tenant newsletter

familymattersTenant Newsletter Spring 2014

SpringtimeSpringtimeGet in the garden

and try out your green fingers.

LearnNew Skills

Page 3

FireSafety TipPage 4

GetOnlinePage 7

Welcometo the spring/summer 2014edition of the tenants’

newsletter.

Now that the wet weather has cleared, perhapsyou might like to get in the garden and tryout your green fingers. The garden

competition is open for entry so why not give it ago? You can enter a container garden if you do nothave a full size garden, or you can even enter ahanging basket.

Do you have a young person in your family who could benefit from a workplacement with our solicitor? See page 15. A great opportunity to be had.

Are you interested in becoming a tenant board member or scrutinygroup member? Maybe you have skills from an existing job orwould like to learn skills to help you get a job? Why not look atpage 3 and contact us if you fit the bill?

Family Housing is now on Facebook. Find us under FamilyHousing Wales. You can also follow us on Twitter.

If you would like to contribute an idea or an article forthe newsletter, please let me know.

CarolTelephone 01792 482762Email [email protected] to Family Housing,43 Walter Road, Swansea, SA1 5PN

Carol Johns

2 familymatters Newsletter Spring 2014

Become a Tenant Board Member

• Meet new people• Have a say in what we do• Contribute to the success of Family Housing

Become a Shareholder

As a tenant focused association,it is important that tenants andothers in the community haveways of influencing decisionmaking. One key means ofinfluence is the ability to electmembers on to the Board.

Our Board of Management iselected from the Association’sshareholding membership andwe welcome applications fromour tenants who can make acontribution to our aims.

As a shareholder of theassociation you would beentitled to:• Attend our Annual GeneralMeeting

• Receive a copy of our AnnualReport

• Vote to elect members to ourBoard of Management

To become a member you will beasked to submit an applicationform for consideration by theBoard. If accepted you will pay£1 to receive a share certificate.While this does not entitle you toany dividend it does allow you tobecome a member of theAssociation and play a part informing the future direction ofthe association.For an application form pleasecontact Deborah Lewis on01792 482169

Learn New Skillsand Make a Difference

We are looking for tenants to siton our Management Board andhelp fulfil our plans for the future.

Don’t worry if you have not beeninvolved before. If you have thequalities we need we will providetraining and support to help youto fully participate in the work ofthe Board.

Tenant Board Members are notexpected to be

representatives of theAssociation’s tenants but

to bring their ownexperience and

common sense

and to provide a tenant’sperspective on how theAssociation works.

Our Board is made up of a rangeof people from differentbackgrounds. Our aim is that atleast three Board Members will betenants of Family Housing.

As a member of the Board you willhelp to provide the strategicdirection of the Association andmake sure that we are well run.More importantly you will help toensure that we continue toprovide high quality homes andservices to all our tenants.

If you are interested or want moreinformation, please contactDeborah Lewis on 01792 482169 [email protected] more information please see ourwebsite:-www.fha-wales.com/becomingatenantboardmember

familymatters Newsletter Spring 20143

FireSafety Tips

for Home Medical Oxygen Users

The use of home oxygen systems has increased overthe past decade. It’s important for people to practisefire safe behaviours when oxygen is in use. Oxygen

itself does not burn but a fire needs oxygen to start and tokeep burning. When more oxygen is in the air, the fire willburn hotter and faster. Smoking should not be allowed in ahome where oxygen is used. Even if oxygen is not beingused, it may have saturated the home including clothing,curtains, furniture, bedding, hair, and anything in the area.

Safety Tips

� Never smoke in a home wherebottle oxygen is used.

� Post “no smoking” signs in andoutside of the home to remindresidents and guests not tosmoke.

� If oxygen is used in the home,the amount of oxygen in the air,furniture, clothing, hair, andbedding goes up, making iteasier for a fire to start andspread. This means that there isa higher risk of both fires andburns.

� Never use an open flame, suchas candles, matches, woodstoves, and sparking toys, whenoxygen is in use.

� People who may have difficultyescaping a fire should have aphone near their bed or chair.

� Make sure that the home hassmoke alarms. Test them at leastmonthly.

