28 units per week.

Weekly cost £48.30, 2310 calories

1 large glass of wine every day = 21 units per week.

Weekly cost £31.50, 1330 calories

2 bottles of wine over a weekend = 18 units per week.

Weekly cost £26, 1140 calories

10 spirits and mixers per week = 10 units per week.

Weekly cost £32.50, 640 calories

5 alcopops per week = 15 units per week.

Weekly cost £17.50, 1130 calories For more info visit www.alcoholconcern.org.uk

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COOK IT

Here are two great ways to use up your leftover meat or veg after your Christmas dinner

Leftover turkey potato-topped pie Ingredients

Serves: 3 Prep: 20min › Cook: 30min › Extra time: 15min resting › Ready in:1hr 5min

• 250g leftover turkey, cut into pieces • 125ml leftover gravy • 120ml hot water • salt and pepper to taste • savoury seasoning to taste • 1 chicken stock cube (optional) • 1 carrot, sliced • 60g frozen garden peas

• • • •

1 small onion, chopped 4 small potatoes, thinly sliced 1 knob butter, melted 1/2 teaspoon salt

Method 1. Preheat the oven to 180 C / Gas 4. Grease a 1 litre baking or casserole dish.

2. In a saucepan over medium heat, add the turkey, gravy,

Leftover roasted veg frittata

Method 1. In a small ovenproof nonstick frying pan, heat 1 tbs of olive oil over medium heat.

Add the roasted veg and cook until heated through, but do not allow it to brown.

2. Preheat your grill to low.

3. Once the veg is heated through, add the beaten eggs, along with salt and pepper to taste. Stir the eggs together with the veg, then leave to allow the bottom of 32

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the frittata to set. Once you see the bottom setting, take a spatula to the edges of the pan to ensure that the frittata isn't sticking.

4. When the frittata starts to set around the edges, sprinkle the crumbled feta over the top. Place the pan under the grill for 5 to 10 minutes, until the frittata is fully set and the edges slightly browned. Serve immediately.

Tip - The trick for a perfect frittata is to cook over a medium to low heat and allow the mixture to set slowly without stirring. Stirring once the egg has begun to set will break the mixture apart. Too high a heat will burn the base before the egg is set sufficiently to finish under the grill.

Serves: 2 Prep: 3min › Cook: 10min › Ready in: 13min Ingredients • 1 tablespoon (tbs) olive oil • leftover roasted veg (Note: for this recipe we used the equivalent of half a medium parsnip that had been roasted & sliced, 3 baby red potatoes quartered and half a carrot, sliced. In all around 200g of veg - though you can use more or less according to what you have. We roasted our veg with fresh thyme, chopped shallot, salt and pepper.)

• 4 eggs, beaten • salt and pepper to taste • 100g feta cheese, crumbled

COOK IT

water, salt, pepper and savoury seasoning. Once simmering, add the chicken stock cube (if needed), along with the carrot, peas and onion. Bring to the boil, and cook till thickened (the mixture should not be too thick).

3. Pour the turkey mixture into the prepared 1 litre baking or casserole dish. Arrange sliced potatoes over the top,

overlapping, to cover the entire pie. Brush the potatoes with melted butter and sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cover with aluminium foil or a lid.

4. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Uncover for final 15 minutes so that the potatoes will brown. Let the pie rest for 15 minutes before serving.

Tip - If you can’t get your turkey and gravy mixture thick enough, thicken with flour or with cornflour. Also, you can grill the top of the pie at the very end so that your potatoes will brown even more.

RESIDENT’S RECIPE Homemade “Baileys” cream liqueur This recipe for a classic creamy Christmas tipple comes from Mike Jenkins of Llys Hafren, Newtown, Powys. Mike likes to make it for friends and neighbours to share on special occasions.

Ingredients: • 1 397g/14 oz tin condensed milk • 6 teaspoons Camp Coffee essence (can be found in most supermarkets by the coffee) • pot of long-life single cream (with longest date possible) 350ml or 12 fl oz blended or malt whiskey

Method: 1. Pour the full tin of condensed milk into a bowl.

2. Fill the empty tin with whiskey, and pour into the milk.

3. Mix together (don’t whisk!).

4. Add 6 teaspoons of Camp Coffee and the cream. Again mix together (don’t whisk).

Then pour into an empty glass bottle, a clean wine bottle with screw lid ideal.

