Intouch issue 89 Spring 2017

intouch SPRING 2017 | ISSUE 89| FREE

The magazine for residents of Wales & West Housing

In this issue...

Proud to be Welsh 3000th home in North Wales Universal Credit Useful apps We support Age Cymru

Opportunities for casual catering assistants and chefs in Mold, Prestatyn and Newtown

Are you:

• wanting to work flexibly around your lifestyle?

• willing to work some weekends and/or Bank Holidays?

• happy to work as a team in our extra care schemes?

We have opportunities for catering assistants and chefs.

Catering Assistants £8.45 per hour

Chefs

£9.22 per hour

Hours: Casual Castell Catering is a great place to work and welcomes people who are looking for an opportunity to work on a casual basis. We are a Living Wage employer.

To apply please visit: www.castellventures.wales

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

Welcome from Anne Dear Residents

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

The theme for this issue is “Proud to be Welsh”, aptly timed as many communities will have just celebrated St David’s Day. We, as a housing organisation, are very proud to be Welsh. You will read stories from our residents who are proud of their roots, learn about Welsh traditions, enjoy a Bara Brith recipe and hear how our staff are keen to promote the language. We also invest in Welsh suppliers wherever we can, employing local people and giving residents training and employment opportunities.

Following the success of our Christmas Wordsearch, we have another, this time, surprise, surprise - on Wales!

We’ve also introduced a new feature on the latest Apps which you may find useful on staying fit or learning Welsh. Do you have any apps you would like to share with us? Please let us know!

Also, if you have any stories you would like to share, please email them to us, along with a photo, where possible. Or simply ring us and we’ll have a chat with you.

Your feedback is very important to us so if you have any ideas or comments, please let us know. We do listen to you. Simply email contactus@wwha.co.uk or speak to our PR & Communications Team on 0800 052 2526.

Happy reading and have a great Spring!

Anne Hinchey, Chief Executive

Contents Proud to be Welsh 04 A Day in the Life of an AMO 17 Going Green 18 Quarterly Report 21 Useful Apps 28 Making a Difference to your Future 30 Sub-letting a property 31 We love Llys Glan yr Afon 32 Money Matters 34 Making a Difference to your Community 37 Charity Update 40 Holywell extra care scheme 42 Your News & Views 43

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@wwha

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

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, Archway House, 77 Parc Tŷ 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

04 | www.wwha.co.uk | intouch | We're proud to be Welsh

Celebrating Welsh traditions Hen Galan The inhabitants of Cwm Gwaun, near Fishguard, in Pembrokeshire, still celebrate Hen Galan on 13 January, the old New Year as marked by the Julian calendar which was used throughout Britain until the introduction of the Gregorian Calendar in 1752.

Hen Galan was once seen as more important than Christmas by Gwaun Valley residents and the local women would get together to cook a large meal of turkey or goose with special food and drink prepared well in advance and the men would enjoy a chance to go shooting.

For the children, Hen Galan was often spent walking from house-to-house singing traditional rhymes to 'let in' the coming year and to wish the occupants health and happiness. In return they are given ‘Calennig’ – usually fruit, sweets or money.

St David's Day Saint David is the patron saint of Wales and St David’s Day falls on 1 March, chosen in remembrance of his death.

Tradition holds that he died on that day in 601. The date was declared a national day of celebration within Wales in the 18th century.

Residents at our scheme in Llain Las (left) normally celebrate the day by having Cawl and a game of Bingo.

In 2016 at Cwrt y Llan, staff made Cawl and Bara Brith and raised money for Calon+, a local charity.

We're proud to be Welsh | intouch | www.wwha.co.uk | 05

Ras Yr Iaith

In the first week of July, a fun relay race takes place through Wales where the language baton is carried from one town centre to another.

Businesses, clubs, organisations, schools or families pay a certain amount of money to sponsor 1km and any number of people can run that stretch of the race. We normally have a Cinio Cymraeg or Te Cymraeg on the day and all monies raised go to Ras Yr Iaith towards projects promoting the Welsh language, ie, various music

festivals, such as Gwyl Nol a Mlaen and Tregaroc, to Yoga lessons and a Welsh language drama festival.

“I’m a truly proud Welsh woman” Resident Sian Hope says: “I'm a truly proud Welsh woman and wouldn't have it any other way.”

Sian says: “My father was Welsh and my mother English, but she always used to say ‘Did we win?’ when I told her Wales were playing rugby against England...meaning did Wales win!!”

Sian, from North Wales, is proud of her Welsh roots. Her great, great grandfather ran a boat ‘taxi’ across the When Sian celebrated her 50th river Conwy before the bridges were birthday, her family arranged a surprise open to road traffic. party for her and her niece made a cake connected to Wales. “One present was to go to the Millennium Stadium to watch Wales play rugby – it was my life’s ambition to go there and we won! I hope to see Wales qualify for the World Cup!”

Sian’s grandfather entered the navy during World War I but later transferred over to the 1st Battalion of the Welsh Guards, so he was a Welsh Guard from the beginning of their existence.

Neighbours Jak Roberts and Fay Williams helped make Sian’s birthday special

06 | www.wwha.co.uk | intouch | We're proud to be Welsh

We're proud to be Welsh!

At Wales & West Housing we’re proud of our Welsh language.

For the majority of staff in West Wales Welsh is their first language and they are keen to promote it, so it’s common for conversations to start with a “shw’ mae”.

At our head office in Cardiff and our North Wales office in Ewloe there are a number of fluent Welsh speakers and many more are learning the language, thanks to our commitment to support learners with free tuition.

Among those learners are Jess Davies, Repairs Co-ordinator based in Cardiff, who started her beginner’s Welsh course last year so she could hold conversations with Welsh-speaking residents.

She says: “I passed my Welsh exam when I was in school, but that was a long time ago, so I want to learn to be able to deal with our Welsh-speaking residents in their first language. My eight-year-old son Toby is learning Welsh at primary school, so I try and practise speaking with him.”

Daniel Huskings, Learning and Development Officer, said: “I feel as a Welsh person I should have some understanding of the Welsh Language.

I did not do any Welsh in school, so I am really starting from scratch, but I hope to learn a basic understanding of Welsh, which will help me both professionally and personally.

“I’m studying twice a week, which is a big commitment but means that I progress twice as quick, so it seems worth it then. It’s good to attend the course with someone you know, as you can support each other and find someone you can practise your Welsh on in between lessons.”

Welsh learners at our Newcastle Emlyn office can also practise their conversation at ‘Clwb Cerdded Cymraeg’ where staff meet once a week during their lunch break to walk and chat in Welsh.

Carol Scourfield, Corporate Services Administrator and first language Welsh speaker, said: “As well as keeping fit, it’s a good way for our learners to build confidence, speaking in an informal, friendly group.”

Members of Clwb Cerdded Cymraeg

We're proud to be Welsh | intouch | www.wwha.co.uk | 07

Bara Brith

Bara Brith, sometimes known as "speckled bread", can be either a yeast bread enriched with dried fruit or made with self-raising flour.

It is traditionally flavoured with tea, dried fruits and mixed spices, and is served sliced and buttered at tea time. Several variations on Bara Brith have been made, including changing it into a chocolate and into ice cream.

