News

Residents of Ty Pontrhun are full of life

Wales & West Housing Association (WWHA) invited the residents of Merthyr Tydfil to celebrate UK Older People’s Day with a special event. The ‘Steps to a Healthy Lifestyle’ event was held at Ty Pontrhyn, Troedyrhiw, Merthyr Tydfil on Friday 3rd October from 12 midday until 2pm.

Older People’s Day celebrates later life and the huge contribution that older people make to their communities. This year Older People’s Day was all about being ‘full of life’.

WWHA’s Steps to a Healthy Lifestyle event highlighted the three main steps to being full of life:

Step 1 Healthy eating. There was a wide range of information available about healthy eating and WWHA highlighted the traffic light food system, providing various snacks for guests to try.

Step 2 Aerobic exercise. WWHA provided guests with information regarding exercise from local leisure centres and providing information on Nordic walking. Age Concern were on hand to provide extra advice.

Step 3 Mental agility. WWHA teamed up with Contact the Elderly to highlight the benefits of volunteering and participating in social activities. The Alzheimer’s Association also attended to provide further information on the benefits of keeping minds active.

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Residents Celebrating Age

Residents from Plas Gorffwysfa, a Wales & West Housing Association (WWHA) retirement housing scheme in Prestatyn, recently attended the Celebrating Age Festival at Llangollen Pavilion.  The event, which was organised by Denbighshire County Council’s Tenant Participation Officer, Paula Stubbs, attracted many older people from across the county.

Guest speakers provided a wealth of valuable information and demonstrations included belly dancing, cookery and the Nintendo Wii Sports.

Plas Gorffwysfa residents had worked hard to produce a range of craft items which they displayed at the event, in order to raise funds for ongoing activities for the older persons.

Christine Jarvis, Chair of the Plas Gorffwysfa Resident’s Association, said “It was interesting to meet up with other groups and to learn from each other.  Many support organisations were on hand to share advice and we shall undoubtedly contact them in the future.”

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Residents support World’s Biggest Coffee Morning

Residents at Maes y Mor, a Wales & West Housing Association (WWHA) retirement housing scheme in Tremadog, held a coffee morning on Tuesday 23rd September in support of the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning.

The World’s Biggest Coffee Morning is Macmillan Cancer Support’s flagship fundraising event which last year saw over 50,000 people hold a coffee morning to help people living with cancer. Together with their friends, families and colleagues they raised an incredible £7.5 million!

This is the third year that residents of Maes y Mor have supported this event and this year they raised £116.50 through the sale of coffee and cake, a tombola and a raffle. 

Macmillan Cancer Support is a popular charity amongst residents and at Christmas time residents donate money to the charity instead of buying Christmas cards for each other.  Over the last three years residents have raised enough money to pay for the heating in two cancer sufferers’ homes.

Cathy Chalmers, Scheme Manager at Maes Y Mor, said “This charity is very close to residents’ hearts and we are very pleased to have been able to donate money once again to this worthy cause”.

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Top Dog!

Wales & West Housing Association (WWHA) has got its paws on a top award from the RSPCA for the work it does to promote animal welfare. The Gold Footprint for Housing was awarded to only two landlords in the UK, Wales & West Housing Association and the London Borough of Wandsworth.

WWHA received the award in recognition of its pet-friendly policies and work undertaken to combat dog nuisance and promote responsible pet ownership.

Piers Claughton, the RSPCA’s Senior Local Government Advisor, said “The aim of the Community Animal Welfare Footprints is to recognise and celebrate those that have made an extra effort and gone beyond their basic service requirements to ensure higher welfare standards in some of the services they provide”.

During Noise Awareness Week the Association’s anti social behaviour team distributed ‘doggy bags’ to residents containing the Association’s pet policy, pet ownership advice and pet freebies.

WWHA joined forces with Cardiff Dogs Home and the PDSA to stage road shows throughout the summer offering free micro chipping for dogs, low cost neutering and free health checks.  A new partnership with the Dogs Trust means that a series of events will take place during October including pet ownership workshops aimed at children. 

Anne Hinchey, Chief Executive of WWHA, said ‘We try to do practical projects to support responsible pet ownership because we know this helps to promote friendly and peaceful neighbourhoods. We are very pleased that our work has been recognised by the RSPCA’.

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Housing Association gains possession of troublesome family’s home

Wales & West Housing Association (WWHA) have been forced to evict a troublesome family from a housing scheme in Brackla for carrying out acts of anti social behaviour.

