InTouch

Quarterly Report | intouch | www.wwha.co.uk | 1

intouch ISSUE 85 | FREE

The magazine for residents of Wales & West Housing

In this issue...

New extra care scheme coming to Newtown Making a Difference grants: how we’ve helped you WIN: Jamie Oliver’s ‘Everyday Superfood’ WWH staff give guide dogs a home

Do you live in one of our homes?

Are you interested in: • Work placements • Re-training • Getting back • Apprenticeships to work

Catering

Construction & Trades

community.team@wwha.co.uk 0800 052 2526 www.wwha.co.uk @wwha

Care

Admin/ Customer Services

Editor’s Letter and Contents| intouch | www.wwha.co.uk | 03

Editor’s Letter

Welcome to issue 85 of InTouch – the magazine exclusively for residents of Wales & West Housing.

In this edition, we’ll be looking back at how we helped you in 2015 through our Making a Difference grant.

On page 12 you’ll find some of the fantastic community gardens that we’ve helped you to create with our MAD Environment grant. Our MAD Community grant has also allowed many of you to get group activities off the ground (page 26).

Last but certainly not least, our MAD Future grant was introduced last year to help you with work, training and education opportunities and on page 23, you’ll find out how fellow residents have benefited.

You may have noticed on the front cover that some four legged friends have joined our team...

Following an appeal from Guide Dogs Cymru, three WWH staff - including our Chief Executive Anne Hinchey - took on trainee guide dogs as part of the charity’s boarders initiative. It’s fair to say that our furry new colleagues proved very popular in the office!

You can find out more on page 8.

We’re also very pleased to announce that our flagship extra care scheme, Llys Glan-yr-Afon, is due to open later this year in Newtown, Powys. We’re welcoming applications from those interested in living at the scheme, and will be holding an information day in the town in March for prospective residents and their families. For details, turn to page 9.

And finally, do you have ideas for InTouch or thoughts on how we could improve? Well we want to hear from you! Whether it’s a suggestion for a regular feature or what you’d like to see more of, let us know (page 4).

Well they are just some of the highlights from this edition of InTouch! We hope you enjoy reading and, until next time, take care.

The Editorial Team

Contents WWH News & Info Development Update Going Green Money Matters Quarterly Report Making a Difference to Your Future Charity Update Making a Difference to Your Community Planned Maintenance Healthy Living WIN: Jamie Oliver’s ‘Everyday Superfood’ PH Jones Prize Draw Resident Participation Your News & Views Birthdays and Anniversaries

4 9 12 15 17 22 25 26 29 30 32 33 34 36 39

Did you know that you can now get more news and updates online?

Follow us on twitter @wwha

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

Contact Us Wales & West Housing, 3 Alexandra Gate, Ffordd Pengam, Tremorfa, Cardiff CF24 2UD. 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

04 | www.wwha.co.uk | intouch | News and General Information

Could you be a support worker?

Castell Care and Support - a brand new organisation operating for Castell Ventures, which is part of the Wales & West Housing Group - is looking to recruit support workers and someone to lead them.

Registered with the Care and Social Services Inspectorate in Wales (CSSIW), the organisation delivers a person centred care and support service to adults who require help with a variety of daily living tasks.

Castell Care and Support is led by the people who use the service and the organisation’s aim is to enhance lives

wherever possible. They believe in enabling and empowering people to be in control of their own lives.

The team of new recruits will first start to work on an exciting new £2.3m development of 23 homes in Abergele, due to open this summer.

If you would like to find out more, please call 0300 123 2998.

We want your views!

InTouch is for you - our residents. So we want to know what you’d like to see!

Do you have an idea for an article or regular feature which you think will be of interest to residents? Or do you have thoughts on how we could improve? If so, please let us know!

You can get in touch with your ideas by emailing contactus@wwha.co.uk or calling our PR & Comms Team on 0800 052 2526.

News and General Information | intouch | www.wwha.co.uk | 05

“I love working for Castell Catering”

Juliette Poynton, 44, has never looked back since working for Castell Catering in Llys Jasmine, Flintshire.

Not only has she found work that she loves, but she has also gained skills and an NVQ Level 2.

“I was here from the beginning, over two years ago, when Llys Jasmine opened and Castell Catering first started.

I helped unpack boxes and put the shelves up!” says Juliette, who was a catering assistant and has progressed to become a chef.

“I was a catering assistant in Toyota beforehand and had also worked as a cleaner at Coleg Cambria. This is different; the hours fit in better with family life.

“Castell Catering also gave me an opportunity to gain qualifications – it is all work-based, so the tutor from Coleg Cambria visits me and assesses my work in food hygiene, fish, meat, vegetables, hot sauces and cakes. I love baking!”

Juliette is now going on to NVQ Level 3. “You only learn by being hands-on.

I learn something new every day. The team is great here - we help each other out and I’ve got to know the residents well, they become your friends. I’d like to thank Castell Catering for all their support.”

Are you interested in working for Castell Catering? Simply call 0800 052 2526 to find out more, visit www.wwha.co.uk or email info@castellcatering.co.uk

06 | www.wwha.co.uk | intouch | News and General Information

Is your dog

microchipped?

From 6th April 2016, it will be illegal not to have your dog microchipped.