Ingredients 450G/1lb self-raising flour 1tsp mixed spice 175g/6oz Muscavado sugar 1 medium size free-range egg 1tbsp orange zest 2tbsp orange juice 1tbsp honey 300ml/½pt cold tea 450g/1lb mixed, dried fruit Extra honey for glazing

Method Put the mixed dried fruit into a mixing bowl, pour over the tea, cover and leave to soak overnight.

The next day mix together the sugar, egg, orange juice, zest and honey, and add to the fruit. Sift in the flour and spice and mix well.

Pour the mixture into a buttered loaf tin, 1.2L/2pt.

Bake in a preheated oven at gas 3/160c/325f for about 1¾ hours.

The loaf should be golden in colour and firm to the touch in the middle. Baste with honey whilst still warm. Allow to cool thoroughly before storing in a cake tin.

The recipe for Bara Brith can be altered slightly by adding a few flavours. When soaking the fruit, substitute ¼ of the fluid with a whisky liqueur. Replace the honey and fruit juice with 2 tablespoons of marmalade. Alternatively, replace 2 tablespoons of fruit with chopped stem ginger and replace the juice and honey with lemon marmalade and the orange zest with lemon.

08 | www.wwha.co.uk | intouch | We're proud to be Welsh

We invest in local suppliers and the community We’re proud to use Welsh suppliers for our development and maintenance programmes across Wales.

In the last year alone, our overall investment in the Welsh and UK economy was £64,806,000. This is the total value of all spend, savings and added value from contracts. It is the sum of our spend with the contractor, the contractor’s spend on goods, services and wages to deliver the contract, any extra donations of time, money and labour they gave to community projects, as well as money saved from diverting waste from landfill.

• Overall 83% of spend remained in Wales.

• A total of 72 people were employed as a result of contracts being awarded.

• 203 jobs were kept as a result of them being awarded.

• 881 apprenticeship weeks were provided and 243 work experience weeks.

“WWH are a good company to work with” In Cardiff, the residents of Celyn Avenue, Lakeside, have seen dramatic changes to their homes following a major refurbishment.

Between August and November work to make the roof watertight, replace windows, clean the spar render and install new heating costing a total of £640,000 was carried out.

As a result of feedback from residents in the two blocks of flats, principal contractors Solar Windows of Caerphilly fitted new UPVC back doors, allowing residents to use their balconies.

The rusty railings on the balconies and walkways were replaced with low-maintenance galvanised steel by Ornamental Fabrication Ltd, of Barry, South Wales.

Rory Newman, co-director, Ornamental Fabrication, said: “We’ve worked on a number of Wales & West Housing developments replacing railings at Caerau Court, Ely and Four Elms Court, Roath. They are a good company to work with; they trust us to do a good job.”

We're proud to be Welsh| intouch | www.wwha.co.uk | 09 Other contractors were Central Roofing and Ian Williams, who both have offices in South Wales, and Construction Repairs of Swansea.

For the final stage of the work Bridgend-based Gibson STS began work to build a plant room for a new communal gas boiler and replace

the old electric storage heaters with radiators.

Work is due to be completed in September when residents will be able to control the temperature and use of heating which should cut their heating bills.

“It’s such an improvement”

Retired mine worker Bob Taylor and his wife Valerie say: “it’s like having a new flat” now that the new doors and windows have been fitted.

It’s great news for green-fingered Valerie, who used to lean out of the window to water the plants in her window boxes.

“The windows are much more solid and give better insulation. And having a door that leads from our lounge onto our balcony is fantastic,” said Bob, who moved into Celyn Avenue 23 years ago.

“Now I can get out onto the balcony to water my plants. And in the Summer we will be able to sit out in the sun. It’s such an improvement.”

Their dog Dougal also approves as he can now sit on the balcony and watch the world go by.

10 | www.wwha.co.uk | intouch | We're proud to be Welsh

We’re proud to take lead with home grown timber We’re very proud take the lead as a social housing provider by choosing home grown timber to build 11 high quality apartments in Rhos-on-Sea.

Most developments use imported wood as it is in greater supply, but WWH wants to build more homes using home grown wood, creating more jobs in the local community and keeping the money in Wales.

The wood chosen for the £948,000 development, due to be completed this Spring, is home grown Sitka spruce wood that comes from a sawmill in Newbridgeon-Wye, mid-Wales.

Supported by Conwy County Borough Council, we contracted Williams Homes (Bala) Ltd to build the site. Williams Homes have a strong track record in timber frame construction in North Wales and in recent years have pioneered the use of home grown timber on many conventional and innovative low carbon construction projects.

WWH is a founding member of Woodknowledge Wales (WKW), which promotes industry innovation, research and development for the Welsh wood industry.

Shayne Hembrow, Deputy Chief Executive and Commercial Director of WWH, has been asked to chair WKW. Shayne said: “I’m honoured with this appointment and we’re excited to support the use of home grown timber in this development and hope that other businesses will follow this lead. As with all our projects, sustainability is a key consideration in design, delivery and use.

By using home grown timber, we will be supporting our forestry industry, keeping the money in Wales and creating jobs for people in Wales.”

We're proud to be Welsh | intouch | www.wwha.co.uk | 11

Wordsearch on Wales Win £30 shopping voucher with our Welsh wordsearch This issue's Wordsearch is all about Wales. All the words may be found backwards, forwards, horizontal, vertical or diagonal.

All correct entries will be put into a prize draw and one will be chosen as the lucky winner of a £30 Argos shopping voucher. Simply send your entry with your name, address and contact details to Jane Janaway, Wales & West Housing, Ty Draig, St David's Park, Ewloe, Deeside CH5 3DT. The closing date for entries is 10th April.

N E N O O P

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Christmas wordsearch winner Congratulations go to resident Wendy Salt, from Derwen Deg, Leeswold, who won a £30 voucher in the last Wordsearch competition.

BARA BRITH CARDIFF CASTLE CAWL COALMINES DAFFODIL EISTEDDFOD HARP HEN GALAN LOVE SPOON MABINOGION OWAIN GLYNDWR RUGBY SNOWDON ST DAVIDS DAY ST DWYNWEN THE WELSH FLAG URDD WALES WELSH CAKES

12 | www.wwha.co.uk | intouch | We're proud to be Welsh

Spring events

to enjoy in Wales RHS Flower Show Cardiff 7th – 9th April

Chepstow Annual Walking Festival – 19th – 23rd April

Come to Cardiff and take time to stop and smell the flowers at the RHS Flower Show Cardiff which brings the city centre to life this Spring. See floral displays, features and show gardens demonstrating the best in RHS gardening practice.

Explore the wonderful countryside of Monmouthshire, the Wye Valley and Forest of Dean. With such a diverse landscape, the walks are graded so can be enjoyed by those who want a gentle riverside stroll, all the way through to those experienced walkers who fancy a challenging walk along Offa’s Dyke Path.

Judgement Day, Cardiff 15th April It'll be a double-derby-day extravaganza on Easter Sunday when the four Welsh rugby regions battle it out as Judgement Day returns to the Principality Stadium. Cardiff Blues take on the Scarlets at 2pm and Newport Gwent Dragons will face the Ospreys at 4.45pm. It's the second of a fouryear deal which sees the Blues and the Dragons play their home fixtures against alternating regional rivals on the same day at the iconic stadium.

Over 36,000 fans turned out for the inaugural event last season when West was proved best, with Scarlets beating the Dragons and Ospreys edging past the Blues.Tickets start from £11.50.

