St mellons together newsletter march 2011

March 2011

St Mellons Together Hafod, Wales & West and Linc-Cymru Housing Associations and residents working together to make St. Mellons the place you are proud to live in.

Star FC Sports Programme Recycling text service How to save money with Cardiff Credit Union & Moneyline Cymru

Issue 6

St Mellons Together - March 2011

Sub-Group Round Up Home Services

You asked for details of planned improvements to your home. Go to page 6 for details. If you want to find out more about how you can get involved in this group contact Carol Price at Linc-Cymru.

Anti Social Behaviour

The three Associations have dedicated enforcement officers who meet with local police to discuss local issues and specific individuals causing concern.

PACT’s are the best way to raise your concerns about what affecting you where you live. The date of the next PACT meeting is being arranged - look out on your community noticeboard for further details.

Environmental and Estate Management

This group is looking to improve the

condition of gardens in St Mellons to make the area look more attractive to live. We need your ideas on how we can make this happen. Contact Chris Walton at WWHA to come along to our next meeting.

Community Life

This group plans activities in St Mellons. We are helping Cardiff City Council to identify where the ‘gaps’ in play services are. If you have ideas or views on this why not come along and meet with us for a chat. Call Sarah at Linc-Cymru to find out more.

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Financial Inclusion

Have you been affected by a bad money lender? Want to help others avoid the risk of high interest lending?

Or do you have ideas about how your friends and neighbours could be helped to make the right money choices? If so contact Bridget Garrod at WWHA. Go to pages 4 & 5 to find out how we are going to be tackling high interest money lenders in St Mellons.

Resident Participation

This group is about making the Compact work for you. To do this we need your views, so let’s hear them.

You can do this by either attending a sub-group meeting that you are interested in, or call your participation officer:

HOW TO CONTACT US Wales & West Housing Association 0800 052 2526 info@wwha.co.uk Hafod Housing Association 029 2067 5800 enquiries@hafod.org.uk Linc-Cymru Housing Association 029 2047 3767 info@linc-cymru.co.uk

St Mellons Together - March 2011

Star FC Multi-Sports Programme

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he St Mellons Compact group sponsors Star FC to provide a multi-sports and games programme for children aged 7 to 11, making use of the local primary school’s facilities during half term.

The programme fills a gap in provision for children of this age group and the coaches are excellent role models for the children involved. Up to 30 children a day from St Mellons, Trowbridge and Rumney attend the sports programme. They not only have a great time and learn new skills, but also make lots of new friends as well.

During the last programme, some of the children commented: “I love coming here and throwing the balls at the grown ups!”

around and practice their sporting skills. It supports families, engages young people in games and social activities, develops eye and hand co-ordination and allows the children to make new friends.”

The next Star FC multi-sports programme will be during the Easter holidays at Meadowlane Primary School, with 3 hour sessions from 9.30am to 12.30pm on: • Monday 18 April to Wednesday 20 April

“I’d be at home watching T.V if I don’t come here.”

• Wednesday 27 to

Friday 29 April

Mr Tucker, Deputy Head Teacher at Meadowlane Primary School commented:

If you’d like your children to take part, please contact Sarah Fotheringham, Community Involvement Officer, at Linc-Cymru HA.

“This excellent programme gives local children a place to run

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St Mellons Together - March 2011

What a waste!

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f you are borrowing money from a doorstep lender such as the Provident, Buy As You View or Brighthouse, chances are you are paying back more than you would if you had gone to Cardiff & Vale Credit Union or Money Line Cymru.

Just look at the typical borrowing rates for MoneyLine Cymru and compare these to what you are currently paying: Amount borrowed

Repayment term

Weekly payment

Interest payment

Admin fee

Total to repay

£300.00

52 weeks

£6.56

£41.12

£18.00

£359.12

47.05% APR Typical We’re on a campaign to drive out high interest money lenders from St Mellons.

Over the next 6 months you will see us out and about spreading the word about Cardiff & Vale Credit Union and Money Line Cymru. You will see us delivering leaflets on the estate, talking to parents outside the school gates and we will be launching our campaign on Tuesday 15th March. See page opposite for details.

If you want to find out more or even help spread the word just contact your Housing Officer. Or if you want to talk to someone about your money, benefit or loans all three Housing Associations have independent, confidential specialist money advisors you can speak to. Contact your Housing Association to arrange an appointment.

Recycling text service

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ardiff Council are offering a free texting service to remind you to put your recycling bags out on the correct day.

Sign up is free at:

Information will be available via your mobile phone ensuring that you never forget to put out your recycling again!

For further information please contact Lucy Prisk, Tidy Towns Officer on 029 20717755.

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http://www.keepcardifftidy.com or you can register by texting 'Tidy` to 60066 including your house number and postcode.

St Mellons Together - March 2011

Your money... your choice Wish you had money saved that you could get your hands on when you need it?

