issue 1, winter 2019 NEW YEAR New Magazine. We're proud to introduce our brand Role model. new magazine, Gary Williams is a hard act to follow – pages 10&11 valleys. WIN £30 in Love2Shop vouchers with our puzzles – page 19 @WeAreTrivallis #ValleysMag www.trivallis.co.uk Editor's Note WHAT'S INSIDE? With Rebekah Hewett Welcome to 4 Readers' Panel WELCOME to the very first edition of valleys., our new look tenant magazine. After seven years, we’ve 5 Looking Back made the decision to say farewell to Roof Top to create something with a new look, new stories and features all written and designed with you in mind 6 Millie Gets Gold – our customers. We’re really pleased with how this first issue has turned out and it’s all 6 15 7 Driving Success thanks to you for sharing your feedback and telling us about what you like to read. In this edition, we’ve got great 8&9 Know Your gardening tips from an expert who works locally in Tonteg, a delicious Lemons recipe that’s quick and easy to do and some fab advice from our in-house teams around money management and 10&11 budgeting. Role Model Turn to page 10 to read our cover story about Gary Williams; a man who Rebekah plays a number of different roles within -x- 12&13 Money Matters his community each day or go to page your completed puzzles; each one we us on [email protected]. If you 19 if you like more of a challenge and receive will be entered into a prize would like to be more involved in the want to try your hand at our brand draw and the winner (who is picked at magazine, we’re looking to create a 8&9 10&11 new puzzle page – there’s a crossword, random) gets £30 Love2Shop vouchers. readers panel to review our ideas for 14 Health & word search and Sudoku that will We’d love to hear from you to see valleys. throughout the year. Does make you scratch your head for sure. what you’ve enjoyed reading in this this sound like something you would be Wellbeing Don’t forget to send us photos of issue so please get in touch by emailing interested in? Email us to learn more. GETTING IN TOUCH 15 Can You Dig It? THERE ARE LOTS OF WAYS FOR YOU TO CONTACT US AT TRIVALLIS. 16 What's Cooking? 17 Puzzle Pavilion 5 7 18&19 Customer Corner Email us on: Text us on: Visit us at our office: [email protected] 07827 895 936 Tŷ Pennant, Mill Street, Pontypridd, CF37 2SW HOW ARE WE DOING? If you would like this edition of valleys. or any other communications from Trivallis, Our quarterly performance report is now available. in an alternative format such as large print or Braille we would be happy to do this. To see 'Our Performance @ A Glance' turn to page 18 Simply contact Trivallis on 03000 030 888 and ask to speak to the Communications Team. or to view the full Quarterly Performance Report visit If you would prefer not to receive this magazine, please let us know by emailing [email protected] www.trivallis.co.uk/our-reports and click Simply tell us your name and address and we can remove you from our mailing list. 'Trivallis Quarterly Performance Report' 2 @WeAreTrivallis #ValleysMag www.trivallis.co.uk @WeAreTrivallis #ValleysMag www.trivallis.co.uk 3 valleys. Readers' Panel With Sadye Baker BEING a Tonyrefail girl brought up surrounded by music lovers, it’s no surprise that I’ve visited many music venues across the Valleys. From Treorchy’s Park and Dare theatre to Merthyr’s Red House, I’ve been lucky enough to see lots of live acts, from punk to poetry. In this edition of ‘Looking Back’, I’ll be sharing the story of a particular venue that holds a special place in my heart, The Factory in Porth. 1890s POPTASTIC PAST The Factory William Evans’s Welsh Hills Mineral has played host for many top acts Water Factory was built in the 1890s over the years to house state-of-the-art machinery for What is our Readers’ Who are we looking for? and share ideas for what we can making soft drinks, or pop to you and takeover by the ‘Beecham Group’. called ‘Rhondda Rocks’, that brought Panel? Anyone can join – you don’t have to include in the next issue. We will me . in hundreds of people to check out Four times a year, we send out be an expert. We want to know your also pay your travel expenses. A new idea, it was hoped the fizzy 2000s emerging talent from our valleys. a magazine to our customers. We views because our magazine is for you. For some projects, we might also drinks may reduce the amount of Fast forward 20 years and Pontypridd These