issue 59Summer 2019

news and views fromBro MyrddinHousingAssociation

In this issue

Ending Loneliness p4

Ask Louise p6

ConnectingCommunities -Developmentupdates! p8

Emergency Numbers

If you have an emergency in your homewhen we are closed, there are twonumbers to ring:

For out-of-hours emergencies (includinggas and oil fired heating systememergencies) call Delta Wellbeing:Carmarthenshire County Council’s 24-hour emergency number – 0300 333 2222

If you wish to report a Gas emergency,such as a Gas leak, contact National GridUK on 0800 111 999

Office Opening & ClosingWe are open: Monday to Thursday 8.30am – 4.30pmFriday 8.30am – 4.00pm

2019 Staff Training and Team Meeting Dates

The Office will be closed all day on:

• July 30th Resident's Fun Day• Wednesday 25th September

(staff training day)

The Office will be closed between 8.30amand 10:00am on the following dates:

• Wednesday 23rd October• Wednesday 27th November

Get in touchPhone: 01267 232714

Text: 07797 801 628Standard text message rates may apply

0 customerservices@bromyrddin.co.uk

Write to: Bro Myrddin HousingAssociation, Plas Myrddin, Merlin St,Carmarthen SA31 1RU

www.bromyrddin.co.uk

f @bromyrddinha

T @BroMyrddinHA

Sgwrs can be provided in large print,Braille, audio or your preferredlanguage on request. Please call us on01267 232714.

If you would prefer to receive Sgwrs by email, please call 01267 232714 oremail sgwrs@bromyrddin.co.uk. You can also download Sgwrs atwww.bromyrddin.co.uk

Bro Myrddin is a charitable association registered under the Co-operative and CommunityBenefit Societies Act 2014 (23055R) and with the Welsh Government (L069). Competitions:Prize draws and competitions are only open to Bro Myrddin residents. Board members andstaff may not enter competitions, unless otherwise stated. Accuracy: We try to make surethat information in Sgwrs is correct, but readers should seek independent advice beforerelying on any content. We cannot accept responsibility for errors in articles. We reserve theright to edit material sent in. Sgwrs may not be reproduced without prior permission.

Sgwrs Disclaimer

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sgwrs news and views

Summer is finally here and it’s a time for beaches, barbeques andbeautiful weather – and this edition has some handy tips forstaying safe in the sun this summer.

We also thought it would be a great idea to hold another gardeningcompetition, an excellent excuse for you to show off those beautifulgardens! Look out for the comp on page 5 and your garden could beheadlining the next edition of Sgwrs – plus the lucky winner will also begiven a £20 Love to Shop voucher – great for stocking up on thosesummer treats!

We are also on the lookout for Estate Monitors, so if you’re interested inkeeping an eye on the grounds maintenance for your estate, then let usknow.

Remember we have our Residents Fun Day on the 30th of July at ExcelBowl in Carmarthen, which will be packed full of fun activities and achance for you to meet all of the staff – be sure to save the date!

During May this year, the office celebrated Mental Health Awareness week,this allowed us all to think twice about how mental health affects us all inour daily lives. See page 4 for the low down on the loneliness epidemicand the simple things we can all do to help others who may feel isolated.

We are always interested in the suggestions of our residents for eachedition of Sgwrs, so if you have any ideas for future articles then pleasegive me a call on 01267 232 714, or email sgwrs@bromyrddin.co.uk.

Gemma Watkins, Editor

Get Social with Bro Myrddin Housing

We have a laptop and a tablet in the office for our residents to use for allhousing related matters. Our staff are also on hand to help should youneed it.

You’ll find more useful hints and tips about Universal Credit on our SocialMedia Accounts and our Website – BroMyrddin.co.uk

PS Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

f @bromyrddinha T @BroMyrddinHA

Summerissue of sgwrs

We are currently running ourannual Estate Walkaboutprogramme and residents arewelcome to join us.

It is a great way to get involved with the organisation and achance for you to tell us where we can improve our serviceto the community.

You will receive a letter from us in advance letting youknow the dates we will be visiting your estate. We will alsolet you know on Facebook.

Warm Welcome WalkaboutsIf you’d like to join usyou can let us knowbeforehand or justpop out if you see uswalk by.

