Report to Members Chair’S Message
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2017/18 Report to Members Chair’s Message Dear members, Welcome to our Report to Members 2017/18. We have made some important decisions on I’m Fran Bevan, and I’ve been Chair of our behalf of tenants and employees, and the Democratic Body since January 2017. I Democratic Body is a great example of how have been involved with Merthyr Valleys powerful influence can be, and how our voice Homes from the very beginning as a tenant (on your behalf) is being heard and listened representative on numerous panels and to. It is also a shining example of collaborative forums, and I served on the Board as a working. When you walk into a Democratic tenant representative and its Vice-Chair Body meeting, you could not identify who for many years. is a tenant member or who is an employee member – everyone works together for a The Democratic Body has worked really hard common goal. Our relationship with the Board over the past year on behalf of members, and and the Executive Management Team has we will be sharing some of the highlights with strengthened, and there is a real feeling of you in this report. Back in 2016 we developed mutualism throughout the organisation. ‘Yfory’ our plan for the next few years. It is an ambitious plan, but we are really pleased with I am proud to have led the Democratic Body what has been achieved over the past year in during this time – being a representative is a line with our values and our aspirations. You very rewarding role. It’s been great to see the can read more about what’s been achieved in real difference we have made and can make in our Annual Report. the future as ‘together we are stronger’. Fran 2 0800 085 7843 | www.mvhomes.org.uk 0800 085 7843 | www.mvhomes.org.uk 3 Introduction Welcome to your second ‘Report to Members’ The Democratic Body has a number of key – your report from us, the Democratic Body. roles and responsibilities: Inside you will find an account of our activities Key Functions during the last financial year (April 2017 – March 2018) – what we have achieved and To appoint (and remove) Non-Executive the decisions that we have influenced and Directors to the Board of MVH made on behalf of the members of Merthyr To approve the appointment (by the Valleys Homes. By working together we are Board) of the Chief Executive stronger, and this report demonstrates what To work with the Board and the can happen when members ‘have a say’. Chief Executive to ensure the good governance of the mutual It has been two years since Merthyr Valleys Homes changed its legal structure to become To work with the Board and the Chief Wales’ first tenant and employee owned Executive in developing the mutuals’ mutual housing association. Our mutual is business plan, including setting the owned by our tenant and employee members, strategic direction and approving the and these members are at the heart of the policy framework decision making. The Democratic Body are To approve the programme of internal here to act on your interests, and the wider audit and to monitor the performance interests of our communities in Merthyr Tydfil, of the organisation and we represent you. To set a Membership Strategy and to monitor its progress 4 0800 085 7843 | www.mvhomes.org.uk 0800 085 7843 | www.mvhomes.org.uk 5 Meet the Democratic Body Tenant Representatives The Democratic Body is made up of eleven elected tenant representatives Gaynor Bradley Kim Ford (elected by tenant members); eight elected employee representatives Gaynor is mother to 4 boys Kim has been a Merthyr (elected by employee members) and two nominated Local Authority and is a Director on the board Valleys Homes tenant for representatives (one Officer and one Councillor). of a local charity. Gaynor over 6 years. Kim is originally volunteers in the community from Cardiff but has lived and has a keen interest in in Treharris for over 25 Here you can find out a little bit more about each of us: drama and theatre production. years. She is a fully trained Gaynor returned to college and completed hairdresser and beautician and trained at a BTEC diploma in business and internet Merthyr Tydfil College and she currently works systems. In her spare time she makes bespoke in a local school. Frances Bevan Natalie Ryan celebration cakes and greeting cards. Chair (Tenant Representative) Vice Chair (Employee Kim is a proud mam to five beautiful but crazy Representative) and amazing children, and is most passionate Frances Bevan has been Marlene Burns about her community and ensuring that involved with Merthyr Valleys Natalie started her career Born and bred in Merthyr children have opportunities and safe areas to Homes since