5. Store in the fridge. You can drink it straight away, no need to let it brew!

Send us your favourite recipes

Do you have a family favourite recipe you’d like to share with other readers? Send your recipe to contactus@wwha.co.uk or call 0800 052 2526. Don’t forget to include your name, address and phone number. wwha.co.uk 33

WHAT’S ON

What’s on NORTH WALES

MID WALES

1 Dec - 9 Feb 2018 Enchanted 2, 9 & 16 December, Father Toy Box Christmas’s Grotto Erddig, Wrexham. Discover the toys from the Yorke family’s toy collection, which have been scattered around the grounds.

Booking not needed. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/erddig/www. nationaltrust.org.uk/plas-newydd-countryhouse-and-gardens

Powys Castle, Welshpool, Powys Bring along your family. Each child will receive a Christmas gift as well as a voucher for a Christmas cookie and drink in the restaurant. Costs £6.50. Booking essential. Call 03442 491895.

2-17 December: A Penrhyn Christmas

14 December, Brecon Indoor Market Christmas Special

2 - 24 December: Santa Specials, Llangollen Railway

1 Jan 2018, New Year’s Day Walk

Penrhyn Castle, Llandegai, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 4HT. A Christmas filled with music, traditional wreath making workshops (£3.50), Christmas cooking in the Victorian Kitchens and even an appearance from Santa.

Santa makes a special visit, riding from Llangollen Railway Station to Carrog (renamed Lapland for Santa’s visit).

Every child gets a special gift and the adults receive a mince pie and a tipple from Santa’s Little Helpers. Pre booking essential.

Tel 01978 860979, www.llangollen-railway.co.uk

Special Christmas event with lots of extra stalls selling Christmas gifts, children’s books, fashion, rugs, food and drink, art and crafts and more. Father Christmas in his grotto and mince pies and mulled wine. Open 9.30am - 8pm. Free entry.

Llanwrtyd Wells, Powys To help you recover from the excesses of New Year’s Eve and to shake off those hangovers, an 8 mile guided walk starting at 11am on New Year’s Day from the town square. Free entry.

Ring 01591 610666

More than 100 stalls alongside Victorianthemed rides and entertainment.

Until 3 January, Cardiff Winter Wonderland, Cardiff City Hall

Cardiff ’s Winter Wonderland with Admiral Ice Rink is back and after one of the wettest winters on record last year this year the outdoor skating rink will have a clear span roof to keep skaters dry. To pre-book visit www.cardiffswinterwonderland.com or call 0333 666 3366.

9 – 10 December 2017 Caerphilly Christmas Market

Enjoy fun and festivities for all the family as Caerphilly transforms itself into a Christmas shopping paradise with over 100 food, drink and craft stalls. You’ll also find a farmer’s market, craft fayre, music, Santa’s grotto and street theatre.

9 December, A White Christmas

Hundreds of barmy bathers take to the waves for charity. Registration at 10:30am and swimmers enter the sea at 11:45am.

Visit: https://christmasswim.org/

Brunswick Road, Buckley, Flintshire, CH7 2EF. 10am to 5pm, free admission.

Tel: 01244 546201

30 December, Christmas Model Railway Show

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The Hayes, Cardiff More than 80 stalls from artists and craftspeople is a great opportunity to buy one-of-a-kind gifts direct.

26 December, Sandy Bay, Porthcawl

9 December, Indoor Tivoli Christmas Market

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Until 23 December, Cardiff Christmas Market

Adare Street, Bridgend, 11am – 2pm.

Get inside a giant snow globe and have your photo taken, watch as a magical ice sculpture is carved, enjoy snowy street entertainment and play in the snow flurries on the hour. Free for all the family.

7 December, Victorian Christmas Market, Wrexham Town Centre

10am - 4pm, St Michaels Church, Rosemary Lane, Conwy, LL32 8HY. Presented by the North Wales Area Group of the Narrow Gauge Society. Proceeds to Ty Gobaith Children’s hospice. Adults £2, accompanied children free.

SOUTH WALES

Cardiff Christmas market

PET TALK

Shells & spikes WEST WALES Every weekend in Decemberuntil 24, including Friday 22 Santa’s Magical Steam Trains Gwili Railway, Bronwydd Arms Station, Carmarthen, SA33 6HT. Meet Santa with a goodie bag and present for every child. Magician, balloonist, face painter and bouncy castle, steam locomotives, food stall, free sherry & mince pie for adults. Trains every 35 minutes starting at 10.00am last train 15.15pm.

(Christmas Eve - last train departs 13.30pm) www.gwili-railway.co.uk.

Tel: 01267 238213 email - info@gwili-railway.co.uk

17 November - 7 January 2018 Waterfront Winterland Swansea Enjoy ice skating on the Admiral ice rink and children’s rink; visit Santa’s Grotto.