The Microchipping of Dogs Regulation 2014 will be enforced by local authorities and police forces. It will also be an offence to fail to keep your registration details up to date – for example, if you sell the dog, change your contact details or move house.

Dogs Trust will be offering free micro-chipping at events across the country in a bid to help as many owners as possible to get their dog micro-chipped before 6th April.

The WWH pet policy already states that if we give you permission to have a dog in your home, it must be microchipped.

To find out more about micro-chipping events in your area, please visit www.chipmydog.org.uk

Will you be voting?

Registering to vote isn’t something most of us think about outside of general election time. But did you know the Welsh Assembly and Police and Crime Commissioner elections will be taking place soon?

Being able to vote gives you a say on who represents you in your local council, in the UK Parliament and in Europe. In Wales, being registered also gives you a say in who represents you here.

In order to vote, you have to be on the electoral register. It’s easy to do, simply visit www.gov.uk/register-to-vote If you’re not sure if you are already registered, you can contact your local electoral registration office.

To find out more about voting, visit www.aboutmyvote.co.uk

News and General Information | intouch | www.wwha.co.uk | 07

Minister visits Caerau Court following

£3m regeneration Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty, Lesley Griffiths, visited Caerau Court Road in Cardiff recently following the major regeneration of the scheme.

Over the past two years, WWH and the Welsh Government have invested a combined £3 million to transform Caerau Court and meet the Welsh Housing Quality Standard - dramatically improving the appearance, quality and energy efficiency of homes there.

Built in 1967 and consisting of 107 properties, Caerau Court Road is home to over 250 people.

The work has seen new wall insulation, roof insulation, windows, ventilation and central heating systems installed in homes to help reduce residents’ energy bills. New CCTV, door entry systems and external lighting have also been fitted, to help residents feel secure.

Furthermore, the tower block benefitted from an innovative new sprinkler system to improve fire safety – one of the first of its kind in Cardiff.

Finally, over £90,000 was spent on improving the overall appearance of Caerau Court Road.

The Minister took a tour of the scheme alongside Councillor Phil Bale, Leader of Cardiff Council, and Councillor Susan Elsmore, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing.

Representatives from Melin Homes and contractor SMK also attended, alongside our Chief Executive Anne Hinchey and Kathy Smart, Chair of the Board for WWH. Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty, Lesley Griffiths, said: “I was delighted to visit Caerau Court to see the major regeneration work which has taken place.

“Quality social housing helps transform the lives of thousands of people in Wales, enabling them to live in a safe, secure and warm home.”

08 | www.wwha.co.uk | intouch | News and General Information

WWH staff give

guide dogs

a home

Kate and guide dog Yaron

Staff at WWH welcomed some special four-legged friends to the team recently in support of Guide Dogs Cymru.

Three members of the team at our Cardiff office took on trainee guide dogs Yaron, Berry and Brooke, providing the canines with a home whilst they underwent training.

It came as part of Guide Dog Cymru’s ‘boarders’ initiative, which seeks volunteers to provide a temporary home for trainee dogs for 6 to 12 weeks.

Anne Hinchey, Chief Executive of WWH, took on beautiful Golden Retriever Berry, whilst Assistant Development Officer Rachel Stephens cared for affectionate Labrador Brooke. Administration Assistant Kate Solomon, meanwhile, provided a home for playful Labradoodle Yaron.

Speaking of her experience, Kate said: “I loved caring for Yaron and the experience of helping to train a guide dog was fantastic. I’m so pleased that he’s now with a lovely family who he’ll be able to help so much.”

Throughout their boarding experience, volunteers are given support, advice on handling skills, basic first aid and the general care and welfare of their dog.

During the weekdays, the dogs attend training school at the charity’s base in Cardiff before returning to their carers for the night.

Jonathan Mudd, head of Guide Dogs Cymru, said: “We are expanding our team and training more dogs, which means we need more volunteers to become boarders. It’s a role that often suits working people who love dogs, but are too busy for a pet of their own.

“It’s very rewarding to be involved in the upbringing and training of a guide dog, which will one day provide freedom and independence to a blind or partiallysighted person.”

Anne Hinchey, Chief Executive of WWH and carer for guide dog Berry, said: “Assisting in the training of these guide dogs has been such a rewarding experience.

Supporting Guide Dogs Cymru with the boarders initiative has been well worthwhile, knowing that we have helped this fantastic cause to make a real difference to people’s lives.”

Development Update | intouch | www.wwha.co.uk | 09

Extra care scheme

coming to Newtown!

Wales & West Housing’s 48 apartment extra care development, Llys Glan-yr-Afon in Newtown, Powys, will be opening later this year.

In the heart of the community, the scheme offers state-of-the art supported accommodation for adults to help them live independently.

To find out more about the scheme, please come along to our information day on Tuesday 8 March any time from 10am – 7pm in the Function Room at

the Elephant & Castle, Broad Street, Newtown, Powys SY16 2BQ.

If you’re unable to attend, don’t worry, simply call us on Freephone 0800 052 2526 for more information. You can also visit www.wwha.co.uk

10 | www.wwha.co.uk | intouch | Development Update

New homes coming to the Vale of Glamorgan

WWH has 16 brand new two bedroom homes for sale at 70% of the market value in Wenvoe, Vale of Glamorgan.