Tour of Pembrokeshire 20th and 21st May The 10th Tour of Pembrokeshire features four fabulous new routes over two fantastic days of cycling in the beautiful Pembrokeshire National Park, with the most amazing climbs and descents, and is centred at Crug Glas Country House Hotel near St Davids.

The Tour encapsulates all that’s great about cycling - endless quiet country roads, breath-taking coastal scenery, challenging climbs, swooping descents and feed-stations that showcase local produce.

We're proud to be Welsh | intouch | www.wwha.co.uk | 13

Be proud, you are Welsh Whatever you say, whatever you do.

You do it, straight up and right loud.

You do it full pelt, and with confidence...

Because you are Welsh and can be proud.

Your Silver spoons, you can keep them, You have musical blood, an innately Welsh 'poets soul.'

From your first inward breath you are 24 Carat Welsh.

You are Complete, you are totally Whole.

As your first inward breath, you strongly inhale.

As your first cry, your cry. You cry it out loud.

From the moment you’re born just remember You are Welsh, you can always feel proud.

Do everything you do, to your personal best.

Do it better than anyone else.

Whatever language you speak, abroad or in Wales.

Speak it proud, remember you are Welsh.

When you draw your last breath, whatever your age, As around you, your relatives grieve.

Having travelled each and every Dai way Be proud that as you die, you did it Dai’s way.

Thanks go to resident Neil Davies, from Limebourne Court, Whitchurch, Cardiff, who wrote this poem.

If you fancy sending in your own poem, please email it to us at: contactus@wwha.co.uk

14 | www.wwha.co.uk | intouch | We're proud to be Welsh

We’re proud to build our 3000th home in North Wales

We have celebrated our commitment to provide affordable housing across North Wales by building our 3000th home at Tir Glas, Greenfield Shayne Hembrow, Deputy Chief Executive & Commercial Director for WWH, said: “This is an important milestone 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 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.”

Tir Glas comprises 44 energy efficient houses and 14 apartments. The residents are happy too.

Danielle Morgan, 23, has never looked back since her move.

“I have a rare neurological condition called CRPS, which causes 24/7 pain and affects the immune system. I also have epilepsy, osteoporosis, dystonia and dropped foot. I was living in a flat in Shotton which was not suitable at all for me – it was too narrow for my wheelchair. I was reduced to living in one room - I felt like a caged animal.”

Her mother Sue, 57, is her main carer.

Sue hated seeing her daughter live such a restricted life. “I saw the fight knocked out of her,” she said.

We're proud to be Welsh | intouch | www.wwha.co.uk | 15 WWH’s Housing Officer Ann-Marie Rastin met Danielle and offered a wheelchair-adapted home for her at Tir Glas, but knew that separating her from her mother would be difficult, especially as they relied on public transport.

“How could I move Danielle so far away from her mum?” said Ann-Marie. “I had reservations so when an opportunity came for me to find a home for Sue, I took it and they now live next door but one from each other.”

Danielle is more than happy – her bungalow has surfaces that can be raised or lowered to the right height so she can be independent in her own home, but also safe in the knowledge that her mum is not far away.

West Wales hits the ground running with partners In West Wales we have been working very closely with local authority partners to develop the Social Housing Development Programme for the next three years.

Welsh Government has set a very ambitious target to provide 20,000 new affordable homes across Wales in this timescale.

Pembrokeshire • Parrog Yard, Newport - 8 homes • Penwalis, Fishguard - 25 homes • Dan y Bryn, Fishguard - 2 homes

Carrying on with the success of delivery from the Housing Finance Grant initiative, they have now merged Social Housing Grant with the second round of Housing Finance Grant. This virtually doubles the amount of grant available to deliver more affordable homes. We’re very keen to see West Wales benefit from this increased funding and have been equally ambitious in introducing schemes into the programme.

Ceredigion

The following schemes (approximately 125 new homes) have been included in these Local Authority Programme Delivery Plans:

• • • •

Ysgol Ffynnonbedr, Lampeter - 15 homes Plas Morolwg, Aberystwyth - 33 homes Crown Building, Aberystwyth - 18 homes Parcllyn, Aberporth - 25 homes

CGI image of Parrog Yard, Newport

16 | www.wwha.co.uk | intouch |We're proud to be Welsh

Lena Charles is 98 and proud to be Welsh through and through Mrs Charles, who lives at Danymynydd retirement scheme in Blaengarw, near Bridgend, grew up in Blaengarw in a home where no English was spoken as her parents came from North Wales.

“When I went to school, there were very few people who spoke English and all the children spoke Welsh,” she said.

“As an adult I have conducted chapel services in Welsh, and I also read the Bible in Welsh.

"With the prayers I will say these half in Welsh and half in English.

I am happier speaking Welsh, and sometimes I don’t like the English words for things; they don’t mean the same to me.

“I think the Welsh are more homely, they are caring and sharing. Our nature is to care.

Wales nursed my mother and father and also nursed me, so I in turn could nurse my children.”

WWH News & Info | intouch | www.wwha.co.uk | 17

A day in the life of ...

an Asset Management Officer Roy Preece, 64, is an Asset Management Officer (AMO) for the Cardiff area, based in our head office in Cardiff.

"As an Asset Management Officer I look after the maintenance and all the services.

In simple terms I’m there to meet the needs of the residents.

"That could be anything from dealing with residents' concerns about breakdowns or problems in their homes to inspecting sites where contractors are working.

"I’m one of 15 AMOs working with WWH and we are each responsible for approximately 700 properties. My area covers Lakeside, Cyncoed, Roath and Pentwyn, where I look after 17 independent living and general housing schemes and manage a team of three site supervisors and three cleaners.

"I joined WWH 25 years ago as a site superintendent in St Mellons and became an AMO in 1995. Before that I worked as a painter and decorator.

"My normal working day starts at 8am at head office. I’ll check my emails and get my list of calls for the day. Anything that requires an inspection at any of my schemes, I’m the first person to go out and check.

"I spend most of my day at properties. I always try to visit the same day as I receive a call. Once I am on site, other residents will ask me to look at something that’s wrong; it could be anything from a central heating thermostat not working to a leak or condensation problems. If I can help I will.

"At the schemes I always keep an eye out for safety issues such as loose floor tiles, which someone could trip over, or loose roof tiles or blocked gutters that could lead to damp. For example I visited Ogwen Drive in Lakeside to look at a mould problem. While there I noticed one of the flats in the neighbouring block at Celyn Avenue had a leaking overflow.

I alerted the resident, stopped the water and arranged for Cambria Maintenance to repair the problem.

"As part of my role I also carry out the annual fire safety inspections, scheme audits and stock condition surveys to highlight problems or future maintenance.

I will carry out full house surveys at properties where residents have ongoing problems with condensation and mould and arrange for remedial works to be carried out to help solve the problems.

"Although my job is based around property, I deal with people. If residents are satisfied and happy in their homes I am satisfied."

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

Spring

gardening tips

Ty Ddewi volunteers

Sandra Davies, resident in Llandovery, is a keen gardener.

Sandra has been successful on a few occasions in West Wales’s Annual Gardening Competition.

Here are her top tips for Spring: • During March I make sure the lawn has a good rake through to remove any moss and scatter grass seed on any bare patches.

