Cardiff Council • Communities Tenants’ Times Issue 46 | Spring 2019
Is your Garden Blooming Marvellous? – Page 1 Your Story; Downsizing – Page 5 Electrical Safety – Page 7 1 Tenants’ Times - Issue 46
Cash For Your Is your Garden Thoughts! Blooming Marvellous? Thank you to everyone who Do you consider yourself green fingered or would you completed the annual tenant like to learn? Our yearly gardening competition is now satisfaction survey, which was open to entries for 2019! included with our last issue of Tenants Times. Tenant’s views and opinions are an important part of shaping the way we improve our services in the future. We are always trying to engage with local communities to ensure we can offer the best services possible for our Tenants and Leaseholders. Big congratulations to our winners who filled in the survey and won cash prizes adding up to £350!
1st Mrs H Henry There are cash prizes up for 029 2087 1777 or send us an 2nd Mr G Hegarty grabs for first, second and third email at TenantParticipation@ place. Why not enter today? Cardiff.gov.uk and we will send rd Mr A Polycarpou 3 The winners are announced one out including a freepost If you want to be a winner at our Tenants Conference in envelope to send it straight back. in the future, please keep a October. Get the recognition your look out for the next survey effort deserves! arriving on your doorstep in Categories include; Did you know? Gardening has 2019! We look forward to Front Garden been proven to relieve stress, 1. hearing from you! boost your immune system as 2. Back Garden well as decreasing the risk of dementia in old age! 3. Restricted space
We also have the contact details 4. Community Garden of many community gardens 5. Communal Garden across Cardiff if you don’t have the space. Why not head down for a cup of tea to see if you would like to get involved!
You can request a sign up form by phoning our office on
www.cardifftenants.co.uk 029 2087 1777 [email protected] Tenants’ Times - Issue 46 2
King and Queen of Hearts’ Ball
Heathmead’s Healthy Lunch Event Over Blue Monday and Straight to the Ball! Community living schemes over Cardiff have been regularly meeting up for fun and games with their neighbours and local community! Each event is a great opportunity to meet new friends & have food and games with your neighbours.
Get over Blue Mondays at Ely involved in sharing stories about get involved, please speak to Homeguard social club! families and friends once the your scheme manager about There is no better way to shake disco finished. upcoming events or call Tenant off the cobwebs of Christmas and Participation on 029 2087 1777. Heathmead’s Healthy look forward to 2019! There were Lunch event. even a few games of bingo and a An event to promote healthy singalong courtesy of the Goldies eating with help from a local
Cymru choir.
dietician from public health wales b
u l
C King and Queen of Heart’s ball. and everyone got the opportunity l
a i Tenants dress up in white, red or to taste some new healthy food! c o S
d pink and were treated to a high r a If you live in a community u g tea and a disco! They even got e living scheme and would like to om H Ely
www.cardifftenants.co.uk 029 2087 1777 [email protected] 3 Tenants’ Times - Issue 45 We’ll get the Inspiring The Youth popcorn out! On 2nd February Butetown Pavillion opened its doors to the local community by hosting a careers fair with the theme ‘Inspiring the youth’.
“The event was so inspiring. I have a few more career options I am looking into now that I hadn’t before heard of!”
“It was nice to have such a great event with role models from the same community as myself who can uplift, inspire and encourage us” We have rented out a cinema room in butetown for the following dates. Why not “When’s the next one? I met come down, watch a film and some really cool people!” have a chat? They will all be running from 10am – 2pm with lunch provided!
Summer Cinema 27th June
Halloween Cinema 31st October
Christmas Cinema 20th December
Limited spaces available. To book on and get more details, please ring Local experts and professionals Engineering took part to offer Tenant Participation on from South Wales took part advice, book people on taster 029 2087 1777 or email us with stalls and heartwarming days, as well as offering suitable at TenantParticipation@ presentations with the aim candidates job opportunities, Cardiff.gov.uk. to inspire bold ambitions and apprenticeships, shadow days and achievable goals for the next general work experience. generation of job seekers in Following the jobs fair, two south Cardiff. separate workshops offered Experts from industries such as speakers at a parent’s panel and Medicine, Pharmacy , Chemical youth panel with representatives engineering , ICT, Cyber security, from local universities, colleges Construction , Architecture , & schools. Laboratory Sciences and Civil www.cardifftenants.co.uk 029 2087 1777 [email protected] Hubs & Communities 4
We’re looking for Foster Carers as What we offer diverse and vibrant as Cardiff’s children • Newly updated competitive fees and generous allowances and young people themselves! • Additional payments for holidays, religious holidays and birthdays Could I foster? • 54 weeks’ pay a year Are you: • Access to qualifi ed respite carers to allow • Passionate about bettering the lives of Cardiff’s you rest and recuperation breaks young people? • Professional Learning and Development • Interested in earning an additional income or opportunities with nationally recognised maybe considering a change of career? qualifi cations • Able to provide care, guidance and support to • Specialist Support- including your very own Cardiff’s young people? qualifi ed Support Worker Then you could foster! • As a Not for Profi t Organisation, 100% of our budget goes directly towards bettering the lives of children and young people.
