Twyncarmel News
Autumn/Winter 2015
WWH’s 2015 Making a Difference Awards were held at the Vale Resort in the Vale of Glamorgan on Friday 6th November. The Awards are our way of honouring the community spirit, enterprise, kindness and commitment shown by so many of our residents, young and old alike, who live in our properties. This year, amongst very stiff competition, several Twyncarmel residents were honoured at the Awards, as both winners and finalists. Below are some pictures from the night:
Shane Egan – Winner of Fresh Start category
Charley Elliott – iPad raffle prize winner
Kerys Roberts – Finalist in Getting Together Project the Rising Star category – Winners of Rising Star category
Liam Evans – iPad raffle prize winner
The 2015 Making a Difference Awards
October half-term events
Below are pictures of the spooky going’s on and pleas to ‘slow down whilst driving’ at the event run by Cats Protection, followed by a lot of fun designing and carving pumpkins.
www.wwha.co.uk | 0800 052 2526 | Twitter: @wwha
Twyncarmel Newsletter | Autumn/Winter 2015
Here are some of the positive comments we received from you:
18
18 of you said you have good neighbours
16
16 of you said it is a quiet place to live
11
11 of you said it is quieter now / better since the flats were knocked down
10
10 of you said you like it here
7
7 of you said it has a good community spirit / is a friendly place / good multi-national feel, that the estate has improved a lot and that it is a safe place for children to play together
6
6 of you said we keep the communal areas outside tidy / cut the grass regularly / litter pick regularly
5
5 of you said Twyncarmel was a nicer place to live than where you lived before
4
4 of you said you didn’t have any trouble from anyone and four said you do not want to move or live anywhere else
Page 2| www.wwha.co.uk | 0800 052 2526 | Twitter: @wwha
Twyncarmel Newsletter |Autumn/Winter 2015
Have we listened Back in 2013 we consulted with you on your experiences of living on Twyncarmel. We need to be sure we are still doing what matters to you. So, over the summer months we called at 149 properties and left calling cards and prepaid envelopes when no one was in.
We have had 68 responses. We asked you to rate Twyncarmel as a place to live for you in 2015
7.6
You scored it 7.6 out of 10 (compared to 6.9 in 2013). More of you are happier in 2015, but we know there are still areas that we have to work on.
When asked why you rated us as you did, and what we could do to improve life on Twyncarmel, you said:
37
14
14
10
37 of you said there is a lack of play facilities for children
14 of you said we could improve maintenance / repairs
14 of you said littering / fly tipping / dog fouling
10 of you said staff not listening to you www.wwha.co.uk | 0800 052 2526 | Twitter: @wwha | Page 3
Twyncarmel Newsletter | Autumn/Winter 2015
10
10 of you said who we are letting properties to
10
10 of you said neighbour issues
8
8 of you said youth nuisance / bullying
8
8 of you said parking issues
7
7 of you said service charges
7
7 of you said grounds maintenance and residents’ gardens
6
6 of you said speeding cars
6
6 of you said your back gardens
5
5 of you said other residents’ recycling habits
We are working on an action plan to address these issues. Page 4| www.wwha.co.uk | 0800 052 2526 | Twitter: @wwha
Twyncarmel Newsletter |Autumn/Winter 2015
Warm Homes Discount – check your eligibility
You could get £140 off your electricity bill through the Warm Home Discount Scheme for winter 2015 to 2016 if you meet the criteria. You automatically qualify for the discount if on 12 July 2015 all of the following apply: • your electricity supplier was part of the scheme • your name (or your partner’s) was on the bill • you were getting the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit (even if you get Savings Credit as well as the Guaranteed Credit. If you automatically qualify, there will be no need to contact your energy supplier - they will let you know. If you don’t get a letter stating that you automatically qualify and you meet the criteria above, you can contact the Warm Home Discount Team:
Warm Home Discount Scheme
Telephone: 0345 603 9439
Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm
You may also qualify for the discount if: • you’re on a low income
• you get certain means-tested benefits.