The Possession Order was granted by Bridgend County Court after hearing evidence of a sustained campaign of intimidation and violent and aggressive behaviour by all members of the household.  In addition to evidence provided by residents, WWHA staff and a Neighbourhood Police officer also provided comprehensive statements of their encounters with the family.

The Judge hearing the case stated that, given the effect this family’s behaviour had had on other residents and the wider community, it was reasonable to grant the Association possession of the property.

Wales & West Housing Association take the issue of anti social behaviour very seriously and had attempted to address the family’s behaviour in a number of ways before resorting to legal action. Jan Fox, WWHA’s Senior Tenancy Enforcement Officer, said “We never enjoy having to evict families from their homes and explore all the avenues open to us outside of the courts in order to resolve anti social behaviour issues before taking the ultimate step of eviction.  In this case we were left with no option but to evict the resident”.

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WWHA introduces new procedures to tackle anti social behaviour

Wales & West Housing Association (WWHA) have introduced two new procedures to help tackle Anti Social Behaviour and Estate Management Nuisance, as part of its aim to provide good quality accommodation and to develop and support communities to meet local needs.

Housing Associations have a duty under the Anti Social Behaviour Act to address complaints of anti social behaviour.  WWHA established its dedicated Anti-Social Behaviour Unit (ASBU) in June 2003 and since that time has received over 5,000 reports of nuisance.

WWHA consulted with residents and external partner agencies as part of its review of the ASB service and as a result has made a number of changes including: changing the response times to certain types of anti social behaviour; requiring estate management nuisance investigation to be completed quicker; and making investigations less ‘paper heavy’ thus releasing staff to be at their schemes more.

It is also the Association’s aim to empower residents to tackle low level nuisance themselves, giving them support and tips on how to approach a neighbour who is causing a problem.  If they have tried to resolve matters themselves and the problem continues, the Association will then look into the complaint on their behalf.

WWHA uses a number of tools to tackle lower level nuisance including neighbourhood watches, undertakings and estate agreements which have been recognised as good practice by Housemark, the affordable housing sector’s leading provider of performance improvement and value for money services.

Reports of ASB can be received verbally, in writing, by telephone or a report can be made to any WWHA staff member, who will notify the ASBU.

Jan Fox, Senior Tenancy Enforcement Officer at WWHA’s ASBU, said “We recognise that if these issues are ignored they can cause real problems for communities and it is our intention at WWHA that by tackling nuisance efficiently we create an environment of harmony and good neighbourliness amongst our residents”.

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National Play Day Celebrations in Splott

Local residents joined together with staff from Wales & West Housing Association (WWHA) to celebrate National Play Day at the East Tyndall Street estate in Splott, Cardiff, on Wednesday 6 August 2008. 

The Play Day, supported by Persil, is an annual celebration of children’s right to play.  This year’s theme ‘Give us a go!’  called for a reverse in the decline of adventurous play opportunities.  As a result, the event had an excellent ‘free runner’ teaching the young people some fast flowing moves. The campaign highlighted the need for children to experience challenging play to ensure that they are better equipped to manage risk in their daily lives.

On the day the weather did not deter over 100 residents enjoying various activities from free running, free styling football skills, circus skills, art and crafts along with the ever popular bouncy castle and face painting for the younger children. Local youths helped create a great atmosphere with various karaoke and dance activities.

Sonia Browne, a local resident said “The day was a great success, our children really enjoyed themselves and it was a great opportunity for the parents to get together as well and we hope to organise similar events in the future”.

Chris Walton, Housing Manager, said “This was an enjoyable event sponsored by Wales & West Housing Association, and showed our commitment to the local community in Splott. Local residents and their children thoroughly enjoyed the day and I would like to thank the team for all their hard work and endeavours.  I would also like to thank our partners who fully supported the event - Cardiff County Council, Partnership and Communities Together (PACT) & Communities First”.

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Housing Association celebrates new Resident Participation Strategy

Wales & West Housing Association (WWHA) recently celebrated the launch of their new Resident Participation Strategy.

Over 1,000 WWHA residents had given their views over the past year as part of a complete review of resident participation at the Association.  These views were then used to form the basis of their new Resident Participation Strategy.

To launch the new Strategy four events were held during June at WWHA retirement housing schemes in Cardiff, Bridgend, Merthyr Tydfil and Flint and were attended by over 100 residents.