Come and join our team! For more details, contact our friendly team on 029 2087 3797. Our team are available Monday - Thursday 9am-5pm and Friday 9 a.m. - 4.30 p.m. www.fostercarecardiff.co.uk
www.cardifftenants.co.uk 029 2087 1777 [email protected] 5 Tenants’ Times - Issue 45
Your Story; Downsizing I used to live on the seventh floor in a high-rise block of flats. My cousin, and best friend, who I lived with for over 20 years passed away and the flat was too big for me to manage on my own.
Everything in the flat reminded anything. The Accommodations like I’ve got my independence me of my Cousin so I decided it Solutions Officer was with back and I couldn’t rate the was time for change. I needed me every step of the way, to Accommodations Solutions team a smaller place that was more discussing the offer letter, being highly enough, I don’t know manageable and was on the there at the time of the viewing why this wasn’t implemented ground floor. to the very end when they set up sooner. They were very friendly, all my utilities at my new address. so helpful and they are welcome When I was offered a property, an This gave me so much confidence around anytime for a cuppa. Accommodation Solutions Officer that I was making the right hand delivered the offer letter Contact Us decision because I had a friendly and answered every question face there that I knew I could rely. The Accommodation Solutions I had. They made it clear what Team are available Monday to the next steps were and helped Since moving I am so happy Thursday 8.30-1700 and Friday me overcome a few barriers that in my new place. The move 8.30-16.30 on: were stopping me from moving. was stress free and once I was Having the Accommodation settled, the Accommodation Tel 029 2053 7111 Solutions team supporting me Solutions Officer made sure any Email was a big relief as I was always issues I had were resolved, took SLUAccommodationSolutions@ clear in what steps were next in care of all the stressful stuff like Cardiff.gov.uk the process and they were always informing my pension, insurance, a phone call away if I ever needed bank, benefits and utilities. I feel www.cardifftenants.co.uk 029 2087 1777 [email protected] Tenancy Management 6 Introducing our Tenancy Sustainment Team The Tenancy Sustainment Team has recently been set up to help people who may be struggling to understand their responsibilities as a tenant, and to support them in sustaining their tenancies.
We recognise that many of our looking at early intervention, to tenants experience personal and support those most at risk before community difficulties and this tenancy issues may escalate. can affect their ability to sustain 100 years of They will be working their tenancies. The Tenancy collaboratively with tenants housing Sustainment Team are here to who are feeling isolated and work closely with those tenants, This year marks 100 years alone to link in with community to look at what issues may be since the introduction of and voluntary organisations; to affecting their tenancy and to council housing following the engage in community activities; help them access services to end of the First World War. and also to support their improve their lives, and their After the war, the Addison involvement with various health ability to manage their tenancies Act was introduced with services, to name a few. successfully. We want to help the aim of building council improve the safety, sense of We will be providing outreach homes ‘fit for heroes’ for community and wellbeing, to work in tenant homes but will soldiers returning home after improve the lives of individuals also be operating from the local, the First World War. and communities. community HUBS. If you or a Keep your eyes peeled as tenant you know is struggling The Tenancy Sustainment Team we at Cardiff Council are to maintain their home or will be working closely with celebrating by hosting a needs help with health or other current Tenancy Management series of events across issues please contact us on 029 and Anti-Social Behaviour Teams, the city! 2053 7271 or contact us by to identify tenants most of email at tenancy.sustainment@ If you would like to host an risk of tenancy failure. We are cardiff.gov.uk. event in your community to celebrate 100 years of council housing or would like to share an experience from your time living as a council tenant, please don’t hesitate to contact the Tenant Participation team by ringing us on 029 2087 1777 or sending us an e-mail at TenantParticipation@ Cardiff.gov.uk
www.cardifftenants.co.uk 029 2087 1777 [email protected] 7 Tenants’ Times - Issue 45 Electrical Safety in Council Homes Cardiff Council takes part in routine testing of Gas and Electrics to ensure the safety of its tenants and leaseholders.