The properties are available to local first time buyers who are working and can get a mortgage, but cannot afford a suitable property on the open market.

Priority will be given to those with a local connection to the Wenvoe area.

The scheme is on a shared equity basis, which means that although you own the property, you only have to raise a mortgage for 70% of the purchase price.

70% value of one of these new homes is £125,000 – so you would need to be able to raise a mortgage of this amount.

The homes are part of a brand new development and are built to achieve a high level of sustainability. They will also benefit from 10 year NHBC cover.

For more information, please contact our Development Team on 0800 052 2526.

Development Update| intouch | www.wwha.co.uk | 11

Minister visits new development in Rhyl The Minister with responsibility for housing, Lesley Griffiths, visited our £2.3m affordable homes development in Rhyl recently.

Parc Brickfields, shortlisted for the Housing Innovation Awards, is backed by £2.1m from the Welsh Government’s Innovative Housing Finance Grant scheme.

The Minister met residents who have recently moved in and was given a tour of the scheme, which comprises 24 affordable homes – 16 houses and eight apartments, built by Anwyl Construction.

Following the visit, the Minister said: “I was pleased to meet residents who have recently moved into Parc

Brickfields and hear the positive difference it has made to their lives.

“We are already 91% of the way to reaching our target of providing 10,000 additional affordable homes throughout Wales by the end of this assembly term and our Housing Grant Scheme is playing an important role in delivering the aim.

“The development here in Rhyl is also a good example of partnership working towards the same goal of building affordable homes.”

12 | www.wwha.co.uk | intouch | Going Green

How we helped

your gardens grow in 2015

Throughout 2015, we helped many of you to develop community gardens in order to bring people together, improve wellbeing in your community and learn new skills.

Our Making a Difference to Your Environment grant was awarded to 13 WWH resident gardening and environmental projects across Wales last year – giving us a grand total of 51 projects that we’ve supported in total! Here are just some of those fantastic projects that we helped in 2015.

Hope Court, Cardiff In the spring of 2015, members of the WWH team joined the residents of Hope Court to build a new community garden at the scheme. The group worked together to ensure two large raised beds and a shed were built in time for the residents to grow plenty of fresh vegetables and flowers for the coming season.

Since then, resident gardeners Malcolm Green & Lewis Rimmer have grown an impressive array of fruit and vegetables including beetroot, potatoes, tomatoes, radish, lettuce, and apples. The residents fund the growth of the produce themselves, with those living at the scheme donating money for seeds, soil and plants.

Produce grown at the scheme moves from garden to plate, with the residents using the vegetables grown to cook meals in the Hope Court kitchen, including delicious steak and veg pie and leek and potato soup.

The Hope Court gardening group members were also recognised for their green fingered talents at the 2015 Making a Difference Awards, where they were finalists in the Eco Champion category.

Going Green | intouch | www.wwha.co.uk | 13

Cwrt Andrew Buchan,

Caerphilly Inspirational resident Royston Hill of Cwrt Andrew Buchan had the idea to bring the community of Rhymney, Caerphilly, together by creating a community garden. The scheme had a large amount of land which was going unused, so Royston approached WWH for funding from our MAD Environment grant.

Salisbury Road,

Following lots of planning, the project got off the ground in October last year. Cambria Maintenance Services offered their support, with operators volunteering to build a level path and accessible patio area for those with poor mobility. A further successful volunteer day saw WWH and Cambria staff working alongside residents and volunteers from local day centre Hafod Deg to build a shed and raised bed.

This project came about due to partnership work between WWH and Hafal Cymru, who provide support for adults with mental illness. The two organisations got together to build a community garden for the residents of Salisbury Road, due to the benefits gardening can bring about for individuals.

The project was completed in December 2015 and the residents have already worked wonders by growing produce from seed in their new greenhouse. Royston has great plans for the future and has secured further funding from Communities First, with hopes to make the project sustainable by selling fresh produce to raise funds to put back into the garden.

Wrexham Operatives from Cambria Maintenance Services kindly volunteered to build an accessible path and patio area, which was followed by WWH and Hafal Cymru staff getting together with residents to build two large raised beds. A greenhouse was also provided, so residents had plenty of room to grow produce from seed.

The residents, working alongside WWH’s Community Development Project Officer Vy Cochran, are now making plans for the future - attending training courses and securing further funding for tools and equipment for their blossoming garden project.

14 | www.wwha.co.uk | intouch | Going Green

Cwrt Anghorfa,

Bridgend Winners of the Eco Champion category at the 2015 Making a Difference Awards, the Cwrt Anghorfa garden is one of our biggest success stories.

The project began in 2014, when a WWH grant provided a level access path and patio area at the scheme. Two large raised beds were also built by staff and residents during a volunteer day – indeed, resident Maurice Wood was busy sowing garlic and onions that very afternoon!

In summer 2015, and after lots of hard work from green fingered residents,

those living at Cwrt Anghorfa put on a spectacular garden open day which was attended by the local community council and WWH’s Chief Executive, Anne Hinchey, who officially opened the garden.