The events gave WWHA staff the opportunity to provide feedback to residents who had given their views as part of the resident participation review.  Residents also learned more about how their views had shaped the resident participation opportunities now on offer at WWHA and how they could help guide the Association as they deliver the new strategy.

Mrs Hexter, a resident of Pentwyn, Cardiff, said “It’s really good when you get feedback. Residents need feedback.  It’s really annoying when you don't know what is going on! It is lovely to get feedback on how our views are being used.  When I see how giving my views at a focus group has made a difference to all WWHA residents, it makes me much more likely to give my views again.”

Bridget Garrod, Neighbourhood Initiatives Manager at WWHA, added “It’s very important to us that residents’ views are heard, listened to and acted upon.  The new Strategy sets out ways that residents can become involved with WWHA at all levels, both locally and nationally, in ways that are convenient and relevant to them.”

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True British Grit

On a very wet 9th of July the residents of Hanover Court, Llandudno, held an outside table top sale, having collected items to sell during the previous twelve months from family and friends.

Despite the torrential rain, the residents aged between 61 and 85 years, showed great determination and true British grit to stand their ground well into the afternoon and their good spirits could not be dampened by the appalling weather conditions.  Potential buyers driving past stopped to show their support by making donations as the determined residents laughed and joked their way through a soggy, but successful, day.

The proceeds from the day will now enable the residents to make a donation to St David’s Hospice and to enjoy a Christmas lunch together.

Gay Baines, Scheme Manager at Hanover Court, said “The residents really are to be applauded for their endurance.  Despite the weather becoming particularly bad during the afternoon, they were determined to stay and raise as much money as possible.  They are now looking forward to putting the money raised to good use.”

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Get Cooking

The residents of Constantine Court, Williamstown, enjoyed cooking up a feast at their weekly coffee morning during the first of a four week “Get Cooking” course facilitated by Age Concern Morgannwg’s Community First Team, Karen Gray and Trudy Rowlands.

On the menu was a three fish pie of salmon, cod and prawns in a white sauce, topped with delicious mashed potatoes and a side salad. Some of the salad ingredients were grown by the residents themselves, having being planted at their Spring celebration. Following on for dessert were Merry Berry Pancakes, a light treat with fresh or tinned fruit, honey and crème fraiche.

In the following weeks, the menu will be:

Week 2:
Main: Liver and Onions with Swede and mash and gravy.
Dessert: Rhubarb Crumble and custard.

Week 3:
Main: Cawl and savoury scones.
Dessert: Carrot muffins.

Week 4:
 Main: Roast Dinner.
Dessert: Apple Tart and Custard.

Maria Mulford, Scheme Manager, said “The cookery course has been very popular with the residents, particularly as they have been able to include vegetables that they have grown themselves.  We are very pleased that Age Concern have joined us for this course and look forward to the coming weeks.”

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Summer BBQ Treat

Deeside College’s professional catering foundation course students visited WWHA’s retirement housing scheme at Ystad Goffa, Flint on June 12th to serve up a tasty lunchtime barbeque.

The event provided the students with an opportunity to help gain their Welsh Baccalaureate Diploma as part of their foundation course.  The Baccalaureate includes a range of key and other skills and a requirement for students to gain experience of working in a community setting.

The students were responsible for the planning, preparation and delivery of the event.  They answered questions from the elderly residents to demonstrate their knowledge of food hygiene; offer tips on food handling and storage; how to avoid contamination; and safe use of equipment. 

Anne Caloe, Senior Housing Officer, said:  “We are delighted that Deeside college students were willing to share their food safety knowledge and provide the residents aged 50+ to 97 with a summertime barbeque treat.  The residents will benefit greatly from social interaction with the students and the knowledge they share.”

Ystad Goffa residents run a weekly Food Co-op and over 50’s Luncheon Club for residents and the surrounding community.

For further information contact Alison Moody, Scheme Manager at Ystad Goffa, on 01352 734220

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South Wales resident helps Group 500 reach its target membership

Claire James, a WWHA resident from Brackla, Bridgend, has become the 500th member of Group 500.

Following consultation with over 1,000 residents, we recently relaunched our Resident Participation Strategy, promoting Group 500 as the main way in which residents can give their views on the Association’s services.  Residents are invited to give their views in one of four easy ways:

• By telephone
• By email
• By postal questionnaire
• By taking part in a focus group.

The Group was given its name because the initial target for membership of the group was 500. This target was reached in January and has since grown to more than 670 residents.  The 500th member was presented with a gift voucher by her Housing Officer, Alison Hayes, as a thank you for her involvement.

