sign in sign up
<<
Home , Barmouth

The latest information and stories from your local area Summer 2020

In this issue:

What has Adra been doing during the Coronavirus crisis Page 5 Bringing joy to residents at Hafan Elan Page 7 A special birthday celebration Page 8 A special rainbow poster for you Page 12 Help and support Tips to keep as safe as A message if you’re experiencing or possible if you’re a victim know someone experiencing of Domestic Abuse from Ffrancon Ffrancon Williams, domestic abuse or sexual Chief Executive Adra • Keep in touch with family and friends This newsletter will land on your violence during the in any way possible, over Whatsapp, doorstep during a very strange time. coronavirus emergency Messenger, texting, phoning, video calls, skype. But be careful while I’ve been working from home and haven’t been in It’s a difficult and worrying time for everyone doing this in a safe way. Others could the office since March as our offices are closed. at the moment, but even more difficult and be listening. I’ve been amazed how well we’ve all adapted worrying for people who don’t feel safe at • Think of a word to use in an and used video calls instead of face to face home. emergency so that those close to you meetings. The dog certainly enjoys me being will know that you need help and to home more. I would like to thank all of you for Useful contact details: phone the police. your patience during these difficult times. But colourful rainbow images in everyone’s windows • Call 999 if it’s an emergency. • If possible, keep essential items close is certainly a signal of hope. Please remember, by, think of options on how to keep we are still here for you but in a slightly different • Live Fear Free Helpline: 0808 80 10 800 them safe, leave them with a trusted way. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us if you Text: 07860 077333 neighbour. have a problem. Email: info@livefearfreehelpline. (available 24 hours a day 7 days a week) • Make sure that your mobile phone Regards, Thank you to Shannon, three years battery is full all the time. old from Minfordd for these pictures • Gorwel & Anglesey Domestic Ffrancon Williams, Abuse Service: 0300 111 2121 • Download the app called Hollie Chief Executive, Adra Guard. It’s activated by shaking or • Women’s Aid – Help and support for hitting the phone, and will contact the women that suffer abuse: 01248 679 052 person you’ve chosen straight away • Men’s Advice Line – Help and support for to let them know where you are and men that suffer abuse: 0333 567 0556 send evidence directly to their phone. Our offices are currently closed • Don’t drink alcohol together as this due to the Coronavirus crisis. But Help for Children: can raise the probability of a violent Information on our website don’t worry we’re still here for you: attack. If he or she insists, try and • NSPCC Helpline: 0808 800 5000 pour lemonade on your drink. Alcohol We've created a special page on our • Childline: 0800 1111 reduces your ability to run, defend website with updates to our services. Email: [email protected] yourself and escape. Visit adra.co.uk and click on the yellow • BAWSO: (Information, Advice and Support banner. Things change all the time so for Black & Minority Ethnic people in • If you have children, ask them to choose a safe room in the house, with be sure to keep yourself up to date. By phone: Wales) 01978 355 818 0300 123 8084 a lock if you can, and teach them how • National Helpline for Domestic Abuse (24 to phone 999 in an emergency. hours): 0808 2000 247 Social media: @adrataicyf • Be more careful than usual when Or phone one of our officers to discuss any walking up the stairs, brushing your worries 0300 123 8084. hair, using hair straighteners, or when Website: adra.co.uk cleaning with anything that includes acid. • If you need help straight away, Sometimes a chat can make a please call 999 and then press 55 to world of difference. Contact us to let the police know that you can’t talk talk to one of our officers to see but that you need help. what we can do to help.