You will need to check with your supplier to see if you’re eligible and how to apply. The following suppliers are part of the Warm Homes Discount scheme: Energy Supplier
Contact number
British Gas 08000480202 EDF 08000565927 E.on 08434597264 01138207117 – free from mobiles First Utility 08434871841
Energy Supplier
Contact number
Npower 08081560056 OVO 08437705067 Scottish Power 08000270072 Southern Electric 08009808476 Swalec 08009757542
Pre-pay or pay-as-you-go electricity meter users should receive a voucher to top up your meter, rather than a credit on their account. The discount won’t affect your Cold Weather or Winter Fuel Payments. www.wwha.co.uk | 0800 052 2526 | Twitter: @wwha | Page 5
Twyncarmel Newsletter | Autumn/Winter 2015
Who’s responsibility is it?
We are often asked ‘whose responsibility is it’ when it comes to roads and paths. Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council has kindly provided us with their map clearly showing just that. The parking bays are our responsibility as are a number of roads on the estate (coloured pink). Any street lights on un-adopted roads/paths are our responsibility, whilst street lights on adopted paths/roads are the Council’s responsibility. The footpath running alongside the kick-a-bout area has been adopted by the Council and is their responsibility.
Guerrilla Gardening gets off to a very soggy start Four intrepid volunteers came together to help plant some currant bushes at the old flats field site on a very damp August 21st this year. More currant bushes will be planted in other locations during another Guerrilla Gardening event next year. Page 6| www.wwha.co.uk | 0800 052 2526 | Twitter: @wwha
Twyncarmel Newsletter |Autumn/Winter 2015
Do you need to contact the DWP? - Be aware, their contact numbers have changed The Department for Works and Pensions is changing all its telephone numbers from 0845 to 0345 numbers. This is in response to more and more people not having a landline. The new numbers will cost no more than a standard geographic call and are covered in any free minutes / inclusive call plans for both landline and mobile contracts. The first numbers to change are the ones for Primary Benefits and the new numbers are listed below:
Service Line Old Number New Number Primary Benefit Jobcentre Enquiry Line
Personal Independence Payment help line State Pension & Pension Credit enquiries DLA Helpline Social Fun Enquiries Carers Allowance National Insurance Number allocation line State Pension Forecasting International Pensions Centre DM Recovery Service Line Attendance Allowance Helpline Jobseeker Direct Maternity Allowance Enquiry Line
0845 608 8545
0345 608 8545
0845 604 3719
0345 604 3719
0845 850 3322
0345 850 3322
0845 606 0265
0345 606 0265
0845 712 3456
0345 712 3456
0845 603 6967
0345 603 6967
0845 608 4321
0345 608 4321
0845 600 0643
0345 600 0643
0845 300 0168
0345 300 0168
0845 601 0008
0345 601 0008
0845 850 0293
0345 850 0293
0845 605 6055
0345 605 6055
0845 606 0234
0345 606 0234
0845 608 8610
0345 608 8610
www.wwha.co.uk | 0800 052 2526 | Twitter: @wwha | Page 7
Twyncarmel Newsletter | Autumn/Winter 2015
Dog and Cat neutering Vouchers Cats Protection have given us a limited number of neutering vouchers, which cover £30 towards the cost of neutering your cat. We have a very small number left, but any voucher issued must be used before the end of 2015. We also have a number of vouchers from Dogs Trust to help with the cost of neutering dogs. The vouchers cover the medical costs associated with the neutering operation and again must be used before the end of 2015. For more information on either of the vouchers, contact Alison Chaplin on 07929 201429. Some residents who follow us on Facebook have already benefited.
Twyncarmel Facebook page is launched We launched the Twyncarmel Facebook page on 14th August. Since then we have had 13 hits and have a number of followers. The page is used to keep you informed about: • events and activities on Twyncarmel • work experience and job opportunities • any other information we think may be of interest Find us at: www.facebook.com/Twyncarmel
Page 8| www.wwha.co.uk | 0800 052 2526 | Twitter: @wwha