The residents are now looking forward to another successful growing season in their community garden, which has made such a huge difference to the wellbeing and happiness of many living at the retirement scheme.

Tˆy Ddewi,

Rhondda Cynon Taff Another hugely successful project, the Tŷ Ddewi community garden has gone from strength to strength. WWH provided funding for a level access path and patio area at the scheme, as well as a greenhouse and two accessible raised beds which were built during a volunteer day.

The main gardeners at Tŷ Ddewi - namely Dee Thorne, John Mann, Alan Bargewell and Wyndham Rowe - have worked extremely hard to make the garden a blooming success for all to enjoy. The raised beds are now producing a range of delicious vegetables for the Tŷ Ddewi

residents, including peas, beetroot, carrots, parsnips and a bumper crop of kidney beans, which the group are hoping to sell to put funds back into the garden.

The group achieved the recognition they deserve at last year’s Making a Difference Awards, where they won the Green Fingers category.

They also held a hugely successful garden open day recently, where the residents made a fantastic buffet and the community came together to celebrate their achievements.

Money Matters | intouch | www.wwha.co.uk | 15

Getting ready

for Universal Credit Universal Credit (UC) is the Government’s new benefit system that combines multiple benefits into one monthly payment.

It will be rolled out across Wales by March 2016, but only single people who are making a new claim for Jobseekers Allowance will be affected.

Whilst the vast majority of residents will not be affected by UC in the immediate future, it is worth noting that there are some parts of UC that people will need to prepare for.

Budgeting monthly: UC will be paid monthly, which may differ from the way you currently receive your income.

Therefore, it is important to ensure your budget is in good health so that you find this transition easier. Even though UC probably won’t affect you imminently, now is the time to act as getting a handle on your finances isn’t always easy. The Money Advice Service - www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk – has some great free budgeting advice.

Getting a bank account: You may use a post office account that only allows you to withdraw your money, or you may find you are incurring bank charges from the account you currently use.

If this is the case, now is the time to open a new bank account to enable

you to start managing your money effectively. This will let you pay bills like your rent and council tax by Direct Debit, meaning you don’t have to remember to pay or visit a shop or post office. For more information on fee-free basic bank accounts, visit the Money Advice Service website or speak to your Tenancy Support Officer.

Getting online: The Government wants UC claims to be made and managed online. If you don’t currently use the internet, you may need to start to think of ways that you could access it. Many libraries also have beginner courses to show you basic computer skills. As well as helping you prepare for UC, the internet opens up numerous opportunities to save money - from using comparison sites to monitoring your energy usage and bills.

If you want help with your finances, don’t forget that our Tenancy Support Officers are on hand to assist. Get in touch by calling us on 0800 052 2526.

16 | www.wwha.co.uk | intouch | Money Matters

Contents insurance: are you protected?

You may have seen coverage of the recent extreme weather on the news, where people were throwing away their damaged possessions due to the floods. Whilst traumatic, the blow is softened for many as they have insured the contents of their home.

It is your responsibility to insure your furniture, belongings and other personal items within your home.

Contents insurance doesn’t have to be expensive. The My Home scheme offers the chance to insure your contents in an easy and affordable way – from as little as £2 a week.

My Home contents insurance is a special scheme provided by the National Housing Federation in conjunction with Thistle Tenant Risks and Allianz Insurance plc. It is available for all tenants and residents living in social and affordable housing.

This insurance will cover most of your household goods and contents in your home: including your furniture, TV, clothing, carpets, electrical items and

general household goods – and even the contents of your freezer.

The benefits of the My Home policy include: • Premiums can be paid weekly • Low minimum sums insured • “New for old” cover • No policy excess to pay on claims (other than £50 for accidental damage) • Personal liability insurance in addition to insurance against fire, theft, accidental damage, vandalism and water damage.

For more information visit www.thistlemyhome.co.uk or call My Home on 0345 450 7288

Quarterly Report | intouch | www.wwha.co.uk | 17

Quarterly Report:

Keeping you in the picture Our quarterly report is designed to keep you updated on how we’re doing as an organisation and what we’re doing to improve our services for you – our residents.

This information is for each of our main systems, namely: building homes, repairs, rent and neighbourhood nuisance.

So you can find out everything – from how many homes we’ve built so far this year to how long it takes to fix a repair.

In each edition of InTouch, we also provide you with additional information on one of these key areas as part of a special ‘focus on’ feature.

This time, we’re looking at our lettings system (P20-21).

So please take a good look and if you have any comments, let us know by emailing contactus@wwha.co.uk or calling us on 0800 052 2526.

Homes We’ve built

157 new homes in 2015

765 homes let in total in 2015

We’ve let

RETIREMENT GENERAL NEEDS EXTRA CARE

Repairs

190 homes this quarter

75 110 5

Did you know…?

64%

98%

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5

da

a

18

11-15 DAYS days 6-10 days

0-5 days

We want you to access all information FIXED ON FIRST STAYED FIXED DAYS TO COMPLETE regarding our VISIT performance and Afuture REPAIR plans easily. As a result, we’ve put all ourRent reports in one place on our website TENANCIES for you.

IN ARREARS

1162

The infographics give key information about how Wales & West Housing is performing, as you’ll see over the next few pages.