its inception in in MVH working in our ICT Tydfil Marlene has worked in play. Kim enjoys being on the Democratic Body 2009. She has served as the department, before joining the the town in a variety of jobs as she is always learning something new. Chair of the Democratic Body for almost two Engagement & Ownership Team in 2016 as our including the NHS. After years, after serving as its Vice Chair since May Digital Communications Officer. Natalie has Marlene retired she took up a 2016. Prior to this appointment, Frances served been on the Democratic Body since 2016, and number of voluntary positions Val Lloyd on the Board for a number of years as a Tenant has served as Vice Chair since 2017. Natalie is with charities including Merthyr Tydfil Credit Born and reared in Aberfan, Board Member, and was Vice Chair of the Board due to take over as Chair in the autumn. Union, of which she was a founding member. Val worked in Kayser Bonder for two years. Fran feels passionate about our wages office in Pentrebach as mutual – the service Natalie lives in Merthyr Tydfil with her husband Marlene has served on the Board of both well as the local Mothercare we provide to tenants, the wider community and young daughter and their dog. She is very Merthyr Tydfil Housing Association and Merthyr store in the town centre. Val and its commitment to change to meet community orientated, and is keen to develop Valleys Homes, and is a tenant representative has and continues to undertake voluntary roles new challenges. services for tenants and residents alike across on several panels and forums. Marlene brings with Citizens Advice Bureau, Visually Impaired the borough, believing that having projects or a wealth of housing experience with her onto Merthyr, Marie Curie, W I and others. Frances’ background is in general and centers that bring people together is vital for the Democratic Body, and enjoys the level of psychiatric nursing, National Health Service our tenants and the wider community. Natalie influence that members have. Marlene was Val lives in a community living scheme management and served as a Nursing Manager has previously undertaken lots of volunteering pleased to have been voted back on to the where she joined the Tuesday group and the for 12 nursing homes in the private sector. work, and has worked in one of Merthyr’s Democratic Body in 2017. gardening club. She enjoys every meeting of Frances has served as Chair of Governors of a largest youth clubs, Forsythia Youth Club, after the Democratic Body and Val hopes that we local high school. She sat on the South Wales attending herself as a young person and seeing will be joined by more young people as they Independent Advisory Group, a police group the benefits of this provision first hand. Vivian Evans are the future for our long-term success. relating to race relations and diversity. Vivian lives in the lower end of Natalie has enjoyed seeing the progress that the borough in Quakers Yard, Frances lives in Trefechan, and enjoys spending the Democratic Body has made, and how it and has been a tenant of MVH time with her daughter and two grandchildren. has grown in strength. Natalie feels that she for ten years. In her spare time she enjoys watching her has grown in confidence too, and this was grandson play rugby, and is also a very big fan demonstrated in her delivering a speech in the Although Vivian is a newer member of the of musical theatre. Houses of Parliament recently. Democratic Body, joining in September 2017, he can already see that talking things through with the ability for all representatives to have their say is a great way to solve problems and come up with new ideas. 6 0800 085 7843 | www.mvhomes.org.uk 0800 085 7843 | www.mvhomes.org.uk 7 Meet the Democratic Body Employee Representatives Joan Marshall Tracey Powell Alex Bartlett Robert Davenport Joan was born in Merthyr Tracey is originally from Alex moved to Merthyr Tydfil Bob is a Community Housing and attended Troedyrhiw Swansea, but has been living from his hometown of Milford Officer with Merthyr Valleys Secondary Modern School. in Merthyr Tydfil since 1991. Haven in 2016, to come Homes and is involved Joan moved away from Tracey has five children. and work in Merthyr Valleys in all aspects of housing Merthyr, got married and had Tracey has been an active Homes as an Infrastructure management. Bob has 3 children. She returned to Merthyr Tydfil in tenant representative for almost seven years Support & Development Officer. Alex has worked in this role for 30 years both with MVH 2014. Joan has a Social Policy Hons Degree, sitting on several forums and panels, and recently changed roles within the organization and the Local Authority (before transfer).