Residents Dee Thorne and John Mann

• Spring is a good time to refresh potted plants - simply remove them from the pots, loosen the roots and re-pot with fresh compost. This will ensure your plants look in top condition every year.

• I grow most of my flowers and plants from seed or cuttings.

Spring is the time of year when I start to sow seeds or take cuttings from old plants and pot them on. Be careful to keep small cuttings and seedlings in a sheltered position until any chance of frost has passed.

Two of the scheme’s resident gardeners Dee Thorne and John Mann are wheelchair users and

Inset Sandra's container made from an old tyre painted yellow. This display won Best Container in last year’s garden competition.

Going Green | intouch | www.wwha.co.uk | 19

Housing staff in the Rhondda gave up their time to help disabled residents at our Ty Ddewi scheme in Ton Pentre to bring their garden back to life.

Two of the scheme’s resident gardeners Dee Thorne and John Mann are wheelchair users and they, along with some of the elderly residents, were struggling to keep the weeds at bay. As a result some areas of their once beautiful garden had become overgrown and unmanageable.

But a group of six staff volunteers from WWH South office spent a cold autumn day helping the residents to clear the weeds, lay weed membrane and chippings and dig the flower and vegetable beds ready for planting. They

spent all day working in the garden, stopping for a fish and chip lunch.

Sarah Willcox, WWH's Environmental Assistant said: “It was a lovely day and everyone worked really hard to make the garden more accessible and easy to maintain for the residents in the future.

“The gardeners have done some wonderful work in the garden in the past. They grow vegetables and plant beautiful flowers and hanging baskets for the residents to enjoy.”

Volunteers from WWH Natalie Davies, Alison Hayes, Mike Fowler, Ian Williams, Chris Ball and his son, Jake, aged five, with resident Dee Thorne.

20 | www.wwha.co.uk | intouch | WWH News and Info

Merthyr Tydfil residents join the Sheds for All movement Indoor curling proves popular with Merthyr schemes It’s been one of the highlights of recent Winter Olympics and residents of our schemes in Merthyr Tydfil have been able to join in sporting activities from their armchairs.

Residents in our independent living schemes at Ty Bryn Sion and Bodalaw, Ty Pontrhun and Ty Gwaunfarren had the opportunity to try their hand at curling at a series of taster sessions.

The fun sessions were organised by Wales & West Housing’s Community Development Project Officer Alison Chaplin and the Merthyr Tydfil Leisure Trust’s Sheds For All project. Based on the Men’s Sheds movement, the project aims to improve the quality of life among communities in Merthyr Tydfil and encourage social inclusion and improve health and welfare among residents.

Each session starts with an armchair exercise warm-up before going into the game, which is similar to bowls.

Resident Margaret Knox, 67, said: “When I was playing I could feel the exercise was doing me good in my arms and shoulders. I have rheumatoid arthritis and lose my balance so being able to do this exercise sitting down is great and it’s fun. I’d like to get more involved, it’s better than doing nothing.”

Roy Mathias, 77, said: “I’ve played every week and I enjoy it. It’s good fun.”

Ali said: “The curling is good for all residents, regardless of their abilities.

Residents don’t need to have physical strength to play. We have had residents in wheelchairs, who are hard of hearing or have poor sight having a go and having a wonderful time.”

Jan Morgan, Chair of Merthyr Tydfil Leisure Trust, said: “Merthyr Tydfil Leisure Trust plan to set up a league with other community groups and arrange transport to take the residents to games and tournaments and even to play in the parks in the Summer.”

During the sessions residents were also able to play indoor boules and look at memory boxes containing old pictures from Merthyr Tydfil Library.

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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.

These six infographics give key information on how Wales & West Housing is performing in North and South Wales, as you’ll see over the next few pages.

There’s information provided for each of our main systems. These are: • Fix my home • Help me pay • I want a home • Anti-social behaviour • More homes • How we run our business 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.

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.

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.

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.

Fix my home Performance

7930 Repairs we’ve completed this quarter

Satisfaction

9.2 out of 10

is the score residents gave us for the repair service they received

% 70%

days 7.4

Repairs fully complete on our first visit

What residents like Easy to report a repair | Polite and friendly operative | The repair was completed quickly What residents want to see improved Appointments being kept | Repairs completed in one visit | Repairs completed faster

What we found is the key to this is having one team always available for you to speak to, agreeing a good time for you and having the conversation so we can ensure we solve the right problem for you.

6-10 days 11-15 days 16+ days

The average number of days we took to complete a repair

Feedback from residents

You told us previously you wanted us to focus on doing the work at a convenient time, doing it in one visit so it isn’t inconvenient to you and doing it properly so it stays fixed.

0-5 days

Complaints

6

complaints out of

7930 repairs completed

Which is about one complaint for every 1322 repairs completed

We then have another team who know the operatives, their skills and the local area to ensure we get through as much work as we can.

So we may ask more questions at the front end of the job to make sure we know exactly what you need solving, but don’t worry, this is only so the right person comes.

Quarter 4 (October -December 2016)

Help me pay Performance

1537 Tenancies not in an arrangement to pay off their arrears

We helped residents to: Manage the transition from work to Universal Credit Understand the impact of the benefit cap and what their options are Apply for Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

82% Tenancies paying their rent on time or paying off their arrears

The number of evictions because of rent arrears

Residents paying by Direct Debit

Complaints

3500 3000

Residents

Support

TWO

TENANCIES

0

2500 2000 1500 1000

complaints

500 0

Oc

Nov

Dec

Direct Debit is the easiest way to pay, with payments taken from your bank 50 account on a fixed weekly or monthly 40 date that’s most suitable for you, so 30 you don’t have to worry!

out of

1537 tenancies in arrears

20 10 0

Jan

We understand that at various times of the year, such as Christmas or birthdays, there are extra financial pressures that can make money management a real challenge. We offer a wide range of money advice services through our Housing Officers, Tenancy Support Officers and Scheme Managers.

We have helped people set up regular savings accounts to help them budget for different times of the year. We help people set up bank accounts that minimise potential bank charges. We also help people to maximise their income by checking

Feb

Mar

that they are claiming the appropriate welfare benefits, or provide other money management advice.

You have told us that making paying the rent as easy as possible was very important to you. We have a Direct Debit system in place that allows for a payment to be made on any day, on a frequency that suits you. In the last 3 months, we have helped over 300 people to set up Direct Debits to pay their rent or service charges.

Quarter 4 (October -December 2016)

I want a home Performance General needs

Extra Care

50 40

days

265

Retirement

30 20 10

50 40

Homes we’ve let during quarter 3

30

0

On average it takes 32 days to let a property and support residents to set up a home

50%

of the time, the home is suitable for the first person who views it

20 10 0

Satisfaction

9.3 out of 10

is the score residents gave us about our service when finding them a home

Feedback from residents What residents like The features of their home | The location of their home | It improved their quality of life What residents want to see improved Repairs completed faster | Cleaner properties | More suitable properties

We work in partnership with 15 of Wales’s 22 local authorities. We are an active partner in developing and implementing lettings policies in these areas, and what you tell us as residents and applicants helps us and our partners to develop approaches that meet the needs of local people.

There are different policies in place across the local authorities: Choice Based Lettings, where properties are advertised and applicants are able to apply for those properties; Common Registers, where all landlords in an area let properties to applicants from one list, held by the local authority; or in a few cases a combination of the above.