This includes our infographics, annual report, financial statements, Welsh Government financial viability nuisance Neighbourhood judgement and Welsh Government REPORTS OF ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR regulatory report.

250 To view these reports, visit our website – www.wwha.co.uk – and simply click 0 2013 on the THE ‘our performance’ link on the MAIN ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR ISSUES bottom right of the homepage.

THREATENING NOISE NUISANCE BEHAVIOUR

Homes We’ve built

157 new homes in 2015

We’ve let

765 homes let in total in 2015

RETIREMENT GENERAL NEEDS

190

EXTRA CARE

Repairs

64% FIXED ON FIRST VISIT

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Rent

1162

TENANCIES IN ARREARS

Neighbourhood nuisance REPORTS OF ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR

250

0

2013

2015

THE MAIN ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR ISSUES

NOISE NUISANCE

THREATENING BEHAVIOUR

VERBAL ABUSE

We built a total of 77 homes during 2014!

New residents gave us a satisfaction rating of 9.3 out of 10 for the service they received from us when finding them a home

LOCATION OF THEIR HOME

We asked residents what they would like to see improved about our repairs service

CLEANER PROPERTIES

REPAIRS COMPLETED QUICKER

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We asked residents what GETTING HOLD they would like OF THE RIGHT to see improved PERSON about our WWH’S ABILITY anti-social TO EVICT MORE PEOPLE behaviour service

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22 | www.wwha.co.uk | intouch | Making a Difference to Your Future

How we’ve helped to Our Making a Difference to Your Future grant was launched in 2015 to help residents overcome barriers preventing them from getting into work, education and training.

During the year, we spent over ÂŁ30,000 and supported at least 60 residents in the following ways:

Getting to work

Starting a Business

Going to College

Working on Site

3 bikes to travel to work

12 new business start-ups assisted

12 new business start-ups assisted

2 forklift licences

6 lots of specialist 14 laptops to support 3 short-term travel equipment purchased studies to work costs covered

1 asbestos awareness training

2 rail tracks training 2 annual bus tickets

5 specialist training courses

8 printers /digital cameras 1 site safety passport

1 motorcycle training course and helmet

2 taxi licences

Getting a Job

2 sets of course text books 1 site supervisor’s ticket

4 sets of interview /work clothes

5 sets of specialist course items 1 plant machinery training

Making a Difference to Your Future | intouch | www.wwha.co.uk | 23

change your future And here are just some of your success stories following help from our Making a Difference to Your Future grant! working on a collection of animal paintings to display in a gallery that will also support animal charities - something which is close to her heart. Cheryl says: “It’s mad how busy I am! My name is getting noticed and regular customers are constantly coming back to me.”

Gareth Sansom Gareth was working closely with his Tenancy Support Officer , Will Brooks, who suggested that he applied for a MAD Future grant to help him with his employment prospects.

Cheryl Litchfield-Payne Cheryl, from Merthyr Tydfil, was our first resident to benefit from a MAD Future grant. She had been made redundant from her job as a community tutor and decided it was time to turn her arts and crafts hobby into a business.

With support from our Community Enterprise Team, Cheryl met with Taste of Enterprise to complete a business plan, whilst we provided guidance around self-employment and purchased tools to get Cheryl started.

A year on from our initial support, Cheryl is doing really well. She is currently

Having been out of work for 14 years and left school with no qualifications, Gareth knew he needed to get back into training or education to improve his chances.

Gareth had always wanted to learn how to weld, so our grant covered the cost of a course for Gareth at his local college, as well as providing him with protective equipment.

Gareth enjoyed the course so much and did so well, he successfully applied for a further grant to progress on to the next level of welding training and further increase his chances of getting a job.

Gareth continues to do really well and we wish him every success with his future.

24 | www.wwha.co.uk | intouch | Making a Difference to Your Future

Royston Hill Royston, who lives in the Rhymney valley, has been working alongside our team to develop a community garden at Cwrt Andrew Buchan. Royston was chosen out of 200 other volunteers to start a diploma in Horticulture, Agriculture and Domestic Gardening to give him the necessary skills to maintain the garden and create a plant nursery to sell produce to local people and generate money to reinvest.

Royston applied for a MAD Future grant in July 2015, asking for a laptop and printer to allow him to complete his diploma. He said: “I want to continue to study to keep my mind healthy, improve where I live and share what I have learned with other people.”

Royston has also been volunteering at another local gardening project two days a week for the last few years, and his passion for gardening and learning has inspired both residents and WWH staff alike.

As a result of his dedication and efforts, Royston was named as a finalist in the Local Hero category at our 2015 Making a Difference Awards.

Natalie Rohman Natalie started up her pet care business last year, looking after animals whose owners are in work or on holidays.

Natalie didn’t have a car to get to her appointments, so she came to us for help. After discussing Natalie’s needs and reviewing her business plan, we provided a bike and the necessary safety equipment.

The bike made a real difference for Natalie and business began to pick up.

Since then, Natalie has progressed to getting a car herself for work, but she still uses her bike for local appointments.

Natalie says that the last six months have been really busy for her workwise. We hope her business continues to go from strength to strength!