Rides to suit everyone – from the Sky View and Snow Storm to the traditional carousel. A 100ft Giant Wheel is also back by popular demand. Sit back and enjoy the views of Swansea Bay by day or night. www.swanseachristmas.com/waterfrontwinterland

8 - 17 Dec The Park After Dark, National Botanic Garden of Wales 4-7pm, Middleton Hall, Llanarthne SA32 8HN £6 adults, £3 children, free for members Stunning owl display, free mulled wine and mince pie, bar, barbecue, turkey rolls, candy floss and other yuletide treats.

Tel: 01558 667149

26 December, 47th Tenby Boxing Day Swim

North Beach, Tenby Join hundreds of barmy bathers as they splash out for charity. Fun on the beach starts at 10am with a canoe race, crazy r aft race and fancy dress parade. www.tenbyboxingdayswim.co.uk

Lauren Litchfield-Payne from Twyncarmel, Merthyr, shares her room with two rather unusual pets – a tortoise called Cookie and a baby hedgehog called Dominic.

Artist Lauren, 21, and her mother Cheryl volunteer for a local hedgehog rescue charity. Lauren says: “Dominic came to us when he was four months old. His mother was killed in a road accident. I keep him in a box but he keeps escaping and building new homes in the oddest of places. One day he actually dug a hole and buried himself into the bag of hay I had bought for his bedding. I’ll look after him until he is fully grown and can be released back into the wild next year.”

“Cookie thinks he’s invincible and loves to be dressed up in his little winter coats that my mum makes for him. I have a spot heat lamp for him and he lies under it as if he’s sunbathing. Cookie is only a year old but tortoises can live for 50 years, so I hope he’ll be with me for a long time.”

Fishy friends Ken and Ann Millett moved into Cae Mawr, Llandudno, eight years ago and brought their goldfish over with them.

Since then, they now have 15 goldfish and 3 pleco fish (they keep the tank clean and eat the algae). The couple said: “The fish wake us up in the morning wanting to be fed, by jumping up in the water and throwing the gravel against the glass so we give them cucumber, blood worms and fish food. Timmy and Jimmy are two of the bigger fish, and the largest of the pleco fish is called Big Gob. “They are part of the family and our granddaughter looks after them when we are away. They will swim to the corner to watch you when you walk past and will sometimes have disputes between themselves and will suck up the gravel and spit it out at each other. They certainly are fascinating to watch and give us a lot of pleasure and we would thoroughly recommend keeping fish.”

Send us your pet stories

Do you have a favourite family pet you’d like to tell us about? Send your stories to communications.team@wwha.co.uk or call 0800 052 2526. Don’t forget to include your name, address and phone number. wwha.co.uk 35

CHRISTMAS PUZZLES

Christmas puzzle pages Win £30 shopping vouchers with our Christmas puzzles

To be in with a chance of winning a £30 shopping voucher for our wordsearch or crossword puzzle, simply send your entry with your name, address and contact details to Alison Stokes, Wales & West Housing, Archway House, 77 Parc Tŷ Glas, Llanishen, Cardiff CF14 5DU. All correct entries will be put into the draw and one lucky winner will be chosen for each puzzle and will receive a £30 shopping voucher. The closing date for entries is 31 January 2018.

PRIZE Z

CHRISTMAS WORDSEARCH This issue's Wordsearch is all about Christmas.

All the words may be found backwards, forwards, horizontal, vertical or diagonal.

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BETHLEHEM CARDS ELVES FAMILY HOLLY

JESUS MISTLETOE PRESENTS REINDEER RUDOLPH

STAR STOCKING TINSEL TREE TURKEY

CHRISTMAS QUIZ 1. What type of tree does mistletoe most commonly grow on?

2. What is the name for the warm, spiced wine drunk at Christmas?

3. Blitzen, Comet, Cupid, Dasher, Prancer, Vixen, Dancer, ….and Rudolph. Name the missing member of Santa’s reindeer team.

4. What is the Welsh name for Santa Claus?

5. In 1966 Tom Jones had a Christmas number one. What was the song?

6. What is the name of Ebenezer Scrooge’s employee in Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol?

7. Which Scandinavian country donates the Christmas Tree which stands in London’s Trafalgar Square every Christmas?

8. Who composed the music for the festive season ballet The Nutcracker?

9. What is the name of the village where The Grinch stole Christmas in the book by Dr Seuss?

10. Which flamboyant rock star was the voice of the Elf Lieutenant in the family film The Polar Express?

Christmas Quiz Answers: 1. Apple; 2. Mulled; 3 Donner; 4. Siôn Corn; 5. Green Green Grass of Home; 6. Bob Cratchit; 7. Norway; 8. Tchaikovsky; 9. Whoville; 10. Steve Tyler.