Complaints

1

complaint out of

265 homes let

An important part of all lettings is to make sure that you are offered the right property, in the right area. We saw that, of the people who had moved into their new homes in the last 3 months, over half of those people were happy with the property and the area.

When we spoke to new residents, they told us that the right money advice and support was important to them to help with settling into their new home. Our officers discuss the potential financial implications of moving home with all applicants, from as early in the process as possible. We saw in the last 3 months that many new applicants appreciated this advice and support, particularly the help in completing Housing Benefit claims.

Quarter 4 (October -December 2016)

@!

$%&

Anti-social behaviour

$%&

@!

Performance

38

NOISE

44

THREATENING BEHAVIOUR ALCOHOL RELATED

Anti-social behaviour cases we opened or reopened

Satisfaction

7.4 out of 10

is the score residents gave us for the antisocial behaviour support they received

Anti-social behaviour cases we resolved

Most common anti-social behaviour issues

Feedback from residents What residents like Able to speak to the right person | They were able to play a role in resolving the problem | Being kept informed What residents want to see improved Police to take more action | Feeling safer at home | Being kept informed

In this quarter you told us that feeling safe at home, and support from police to take action, was important to you. We have been working in partnership with the Police, and other agencies, to resolve some serious criminal and anti-social behaviour issues which have been aecting residents recently, and we are continuing this partnership approach.

You told us that being kept informed during the process is what matters to you and that you would like to see some improvement.

Complaints

0

complaints out of

38

anti-social behaviour cases reported

We will ensure that we have the right contact information for you, and understand how best you would like to be kept up to date, whether it is a phone call, text, visit, or an email.

It is important to us that we continually review our services to ensure that we are providing the right service at the right time. We are currently reviewing our ASB service, using the information and data from our conversations with you, to understand how we may need to change our service to continue to provide what matters to you.

Quarter 4 (October -December 2016)

More homes

Homes we were building in quarter 4

Satisfaction

9.5 out of 10

is the score residents gave us about their new home

On site Completed

2016

240

2015

2014

Performance

We completed 92 new homes this quarter

Feedback from residents What residents like Feeling secure and safe | Communal gardens are well looked after | Their home is more economical to run than previous home What residents want to see improved Location of sockets in kitchens | Accessibility for disabled residents to the local shops

We welcome feedback on areas where we can improve both the design of the properties and the outside space, both communal and private. The feedback received in respect of accessibility to local shops for residents with mobility problems will now be added to our site appraisal system to help inform us to make the right decision on where we buy land for future development.

Complaints

0

complaints out of

71

new homes completed

We are pleased that the cost of running your home is cheaper than previous accommodation which tells us the measures we have put in place are helping with overall aordability.

We will review the way in which kitchens are designed to incorporate the feedback received regarding location and number of sockets.

Quarter 4 (October -December 2016)

How we run our business Performance All other calls

Repair calls 4

Minutes

27,960

3

3

2

2

1

1

10am 9am

500 The 400 4 3

Money spent

2 1

£

0

500 500

9am

11am

0

Calls we answered this quarter

10am

11am

Oct

Nov

Dec

average time it took us to answer your calls

Our busiest call periods

300 200 100 0

Value for money

Complaints

£ spent per home

Q4 2014 Q1 2015 Q2 2015 Q3 2015 Q4 2015 Q1 2016 Q2 2016 Q3 2016

8

400 400

300 Q3 2016 300 2 2015 Q3 2015 Q4 2015 Q1 2016 Q2 2016

Q3 2016

New developments People Maintenance New kitchens, bathrooms & equipment Interest on loans Major repairs Overheads Repayment of loans

200 200

complaints

100 100 0

Q4Q4 2014 Q1Q1 2015 Q2Q2 2015 Q3Q3 2015 Q4Q4 2015 Q1Q1 2016 Q2 Q2 2016 Q3 Q3 2016

2014

2015

2015

Management

2015

2015

Maintenance

2016

2016

2016

Other

in

total this quarter

How much it costs per home to run our business

We know that answering calls quickly is important to residents and we have continued to focus efforts in this area, with repair call answering times falling again this quarter and remaining well below one minute on average. Non-repair call answering times rose to just over one minute as we entered the Winter period, which is a more demanding season with a higher volume of emergency repair calls outside of office hours, when both repair and nonrepair calls are handled by our Customer Service Centre. The busiest periods remain in the morning, so please do call later in the day if this is possible to minimise your waiting time.

The number of complaints received fell again this

quarter, and we continue to prioritise swift response and resolution where complaints are received.

Out of the eight complaints received this quarter, six were upheld, and the majority of complaints received related to repairs (six). As always, if you do have a complaint, please remember that you can call, e-mail or speak to any member of staff.

We focus on achieving value for money for our residents in all that we do. Our costs of maintenance have fallen again in the quarter, with the majority of other costs remaining constant. We spent more than two-thirds of available funds on maintenance of and reinvestment into our residents’ homes and on building more housing.

Quarter 4 (October -December 2016)

28 | www.wwha.co.uk | intouch |Online and social media

What’s ‘Appening?

Three months into the New Year and have you stuck to your resolutions?

According to a ComRes Poll (in 2015) the most common New Year’s resolutions were to exercise more, lose weight and so eat more healthily.

The easy but often expensive option is to join a gym to get fitter which often means signing up to some sort of contract. If this isn’t an option for you but you own a smartphone, then an alternative could be these two apps to help you get fit and manage what you eat, so check them out:

Seven - 7 Minute Workout Training Challenge Using nothing more than a chair, a wall, and your own body weight, this app takes you through a 7-minute workout to provide the maximum benefit to your body. You just need your smartphone!

The app is available both on iOS and Android for free (with optional in-app purchases) – Search ‘Seven minute workout’ or visit their website: perigee.se/apps/seven

My Fitness Pal As well as keeping fit it’s important to look after our bodies as best we can. We often find that ‘things get in the way’ or ‘I haven't got the time to monitor what I eat’. Well, the good news is that nowadays we no longer need to carry around a notepad to keep track of the points or calories we’ve used up for the day. We just need our smartphones with us, thanks to apps such as My Fitness Pal. My Fitness Pal helps you record your calorie intake quickly and easily by searching for a product (usually by brand too) or by simply using your camera to scan the barcode; it couldn’t be easier! It also has a handy pie chart to break down carbs, protein and fat to allow you to see where you need to reduce or increase in those areas.

If you ‘like’ My Fitness Pal on Facebook they offer some good healthy recipes, tips and motivation stories to get you going! www.facebook.com/myfitnesspal

Online and social media| intouch | www.wwha.co.uk | 29 Another option for you to learn is through listening and there is a great app called Say Something in Welsh.

The app downloads podcasts of Welsh learning. The aim is you listen to something in English and then repeat it in Welsh to test your learning. Working through different levels will help you to grow your knowledge of the language.

Using this format is particularly handy if you are on the go but have the opportunity to listen to podcasts.

A Welsh Learner?

Learning a new language is always useful whether it’s because you plan on visiting a new country or already live in a country where the language is growing, like Wales. There are a few ways to learn such as attending a class or learning from a course book, however if these options are no good for you, but you have a smartphone, then there are a few useful apps to help learn on the go! These include:

If you use Twitter then you can follow @TiFiaCyw for regular Welsh words to learn and how to pronounce them!