Bridget Garrod, Neighbourhood Initiatives Manager at WWHA, said “We are delighted with the way that membership of Group 500 has grown over the past year and residents have been able to give us their views on topics such as anti social behaviour, service charges and the Association’s Christmas closedown.

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Residents’ Association scoops three awards

Members of WWHA's Plas Gorffwysfa Residents’ Association in Prestatyn are celebrating winning three awards at this year’s Tenant Participation Advisory Service (TPAS) Cymru Awards presentation held in Cardiff.

Plas Gorffwysfa Residents’ Association picked up second place in the following three categories:

• “Val Feld Wales Communication in Housing” Award
• Tenant Participation Projects Award
• Sustainable and Effective Service Award

The Plas Gorffwysfa Residents’ Association (PGRA) was set up in February 2004 by a small group of residents who were keen to have their say about services provided by WWHA. When the number of residents grew significantly it was obvious that they needed an on-site meeting place.  With support from WWHA, the PGRA purchased a portacabin and raised the necessary funds to decorate and furnish it.  In only eight months ‘the Kabin’ had gone from a dream to a reality, and in May 2007 it was officially opened by the Mayor of Prestatyn, June Cahill. 

Since the launch of the Kabin, PGRA have been successful in accessing a WWHA ‘Make It Happen’ grant, to fund the purchase of a heated food tray for the very popular “Hotpot Supper” evenings which take place once a month.  It also paid for a television with magnifying screen, and a DVD player/DVDs to entertain and develop the residents.

The Kabin has now developed into a wonderful training and social resource for the residents of Plas Gorffwysfa and is used every day for a wide variety of activities.
Mr and Mrs Jarvis, the Chair and Joint Secretary of the Residents’ Association were unable to attend the event due to ill health, but commented “We are over the moon! We weren’t sure if we would win anything – so to get three awards was unbelievable”.

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Local resident scoops participation award

WWHA resident, John Williams, from Barracks Field in Wrexham, has won a third place individual award in the “Ruth Radley Outstanding Achievement in Participation” category at the Tenant Participation Advisory Service (TPAS) Cymru Awards presentation held in Cardiff.

John Williams has been a resident at the WWHA Barracks Field Estate, Hightown, Wrexham since 1981.  Barracksfield is a large estate of 224 properties with a mixture of general needs, sheltered and supported residents, and is now part of a Communities First area.

John is currently, and has been since its inception, the Chair of the Barracksfield Tenants’ Association (BFTA). He has always worked closely with WWHA and all other partner organisations on the estate.   He has been instrumental in developing facilities for families on the Estate, including Luke O’Connor House (LOCH), the resource centre on Barracksfield, and has played a major role in the negotiations surrounding the purchase of LOCH by Offa Community Council from the Association and it being changed from an area office into a community resource centre.

John took the lead in setting up the original compact agreement for Barracksfield estate between the Association and the Residents’ Association, he arranges Christmas parties, fun days and outings throughout the year for families on the estate, and he has been determined and dedicated in improving the facilities for his local area. The latest project that John has been involved in is the new Food Co-op, launched in April 2008.
On receiving the award John said “I am delighted to have won this award, not just for myself but for all the residents on the estate.”

The Association also won first place in the ‘Mainstreaming Tenant Participation category and the WWHA Residents’ Association in Plas Gorffwysfa, Prestatyn, picked up three awards in the “Val Feld Wales Communication in Housing” category, the Tenant Participation Projects category and the Sustainable and Effective Service Awards category.

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Bridgend enjoys the ‘Fruits of love’

A food co-operative, entitled ‘Fruits of Love’ has been set up in Brackla Meadows, Bridgend, by a group of seven mothers, including residents of Wales and West Housing Association and Linc Cymru. The food co-op will provide fresh, affordable and quality fruit and vegetables to the local community.

In the quest to make our diets healthier, local schools had requested that children be given fruit to bring in their lunch packs, however access to fresh fruit and vegetables in the area had been found to be difficult and expensive.

The fruit and veg are sold in £2.50 bags which are ordered in advance the week before. The customer can then reorder as required when they pick up their bags the following week.  The produce is delivered in bulk by the wholesaler and as the co-op is ‘not for profit’ and run by volunteers, all the savings are passed on to the customer. Fruit, veg and salad bags sell at £2.50. Stew packs are also available at £1.50. and all of them offer excellent value for money.