� Have a home fire escape planwith two ways out of everyroom and an outside meetingplace.

� Practise the plan at least twice ayear.


DIY Class

Policy Name You said We did

“It’s your move” You thought that the document was toolong and needed simplification.

We shortened that document and madethe information within it more general.

Tenants’ manualsat Hazel Courtand Maes Mwldan

The tenants at these schemes stated thatthey thought that the manuals could bebetter laid out and could include morephotographs to make the documenteasier to digest.

The manuals were given a total revampwith a new, brighter layout including lotsmore photographs.

Extra care leaflets The tenant reading group felt that theleaflets were concise and with a good sizeprint. They also pointed out some typingmistakes.

We corrected the mistakes.

WISH Guide to Services The tenants were consulted on this viathe annual tenant survey and allrespondents stated they were happy withthis document.

The document was revamped to focus oncare services and to make it more userfriendly for tenants.


You said, we didOne of the most important ways we review our policies with tenants who receive care and support is by speakingto tenants directly. Here is what we did with the information that you gave us recently.

This was organised by TeresaGreenall, Partnership Officer incollaboration with Want2Work (seepage 18 for more details) and B&Q .Both thoroughly enjoyed theclasses and found it really useful tolearn D.I.Y skills.

If you are interested in learning anew skill, please contact Teresa on01792 482160 or [email protected]

Well done to tenants Lesley Fisher and RebeccaNicholas who both started a week long D.I.Yclass held at the B&Q Training D.I.YCentre, Morfa, Swansea.

How we can helpFinding family membersWhen families are separated by armed conflict, disaster or migration, we can helpfind missing relatives.

Delivering family newsWhen normal means of communication break down, we can still send Red Cross messages to relatives.

(Note: we do not send money or packages.)

Certificate of detentionFor people who have been visited by theInternational Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) while detained, we may be able to provide confirmation of detention.

All our services are free and confidential.

Contact usThe British Red Cross may be able to help you.

1. If you do not speak English, we will try to provide an interpreter.

2. Together, we will fill in a form. This asks lots of questions that will help us search for your family.

3. Once you have told us where you think your family members are staying, we will contact our colleagues in that country and ask them to help in the search.

4. We cannot promise success, but will contact you as soon as we receive any news.

The British Red Cross helps to restore contact between families separated by armed conflict,disaster or migration by using the global RedCross and Red Crescent network.

If you have been separated from your family, we may be able to help you.

Find your family

The international family tracing service is offered through the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, which consists of the International Committee of the Red Cross, National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and their International Federation.

For more information, visit redcross.org.uk/trace

The British Red Cross Society, incorporated by Royal Charter 1908, is a charity registered in England and Wales (220949) and Scotland (SC037738).

We can help you to

Get OnlineFamily Housing is committed to helping its tenants toGet Online. We can help you to learn about using theInternet to pay your rent, find out how your benefitsare changing and get ready for Universal Credit.

You can also learn how to shop,email, keep in touch with friendsand family, pay bills, look for a joband much more.

And we can give you informationabout buying a computer and

having the Internet installed at areasonable price or buying a Mifi toget online if you don’t want aphone line and broadband. We cangive you advice about staying safeonline and let you know wherethere are IT sessions near you.

Be a DigitalChampionWe need your help to getmore tenants online. If youknow how to use the Internetconfidently and would like toshare your skills with othertenants we would like to hearfrom you.

Delivery and skills training isavailable at no cost to you andwe will work closely with you toensure you are happy with whatyou are doing.

If you would like to knowmore about Get Online you canask your Support Worker, anymember of FHA staff or contactPam Williams on:01792 460192email:[email protected]


www

Talented Tenants

Claire Stockdaleis a tenant of ours in Swansea.

She is a talented artist and alsowrites poems and stories.Claire’s mum was an artist and itseems Claire has inherited hertalent. In the late 80’s Claireattended St Martin’s college inLondon. After graduating she didsome travelling before taking upteaching.

Claire has lived in her FamilyHousing flat for around 7 years. Shesays she loves it there and theneighbours are helpful. “I feel verysafe living here. There is a lovelyatmosphere. At Christmas everyoneon my floor sends a card.”