Duolingo (available for iOS, Android and Windows Phone) - which helps you to learn Welsh by playing gamelike lessons for just 5 minutes a day.

Also @BBCWales tweet a Welsh word of the day which can be useful! Search

#VocabCymraeg

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

Work experience boosts

Lee’s job prospects

Resident Lee Campbell, 26, from Clos Pontganol, Powys, contacted our Community Enterprise Team (CET) to help him get back into employment.

Although he wanted to be a plumber, and had successfully completed a plumbing diploma in Cardiff, Lee recognised that he needed to gain more on-site experience to get a job in the construction industry. He wanted to support his partner Jazzmin and five year-old son, Cameron.

Our CET introduced Lee to SEER Construction who were building St Peters Close near to where Lee lived.

Unfortunately the plumbing work

had already been completed so SEER offered Lee short term paid work as a labourer, helping him to get back on the job ladder.

Lee turned his hand to a number of tasks, including fencing, groundworks, mixing cement and helping with concreting – he was happy to help where necessary.

Lee said: “I am really grateful to SEER for the opportunity; I have learnt a

WWH News & Info | intouch | www.wwha.co.uk | 31

Sub-letting a property

lot in the weeks I have been on site, gaining an insight into groundwork which I haven’t done before. I have had a really good overall experience and met some great people along the way. I am determined to get a career within the construction industry.”

Gareth Rees, Director of SEER Construction Ltd, said: “It was great for us to give a local resident a few weeks’ paid work experience. Lee is hard working, enthusiastic and well liked amongst the other workers. Lee took pride in the works he carried out for SEER. We wish Lee every success for his future ambition in the construction industry.”

Following Lee's placement our CET enrolled Lee onto a Construction Youth Trust programme where he completed the OCN Level 1 Health and Safety qualification and obtained a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card.

The site experience, coupled with his CSCS card, has enabled Lee to gain employment upgrading a bird sanctuary in Brecon.

There have been recent cases of residents sub-letting their property, which is renting their property to someone else who then becomes a sub-tenant.

Many may not realise that sub-letting their whole home is actually a breach of their tenancy agreement and means that they lose their tenancy status, and with it the protection the law offers.

This is likely to result in their tenancy being ended as they are not demonstrating a need for that particular property.

This will also result in the sub-tenant being evicted as they have no lawful right to stay and are classed as a trespasser.

Further information can be found on the Citizens Advice website https:// www.citizensadvice.org.uk by searching ‘subletting’.

However, it’s important to differentiate between subletting your whole home and taking in a lodger. Your tenancy allows you to take in a lodger if you so wish, as long as you have written permission from us. It is worth considering the impact on you and your family if you are thinking about taking in a lodger, as well as the impact on your benefit entitlement if you claim any benefits.

If you are considering any of the above or are concerned that you may be affected, please speak to your Housing Officer or contact us on 0800 0522526.

There is also information on our website regarding taking in a lodger in the ‘Residents area’.

32 | www.wwha.co.uk | intouch | WWH News & Info

“We love living at Llys Glan yr Afon”

Gwynneth and Heather enjoy Spring’s first daffodils Gwynneth Revell and Heather Moore have no regrets about moving into Llys Glan yr Afon, which opened its doors to residents last November. They both moved from a sheltered home in Newtown.

Llys Glan yr Afon is Wales & West warm. Although partially sighted, I am Housing’s £7.5m development, the first quite independent. I love everything of its kind in Powys to provide extra care. about the scheme – being able to walk It has 48 energy efficient apartments. around and enjoy the themed floors.”

The state-of-the-art scheme, part funded by a £4m Social Housing Grant from the Welsh Government, has been developed by Wales & West Housing in partnership with Powys County Council.

Wales & West Housing funded the remainder with £3.5m.

“I was one of the first residents to arrive,” says Gwynneth, who was born in Brynmawr in South Wales. “The whole atmosphere is so friendly and

Heather, who has lived in Newtown since 1970, agrees. “I moved in just before Christmas and we all enjoyed the festivities here. It’s very good – you’re private but don’t have to be. I’m looking forward to the Spring when we can enjoy the gardens. Gwynneth and I live opposite each other on the first floor. Already we have got to know eight other residents and enjoy each other’s company.”

WWH News & Info | intouch | www.wwha.co.uk | 33

Matthew is a winner!

Matthew Davies, aged 10 from Ysgol Penygloddfa, was thrilled to hear he had won the winning design for Llys Glan yr Afon’s restaurant, known as The Orangery.

Matthew was one of 90 pupils who took part in a competition to design a logo for the restaurant. To help set the scene, the pupils were given a tour around the site during development.

The pupils will be invited to an official unveiling of the logo with food served by Castell Catering once all the residents have had time to settle in.

The logo will appear on signage around the scheme and on the menu.

Above: Matthew Davies is thrilled to hear he won the restaurant logo competition as it was announced in school assembly.

Below: The restaurant sign in place at Llys Glan yr Afon

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

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

This will mean that anyone under 65 who currently claims Jobseekers Allowance, Income Support, Employment and Support Allowance, Housing Benefit and/ or Tax Credits will eventually be moved onto this new system.

It has been rolled out in all areas of Wales but only single people who are making a new claim for Jobseekers Allowance are affected currently. From April 2017 the roll-out will start for all new Jobseekers Allowance applicants, including those in a couple or with children.

People who are already claiming benefit who are not currently affected are unlikely to be moved onto this system before April 2018. However it is worth noting that there are several elements of UC that people will have to prepare for and it’s never too early to start.

Getting online The Government want UC claims to be made and managed online. If you don’t currently use the internet start to think of ways that you could access it, for example many libraries or Council buildings have beginner courses to show you the basics.

As well as preparing for UC this also opens up numerous options to save money, from using comparison sites to monitoring energy usage and bills.

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

It is therefore important to make sure your budget is in good health so that you find this transition easier than if you are struggling to balance your income and expenditure now. Even though UC may not be imminent for you, now is the time to act as getting a handle on your finances isn’t easy.

Our website has many tips about managing your money and also highlights websites that offer further information.

Money Matters| intouch | www.wwha.co.uk | 35

Getting a bank account

Looking forward

You may currently 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.

During 2017 we will be focusing on training the team to use our new software and talking with our customers to help work out how we can use the new innovations to improve the quality of the service we provide.

If this is the case, now is the time to open a new bank account and enable yourself to manage your money as conveniently and effectively as possible.

This will allow you to pay your bills like rent and Council Tax by Direct Debit, meaning you don’t have to remember to pay or visit a shop or post office.

We will keep you updated on changes in the coming year, but please rest assured that we will still be here around the clock, whenever you need us.

Open a fee-free bank account today In early 2016, fee-free basic bank accounts were launched. They are available for people who don’t have, or are ineligible for, a standard bank account, or can’t use their current bank account due to financial difficulties.

What are the benefits?

• The accounts are designed to make it easier to manage money. They don’t have an overdraft facility, so you won’t be able to spend money you don’t have and go into debt.

• It will enable you to pay your bills by Direct Debit, pay cheques in for free and take money out/check your balance at a cash point with a debit card.

• You won’t be charged if a Direct Debit bounces (if the transaction doesn’t go ahead due to lack of funds).

How do I get one of these accounts?

You can set up a fee-free bank account today as nearly all of the high street banks offer these accounts, allowing you to have your wages, benefits or pension paid into a bank account.

