Summer 2016 THE

Rhondda Housing Association | Cymdeithas Tai p 06 WTea, Talka yAhead and Tech Combatting social isolation & developing digital skills community news Keeping In Touch

We want to make sure that if we need to contact you with important information, we are able to do so.

r out of ed any Has anyone moved in o ve chang If you ha bers your home, since you last hone num of your p our spoke to us? If so then please s know y ase let u know, so that we can ple mbers let us urrent nu cords c H update our re ave you c n hanged y ame sinc our e you star tenancy ted your ? This mig ex ht be, fo ample, if r you have married o r divorced

Please l et us know In this issue your curr ent email COMMUNITY address 04 Get Involved 06 Tea, Talk, Tech 11 Homelessness Prevention Please contact our Customer MONEY Services team on 01443 424200 12 Income Advice Team 13 Moneyline Cymru and they will be happy to help. HOUSING 15 Condensation 18 Award Winners 20 Homes for Sale Ways To Contact Us

This newsletter is printed on environmentally 01443 424200 friendly sustainable paper. When you have finished reading, please recycle it. [email protected] recycle www.rhondda.org @rhahousing

[email protected] www.rhondda.org 01443 424 200 community

Make It Work e it Work Mak ce rk experien o week wo is a tw r offices in unity at ou u opport ng part yo rough taki ypandy. Th ared for Ton ls, be prep n new skil T. & can gai omplete I. lace and c the workp ining. Service tra Customer So far: participants have 55 taken part over: ent will c gained employment r placem 23 You ills phone sk • Tele e public are now long term with th 15 volunteering • Dealing ration Administ • skills omputer rience • C vice expe omer ser orkplace • Cust y in the w and safet • Health

These skills can enhance confidence in both your personal life and in your future career.

Participants can choose the department they want to gain experience in and will be supported by a For m Make It Work staff mentor. ore information em ail: G etInvolved@ The placement runs alongside ‘Customer Service rhondda.org or telephon and Business Administration’ training, delivered e 0 1443 424200 via Learn Direct, so you get experience and a qualification. Great for your CV!

[email protected] www.rhondda.org summer 2016 03 Ge tting Involved with RHA can be as simple as responding to an e mail we send, to gi ving your time and attending our te nants groups.

We understand that as tenants you can help us improve our services by telling us what is important to you and how we can change things for the better.

There are many ways to Get Involved:

oining or setting up local er J Becoming a Tenant Board Memb tenant/community groups services Becoming a me ng feedback on mber of our Tenant Providi e Asses nd maintenanc sors group or Social Inclusion group like repairs a Attending tenants events Completing questionnaires We have lots going in and one of our groups is looking at the way we communicate with tenants digitally. Whether that’s our website, social media, mobile phone apps, emails or text messages. We want to make it easier for you to get in touch with us. o help people “I helps me get out, I get t el really good” cant and that makes me fe ribute we on’t cont work “If we d ange and “I get involved gs to ch now to help the pect thin doesn’t k Assoc ex sociation iation b etter understand , the As p” for us speak u what tenants really n unless we eed”

“I got invo lved because bette I want to fe r; more conf el m ident and pro yself.II want t ud of hings to chan how ge I shape services can improve” If you are interested in getting more involved or would like more information please speak to your Neighbourhood Officers, call us on 01443 424218 or email [email protected]

[email protected] www.rhondda.org summer 2016 05 community

Tea, Talk & Tech!

During April & May we organised special events for our older tenants to get involved in.

Our Tea, Talk, Tech events have been organised in partnership with Interlink, Phoenix Initiative & & West Housing and provided an informal atmosphere where they could learn computer skills and meet new friends.

The events created the perfect opportunity for local community members to come together and get to know each other. They all enjoyed delicious afternoon tea with us and received support & advice on the Universal Credit changes.

Our partners, Phoenix initiative are running computer classes in every Tuesday morning. The sessions are suitable for all abilities so Get Involved! Please ring your neighbourhood officer Liam on 01443 424217 for details.

06 summer 2016 01443 424 200 community

If you would like to get involved in forthcoming events, learn I.T. skills or would like support then contact Simone on 01443 424218 or email [email protected] [email protected] www.rhondda.org summer 2016 07 general news What’s oing On G a In Your Are

• The Hive – Men’s & Women’s Sheds: This wonderful group provide woodwork skills, sewing, walking football, free golf coaching and a place to meet new friends. Contact Paul, Diane or Eric on 01443 682312 for details or Email: [email protected]

• Alzheimer’s Society Singing for the Brain : Each Wednesday between 2.00-3.30pm at Alec Jones Day Centre, Station Street in . Please call prior to attending by contacting 01685 353919 or email [email protected]

• Health Checks : Drink Wise Age Well host events offering blood pressure testing, diabetes screening, lung capacity testing, smoking cessation service, alcohol direct engagement and can meet their support team. Please contact: 0800 161 5780 or 07958 162 061 or email: [email protected] for more info.