Claire paints scenes from her localarea. Here are a few of her pictures.


Claire Stockdale with Marina Painting Claire Stockdale and Todd

A Nationwide Survey

is coming your way…During May 2014 housingassociation tenants in Waleswill be asked about theservices they receive fromtheir landlord. CommunityHousing Cymru and the WelshGovernment are workingtogether to carry out a surveyof one third of the tenants ofeach housing association.

If you are one of the selectedtenants, a questionnaire from acompany called RMG ClarityResearch will be sent to you. Theyare carrying out the survey as anindependent company and yourresponses to their questions areconfidential.

By answering the questions,you will be entered intoa prize draw.

Please take the timeto complete thesurvey as it willhelp to determinewhere servicesneed to beimproved.


Extra CareFamily Housing Association currently has 2 largeExtra Care schemes, one in Swansea (Hazel Court) andone in Cardigan (Maes Mwldan) that on an annual basisare inspected by the Welsh Government’s Care andSocial Services Inspectorate (CSSIW).

We are pleased to say that they have both been highly complimented ontheir service provision, which included comments such as “A high standardof professional care and support is provided to enable people to maintaintheir independence" and “People really valued the relationships they hadmade with the staff supporting them and they had confidence that staffcould meet their needs”.

Big thanks to everyone at both schemes.

The reports can be accessed by following this linkhttp://cssiw.org.uk/find-a-care-service/service-directory

Do you have a great project idea tobring people together in yourcommunity?

Could it bring people of all ages together?

Do you want to help your area look better?

We are looking for project ideas to support and develop with thehelp of Renew Wales. It could be to do with waste, energy, food,gardening, a growing project, transport, wildlife, getting outdoorsor improving your skills at something, BUT it needs to be linkedto the environment in some way.

No matter how small your idea is contactTeresa Greenall Partnership OfficerTel: 01792 482160Email: Teresa.Greenall@fha-wales,com


CommunityProjects

Recycling projects

Wildlife projects

Gardening projects

Haveyou got agreat idea?

Appeal to residents overdog mess in black bags-Householders in Carmarthenshire are being asked todispose of their dog mess carefully.

It follows concerns regarding thequantity of dog faeces in black bagsand the health and safetyimplications for refuse crews whenloading the bags into the vehicles.

All faeces contains bacteria that cancause stomach upsets if ingested,however, the greatest risk from dogmess is toxocariasis – which cancause epilepsy, asthma and evenblindness.

When out walking, residents arebeing reminded to carry dog messbags with them and then use thenumber of litter bins dottedthroughout the county.

If your dog goes in your garden, youcould flush it down the toilet or youcan now buy specially designed‘doggy loos’. These work just like abin, half buried in your garden,except that you never need to

empty it, as natural processes thenbreak the contents down anddisperse them harmlessly into thesoil. Dog loos can befound in local pet storesas well as online.

If you do have todispose of dog mess inyour black bag – makesure it is double-wrapped,in small quantities only andmixed in with other typesof waste.

Black bags found to contain largeamounts of dog mess will not becollected.

Executive Board Member forTechnical Services Cllr Colin Evanssaid: “We have had a number ofincidents with dog mess recentlywhen loading black bags into ourrefuse vehicles.


“Not only is it extremely unpleasantfor our operatives, but it is a serioushealth risk. We are askinghouseholders to please co-operateand dispose of their dog faecescarefully.”

Residents are also being remindedto please clean up after your

dog in a public place or risk afixed penalty notice of

£75.

£75fixed penalty

notice!

How short term loansbring long-term woeCompanies can lend customers a max of £1,000 for 30days at a rate of £29.99 for every £100 borrowed.

If they borrow £1,000, they will owe £299 at the end of the month. If thecustomer cannot repay in full they are encouraged to pay only the interestand roll the loan over. The following month they end up doing the same,so each month they pay almost £300 in additional fees and have still notrepaid anything off the original loan. The annual percentage rate (APR) onthis type of loan is a massive 3,873 per cent.