Do you sometimes need a bit extra to pay for unexpected bills or things you or your family need?

If you’re looking to save or borrow money

but don’t want to pay too much each week then come along and find out how.

Cardiff Credit Union & Moneyline Cymru will be at Rainbow House, Newent Road, St Mellons on Tuesday 15 March from 9.30am - 12.30pm • Cardiff Credit Union has 1000’s of people saving with them and loans money at very reasonable rates.

• Moneyline Cymru offers fast, affordable loans at you can afford.

prices

We guarantee that you can save money.

Your money...your choice

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St Mellons Together - March 2011

Home Services Sub-Group

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his group was set up to look at tenant priorities in the way in which your landlord manages your homes.

You asked us for information on planned maintenance, such as the replacement of windows, doors, kitchens and bathrooms, and we are pleased to keep you updated as follows:

Hafod HA During 2011 we will be putting in some more new UPVC windows, the last of the new Valiant boilers and 15 replacement kitchens. The new windows will be installed in the following streets: • • • • •

Clos Glas Llwch Plas y Biswael Heol Pwll y Placa Clos Glan Aber Heol Maes Eirwg nos 54-110 (even) 47-71 (odd) 91-93 (odd) and nos 1-21 (odd).

Cyclical painting is also due to take place in Heol Maes Eirwg.

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Linc-Cymru HA By the end of April 2011 we are looking to start replacing windows and doors in Syon Park Close, Coleford Drive and Lanhydrock Close. All remaining addresses will be completed in April 2012.

We are also upgrading some boilers, bathrooms and kitchens with external redecoration also in the planned programme for 2011.

Wales & West HA During 2011, we intend to upgrade or install some palisade fencing in the following streets on our estate: • •

Clos y Bettws Clos Pen y Clawdd.

St Mellons Together - March 2011

Learning today for a positive tomorrow

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he St Mellons Community Crèche has just launched its new website: stmellonscreche.org.uk

This small charity helps mums and dads with small children to get out of the house and back into learning.

To find out more about the crèche and how you can learn new skills, and gain qualifications, why not visit our website. Or you can ring us on 02920 778667 or email:

enquiries@stmellonscreche. org.uk

Letting parents learn!

Charity No. 1090970

Want your news to be noticed?

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id you know there are now two free community noticeboards in your areas?

We are looking for local residents to become keyholders for the notice boards. If you’d like to do this please contact your landlord.

The new noticeboards can be found on Newent Road, outside Rainbow House and outside the Hafod Housing Association Offices at Heol Maes Eirwg. If you have any news you’d like to share with other people in St Mellons, such as promoting a community event, looking for a lost pet, selling your car… then contact your landlord – Linc Cymru, Hafod or Wales & West HA.

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St Mellons Together - March 2011

Cardiff East Neighbourhood Management Group

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ardiff East Neighbourhood Management Group covers the Council wards of St Mellons, Trowbridge and Llanrumney.

The group aims to tackle neighbourhood issues and concerns through joint working by various agencies, including the Council,the Police, the Fire Service, Communities First and Housing Associations in the area.

The Cardiff East Neighbourhood Management group meets monthly and has Task and Finish groups progressing work on areas such as motor-cycle annoyance. To combat this problem, the Group has developed an Action Plan which includes targeted operations by the local Police, physical deterrents and education.

Members of the St Mellons Compact regularly attend the Group meetings and one of the issues raised was the poor state of subways in the St Mellons area. From a survey that the Compact Environmental sub-group undertook, we were aware that the majority of local residents didn’t use the subways due to concerns over graffiti, vandalism, cleanliness and poor or no lighting - many of which led to safety concerns.

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A meeting was held with the Council and the Police and it was agreed that inspections will be carried out by the Council’s graffiti team who will remove graffiti on a more regular basis, and the Council also agreed to fund improvements and/or repair lighting in a number of the St Mellons subways.

The Cardiff East Neighbourhood Management Group also allocates up to £10,000 from the ‘Transforming Neighbourhood Tasking’ fund which is used for various projects to benefit the local community. For example, one project which has been funded wass ‘Operation Bang’ which provided a number of activities over the Halloween / Bonfire Night period.

The Group welcomes residents’ views and input, which can be raised at your local PACT meeting (Partnerships and Communities Together), or you can contact Chris Walton, Housing Manager at Wales & West HA.

St Mellons Together - March 2011

Busy Bees Baby & Toddler Group Every Tuesday 9.30am-11.30am at St Mellons Community Education Centre.

Stay and Play group for Under 5’s. £1.50 per family. Includes a healthy snack and craft activities each week.

Walking for Health Every Tuesday 2pm at Tesco’s Foyer.

We are a small group of friendly people that enjoy an hours gentle circular walk and sometimes a free cup of tea at the Enterprise Centre afterwards!