2 2 3 Money What has Adra been Matters doing during the Our Rents and Income Team Coronavirus crisis? We have been trying our best to help local communities in As it’s an uncertain time for many people, we help, and can put you in touch with the right Gwynedd in the best way, during this worrying time. Here understand you may be worried about changes support services. Please do get in touch on is a flavour of some activities we’ve been involved in: to your income and your ability to pay the rent 0300 123 8084. and other important bills and expenses. • The use of food banks in Gwynedd has increased a Advice lot. This is why we are working in partnership with If there are any changes to your circumstances, The Welsh Government has written to every to support Gwynedd’s Food Banks, such as employment or housing benefit, please social housing tenant in Wales to make sure by contributing to buy essential products to distribute let us know as soon as possible. Our rents team you are treated fairly and to make it clear to all food banks across the county. can advise you on what to do next and direct what your rights are in light of the Coronavirus you on for more advice and support if required. • Our office in Bangor, Tŷ Coch, has been transformed to pandemic. a Coronavirus Testing Centre for NHS staff as the office We work with the Citizens Advice Bureau, who We’ve put this letter on our website. Let us know is closed to staff at the moment. We’re proud of being provide free impartial advice, and Gwaith if you would like us to send you a printed copy. able to help the NHS and work with Betsi Cadwaladr Gwynedd who can help support you towards Health board at this time. new employment and training. We’re here to We want to • We have managed to get extra PPE and have shared hear from you them with care workers who work for Gwynedd Council. We would like to hear Working for Adra during Coronavirus • Our staff members have also been distributing PPE, your views on how we Carwyn George, Housing provided by Gwynedd Council, to 30 different locations have responded to the Coordinator at Adra, answers our questions for volunteers and community groups. Covid-19 outbreak, and to receive your feedback on What are the main responsibilities of your job • Our arranged a social distancing sing along concert to the support that has been usually? raise residents’ spirits at Hafan Elan, . available to you and how I’m responsible for the management of our • We’ve phoned vulnerable tenants and the over 70s to we have kept you updated tenancies, ensuring that our neighbourhoods check if anyone needs help and that people are OK. during this time. We would are safe and places that people want to live in. We call many back if they ask us. Total of 2500 phone What are the main elements of your job at the also be interested in My work includes researching and working on calls have been made. moment? hearing your suggestions anti-social behaviour, noise nuisance, house, • Making sure that gas appliances in our tenants’ homes about any changes you the condition of gardens and communal areas. As well as continuing to deal with general are safe. believe we should make to anti-social behaviour cases, we are now also our services for the future Another part of my work is identifying and dealing with completely new cases since • Carrying out emergency repairs at our tenants’ homes. as a result of the Covid-19 supporting vulnerable customers, and we work lockdown. One example of this would be outbreak. If you would like closely with supporting agencies such as local • Working with Gwynedd Council to phone tenants on responding to neighbours and individuals to take part and share authorities, the Police and others to make sure the Welsh Government’s shielding high risk Coronavirus who chose to ignore the Government’s social your views, head over to that the right support is provided to those who list, to let them know about the support available to distancing rules, which causes nuisance and our website: adra.co.uk to need it. them. worry for their neighbours. complete a short survey, • Created a Coronavirus web page on our website and How has that changed since Coronavirus? Also, since lockdown has begun, I’m one of or alternatively you can updating the page with the latest information and and As a result of social distancing, our offices are the staff members who has been carrying out call us on 0300 123 8084 service updates. closed so currently working from home. Even welfare calls to all our elderly and vulnerable and we can complete the though it’s a different way of working, what tenants to make sure they’re ok, and have survey with you over the I’m actually doing is the same in terms of the enough support and a way to receive the We are still here for you, but in a slightly phone. day to day responsibilities and the service essential items they need such as food and different way. we’re providing. medicine during this time.

4 5 The fantastic work of volunteers in the Music and song raise spirits at Llanrug community during Coronavirus A special concert was arranged at Hafan Elan, Llanrug, one of our sheltered housing sites. Hafan Elan is home to 30 people, who receive in awe of the incredible incredibly challenging time, support from our staff members. work that is being done by and to see new friendships It was Beverly Allsup our Supporting Housing volunteers through this buddy like Gwyndaf and Marjory Officer who decided to arrange the concert. scheme, and in all other developing as a result of this.” local volunteer groups that Beverly said: “Jonathan sang with an amplifier Marjory, a volunteer has said: have been set up across so that the residents could hear and see from Ensuring that you are safe our communities. It’s heart- “‘As you grow older you their windows and doors. He sang “Somewhere and supported during this time warming to see how people discover that you have Over the Rainbow”, “Yma o Hyd” and “You’ll has been our priority. That’s have come together to two hands, one for helping never Walk Alone.” yourself, the other for helping why we have partnered support their neighbours and “It was a sunny afternoon and we had created others.” with Mantell Gwynedd communities through this flags with rainbows on them too, to cheer to offer additional help and everyone up.” support to those who are self- isolating at home and need Elin Williams, Community Involvement a helping hand with some Manager at Adra said: “Many of our tenants practical tasks. have been feeling lonely and miss social interaction and companionship. As a result of our welfare calls to our 2500 elderly and “The aim of this short concert was to raise vulnerable tenants, we have spirits and give people an opportunity to community, everyone looks after each other matched over 70 tenants enjoy music and song, and not think about and I enjoyed the concert.” Coronavirus for a short time, while ensuring with local volunteers to The S4C Programme “Heno” also filmed the that everyone keeps their social distance to provide support through concert and interviewed tenants, which made ensure everyone’s safe as well.” the Mantell Gwynedd ‘Buddy the day even more special. If you’d like to Scheme’. These volunteers Eilwen Charters, who lives in Hafod Elan, said: watch a clip of the concert and hear Jonathan have been providing help with “I’ve been keeping busy during this time of singing, visit our Facebook page @adrataicyf tasks such as food shopping, staying home, we’re lucky here of our close collecting prescriptions and providing befriending calls. Gwyndaf Evans from is one tenant who has benefitted from this scheme, and is being supported by his volunteering buddy, Marjory Shaw. Gwyndaf has been advised to stay at home, so Marjory helps with picking up his prescription and delivering it If you need support with shopping, collecting to his door. prescriptions or would like someone to get in touch for a friendly chat over the phone, please contact Charlotte Elin Williams, Adra’s Hogan, who can help match you with a volunteer in your Community Involvement area: [email protected] or 0300 123 8084. Manager, said: “I am