How your loandoesnt add upafter 1 year

You borrow £1,000At 3,873% APR

After one monthyou owe£1,299.90

Month two –Interest only paid£599.80

Month three –Interest only paid£899.70

Month six –Interest only paid£1,799.40

After a yearyou will have paid£4,598.80*

*And that’s only if you paythe interest every month

1

2

3

6


YourLoan


Family Housing are now offeringsmall grants of up to £500 forprojects in your community. You donot have to be an official tenantsand residents group. As long asyour idea will benefit everyone onyour site, you will qualify.

Community FundingWould you like to get together with your neighbours and hold anevent or buy something for use by all tenants on your site?

If you have an idea and would liketo find out more, please contactTeresa Greenall on 01792482160 or email her [email protected] write to her atFamily Housing, 43 WalterRoad, Swansea, SA1 5PN.

£

Keep cool, Keep well, Keep safethis summerAros yn oer, Yn iach ac yn ddiogelyn yr Haf• Drink plenty of liquids• Keep a jug of water in the fridgefor cold drinks

• Eat a well-balanced healthy diet• Keep supply of nourishing foodyou can eat cold if hot mealslose their appeal

• Don’t leave ground floor doorsor windows open if you’re not inthe room

• Keep curtains drawn in windowsthat get the most sun

• Consider buying an electric fan• Battery-operated hand-heldfans can also help keep you cool

• Wear light, loose clothing madefrom natural fibres

• Wear a sun hat out of doors• Rest during the warmest part ofthe day

GOING AWAY?• Let family or friends know whenyou’re going and when youexpect to return

• Give someone you trust a sparekey and ask them to keep an eyeon your home

• Consider putting automatictimers on table lamps or a radioto make it seem like someone isat home

• Yfwch ddigon o hylifau• Cadwch jwg o ddwr yn yr oergellar gyfer diod oer

• Bwytewch ddiet iach a chytbwys• Cadwch gyflenwad o fwydmaethlon y gallwch ei fwyta’noer os nad ydych chi’n teimlo felpryd poeth

• Peidiwch â gadael drysau neuffenestri llawr gwaelod ar agoros nad ydych chi yn yr ystafell

• Tynnwch y llenni ar draws yffenestri sy’n cael y rhan fwyafo’r haul

• Ystyriwch brynu gwyntyll drydan• Gall gwyntyllau llaw a weithredirgan fatri eich helpu i aros yn oerhefyd

• Gwisgwch ddillad ysgafn, rhydda wnaed o ffibrau naturiol

• Gwisgwch het haul yn yr awyragored

• Ceisiwch orffwys yn ystod rhandwymaf y dydd

MYND I FFWRDD?• Rhowch wybod i deulu neuffrindiau ble rydych chi’n mynd aphryd rydych chi’n disgwyldychwelyd

• Rhowch allwedd sbâr i rywunrydych chi’n ymddiried ynddo agofynnwch iddynt gadw llygadar eich cartref

• Ystyriwch osod amseryddionawtomatig ar lampau bwrdd neuradio i roi’r argraff bod rhywungartref

If you feel unwell from the heat call NHS Direct on 0845 4647Os nad ydych yn teimlo’n dda oherwydd y gwres, ffoniwch Galw Iechyd Cymru ar 0845 4647


DrinkFluids

Are you aged 15-16 and would like thechance to see how a law firm works?

Morgan Cole is the law firm who works with FamilyHousing. They run a scheme for 15-16 year olds,offering a placement for one week in the summer

holidays. You can spend a day in the life of a lawyer aswell as learning interview and CV tips.

Would you like to takepart in 2014?

There will be an open evening onWednesday 21 May 2014at their office in Cardiff to

find out more.

The placement week will runfrom Monday 28 July

to Friday 1 August 2014.

Are you an adult lookingfor work?

Morgan Cole also run a workshopfor tenants to give advice on job

interviews, filling in application form

and what to expect from anemployer. As well as this, a John

Lewis stylist will be on hand tomatch each person with an outfit

they can keep.

Interested?If you are interested in taking part in

either scheme, please contactTeresa Greenall

Tel: 01792 482160Email:

Teresa.Greenall@fha-wales,comFamily Housing Association,

43 Walter Road, Swansea, SA1 5PN.

We can assist with travel.