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

The money in your purse and wallets is changing Old £5 goes out of circulation soon Did you know that the old paper £5 notes will no longer be accepted in shops after 5th May 2017 as they cease to be legal tender? They are being replaced by the new smaller, “plastic” notes featuring Winston Churchill.

The new bank notes are cleaner, harder to counterfeit and last 2.5 times longer.

They are harder to tear and can survive a rinse in the washing machine.

What do I need to do?

Nothing. Carry on spending the old paper notes until 5th May 2017. The Bank of England is gradually withdrawing the old notes from shops and businesses. If you have paper £5 notes left after 5th May you will be able to exchange them at the Bank of England.

What will happen if I still have the old notes in my purse after May 7th?

You won’t be able to spend them, but all Bank of England notes retain their face value for all time. So if you still have an old paper £5 note after this date you can ask your bank, building society or Post Office to exchange it.

If they are not willing to accept them, you can post them to the Bank of

England, who will exchange them. To do this you will need to fill out a Bank Note Exchange Public Form, which you can find on the Bank of England’s website at http://www.bankofengland. co.uk/banknotes/Pages/about/ exchanges/publicpost.aspx and post them at your own risk.

What next?

A new polymer £10 note featuring Jane Austen will be introduced this summer, followed by a new £20 note featuring JMW Turner in 2020.

What about the new pound coin?

The Royal Mint will be introducing a new 12-sided £1 coin on 28th March 2017 to replace the round pound, which will go out of circulation from 16th October 2017.

The new coin will be slightly larger but thinner and lighter than the current £1 coin.

How can I find out more?

To watch a video on the new £5 note and pound coin visit: www.thenewfiver.co.uk www.thenewpoundcoin.com.

Making a Different to your Community | intouch | www.wwha.co.uk | 37

New lease of life for residents Residents David and Alison Pember have started a new lease of life following our refurbishment of a prominent town centre commercial and residential building in Cardigan.

The couple seized the opportunity to start a new delicatessen at the premises, 9 Pendre, aptly naming it The Lunch Box.

fresh local ingredients. The business has created two full time posts and will help stimulate the local economy.

The local community and tourists are now enjoying excellent quality food using

We wish David and Alison the very best with their new venture.

For more information, visit www.thelunchbox-cardigan.co.uk

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

Golwg y Castell Skip Day Residents of Golwg y Castell in Cardigan recently benefited from a bring and take skip day organised by Jess O’Connell and Nerys Evans of Wales & West Housing and funded by Tidy Towns Ceredigion.

It was a cold but dry, sunny day which made for perfect conditions.

More than half of the households on the estates took the opportunity to

dispose of their unwanted items and de-clutter homes, sheds and gardens.

By the end of the day 4 skips had been filled and taken away!

WWH News & Info| intouch | www.wwha.co.uk | 39

Foyer project grateful to local contractor

The Foyer project in Aberystwyth recently acquired a plot at an allotment where they intend taking Foyer residents as a place to educate them on all things gardening, potentially looking into a little social enterprise and, generally, a place where they can go to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Just the final touches to be completed ahead of the Spring The allocated plot was completely overgrown and both staff and residents at the project have been working hard to create a plot to be proud of ahead of their first attempts at planting in the Spring.

Local contractor Peter from PMD was made aware of the plans and he not only volunteered a couple of his lads’ services for the day but also covered the costs of all materials bought to create the new planting beds and pathway.

Both staff and residents of the project would like to take this opportunity to offer their huge thanks to Peter at PMD and to let him know that the first batch of tomatoes will, in turn, be on the house!

Initial clearance work begins - quite a task!

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

Staff vote for Age Cymru Wales & West Housing staff have voted to support Age Cymru as their staff charity for the next two years.

The charity was adopted in January following nominations and voting by our 617 staff across Wales.

friends to wear their Six nations rugby colours for the day to raise cash.

We are delighted to support Age Cymru in its work to improve the lives of older people. They help people enjoy a better later life by providing life-enhancing services and vital support. Their practical services help people stay independent at home and carry on doing the things they love most.

They also work to tackle isolation and sustain good health.

The charity is also appealing to knitters to join in their Big Knit, which runs until July 22. You can knit mini hats and send them into the charity along with your knitting stories. You could set yourself a knitting challenge or hold a coffee morning or knitting get together with friends?

To show our support events will be happening at our offices and schemes across Wales until 2019 and collection boxes will be sent out.

If you would like to organise an event in your community, contact the charity team on 0800 052 2526.

You might like to join in Age Cymru’s Big Welsh Month in March by showing your patriotism by organising your own Welsh cake bake off, traditional Welsh twmpath, Welsh quiz or asking your

Knitting patterns are available from the website at http://www. ageuk.org.uk/cymru/get-involved/ events1/the-big-knit/ or by contacting Age Cymru on 029 2043 1555. Or you can create your own designs.

For a pack of fundraising ideas contact Age Cymru at fundraising@ agecymru.org.uk and don’t forget to tell In Touch about your events.

Charity Update | intouch | www.wwha.co.uk | 41

Record amount raised for staff charity

Cancer Research Wales In the last two years we have raised a massive £35,042 for our chosen staff charity for 2015 - 2016 Cancer Research Wales.

It’s the highest amount we’ve ever raised and it’s all thanks to our generous residents and staff, who have supported the charity in many ways including raffles, Dress Down Days and other events.

There has also been some incredible individual fundraising by staff, who have completed Ironman Wales, The Three Peaks Challenge and the Brecon to Cardiff Bay bike ride.

Katie Killoran, Corporate fundraiser for Cancer Research Wales, visited our Cardiff offices to receive two cheques from WWH and Cambria Maintenance Services.

She said: “Thank you so much to everyone for your support. The total is amazing, more than we ever expected. It will help fund some great research here in Wales.”

Wales has one of the worst rates of diagnosing cancer at its early stages and Cancer Research Wales is currently funding research to find out how this can be improved. It funds research at the University Hospital of Wales, Bangor and Swansea and the Centre of Excellence at Velindre Hospital, Cardiff.

WWH Chief Executive Anne Hinchey said: “We are delighted to be able to donate such a large amount to CRW and are grateful to everyone for being so supportive.

“Cancer is a disease which affects many people. With £30,000 CRW can fund a researcher for a whole year’s work into fighting this disease. We hope our fundraising will make a difference and that we can achieve even more for our new staff charity Age Cymru.”

42 | www.wwha.co.uk | intouch | WWH News & Info

Holywell extra care scheme plans prove popular Our proposals to build an extra care scheme in Holywell, in partnership with Flintshire County Council, were welcomed by the local community at an information event.

An artist’s impression of how the scheme could look

Following the success of Llys Jasmine extra care scheme which opened in Mold three years ago, we’re proposing to build our second extra care scheme in Flintshire, our fourth in Wales in total.

The scheme, following consultation and planning permission, will provide much needed, high quality accommodation backed up by 24 hour on-site care and support for adults.

“This facility will provide high quality home-based care services.

Responding to the demand for modern care and support arrangements, this new dementiafriendly scheme will be a real flagship for Holywell and for Flintshire, providing self-contained apartments.”

It is being proposed that the extra care scheme is developed on the former site of Perth y Terfyn Infant School.