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CHRISTMAS PUZZLES 1

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ACROSS Winter month (8) Letters on a party invitation to indicate an answer is required (inits) (4) Dispel gloom (5) Bowl-shaped drinking vessel used in a religious service (7) Frozen spike of water (6) Aspirations (5) Trough from which cattle or horses feed (6) Melchior and Balthazar’s fellow wise man (6) Wine producing region of northern Spain (5) Message communicated to God (6) Christmas banger (7) Love intensely (5) Wooden vehicle mounted on runners (4) Item hung up for Santa at Christmas (8)

SUDOKU PUZZLE 6 8 8 6 7 4 4 6 7 2 3 9 5 5 2 1 1 9 5 2

7 5 1 9 2 3 1 6 9 8 6 4 1 4 3 8

DOWN 1 Christmas carol: ___ the Halls with Boughs of Holly (4) 2 Gradual increase in volume (9) 3 Amazing or wonderful occurrence (7) 4 Go beyond (6) 6 Narrow runner used for gliding over snow (3) 7 Delight (8) 8 Ready money (4) 13 Spicy pork and beef sausage (9) 14 Hugs (8) 17 Semitic language spoken in south-west Asia (7) 18 Ghost (6) 20 Requests (4) 22 Mass of ice (4) 24 Alcoholic beverage (3) Solve the crossword puzzle in the usual way, then rearrange the letters in the shaded squares to spell out another word associated with Christmas.

Autumn wordsearch winner Congratulations to resident Gina Donachie of Cwrt Y Castell, Builth Wells, who won a ÂŁ30 voucher in our Autumn wordsearch competition. wwha.co.uk 37

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF

A day in the life of ... a Tenancy Support Officer “I like helping people, fixing third sector charities. “Already problems and seeing the weight stretched, families will need lifted off people’s shoulders,” says greater access to foodbanks as Tenancy Support Officer Tracy there will be a delay before they Bevan, based in North Wales. receive their monthly payment.”

There’s no such thing as a But it’s not all doom and gloom. typical day for Tracy, who has “Helping to change someone’s life worked at WWH for four years, for the better is very rewarding. having been employed at Shelter Take a 60-year-old ex-military and Wrexham Council previously. man, who, despite having a heart “I do put aside a day in the Ewloe attack, was found ‘fit for work’. office to catch up on things, but But no-one would give him a otherwise I’m out and about in Wrexham and “I like helping people, fixing Mold. I love being able problems and seeing the weight to manage my own diary. lifted off people’s shoulders” “When I first started this job, Housing Officers and Asset Management job, only voluntary. He Officers would refer residents to couldn’t afford to eat healthily, me, along with mental health and had no carpet in his home and social services contacts. Once was depressed signing on at people get to know who you are, the Job Centre. I helped him they come to me direct. to apply for Employment “Universal Credit is the biggest Support Allowance rather issue, having begun in Flintshire than Jobseeker’s Allowance. and now happening in Wrexham. Along with other benefits, We have been encouraging his income tripled. people to have bank accounts “Now he’s on the right and access to computers but as benefit, he is on the road it’s been talked about for seven to recovery and his years, people often don’t want to self-esteem has been know until it actually happens. I restored. encourage them to get in touch “I also help younger so they know what to expect residents – it can be very when it does arrive.” difficult to live on your own Tracy believes Universal Credit when you’re young. will have a serious impact on However, residents on my demand at foodbanks and patch seem to have a very close

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network – families help each other.

“It always inspires me how people on such low incomes manage money. Our residents are amazing, inspiring with such interesting lives – they keep smiling against all the odds.

“It is rewarding being able to support them – and if I don’t know the answer, I will always find someone who can.”

wwha.co.uk 39

IN THE PICTURE

Mold residents settle into Cwrt y Becws Residents at Cwrt y Becws in Mold are looking forward to their first Christmas in their new homes. Completed earlier this year by RLD Construction, the scheme is a partnership between WWH, First Choice Housing Association and Flintshire County Council. WWH has 14 one bed apartments and six one and 2 bed apartments belong to First Choice.

Flintshire County councillor Haydn Bateman recently visited the residents at the development in Glanrafon Road, Mold. Lisa and Michael Smyth said: “We really have settled here. The apartment is ideal for us. We’re looking forward to spending our first Christmas here.”

First Choice resident Kay added “My apartment is brilliant. My last flat was small and I didn’t feel safe, but I feel safe in my new home.”