HAIR &BEAUTY

SOCCERSKILLS

CLEANINGQUALIFICATIONS

GROUNDSMAINTENANCE

DIY

CAREIT TRAINING

Want tolearn new skillsAre you looking to learn new skills or a new challenge in 2014,if so we may be able to help?

We have some excellentopportunities available to learn newskills and qualifications in thefollowing areas

• Hair and Beauty• Soccer skills• DIY• Cleaning qualifications• Grounds maintenance• Care• IT Training• Security training• Food hygiene• CSCS Cards

If you are interested in this or anyother areas of training contactTeresa Greenall – Family Housing01792 482160 (In collaborationwith Want2Work Team).


NewChallengein 2014

I wondered whythe baseball wasgetting bigger.

Then it hit me.

Police were calledto a nursery, wherea three-year-old

was resisting a rest.Did you hear about

the guy whose whole left side

was cut off?He’s all right now.

The roundest knight

at King Arthur’s

round table was

Sir Cumference.

The short fortune

teller who escaped

from prison was a

small medium

at large.

To write witha broken pencilis pointless.

side splittingfun jokes

Are you proud of your local area?Is there something of interest nearby?

Tenants’ Panel CalendarCompetition 2015

Wehope that you allenjoyed receiving yourcopies of the 2014

Tenants’ Panel Calendar.Thanks to panel member Roywho provided the photos.

A number of tenants havecontacted us to say how pleasedthey were with the calendar, howuseful the extra information wasand how inspiring Roy’s story was.

We are now looking for pictures fornext year’s calendar. You can sendin a picture, a drawing, a painting ora photograph.

If your picture is chosen, it willappear in print on the 2015calendar.

We would like to receive yourentries by 31 August 2014.

So, get the kids sketching, dust offyour cameras and paintbrushes and

send us your inspirations!!

Please send entries to :Carol Johns,Tenant Participation Officer,Family Housing Association,43 Walter Road, Swansea,SA1 5PN or email her [email protected].

If you have any queries, please callCarol on 01792 482762.

familymatters Newsletter Spring 201419Ha, ha, ha!

Riproaring!

“You said,we did”

You recently told us how regularly you would like toreceive your rent statements.

As a result of your feedback, we have tailored our servicesnow that we know what you want. For the tenants whohave responded to the survey, they will receive their rentstatements either 3 monthly or 6 monthly as chosen. Forthose tenants that did not mind or have not responded,rent statements will be sent annually.

This will not only save on costs but be greener for theenvironment.

You can ask for a printed copy of a rent statement at anytime within these periods.

Our rents team can be contacted onFreephone 0800 021 3930 (mobiles will be charged)

or 01792 482705.

Compliments, Concernsand ComplaintsWewelcome comments from our customers. We work

hard to try and provide the best possible service butknow that we do not always get it right.

We have a policy in place to make sure we make it easy forcustomers to express their views whether these are compliments,concerns or complaints. You can ask us for a copy of this in aformat to suit you.

We have now made it easier for you to express a compliment,concern or complaint.


The best way to express yourdissatisfaction is by talking thematter over with a member ofstaff.You can also:• Phone us on 01792 460192• Write to or visit us at41 - 43 Walter Road,Swansea, SA1 5PN

• E-mail us [email protected]

• Via our website:www.fha-wales.com

• Via Facebook:www.facebook.com/Family-Housing-Wales

Universal Creditis coming, are you ready?

How will Universal Credit affect you!• Your Universal Credit will be paid to you once a month via a bank,

building society or Credit Union account.• You will be paid one month in arrears. This means you will be without

income for approximately 5 weeks.• Your Universal Credit claim will need to be applied for online via a

computer, laptop or Ipad.• If you have a partner you will receive one payment for the both of you.• Housing costs will be paid to you and you will need to pay this to your

landlord.

What you should do if you are affected:• Set up a bank, building society or Credit Union account for your benefit

to be paid into and ensure you can set up payments for bills such asRent, Gas, Electricity, Water etc.