Handy details are; We are required by law will result in the contractor to inspect and service all notifying us, which can result in • Cardiff Council’s Responsive appliances annually. legal action. repairs unit is initiating a program of Electrical All tests are to be carried out The Contractors and the areas Installation Condition by Approved and Qualified they are carrying out work for testing to a number of its Electricians, Gas Safe registered Electrical testing are: properties throughout the operatives and Contractors but Wates Construction will be coming months. remember; Council Operatives working in the following areas and Contractors will always carry • There will also be Gas Safety during the upcoming months. Identification and must provide checks to ensure the safe it on request. Some tests may • Penylan, Creigau, Radyr performance of all heating require additional remedial works & Morganstown, Cathays, systems in our properties. and failure to provide access Canton, Pentyrch, Adamsdown,
www.cardifftenants.co.uk 029 2087 1777 [email protected] Repairs 8
Plasnewydd, Riverside, Grangetown, Caerau , Butetown, Splott, Fairwater, Ely
Starlight Electrical will be working in the following areas for the same period.
• Llandaff, Lisvane, Rhwbina, Pontprennau & old St Mellons, Heath, Gabalfa, Whitchurch & Tongwynlais, Rumney, Llandaff North, Llanishen, Trowbridge, Pentwyn, Llanrumney
LCB construction will be working in Bungalows, Sheltered Housing and Flats in the following areas.
• Lydstep Flats, Radyr & Morganstown, Llanrumney, Pentyrch, Llanishen, Heath, Ely, Fairwater, Caerau, Whitchurch, Grangetown. Home Contents Insurance For Gas Safety checks, if you are on a pre pay or token payment Designed for Cardiff Tenants meter, please ensure that you have adequate credit to allow the Premiums start from 52p a Gas Safety check to take place. Some of the key benefits: week, for standard cover (for • Covers fire, theft, flood, If you have any questions about tenants aged under 25 or over water damage and other Electrical testing or Gas safety 60, for a £6,000 sum insured). household risks checks, please do not hesitate Premiums start from 69p a to ring C2C on 029 2087 2087 or • Affordable weekly week, for standard cover for check on our website at www. premiums and flexible all other tenants, for a £8,000 cardiff.gov.uk/ENG/resident/ payment options sum insured. Housing/Living-in-a-council- • No excess to pay property/electrical-safety-checks. For more information or to • There are no minimum request an application pack, home security please contact Cardiff Council requirements on 029 2053 7382. • Extended accidental damage is available for an Limits and exclusions apply. additional premium A full policy wording is available • If you have a key safe or on request. carer you are still eligible Underwritten by Aviva to apply for the scheme Insurance Ltd.
www.cardifftenants.co.uk 029 2087 1777 [email protected] 9 Tenants’ Times - Issue 46 ! 100 Years of Council Housing, Tell us your stories! This year marks 100 years of council housing in the UK. We want to host a series of events this year to celebrate all the wonderful things that council tenants have done £30 in their homes and communities.
Have you read it? Enter our prize draw!
Answer these three questions correctly to be entered into our prize draw to win £30 worth of shopping vouchers of your choice!
1. How many categories are there for Council Tenants & Leaseholders to enter in our Blooming Marvellous competition?
2. On what date did Butetown Pavilion host the jobs fair?
3. What is the phone number for the new Tenant Time to Draw! Why not celebrate 100 years of council housing in the UK by colouring this one in? Sustainability team? Please email your entries to We are offering £100 of shopping £100 Shopping voucher awarded TenantParticipation@Cardiff. vouchers for the best story to the winner! describing a time or memory of gov.uk or post them to us at Please email your entries to you living in your council house or FREEPOSTCARDIFF COUNCIL TenantParticipation@Cardiff. community! TENANT PARTICIPATION to be gov.uk or post them to us at in with a chance of winning This can be anything, whether it FREEPOST CARDIFF COUNCIL our prize! has to do with an event in your TENANT PARTICIPATION to be For further information, community, a funny time in your in with a chance of winning our please don’t hesitate to home or just a description of the prize! For further information, contact us on 029 2087 1777. area you live in! please do not hesitate to contact us on 029 2087 1777. Competition entries close on No more than 500 words! July 31st 2019. We look forward to hearing about Entries close July 31st. your council memories! www.cardifftenants.co.uk 029 2087 1777 [email protected]