Linkup Autumn 2004

The following stories are extracts from our quarterly tenants' newsletter. If you would like a full paper version then please contact Cath Lee.

UWHA tenants are playing a leading role in developing a Repairs Compact that sets high standards for carrying out work. Tenants’ views are being taken into consideration at every stage of the development of a Maintenance Service Standards Compact, by listening to the  views of the Tenants’ Consultative Committee and many other Tenant Organisations.

The first Maintenance Service Standard Compact has been developed with our four day to day repairs contractors, the Tenants’ Consultative Committee (TCC) and resident associations.

At a ‘Signing’ ceremony in August all four Contractors; Val Friday, Chair of (TCC) and Paula Kennedy, Director of Housing and Community Services, ‘signed up’ to the Compact, which sets out high standards for contractors in carrying out work. The purpose of the Compact is to assist us in improving the delivery of the repairs service to all tenants and to ensure that you have an opportunity to say how you want the service delivered.

How YOU can help us to develop the Compact

In the next stage of developing the Maintenance Service Standards Compact we are intending to run a number of workshops involving tenants to find out how you think we can develop the maintenance service. In November we will be running workshops to look at how to improve the repairs service. Ideas that will be considered include:

** Considering how to develop an Appointment System
** Developing an understanding of repairing responsibilities
** Ideas to improve communication
** Improving the use of Information Technology

 If you are interested in taking part in these workshops please contact Cath Lee on 02920 858126 for further information.

Community News Roundup

ABER VALLEY SUMMER SCHEME

High climbers... One of the few summer schemes run in the Caerphilly Borough this year was in the Aber Valley and available to young people throughout the area. Supported by Communities First as well as by some of the member agencies like United Welsh, the scheme ran for two weeks with activities like riding, dry slope skiing and paintballing on offer as well as quieter pursuits such as art, nature walks and computer games. Always a successful scheme and organised well by Senghenydd Youth Drop-In Centre, one of United Welsh’s partners in the Aber Valley, the scheme was attended to capacity most days by young people from all parts of the valley.

VAN COMMUNITIES, CAERPHILLY

On the ball at Fun Day... In response to a request which has flooded in we’re giving you more on the Van Communities Summer Fun Day – apparently we didn’t pay enough attention to the football! Part of the day included the first UWHA Five a Side Football Challenge, with the honours going to Phoenix A. The United Welsh staff team came a creditable second. 

New challenges have been issued for a further match, which I’m sure we’ll report later! In the meantime we’re printing the team photo of the full Phoenix FC and another of United Welsh’s own gallant stalwarts...

BRYN ABER, ABERTRIDWR

On the path to safety... As part of the Planned Maintenance Programme, funding has been set aside to make the paths at Bryn Aber safe and work on that project will start very soon. There is an opportunity to take this project further and look for additional money to improve other parts of the estate. 

A letter was sent out by the Community Services Team to everyone living at Bryn Aber inviting them to take part in deciding what changes they would like to make and to be involved in making those changes happen. There has been some response already but there’s always room for more to join in. If you’re interested please contact David or Mel on 029 2085 8166.

FORGESIDE, BLAENAVON

Forgeside Festival Fun.. All of the groups in the community at Forgeside joined together for a Summer Festival this year. The weather wasn’t brilliant, but the day was, with lots of fun activities and attractions for all ages. Bric a brac stalls, a bran tub, face painting and a bouncy castle, as well as a very popular cake stall supplied and run by ladies from the Chapel, kept things lively for most of the day. Torfaen Credit Union was on hand too with a strawberries and cream stall - almost as popular as the cakes.

Highlights of the day were the performance by the local young people, Nigel and his street organ and the fancy dress contest. This was judged by local councillors and won by Dorothy, Forgeside resident and one of the mainstays behind the Youth Club, who made a very credible Andy Pandy!

The groups at Forgeside will be looking to repeat the success of this day with a Christmas Fair later in the year.

WHITCHURCH, CARDIFF 

Bouncing BBQ bonanza!

The Neighbourhood Watch at Clos Ystum Taf enjoyed brilliant weather for their annual Summer Barbecue. The younger children had great fun on the bouncy castle and the slightly older ones proved that old favourites like musical statues and pass the parcel never lose their appeal! The hair and make up stall was a definite attraction for the young ladies (and some of the slightly less young ones)! The lip-smacking barbecue itself was the result of local donations and some hard cooking by some of the residents - hugely enjoyed by everyone who went.

 TPAS CONFERENCE

Calling all Tenant and Resident Associations!!

United Welsh are sponsoring the Annual Welsh Conference for the Tenant Participation and Advisory Service in Llandrindod Wells from the 17th to the 19th November.