The first deliveries took place on the 9th of October 2007 and orders are increasing each week . The co-op runs every Tuesday from 2 – 4pm at Arosfa Residential Home, Madoc Close, Brackla Meadows. The scheme is supported by Rural Regeneration - please phone 01443 402317 for more details.

Gordon Taylor, WWHA resident, said “The food co-op is an excellent idea and provides access to good quality produce at affordable prices.  Wales and West Housing Association are delighted to be working in partnership with Linc-Cymru and the Rural Regeneration Unit to make this project happen”.

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Scary Youngsters Promote Neighbourly Competition

As a means of tackling anti-social behaviour in their street, Wales and West  Housing Association (WWHA) residents Kirsten Taylor, Marie Daly and Tracy Jones arranged a ‘Scarecrow’ competition to bring neighbours together and focus youngsters’ energies on positive activities. 

The competition which attracted ten entrants was won by Deah Evans, runner-up Katie Hardman and in third place Sharley and Billy Jones.  Judges Carol Jones and Mary Daniels represented the Flintshire Family Group Meeting Project that facilitates Community Conferencing.

Carol said: “The purpose of Community Conferencing is to bring everyone in the community together who is affected by a problem involving young people up to the age of 25 years.  A trained co-ordinator will enable community members and different agencies involved, to look at the problem and identify possible solutions.”

Following a spell of anti-social behaviour in the vicinity, the residents held a street meeting to gauge interest in tackling this issue.  As wider interest developed, a community conference was arranged.  This was attended by many residents, Flintshire Neighbourhood Watch, Community Police and WWHA.

Mary Daniels said: “It is good to see so many people joining in to support each other.  The event has helped to improve relationships between neighbours.”
Speaking on behalf of the residents, Marie Daly of Llwyn Alun said: “We all really appreciate the kick start this project has given us and we thank all the organisations that have given their support.  It has been a great success and has helped us to help ourselves.  Llwyn Alun now feels a much better and safer place for everyone.”
 
WWHA residents of Llwyn Alun are now in the process of planning future activities and events.  For example a visit from Santa a week before Christmas is being planned for all the children within the neighbourhood.  Plans also include the drawing up and implementation of an Estate Agreement in consultation with residents to ensure that this improved quality of life is maintained.

For further information about family conferencing contact Pauline Bowe, Flintshire County Council on 01352 70 2610

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Keeping Wales tidy

Before the end of the long summer holidays, WWHA staff recruited some young people from the Culverhouse Cross area of Cardiff to help clean up their estate.
Helping to clean up the area in which they live helps to give them a sense of pride in their community and a desire to keep the streets clean.
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Official Opening of 'Kabin' at Plas Gorffwysfa

The Mayor of Prestatyn June Cahill officially opened a new ‘Kabin’ at Plas Gorffwysfa in Prestatyn on Wednesday 23 May 2007.  A shared community space at Plas Gorffwysfa had become top of the agenda for residents as they had struggled for some time to find a suitable place to meet and hold social activities. 

Supported by WWHA, Rhyl Community Council, local community groups and local retailers, Plas Gorffwysfa Residents’ Association was inspired to seek funding for the project.   Their hard work and commitment finally paid off when they received grant funding from Npower’s North Hoyle Offshore Wind Farm Community Fund to purchase a Portakabin.  Grants were also received from Community Chest and from the Welsh Church Act, and together this funding enabled the Residents’ Association to furnish the ‘kabin’ including safety equipment.  

Chair or the Residents’ Association, Christine Jarvis said:  “This will prove to be a really useful meeting place for residents and gives us a space to enjoy various activities.  It just proves what can be achieved when people work together.”

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New Estate Agreement for Brynderwen
Following meetings between Powys County Council's residents of Brynderwen, Talgarth and our own residents, it has been agreed to implement an Estate Agreement, which will be in force from 1st December 2006.

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1st PACT Meeting held at Brecon
Residents in the Brecon area, together with the Crug Residents' Association, recently met with their Community Police Officer to address problem issues, such as underage drinking and illegal drug use. The next meeting will be held on 24 January 2007.

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Blooming Lovely!
Offa Community Council donated 1000 bulbs to Barracksfield Residents' Association and children from the estate, with the assistance of WWHA Site Supers, planted the bulbs in various locations around the estate.

If you would like to take part in wider community activities click on the link below to find out about your local voluntary council.

www.wcva.org.uk

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