FAN Group Every Thursday 2pm-3pm at Community Education Centre.

If you are looking to make friends then this is the place to come!

Knit & Natter Every Thursday 4pm-6pm at St Mellons Library.

All ages and abilities welcome, wool, needles and patterns provided.

Fitness for the Over 50’s Every Friday 10am-10.30am at St Mellons Bowling Green, Crickhowell Road.

Gentle Chair Exercise by a qualifies instructor. FREE! Over 50’s Coffee Morning Every Friday 10.30am-12.30pm at St Mellons Bowling Green.

Another friendly group, we enjoy raffles, trips and speakers.

All this for £1!

For further information please call Rhian: 07800 715 131

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St Mellons Together - March 2011

W Woom meenn M Maakkiinngg aa D Diiffffeerreennccee Merched yn Gwneud Gwahaniaeth

ENGENDERING CHANGE

ENGENDERING CHANGE A training course for women who want to ‘make a difference’

within their who communities A training course for women want to ‘make a difference’ Do you want to become more active intheir your community and/or public life but don’t within communities know how?

 Do you want to become more active in your community and/or public

Do you get your voice heard? lifewant but to don’t know how?

The Engendering Change training course is designed to give women a  Do knowledge you want toand getunderstanding your voice heard? better of: • The Building an effective case to promote Engendering Change traininga community course isissue designed to give women a • The barriers to equality and the ways in which these prevent voices being heard in better knowledge and understanding of: decision-making forums • How to feel confident when dealing with officials  Building an effective case to promote a community issue • Decision making processes in local, national and central government  The barriers to equality and the ways in which these prevent • Lobbying and campaigning voices being heard in decision-making forums • Strategic thinking and alliance building

How to feel confident when dealing with officials



COST: The making training isprocesses FREE, a crèche is provided, traveland & access

 Decision in local, national central government costs will be paid

 Lobbying and campaigning WHEN: Five Wednesdays from 9.30am to 3.00pm:  Strategic and and alliance building

2nd, thinking 9th, 16th, 23rd 30th March 2011 WHERE: COST:

WHEN: WHO:

Mellons Community Education Centre, Crickhowell TheSt training is FREE, a crèche is provided, travel & access Road, costs will be paid St Mellons, Cardiff CF3 0EF FiveOpen Wednesdays from 9.30am to 3.00pm: to all women but priority will be given to those from the 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd and 30th March 2011 St Mellons, Rumney and Llanrumney areas of Cardiff

WHERE: St Mellons Community Education Centre, –Crickhowell St Mellons, PLACES: A maximum of 20 places per course booking is Road, essential and an Cardiff CF3 0EFform must be completed to reserve your place on the

application

course

WHO: Open to all women but priority will be given to those from the St Mellons, CONTACT: Rumney Janeand Fisher, Womenareas Making a Difference Office Co-ordinator Llanrumney of Cardiff

NFWI Wales Office, 19 Cathedral Road, Cardiff. CF11 9HA

Telephone: 2022 1965–/booking e-mail:iswmad@btconnect.com PLACES: A maximum of 20 029 places per course essential and an application

form must be completed to reserve your place on the course www.womenmakingadifference.org.uk

CONTACT: Jane Fisher, Women Making a Difference Office Co-ordinator NFWI Wales Office, 19 Cathedral Road, Cardiff. CF11 9HA Funded with the support of Telephone: 029 2022 1965 / e-mail: wmad@btconnect.com The Welsh Assembly Government; Cardiff University Department of Lifelong Learning; NFWI Wales; Cardiff Communities 1st www.womenmakingadifference.org.uk

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St Mellons Together - March 2011

The Play Scheme will be on Wednesday 20th April from 10 - 12, acThe Play Scheme will be on tivities too include Easter egg hunt, egg basket decorating Wednesday 20th AprilEaster from 10 - 12, and Easter bonnet making and parade, along with bouncy castle, Activities to include: toys, games, puzzles. £2.50 per family.

• Easter egg hunt • The Easter egg basket Play Scheme willdecorating be on Wednesday 20th April from 10 - 12, ac• tivities Eastertoo bonnet making include Easterand eggparade hunt, Easter egg basket decorating • and along with bouncy castle, games, puzzles.

Easter bonnet making toys, and parade, along with bouncy castle, toys, games,£2.50 puzzles. £2.50 per family. per family

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St Mellons Together - March 2011

Wednesday March 16th Rumney Community Centre Llanstephan Road 10:00 - 15:00 •

Come and find out information about health, education and training for Black and Minority Ethnic communities.

•

Enjoy complimentary therapy taster sessions.

•

Bouncy Castle and face painting for children.

•

Food and music from around the world.

This event is free of charge.

For more information please contact Peter Griffiths or Jeremy Rees on: � 029 2048 5722 / 07955 270870 � peter.g@vacardiff.org.uk

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