Charity Update | intouch | www.wwha.co.uk | 25

WWH’s Anne Hinchey and Kathy Smart present a £1000 donation to Cardiff Women’s Aid

WWH donates £12,000 to help victims of domestic abuse WWH has donated £12,000 to local domestic abuse support services to help women and children who are experiencing domestic abuse.

The donation saw 12 support organisations across the country receive £1000 each, with all groups based in the areas in which we operate.

black and ethnic minority backgrounds affected by domestic and other forms of abuse, was also one of the 12 groups that benefitted.

The groups were chosen because of their work in Welsh communities providing practical and emotional support for those who have suffered from domestic abuse.

Kathy Smart, Chair of the Board for WWH, said: “At Wales & West Housing, we believe in doing what we can to help make a difference to people’s lives, homes and communities.

The organisations in receipt of the donation were Cardiff Women’s Aid, Aberconwy Domestic Abuse Service, CAHA Women’s Aid (Holywell), Calan DVS (Neath Port Talbot, Bridgend and Powys), Colwyn Domestic Abuse Service, Domestic Abuse Safety Unit for Flintshire, North Denbighshire Domestic Abuse Service, Glyndwr Women’s Aid (Denbigh), Rhondda Cynon Taff Women’s Aid and Swansea Women’s Aid.

“Our Board selected these organisations because of the direct work they undertake in our communities to help those women and children who are vulnerable and suffering from domestic abuse.

BAWSO, an all-Wales group that delivers specialist services to people from

“We are only too aware of the difficulties that victims of domestic abuse face – it is an incredibly complex issue that sadly affects many people from all walks of life. I hope our contribution will go some way to directly assisting those who need help and support.”

26 | www.wwha.co.uk | intouch Making a Difference to Your Community

Helping to make a difference to your

community

Our Making a Difference to Your Community grant had yet another successful year in 2015, with 15 grants awarded to our residents across Wales - that’s a total of almost £5,000!

Since the grant started in 2007, we’ve awarded over £40,000 to 139 groups, benefitting over 7,000 residents.

Our MAD Community grant can help you to bring your community together through fun social activities. Here are just some of the groups that we funded last year.

Get Crafty!

Three groups – the Crafty Tuesdays of Hanover Court, Barry (pictured), the Can Do Club of Ty Ddewi, Rhondda, and Craftynanas.com of Oakmeadow Court, Cardiff - had grants for materials and equipment to make fantastic decoupage cards, paper crafts and wooden plaques.

The groups are now busy sharing their skills with each other and are happy to help new groups set up.

The Crafty Tuesday’s at Hanover Court in Barry

Making a Difference to Your Community | intouch | www.wwha.co.uk | 27

Get Fit!

Residents at Nant Y Môr Extra Care scheme, Prestatyn, have been getting together every week to do chair yoga!

Our MAD Community grant paid for half the yoga tutor’s costs with residents

Chair yoga at Nant y Môr

contributing the other half. The classes are suitable for all abilities and the residents say they are enjoying improving their health and socialising at the same time.

Get Social!

The brunch and lunch clubs of Hope Court in Cardiff, Oak Court in Penarth (pictured) and Llys Hafren in Newtown received grants for kitchen equipment.

The clubs get residents together to make friends and chat, whilst enjoying some home-cooked food made by talented resident volunteers.

The volunteer cooks and helpers have all completed food hygiene courses to make sure everything is done safely. WWH arranged and paid for the training, which can be done at your scheme or in your home and at your own pace.

Oak Court Brunch Club in Penarth

28 | www.wwha.co.uk | intouch Making a Difference to Your Community

And that’s not it..!

• Some of our Cardiff scheme managers trained in gentle exercise, so we funded music equipment and stretch bands for residents to enjoy some classes together.

• The residents of Hanover Court, Barry, had a Wii Fit console funded. They now have great fun keeping fit, playing virtual sports and even singing and dancing to the musicals!

• Barracksfield Tenants Association in Wrexham received a MAD Community grant to help pay towards their annual family funday, which brought together over 150 residents.

If you’re inspired by these stories and would like to start making a difference in your community, you can find out more and apply on our website - www.wwha.co.uk Or get in touch with Claire Hammond, Resident Participation Strategy Officer, for a chat about your idea.

• Hafal Homegrown in Wrexham, Cwrt Anghorfa in Bridgend, Plas Gorffwysfa Social Group in Prestatyn and St Mellons Community Garden in Cardiff all received grants for gazebos and outdoor equipment to put on social activities in their community gardens.

Email: claire.hammond@wwha.co.uk Phone: 0800 052 2526 Text: 0776 683 2692

Planned Maintenance | intouch | www.wwha.co.uk | 29

Cambria install specialist lighting to help residents Cambria Maintenance Services recently installed specialist lighting in the home of two WWH residents who have difficulty with their sight.

Cambria’s Senior Electrician and the Operations Manager consulted with the couple before installing the lighting, where it was apparent that different lighting was needed for each person.

One of our residents required very bright, direct light whilst the other person would struggle if faced with direct lighting.

This meant the lights would need to be easily adjustable for whichever resident was using them.

Based on this, a standard light fitting wasn’t the right choice to suit our residents’ needs. So Cambria installed more suitable LED lighting, including track lighting and under cabinet lighting with pelmet.