Flintshire County Council's Cabinet Member for Social Services, Councillor Christine Jones, said:

The popular information event

Your News & Views | intouch | www.wwha.co.uk | 43

Scheme gets paws-up for award

Sydney Hall Court residents have celebrated being chosen as one of The Cinnamon Trust’s Top 5 Pet Friendly Retirement Housing Complexes for 2015/16!

Residents and their pampered pets were over the moon to hear the news and enjoyed a hamper of goodies from the Cinnamon Trust.

Scheme manager Alison Moody said: “I can see the benefits of being a petfriendly scheme. It helps foster a better community spirit, bringing the residents together and helps combat health issues and loneliness, as well as adding a sense of security.

“It is so obvious how much the pets mean to residents. They are all very responsible pet owners and will look after one another’s pets when they go away or attend appointments.”

Resident Sheila Walker said: “We’ve always had pets – after our dog died we got a budgie as they’re easier to look after. Bluey is a creature of habit and rules the roost. It’s brilliant that we’ve won this award.”

Jenny Burgess agreed. “It’s amazing to win the award – Sandy and I are a team!”

WWH Chief Executive Anne Hinchey said: “We are proud that Cinnamon Trust has included Sydney Hall Court in its top five pet-friendly retirement schemes. We appreciatew how caring for a pet can bring companionship and happiness to residents, which is why we support pet ownership in our schemes across Wales."

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

David cooks up a treat Scrumptious Sunday roasts and filling fry-ups are on the menu at Ty Gwaunfarren thanks to resident David Cooksey.

When the lunch club at the Merthyr Tydfil scheme was in danger of closing, 60-year-old David cooked up a plan. He had previously been making meals for neighbours from his flat, but with support from WWH and scheme manager David Morgan, he passed his food hygiene certificate and got a prestigious five-star hygiene rating for the communal kitchen.

He now runs a Monday Luncheon Club, a Thursday Breakfast Club and a Sunday Luncheon Club in the communal area, giving residents value with two-courses for £4. He also cooks for special occasions including Boxing Day and Valentine’s Day. To mark St David’s Day, he plans to put cawl and bara brith on the menu. With help from 17-year-old neighbour Thomas Collins, David also delivers meals to disabled members of the community.

“I’ve always cooked for my neighbours so it’s grown. I can cook for 40 people at a time, but I enjoy it and everyone knows my door is always open.”

Nant y Môr raise £1,493 for charities Since October 2015, residents at Nant y Môr have raised a total of £1,493 for various charities.

One of the charities which benefited is The Brick Children School in Wrexham. This is a community project supporting migrant families working in the brick fields of the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. They provide education and healthcare for child labourers and literacy and skills training for adults.

Carole Green, who represents the charity, said “A HUGE thank you for all the beautiful knitting you have completed for Nepal….good luck with the knitting you are now doing for the local baby units.”

Jane Morris helped knit for a baby unit

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Bridgend residents enjoy turkey lunch Members of Hanover Court Bridgend Luncheon Club enjoyed a threecourse Christmas lunch. The scheme’s main cook Ann Arnold, who cooks for the twice-weekly Club, prepared the meal with help from some of the residents. The dinner was paid for by funds collected throughout the year and afterwards the residents enjoyed poems, songs and a secret Santa.

Bridgend Scheme Manager, Lucy Clewlow, said: “It was a great success.

Everyone enjoyed themselves and the dining room was beautifully decorated and looked so professional.”

Llain Las round off year in style Residents, friends and family of Llain Las Independent Living Scheme in Fishguard, West Wales, had a fantastic Christmas Party on 22nd December. A Christmas meal was enjoyed at the Fishguard Bay Hotel followed by a party at Llain Las where a finger buffet was provided. Entertainment included games and a band played music with one of the residents playing the bass guitar. There was a Christmas raffle with wonderful prizes and Father Christmas also visited.

Residents were heard to say: “Every year we have a great party at Llain Las, but this year was the best.”

“Excellent day, great food, music and fun.”

“We are so lucky to be in Llain Las. What a wonderful year we've had and a great way to finish it off.”

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

Clive is a Welsh sporting hero To residents at our schemes in Trem y Mynydd and Constantine Court in the Rhondda, site superintendent and cleaner Clive Sheridan is a hero.

Recently Clive, 71, was runner-up at BBC Wales and Sports Wales Unsung Heroes Awards for his work in encouraging school children and adults in the Rhondda to learn to play bowls.

Clive received the recognition at the BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year Awards 2016 at the Wales Millennium Centre, where he and wife Christine watched as Olympic judo gold medallist Jade Jones won the top honour.

When he’s not emptying bins, cutting the grass or weeding flower beds at our schemes, Clive works hard around the community in Treherbert.

Since taking on the role of secretary and treasurer of Treherbert Bowls Club several years ago, he has worked closely with a local primary school and now runs junior sessions for classes of 30 or more children throughout the summer months as well as annual junior and senior tournaments. He also runs the club’s website, keeping it upto-date with news and photos.

Clive, a Communities First board member, has also helped to put the green back into the Valleys by building stone flower beds and planting bulbs and shrubs around the village of Treherbert. His work is appreciated by the community who nominated him for the Mayor of Rhondda’s Good Citizen Award for his services to the community of Treherbert and District, which he won last year.

Clive said: “I’m proud of what I do, but to be recognised at the awards is the icing on the cake. It’s fantastic to watch the children having so much fun playing bowls.”

Scheme manager, Chris Ball, said: “Clive deserves recognition. He is very well-respected among our residents and the community. As well as carrying out his job thoroughly he looks out for their welfare. He is a real gentleman.”

Clive runs bowling classes for local children

Your News & Views | intouch | www.wwha.co.uk | 47

ls il k S r u o y g in d il u B

- 24 Are you aged 16 mber 2017) te p e S 1 re fo e b (or turning 16 s Engineer, a G a g in m o c e b and interested in rk Operative? o w d n u ro G r o d Multi-skille offering

es are aintenance Servic M ia br m Ca ne ur Skills Ju ber of Building yo Between April m nu a d en att to rtunity residents the oppo ity to: have the opportun ill w u Yo . ys da er tast construction trades of r be m nu a at o s-on have-a-g t your skills to the pu d an ‘Try a Trade’, hand t ec oj pr gn ild and desi Complete a mini bu Den-style exercise test in a Dragons’ support in applying Receive help and s for apprenticeship perience in your Complete work ex chosen trade. s is over two days Building your Skill both North and will be run in and South Wales.

To register your interest contact: Fran Maclean, Community Benefits Officer on 02920 414039 or visit wwha.co.uk and click ‘Get job ready’ in the Residents’ Area

The new charity of the year for The new charity of the year for Wales & West Housing Wales & West Housing

Elusen newydd y flwyddyn Tai Wales & West The new charity of the year for Wales & West Housing

Ymunwch â ni ar ein taith i greu Cymru sy'n gyfeillgar i oedran Join us on our journey to create an age friendly Wales

Helpwch ni i rhoi cymorth i pobl hŷn yng Nghymru Help us to support older people in Wales Get touch // Cysylltwch â Get touch / Cysylltwch â Get in inin touch Cysylltwch â ni ni 029 2043 1555 www.agecymru.org.uk Tel: Tel: 029 2043 1555 www.agecymru.org.uk twitter.com/agecymru twitter.com/agecymru facebook.com/agecymru facebook.com/agecymru