So keep an eye out aswe may be coming toyour estate soon!

news and views

Now that the sunshine is here, it’s a good idea to remember theimportance of sun safety and recognise how to prevent heat relatedillnesses such as heat exhaustion, heat cramps, sunburn and heat stroke.

So what can you do to protect yourself?

Do you have a trip to the beach planned or are you going on holiday this summer? Does your work keep you outdoors for long periods of time?

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Feeling hot, hot, hot!

If you think you (or a familymember) may be experiencing a

reaction to prolonged heatexposure, some of the symptoms

may include:

FaintingFatigue

HeadachesHeat rash

Lack of concentration Muscle cramps

NauseaSevere thirst

For further info about staying sun safe, visit:www.sunsmart.org.uk/www.skincancer.org/prevention/uva-and-uvb

Stay in the shadeWherever possible, children and babiesshould be kept out of direct sunlight.

Use sun creamMake sure that the sun lotion is waterresistant and has an SPF factor of atleast 15, apply regularly.

Cover upWhen in the sun, wear loose fitting clothing and cover upas much skin as possible. Protect your eyes with UVprotected sunglasses (look for the sticker when you buy).

Drink plenty of waterIt is important to stay hydrated during spellsof hot weather.

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Ending Loneliness One Smile at a Time

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But we don’t want our communities to be like that!

Together we can tackle loneliness, support those who arefeeling isolated and change the way people in ourcommunities feel.

Firstly, the Campaign to End Loneliness is a charity that wasset up to inspire people everywhere to connect and tobring communities together across the UK. You can join inwith the discussion on social media using hashtag#BeMoreUs.

Secondly, here are 5 active steps we can take to stamp outloneliness starting today:

1. Get involved in your communityTake the time to chat to people who live close to you, getto know your neighbours and the people around you byjoining clubs or attending events. Is there a communitygroup that holds regular meetings? Or are therecommunity play groups where you can take your kids?Join in and get involved. You can also connect with peoplein the community online via a local Facebook page orgroup forums. Or you can get involved with us!

2. Start a conversation with a strangerA simple, effective way to support people who may befeeling isolated in their community is to start aconversation with a stranger. Everyone has a story to telland something interesting to say – so put down yourphone and unplug those headphones, talk about theweather, the bus being late or pay someone a compliment.Is life really too hectic to stop and talk? How about a smileor a quick ‘hello’ next time you’re on the school run or areon your way to work?

3. Phone a friendIt can be hard to regularly keep in touch with family orfriends, especially when life gets so busy. Set aside a timeeach week to phone a friend or family member youhaven’t spoken to in a while. Sometimes something assimple as a phone call can be enough to support thosewho feel isolated.

4. Try something newEver wanted to learn another language, start a new careeror sky dive? Give it a go. One of the easiest ways toconnect with new people and make friends is to take up anew hobby or learn something new.

5. Don’t mind the gapMost of the time, people tend to surround themselves withpeople that are a similar age. This means that we are missingout on the values, stories and viewpoints of others. Whethersomeone is 7 or 70 we all have some common ground andwe can all learn important lessons from one another.

Still feeling lonely? Here are some usefulsupportive services that may be able to help:

The Silver Line – 0800 471 8090For information, advice or just a chat 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Independent age – 0800 319 6789Providing befriending services.

Support Line – 01708 765 200 For younger individuals who are feeling isolated.

Calm Zone – 0800 585 858Helpline specifically for men of any age who are in crisis.

MenSheds – 01267 245 572A Local charity to support men who are experiencingmental illness.

Everyone will feel lonely at onetime or another but for some ofour neighbours in our community,periods of loneliness can leavethem feeling isolated, overlookedand uncared for.

Get Involved!

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news and views

Want to have your say and doyour bit to help improve ourservices to residents? Getting involved for a couple of hours at Bro Myrddin HousingAssociation doesn’t just benefit us and the community but you’llenjoy a number of benefits too!

Previous residents have told us that they particularly liked: • Being part of a team.• Making a difference.• Gaining experience.• Learning new skills.• Keeping themselves busy.• Improving their job prospects.• Meeting other residents.