The residents were delighted with their new improved lighting. They said: “It has made making meals a lot easier as we can angle the light fitting to the right position.

“It is also incredibly versatile as it stretches across the whole room so we are not trying to work around the lighting, it works around us instead.

Cambria Electrician Mike Lancaster installing the new track lighting.

“Not only has it improved our day to day lives, it has also improved our health as we have fewer headaches as the lighting is LED.”

30 | www.wwha.co.uk | intouch | Healthy Living

Kick your sugar habit!

Added sugar has become a key component of our diets, hidden away in many of the foods and drinks that we love. Here, NHS Choices tell us more about the sweet stuff and how we can reduce our intake.

In Britain, an average person will eat 700g of sugar a week.

That’s 140 teaspoons!

This means that many of us are consuming too many calories, which is one of the causes behind obesity.

Although many of us know we need to eat less sugar, it can be a difficult habit to break.

Foods high in added sugar, such as fizzy drinks and sweets, are those we need to eat less of. Naturally occurring sugars, such as those found in fruit and dairy products, are better for us as they contain more nutrients.

When you’re out shopping, it’s advisable to check nutrition labels to see how much sugar products contain.

If an item’s total sugar content is more than 22.5g per 100g, it is classed as high in sugar. Whilst those items with total sugars under 5g per 100g is low sugar.

Some packaging uses a colour-coded system that makes it easy to choose foods lower in sugar, salt and fat. Look for more “greens” and “ambers”, and fewer “reds”, in your basket.

Did you know?

The Government’s Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) gives guidance on our consumption of added sugars. They recommend that our daily intake should be less than 5% of our total energy intake.

So that equates to: • Children aged 4-6: no more than 19g (5 teaspoons per day) • Children aged 7-10: no more than 24g (6 teaspoons per day) • Children aged 11+ and adults: no more than 30g (7 teaspoons per day)

Healthy Living | intouch | www.wwha.co.uk | 31

You don’t have to cut out sugar completely from your diet. Making small changes can make a big difference! Here are some simple tips for your day: Breakfast

Drinks

Did you know many breakfast cereals are high in sugar? Try switching to lower-sugar cereals or those with no added sugar, such as plain porridge or wholewheat cereal. This change alone could cut out 70g of sugar (up to 22 sugar cubes) from your diet over a week.

Almost a quarter of the added sugar in our diets comes from sugary drinks - fizzy drinks, sweetened juices, squashes and cordials. Try sugar-free varieties, water or soda water with a splash of fruit juice. If you take sugar in tea or coffee, try reducing the amount until you can cut it out altogether, or try swapping to sweeteners instead.

If you love toast for brekkie, try wholemeal or granary bread instead –it’s higher in fibre than white bread. You can also get sugar-free or lower-sugar options of most jams and spreads.

Main meals Some ready-made soups, stir-in sauces and ready meals are higher in sugar than you think.

Look out for takeaway dishes that are typically high in sugar, such as sweet and sour dishes, sweet chilli and some curry sauces. Also, condiments and sauces such as ketchup can have as much as 23g of sugar in 100g – roughly half a teaspoon per serving.

Dessert Do you need to have desserts or sugary treats every day? Try reducing the frequency you have these foods – such as only at the weekend, or on certain days of the month.

If you do have a sweet tooth, try less sugary desserts such as fruit, lower-fat and lower-sugar rice pudding, and plain lower-fat yoghurt.

32 | www.wwha.co.uk | intouch | Healthy Living

Get Sugar Be aware! Smart Low fat doesn’t necessarily mean low sugar!

Some lower-fat yoghurts, for example, can be sweetened with refined sugar, fruit juice concentrate, glucose and fructose syrup.

Always check the label.

COMPETITION! WIN a copy of Jamie Oliver’s ‘Everyday Super Food’!

Have you got a favourite healthy recipe that you love to rustle up in the kitchen? Well we want to hear from you! Send us your recipe (including ingredients, quantities and method) by Wednesday 20th April and we’ll share it with all our residents in the next InTouch! You’ll also be entered into a prize draw to win a copy of Jamie’s fab new book – packed full of recipes for a healthier, happier you.

Happy cooking!

The NHS Change4Life programme has a fab new Sugar Smart app! Sign up for top dietary tips, vouchers to use on healthier foods and some great recipes. Visit www.nhs.uk/change4life for more info.

PH Jones Prize Draw | intouch | www.wwha.co.uk | 33

PH Jones Prize Draw WIN £250, champagne, chocolates and a bouquet of flowers simply by having your gas boiler serviced on the first appointment, or give us at least 48 hours’ notice to re-arrange the visit for a time that is more convenient for you.

Mrs Helen Connell (right) was the lucky winner from Prestatyn, North Wales. She said: “It was a lovely surprise as I never win anything. I’m very pleased!”

Mr & Mrs Fry from Tongwynlais (above) were the winners in South Wales. They were very pleased and put their winnings towards Christmas.

34 | www.wwha.co.uk | intouch | Resident Participation

Residents help

us to get it right!

Our Resident Participation Steering Group (RPSG) are a group of committed resident volunteers from across Wales, who help us to make sure that we get you involved in the right way.