6 7 Keeping the Playing Bingo! Gwynedd community Food Banks spirit alive Information in COVID-19 restrictions mean that businesses such as cafes and hotels Our tenants in Dolgellau have can’t open and as a result they been busy organising events have a lot of stock that needs to to lift our spirits over the past be used. Our wardens have been weeks. Residents at Ffordd y busy collecting donations from Felin had live music in their Celebrating a century local businesses to give to the food banks. Thanks to Gwynedd Council garden and observing social As all of us know by now many things have been cancelled for organising this. distancing rules, to raise recently, but one thing we can't cancel is birthdays! One person At Hafan Deg, an Adra money for the Health Service having a very special birthday in lockdown this year is Mr Wilfred sheltered housing site in by having a cake table where Kirkham a tenant from . On 15 May he celebrated turning Barmouth, the residents have everyone could donate. They 100! To wish him a happy birthday his neighbours came out to sing been playing Bingo to entertain also had a karaoke car where happy birthday to him. It was a pleasure to present a hamper of themselves during this period of people could nominate a song local goods for him to enjoy. staying home. for a donation to the charity. A member of the community got We love hearing stories like Jennifer Morris our Supported Housing Officer in the area said: in touch with our Community this about how you've been "It's not everyday that one of our tenants turns a 100. It's a Housing Officer, Helen Charlton, spending your time during big event, and we couldn't let it go by without some sort of a to ask if it would be possible for these strange times. Thanks celebration. It was a pleasure to be a part of the singing on the her to arrange social distancing Dolgellau residents for keeping street and presenting the gift to Mr Kirkham." bingo to entertain residents. the community spirit alive. Happy birthday to you Mr Kirkham and congratulations for The volunteer has been doing reaching this very special milestone! this by playing Bingo through the window and outside with So remember if you need to use a food bank, here residents. are details of local food banks near you: Helen Charlton, Community Bangor Cathedral Food Bank Housing Officer at Adra has said: Bangor – Plaid Cymru Office “Thanks to Alison Brooker, Arfon Food Bank – Gwyrfai Centre, Caernarfon Cathy Berridge and Erin Jones Barmouth – Revelation Community Stars from the local community for Dolgellau – Methodist Church The COVID-19 pandemic has seen our communities pull together organising this. I’ve enjoyed with people across the region volunteering to help and support helping with this and many of – The Big Rock Cafe others. our tenants certainly enjoyed joining in the fun and playing Tywyn – Advent Bookshop Do you know someone who has made a positive difference or the game. Bala – Manna Christian book shop gone the extra mile to help others in our communities? If so, why not nominate them for an award under our Community Stars “We we’re trying to cheer up Food Bank – Church Hall and raise spirits of the Hafan Scheme. Food Bank – Old Ethel Austin Deg residents, as well as help Nominating someone for an award is easy, simply contact our people to keep busy and have Denbigh – Chapel Street Community Involvement Team by phoning 0300 1238084 or something to do while self- – The Salvation Army & ARK Community e-mailing [email protected] isolating.” Centre

8 9 Face to face over the phone Wordsearch If all of this technology is new to you, we work with Techangels that can help you over the phone. Let our Community Involvement Team know if you want to get in touch with them.

Whatsapp Messenger Zoom

This app can do a lot of Messenger is an app Originally created for things - send messages, phone from Facebook. Similar to businesses, Zoom is more calls and also video calls. Press Whatsapp, Messenger is a suitable for chats with large the 'video camera' button in a free app that you can use to groups. If you are organising a Spring is finally chat with a person to call them. send photos and messages. family quiz, Zoom would be a here and it's You can also do group chats You can make video calls with great choice. Visit their website lovely to see an to phone up to eight people one or more person, again to create an account – it’s improvement in at the same time. Everything there are no fees or charges. FREE. the weather and within this app is FREE. leaves on the trees again. Here is a wordsearch full of things that remind us of spring to keep you Charity of the year busy. Every year at Adra we choose a charity to support. Several activities are held in our offices throughout the year to raise money – from cake bakes to selling books. Over the past year we have been supporting a local charity called Gafael Llaw. Gafael Llaw raise money A huge thank you to all the staff at Adra who to help and support children and families that have donated. Sudoku suffer from cancer. Now, its time to move on and choose a new To keep you entertained They do amazing work locally. During the last charity to support for the next year. Our staff during the lockdown year they’ve installed a brand-new sensory have voted to support another local charity. period, why not give this room at Ysbyty Gwynedd – a very valuable Blue Sky, helps people across North Wales to sudoku a try? Or if you've room for children who are in the hospital for benefit from the services of our National Health done one before, why not teach long periods of time. We are very proud that Service during times when they need it the others how to do one? Every we’ve been able to support this charity over the most. We can’t wait for the fund-raising ideas number between 1 and 9 should past year and managed to raise over £3,600 we have over the next 12 months to take shape appear in every box and in every that will go towards supporting their work. and support Blue Sky. row across and down. Good luck!

10 11