If you'd like to develop your knowledgeand help support the community bygetting involved – then please contact uson customerservices@bromyrddin.co.uk

To enter all you need to do is take a snapshot ofyour garden in all its blooming glory and send itto us!

Category 1 – Best pots or basketsCategory 2 – Best garden

Please make sure that your photos are taken inportrait format (so that they are taller than theyare wide). All entries must be received by us bythe 15th August 2019. Any queries about thecompetition then please let us know!

Post to: Bro Myrddin Housing Association, PlasMyrddin, Merlin Street, Carmarthen, SA31 1RU. Oremail us at customerservices@bromyrddin.co.ukor even catch us on W B Get clicking!

Pic of the Bunch - Gorgeous Garden CompetitionSummer’s here! What better time of year to show offyour beautiful garden and make your neighbours greenwith envy by having your garden featured on the frontof the next edition of Sgwrs magazine!

You’ll also be inwith a chance towin a £20

‘Love To Shop’voucher!

Fretting Financially?Ask Louise, our financialinclusion officer

Louise is here to make sureyou’re getting all the financialsupport that you need. Louisecan help you to make themost of your money, makebudgeting plans and tosupport you through theprocess of your benefits claims.Here are some of the latest FAQsthat Louise has answered.

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Q: Am I entitled to Pension Credit?Louise says: On top of the basic state pension, pensioncredit's an extra payment to help top up your pocket. Ifyou're over the qualifying age and you've an income ofunder £163 a week, or £248.80 for couples, you may beable to get it.

Check if you're entitled. Call 0800 99 1234 and spreadthe word if you know someone who may be entitled to it.

Q: I don’t think I’m getting the rightamount of Universal Credit, pleasehelp!Louise says: Whether you think your initial entitlement iswrong, or if your entitlement is changed after you startclaiming, the first thing you should do is contact thehelpline on 0800 328 5644. If a mistake has been madein your calculation, it should be rectified while you're onthe phone.

If this isn't the case, then you can appeal the decision byasking for a mandatory reconsideration. You must do thiswithin one month of the date of your initial entitlementdecision. Go to gov.uk/appeal-benefit-decision for moreinfo on making a mandatory reconsideration. If you dodecide to appeal, make sure you gather supportingevidence before you do so.

Q: Will I need to do anything in returnfor receiving Universal Credit?Louise says: When you're claiming Universal Credit, youwill need to accept a condition called 'ClaimantCommitment'. This is an agreement you accept whichwill list your responsibilities for receiving Universal Credit,for example searching for employment. You might findthat your payments are reduced or stopped if you don'tmeet the agreements you have made.

Q: My partner and I live together andwe both receive benefits. Will wereceive two payments of UniversalCredit?Louise says: Universal Credit will be paid as one singlepayment for your household. If you're a couple, thispayment will be made as one. You and your partner willneed to manage your money together and decide whichaccount the payment goes into or whether the paymentis sent to a joint account.

Do you have a question you want to ask Louise thatisn’t listed above? Come along to our drop in serviceheld in the office Tuesdays from 9:30 am – 12:00 pm.

Think you could be entitled to moremoney to help with

your living costs? Thenvisit entitledto.co.uk for a FREE benefits

assessment.

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BBQ? Be safe!news and views

Remember though, that barbeques (as with any heatsource) can be dangerous.

Paper cups, plates and other easily flammable items cancatch fire when placed near a heat source such as hotcoals or even barbeques themselves.

Grass is dry in hot summers due to lack of rain and is moreprone to grass and forest fires. Carelessly discarded itemssuch as smoldering cigarette butts, hot coals and glassbottles (which magnify the sun) can cause grass fires,which get out of control very quickly and cause seriousdamage to the surrounding wildlife.

The good news is, barbeques can be enjoyed safely if theyare closely watched, controlled and disposed of correctly. The Mid and West Wales Fire Service has published somegreat advice on how to barbeque safely:

• Gain permission – If you are planning of having abarbeque out in a public space, make sure you havehad permission to do this beforehand.

• Be mindful – There may be people nearby, who maybe affected by smoke etc so be sure to take this intoaccount when planning or during the event.