The RPSG help us monitor how we go about resident participation (how you get involved and give your views on our services) and check that information that goes to all residents is clear and easy to understand.

Last year the RPSG helped us to: •

•

Develop surveys to ask you how you feel about participation and getting involved at WWH Design forms, guidance notes, criteria and webpages for our Making a Difference grants

•

•

Come up with questions for residents about how you want to use the internet when we install Wifi in schemes Think about reporting repairs and how we can improve the process

Resident Participation | intouch | www.wwha.co.uk | 35 •

•

•

•

•

Check, develop and design each stage of our revised resident participation strategy Monitor how we fund resident participation Think about our residents’ handbook and what needs updating Tell the Welsh Government Housing Regulator what they thought of participation opportunities at WWH Consider how we present our key performance information to residents in InTouch

They’ve also been attending lots of training and networking events to learn and bring back ideas from a range of sources, including the Eden Project Big Lunch Extras network, TPAS (Tenant Participation Advisory Service) Cymru’s conference, Tenants and Disability Networks and The National Tenant Resource Centre (Trafford Hall).

One of our RPSG members even helped organise an energy saving event in Wrexham recently.

The work of the group was recognised at our 2014 Making a Difference Awards with a Special Inspiration Award (pictured). Most deserved!

If you’d like to find out more about the RPSG please get in touch with Claire Hammond, Resident Participation Strategy Officer: Email: claire.hammond@wwha.co.uk

Phone: 0800 052 2526 Text: 07766832692

36 | www.wwha.co.uk | intouch |Your News & Views

Your News & Views Henllan residents receive funding for garden

A Henllan garden project has benefited from a cash boost thanks to an environmental grant scheme from Keep Wales Tidy and Tesco.

Members of Cil-y-Coed Dragon’s Garden Group were thrilled to hear they’d been successful in applying for an All Wales Grant of £140.10, which they used to buy garden tools.

Run by Keep Wales Tidy and funded by Tesco’s single use carrier bag charge, the aim of the All Wales Grant Scheme is to assist communities across Wales

to improve their local environment.

As part of their project, members of Cil-y-Coed Dragon’s Garden Group learned how to grow plants, identify plants and herbs, use herbs to support a healthy life style, make compost and also learned how to integrate into the local community.

Vy Cochran, Community Development Project Officer for WWH, said: “This is a great benefit for our residents – we’re looking forward to seeing the gardens in the Spring.”

Gareth Jones, from Keep Wales Tidy, who presented the cheque for the tools, said: “It’s a great project to support and a clear benefit for the site, residents and the local community.”

Vy Cochran, resident Dominic Hughes, Gareth Jones from Keep Wales Tidy and WWH staff receive the cheque for new garden tools.

Your News & Views| intouch | www.wwha.co.uk | 37

Residents wish Anna

a warm goodbye

The residents of St Clements Court, Cardiff, waved goodbye and gave their best wishes to scheme manager Anna Cordery recently on her retirement.

Anna, who has worked for WWH for over 22 years, was also presented with a beautiful celebration cake which the residents had very kindly made for her.

Mrs Janet Meredith, who has lived

at the scheme for 22 years, says that Anna has always gone above and beyond her duties.

Mrs Meredith adds in her letter to us: “I have never found any fault in Anna and many people here are sorry to see her retiring. She is one of life’s ladies.”

We all wish Anna a very happy retirement.

38 | www.wwha.co.uk | intouch | Your News & Views

Residents get crafty!

The residents of Llys Ben Bowen Thomas in Ystrad, Pentre, Rhondda Cynon Taff, held a creative craft exhibition recently.

The exhibition saw the talented residents proudly displaying and discussing their ceramic works, which they’ve created over the past two years.

The event proved to be a real success and there was a fantastic turnout, with many members of the community coming along to take a look alongside Leighton Andrews AM.

Are the wedding bells ringing for

you this year?

Channel 4 documentary makers are looking for couples over 70 who would like to take part in a heart-warming programme about love and marriage in later life.

Described as “life affirming and sensitive”, the one hour documentary will follow couples who are getting married in 2016 on their journey towards their big day.

It will show all the nervous excitement any couple getting married experiences, but also looks at the challenges older couples need to overcome to make their big day a reality.

If you would like to take part or find out more, you can contact the documentary maker, Emma Linstead, on 020 7704 3310 or email EmmaLinstead@transparenttelevision.com

Birthdays and Anniversaries | intouch | www.wwha.co.uk | 39

Happy 90th

Birthday, Peggy!

The lovely Peggy Higginson of Western Court, Bridgend, celebrated her 90th birthday on 16th November 2015.

Peggy, who has lived at the scheme for over 30 years, is a popular member of the Western Court community.

To mark her birthday, all the residents came together in the scheme’s summerhouse for a special birthday party.

Peggy and her friends celebrated in style with a buffet and stunning birthday cake…as well as a couple of sherries, of course!

Speaking about Peggy, fellow resident and friend Jeff Bunce said: “Peggy is such a lovely lady. She’s a real laugh and she tells stories from years ago.

She was the first resident here and everyone looks after her.”

We hope you had a fabulous birthday Peggy and many happy returns from us all!

40 | www.wwha.co.uk | intouch Making a Difference to Your Community

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