• Welsh Hearts – Community Classes: The Welsh Hearts charity shop in welcomes you to join their community classes. Card & craft classes, beauty treatments, sewing, and patchwork are just a few of the classes they offer. For more information please contact [email protected] or call 02920 647735 or visit welshhearts.org/RCT100

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Llys Catwg Tenants & Residents Association This successful tenant & community group had a wonderful 2015 and isnt letting up this year! The group have seen Beauty & the Beast pantomime in Porthcawl’s Grand Pavilion and neighbours, family and friends had a fantastic day out. They also had a trip to Banbury Market which proved very popular.

The group are planning some fundraising at the Cancer Research Fun Run in Cardiff. And have a fantastic day out to Weymouth planned for 14th August 2016.

Anyone wishing to join please contact Mr & Mrs Jones on 07480378516 or 01443 226862

[email protected] www.rhondda.org summer 2016 09

community

Homelessness Prevention Project Rhondda Include was very pleased to welcome local Councillor Joel James to RHA earlier this year. We invited Councillor James to meet with us to With support, he was able to look at what learn more about the support we offer to people income he had, budget and manage his bills living throughout Rhondda Cynon Taff, how better. He had more money to buy things for his much it means to people who have used the flat which made it feel more like his home. Mr O service and the benefits of receiving support at has stopped drinking, his health has improved the time it is needed. Councillor James met with dramatically, he has re-applied for his driving somebody who had received support from our license, and is looking at volunteering. His service, Mr O spoke at length about when things relationships with his family are much better had started to go wrong in his life and how and he has re-established contact with his support had helped him to turn a corner and get children. Mr O feels he is now able to look back on track. forward to a future.

Mr O’s relationship broke down about ten years Councillor James was able to gain a very open ago and he became very depressed. He started and honest picture about some of the to drink heavily but has since realised that this difficulties faced by residents in the community caused as many problems as it solved; he lost his and how important support is to people to help driving licence and his health was affected them overcome barriers and obstacles to make badly. During this time he was living in a private positive changes in their life. rented flat, which was damp and costing him £125 per month to keep up with his rent He was also very keen to learn more about issues payments. Mr O moved into a new property, such as welfare reform and universal credit and which was much better than his previous flat, asked questions about the effect these may have but away from family and friends. He felt lonely on tenants and services in the local community. which led to his depression and drinking becoming worse.

[email protected] www.rhondda.org summer 2016 11 money Our ‘NEW’ Income Advice Team

We understand the benefit changes and cost of living can be challenging for our tenants and we want to support you. We have formed a specialist team called the Income Advice Team who can offer guidance and assist you with financial challenges. We can work with you to resolve your financial worries and help you make informed choices regarding your budgeting. We want you to understand the risks of non-payment of rent so that we can help you prevent arrears and maintain your tenancies.

We offer a friendly, professional and expert service in the following areas:

Housing Benefit Claims Universal and Appeals/ Credit Claims Backdate Information Income Advice Team Leader – Natasha Requests Accessing and Advice on McCarthy has worked for Rhondda Housing other support Money Management, Association for almost ten years offering agencies and Paying Bills/Utilities, support around budgeting and she is talking to these Grants, Debt and accredited through the Institute for Money agencies with Budgeting Advisors to deliver money and debt advice to the community. In the last year 1169 people received one to one Income Advisors – Mark Richards, Donna Gale support to improve their financial situation & and Emma Burnett who have a wealth of gain new skills experience in support and financial inclusion. They have excellent knowledge of housing Please don’t bury your head in the sand, if you services and are able to advise on rent arrears are struggling to pay your rent or you need and how to manage along with your benefits support please ring and make an appointment and other debts. with one of the team on 01443424231. Ring our Customer Services Team on 01443 424200 and they can make an appointment for you with the team.

12 summer 2016 01443 424 200 money

Have you heard about Moneyline Cymru? Moneyline Cymru is a “not for profit” They are an ethical alternative to high-street payday lenders with interest rates at 3.75% per organisation working in RCT which month. They can provide loans from £100 to a offers short term same day loans and £1,000 which spread the cost over a period of savings accounts for local people. time to suit you. It will also give you a 2% cashback which is paid into your Moneyline savings account once you have repaid your INTE loan in full. ANS RES LO RAT T M £100 ES A You can also set up a savings plan from as little FRO 3.75 T as 50p a week. It currently has more than 1,000 % PE TO £ MO R 22,000 savers who between them have NTH deposited over £6.5million. 2% CASHBACK For more information: Telephone: S 0345 643 1553 or Text: 0786 0021512 . ON LOAN Or visit them at: PAID IN 35 Taff Street, , CF37 4TR FULL Rent Prize Draw!