days, the venue no longer want your help to make sure it’s If you like reading, you’re interested speak to you over the phone to alcohol being drunk in over 120 pubs icon Tom Jones is smashing a bottle of promotes its own live music, but relies what you want. in design or photography or simply get your opinions or hear your around the South Wales Valleys at the dandelion and burdock against the brick on outside promoters to keep the want to have your say on what we put personal story or we may invite time. walls to mark the re-opening of the music alive. We’re looking for people to join in our magazine, this is a great chance you to join a focus group. Door-to-door deliveries of Welsh building as a music and media complex . Nigel Baker from Tonyrefail has our Readers’ Panel who can help to get involved. Hills’ soft drinks saw glass bottles of ‘The Pop Factory’ was founded by Emyr recently launched ‘The Loft Acoustic’, a us to make sure the magazine is: u Interested? If you’d dandelion and burdock, lemonade, and Mair Afan of Avanti Media. monthly opportunity for acoustic acts How does it work? like more information on orangeade and raspberryade brought Weekly television shows filmed in the to showcase their talents at the venue. • Useful When the time comes to produce becoming a panellist, email to people’s homes by horse and cart. building were broadcast by ITV Wales He said: “I’ve always loved this building; • Easy to read the next edition of our magazine, we’ll [email protected] or and the building played host to live I’ve played here a few times and even • Attractive and well-designed. get in touch and ask if you want to call 03000 030 888 and ask 1920s music shows from Victoria Beckham, supported The Blockheads once. help. We’ll invite you to come along to to speak to a member of The success of the business grew and Stereophonics, Cerys Matthews, Manic “I was gutted to hear that the our offices to look over the magazine the communications team. William Evans decided that it would Street Preachers, Funeral for a Friend, venue was no longer putting on gigs need a new name. Welsh Hills Soft The Blackout, Bullet for My Valentine, so I decided to start something up Drinks became ‘Corona’, which was Kids in Glass Houses and even former myself. Our monthly nights are an soon to become a household name. Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl when he opportunity for anyone who likes SINCE I started here at Trivallis just of love and hard work has gone into The brand became so popular that 87 stood in for Queens of the Stone Age. music to come along and see some over a year ago, I have wanted us to THOMAS creating them. factories and distribution depots were great performances; you can even get reconnect with you - the customer. At a time when a lot of housing eventually built across England and 2010s involved and do a few songs if you Without you we simply don’t exist, associations are doing away with their Wales. The Valleys Kids charity bought the fancy it! Check us out on Facebook to that’s why I am pleased that we are TALKS magazines we simply wanted to make Delivery drivers worked a 13-hour building in 2012 and launched the find out when the next night is.” able to launch this new look magazine The quarterly column from ours better, make it more useful and day and were paid 30 shillings a week Factory with the aim of developing the The Factory also hosts an art gallery based on your feedback, based on what make it more about you and less about plus commission – and door-to-door space as a creative hub and live music and play centre for young children, a Trivallis Chief Exec you said you wanted. Ian Thomas us. salesmen were expected to call at 250 venue. big change from its early days of fizzy For me Trivallis has a huge role to play I hope you enjoy reading it as much as households each day. From 2012 – 2014 I volunteered at drinks. in the Valleys (hence the new name for sure that we do all we can to make we enjoyed making it. the venue, promoting live music events this magazine). We want to be a lot sure that your house is a home. 1980s like performances from Reggae Rock u To keep up with the latest more than a landlord, we want to help We are committed to that, in fact The 1980s saw the end of an era, with band Skindred, Mod-Rockers From Loft Acoustic events at The regenerate our communities, improve we are passionate about it.