As part of the event the Community Services Team are supporting Tenant and Resident Associations in showcasing their work at an exhibition within the conference. Up to six local associations will be supported in the exhibition and each will have the opportunity to send a representative to the conference as a full delegate.

If you are part of an active community association, would like to show like-minded people what you’re up to and are interested in sending a delegate to the TPAS conference, contact David on 029 2085 8166 before the 15th October for more details on how to book your place.

Ask Aled

 ...Maria of Risca recently sent me one of the shortest letters I’ve ever had. This edition I’ve based my column on her query but it has produced a reply which is way longer than the single line of the original question!

“What is Housing benefit and how do I claim it?”

What is Housing Benefit?

Housing Benefit is sometimes known as rent rebate or rent allowance. It is to help people on low incomes with their housing costs including rent and some service charges. You may be able to get help for different types of accommodation – flats, bed sits, rented houses, hostels or lodgings – as long as you have a legal contract to pay for where you live.  

Housing Benefit cannot cover water charges, mortgage payments, food and the provision of personal needs or day-to-day living expenses.  

There is a similar scheme to help people on low incomes to pay their council tax. Depending on your income and things like savings, you can get up to 100% off your council tax bill. 

Who can claim Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit?

If you get Income Support, Income-based Jobseekers Allowance or Pension Credit Guarantee and you have to pay rent or council tax, you will normally get maximum benefit. This could be up to 100% of your rent or council tax although this is not always the case.  

If you are on a low income and responsible for paying the rent on your home you may be able to get Housing Benefit. If you have to pay Council Tax you may be able to get Council Tax Benefit. 

All United Welsh tenants can apply for Housing and/or Council Tax Benefit. Married couples or people with partners make one claim between them. If you pay rent and Council Tax you need only fill in one form, which covers both liabilities. 

How do I make a claim for Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Benefit?

If you make a claim for Income Support, income-based Jobseekers Allowance or Pension Credit you should find form HCTB 1 in the claim pack. This is the housing and council tax benefit claim form. You should complete the form and send it to your local council. If you are not claiming Income Support, income-based Jobseekers Allowance or Pension Credit but think that you may be entitled to Housing or Council Tax Benefit you should ask for a Housing Benefit claim form from your council and return it to them as soon as possible.

There is a shorter claim form for pensioners. This is the HCTB1-PC form and it can also be obtained from your local council.

Introducing

...Viv Head, Service Review Administrator 

Over the past few years United Welsh has been running a rolling programme of Best Value reviews. The programme is managed by a Steering Group, chaired by the Chief Executive and including, amongst others, a tenant representative. The actual reviews are then carried out by project teams, usually led by one of the Association’s managers and also, if it’s appropriate, including a tenant representative. We’ve reported several of the reviews in previous editions of Linkup.  

Behind all of this, making sure that the wheels are well oiled and quality is kept up to the mark, is Viv Head, United Welsh’s Service Review Administrator. As well as being the eyes and ears of the Steering Group, Viv works closely with the project teams, helping to make sure projects run smoothly, lending a hand with research and data collection and, crucially making sure that the results of the reviews feed into the way the Association works so that they can actually make a difference. Viv is always keen to make sure that tenants are well represented within the Best Value programme and works hard to identify suitable people to take part. If you are interested in being part of a service review in the future, why not give him a ring on 029 2085 8185.

 ...Nathan Vann, Development Surveyor

We’ve brought you news of United Welsh’s development work in past editions and we recently caught up with Nathan Vann, one of the Development Surveyors, to find out what’s new in our building programme.  

“We’re always conscious of being a responsible developer”, Nathan told us, “we want to build homes that are good for the people who will live in them and good for the environment as well.”  

“A good example of this is a development we’re planning to build in Cross Keys with the help of funding from the Welsh Assembly Government. We’ll be using new building designs, with features such as solar roof tiles and bigger, better positioned windows which can help to harness solar energy for natural warmth and light and power for hot water and heating systems, all backed by improved thermal insulation, helping to keep future fuel costs to a minimum both for the bill payers and for the environment.”

 “There is an expectation from government that new homes are designed and built to high standards these days, but we aim to go well beyond those standards. We often have half an eye on things like the Building Research Establishment’s Greener Homes Standard and we’re hoping for a grading of Excellent against that standard on the Cross Keys development. The use of sustainable materials and practices have been important for us for some while and we’re moving forward again to such things as design features which enable the use of standard sized components to reduce building wastage.”

 “Our objective is to provide good quality, flexible living spaces with modern facilities like built in features to make it easy to access the Internet, for instance, which make homes more desirable, easier to maintain and more enjoyable to live with.”