One of our board members has To make sure you are included in our picked the winner of our Spring Rent next prize draw then simply keep up Prize Draw. The tenant was over the to date with your rent. For more moon and plans to treat herself with information on ways to pay your the £250 prize money. rent or support we can offer then contact us on 01443 424200.

[email protected] www.rhondda.org summer 2016 13 Be A Responsible Pet Owner housing

Condensation In Your Home All the air in our homes contains a certain amount of ‘invisible’ water vapour. The higher the temperature of the air the more water vapour it can hold. Condensation occurs when air carrying vapour comes into contact with a cool surface e.g. external wall. At this reduced temperature less water can be held and it is deposited on the surface. It is for this reason that the bathroom mirror steams up during a shower or a window when you breathe on it.

Where can it occur? • Buy a tumble drier or washer drier with an • Kitchens and bathrooms internal condenser, which removes moisture to • Bedroom external walls an internal drain or is vented to the outside air. • Avoid the use of bottled gas and paraffin • Walls of unheated rooms heaters if possible. • Cold corners of rooms • Open windows and ventilate rooms. • Wardrobes/cupboards and behind furniture against an outside wall What can I do to control my Reduce the amount of moisture condensation? The most effective course of action you can take you produce when creating steam in the kitchen or bathroom Normal activities such as bathing, washing and is to open windows and close doors to these cooking all produce moisture that cannot be rooms. This will let moisture escape through the avoided. Simple changes can prove effective in window and prevent it from spreading through the tackling condensation dampness. house to cold surfaces. If you have an extractor • Dry washing outside when possible or if fan, make sure it’s on and working correctly. drying clothes inside on radiators, ventilate the rooms well. • Remember radiators are there to provide heat REMEMBER – A WARM WELL VENTILATED to your home not to dry clothes. HOME IS A HEALTHY HOME • Keep lids on saucepans while cooking.

[email protected] www.rhondda.org summer 2016 15 housing

New Developments

2016 sees us handing over new modern homes to applicants of . Most recently we have handed over eight new homes at The Royal in and thirty nine new homes at Cwrt Castellau in .

We want fairness and a good This manages the start of the allocation process community mix in our new and ensures we: • Have a mix of ages as we want our schemes to development schemes. This is have a good balance. ensured through “Local Letting • Have at least a third of new tenants will be Plans” which are formed in economically active (meaning they are in employment, volunteering or training). partnership with the local authority • We don’t consider anyone with a recent RCT Homefinder service. record of persistent anti-social behaviour. • Have a minimum of 50% of applicants who have a local connection to the area.

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We have more new homes planned so if you need more information then you can register with the RCT Homefinder service and bid on those properties you would like to move into. For more information on our new housing developments Upon your new home being allocated we offer our support service to ensure you are financially contact your Neighbourhood prepared. We get new tenants together and give Officer and look at you the chance to meet your new neighbours whilst also signing our ‘Community Pledge’. www.homefinderrct.org.uk

[email protected] www.rhondda.org summer 2016 17 housing

Our New Homes Are Award Winners! The RCT Local Authority Building Control (LABC) Building Excellence Awards were held earlier this year and we are delighted to announce we won! A very special thanks to our Our Cwrt Dref in Seymour Street, in partnership with WDL Contractors won the top construction partners who award in the Best Social Housing category. And have helped us create our York Drive scheme in developed affordable new homes in our in partnership with Weston Contractors was highly commended in the same category. Our communities of which we are Taff Street in Pontypridd scheme also received a very proud indeed. highly commended in Best Conversion category. 18 summer 2016 01443 424 200 housing Your Neighbourhood Officer

We’ve recently made a few changes to our Neighbourhood Team and you can find out who your new Neighbourhood Officer is by looking at the map. You can contact your Neighbourhood Officer by telephone or email. Patch No. 1 Patch No. 4 Liam Way Tracey Turner E: [email protected] E: [email protected] T: 01443 424217 T: 01443 424213 M: 07736925090 M: 07834482007

Patch No. 2 Leigh Caveney E: [email protected] T: 01443 424216 M: 07834751514

Patch No.3 Beverley John Davies E: [email protected] T: 01443 424211 M: 07834482000

If your Neighbourhood Officer is busy or out of the office, then leave a message or speak to a member of our Customer Services Team on 01443 424200

[email protected] www.rhondda.org summer 2016 19 New Homes For Sale

We are developing new three bedroom homes for sale in , RCT

The new scheme is being built on the old Ystrad Depot site, between Mill Street and Trafalgar Terrace. All the houses will have their own gardens, off street parking and ideally placed for local amenities.

If you would like more information please contact Kerrin on 01443 424266 or email: [email protected] www.rhondda.org