• Budget your household income and expenses early, contact yourlandlord for help with this.

• Plan and save for the period you will be without benefits while you’rewaiting for your first Universal Credit Payment.

• Find a location for internet access to make your Universal Credit claim.• Talk to your landlord to arrange payment of your rent and budgeting

your income or if you’re having problems with your finances.

www.yourbenefitsarechanging.co.ukTel: 0300 3031073Text 'change' to 80018 and an adviser will call you back

Get ready for Universal Creditby using this useful personal planner:https://secureonline.dwp.gov.uk/universal-credit-preparation/

Don’t delay- get adviceand plantoday!

Universal Creditwill replace:

JSA Income BasedIncome Support

ESA Income RelatedChild Tax Credit

Working Tax CreditHousing Benefit



Servicing over1300 homesOur Estates Team provides an Estates Service to over1300 homes. The service comprises cleaning of internalcommunal areas as well as the maintenance of hard &soft landscape.

The Estates Service Standardoutlines the service you can expectto receive:Grounds Maintenance• We will cut front lawns and

communal grassed areas everytwo weeks between the monthsof April and October.

• We will cut grass banks andrough areas every four weeksbetween April and October.

• We will prune shrub bedsseasonally, twice a year, and willensure that pathways andwindows are free fromovergrowth.

• We will treat weeds twice a yearin accordance with our weedcontrol programme.

• We will litter pick rubbish onevery fortnightly visit.

Communal Cleaning• We will clean all internal

communal areas includingstairwells, lobbies, corridors, liftsand Laundry rooms every twoweeks throughout the year.

To Help usTo enable us to provide the bestlevel of service possible we wouldask that you:• Ensure that the working areas

remain clear and free fromobstruction, e.g no rubbish, dogfaeces and personal belongings.

• Provide us with feedback on yourviews of the service.

Winter WorkDuring the winter months theEstates Team undertake a numberof Environmental improvementprojects to enhance the livingenvironment for Residents. Thesehave included new Paths at LlysPentre, Brynyfryd and the plantingof a hedge at Clos Maes yr Ysgol,Pontarddulais.


Congratulations toour Estates TeamSwansea based members of theEstates Team have carried outtireless work to raise money for localcharities. The charity events haveincluded the growing of bushymoustaches for the Movembercharity which raised £1,493, a rafflethat raised £2,742.55 for Ty OlwenHospice and the auctioning of theirgardening services for the Waveradio’s Cash for Kids appeal thatraised £110.

Congratulations to the Team fortheir fantastic efforts to raise astaggering total of £4345.55 forworthy causes.

Members of the Swansea based Team presenting theircheque to the Ty Olwen Trust

Members of the Estates Team are photographed undertaking the recent Environmentalimprovement works at Francis Court, which included the creation of eight new shrub beds.

Blooming GardenCompetitionDo you enjoy gardening?Why not enter our garden competition? You don’t even need tohave a garden; you can enter a window box, hanging basket orcontainer.

The categories are as follows:

Individual EntriesBest Front GardenBest Back GardenBest Container / Hanging BasketBest Vegetable Garden.

Communal EntriesBest communal garden– non supported housingBest communal garden– older persons’ schemesBest communal garden– supported housingBest communal vegetable garden

The closing date for receipt ofentries will be Monday 30 June 2014with judging taking place in mid-July, weather permitting.There are a number of ways toenter:

1. Complete the tear off slip on theback page and post it in to us.

2. Email your entry [email protected]

3. Phone Carol Johns,Tenant Participation Officer,on 01792 482762.

GOOD LUCK!!

Garden Competition 2014Please tick the category orcategories you wish to enter (youcan enter more than one)

Individual Entries�� Best vegetable garden�� Best back garden�� Best front garden�� Best container or hanging basket

Communal Entries�� Best communal garden

– non supported housing�� Best communal garden –

supported housing�� Best communal garden

Older Persons�� Best communal vegetable garden

Name

Address

Please return to: Carol Johns, Tenant Participation Officer, FamilyHousing Association, 43 Walter Road, Swansea, SA1 5PN

Alternatively, telephone Carol on 01792 482762 or email her at [email protected]


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