• Dispose correctly – When disposing of the barbecue orbarbecue coals – remember that coal can stay hot for along time, so ensure that everything has cooled downcompletely before placing in the bin.

• The right space – It is important that a barbeque is set upwhere there is enough room. Never use the barbequein a confined space, such as indoors or in a tent as notonly does this increase the risk of fire but it alsoincreases the risk of fatal carbon monoxide poisoning.

• Watch over children – Keep young children away frombarbeques at all times.

• Stay with it – Never leave barbeques unattended.

What to do if a fire breaks outImmediately alert the Fire andRescue Service – 999.

Do not attempt to put out the fireyourself unless it appears to bevery small.

Grass fires can travel very quicklywithout warning, so keep adistance and wait for the fireservices to arrive.

This time of year is perfect time to enjoy a barbeque and what better placethan out and about in Carmarthenshire’sbeautiful countryside and coast?

Did you know that we have an office laptop and tablet thatyou can use for all housing related matters? Are you strugglingwith getting online and would like some support? Don’tstress - just pop in and we can guide you through theprocess. Whether it is checking your online journal forUniversal Credit or navigating your way through CanfodCartref the new Home Finder service, we are here to help.

Don’t forget we alsohold regular Digital Drop insessions. Keep an eye out forthe next one! They are great forgiving you the basic tools neededfor getting online, we will talk youthrough the basics and hopefully you’ll leave with some new skills!

We are here to help!

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Building Well Connected Communities

We thought you’d like to take a look at how our building projects arecoming along, and we are delighted to report that they are developingnicely – as you can see from the pictures!

We’re going mobile!We are currently in the process of trialling a newApp, focused on the needs of our residents andaimed at allowing you access to online servicesquickly and all in one place.

If you would like to take part in this trialtrial then please contact a memberof our customer services team on01267 232 714 or email us –customerservices@bromyrddin.co.uk(unfortunately the trial does not include iPhone users at this time).

Once they are completed and handed over, all of theproperties being built will be available to view on theCanfod Cartref Home Finder website. So watch this space!

Coed y Dderwen, Cwm Gwili, Llanelli

We are building Eight 2 bedroom houses and two 4bedroom houses in the residential area of Cwmgwilli, closeto the popular villiage of Cross Hands. These exciting newbuilds aim to be ready by Spring/Summer 2020.

Gate Road, Penygroes

Eight delightful 2 bedroom houses will be available by theend of Summer 2019. These properties are built in theidyllic rural location of Penygroes.

Maes Y Bryn, Llangennech, Llanelli

Twenty 2 bedroom houses, six 4 bedroom houses andeight 1 bedroom flats are being built in Maes Y Bryn. We'vebeen busy! The properties aim to be completed byAutumn/Winter 2019. This charming village is close toamenities including a post office and local shop.

Priory Street, Carmarthen

Ten 2 bedroom houses, Twenty-seven 1 bedroom flats –This popular site right in the middle of Carmarthen Town isdue to be completed by Spring 2020. The site is walkingdistance to plenty of shops and amenities.

You will recieve a £20 Love To Shopvoucher fortaking part!

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In A Crisis? Food for Thought

Should you ever find yourselfin the situation that you areunable to put food on thetable, then help is at hand.

You can feel at ease with letting us know that there is aproblem because now and again we all need a little helpduring a crisis.

Give a member of Customer Services a call and speak tothem about receiving a voucher. Alternatively, you can callthe Citizens Advice on 01267 234 488, or contact theCarmarthen Food Bank on 01267 225 996.

Once you have been issued a voucher, you can take it toyour nearest foodbank centre. You will be welcomed by afriendly volunteer who will support you through theprocess, they have been trained to assist individuals in crisisand to listen to your concerns and offer support.

Your voucher will then be exchanged for three days’ worthof nutritionally balanced food. It is important to tell thefoodbank if you have any dietary requirements so that theycan offer you a parcel that meets these needs.Many foodbanks also provide essential non-food items toindividuals in need, such as toiletries, children’s nappiesand sanitary products.

To talk to us about your financial concerns then please doget in touch with a member of customer services or letyour housing officer know you are struggling.

For more information, please emailcarmarthenfoodbank@towychurch.co.uk or call 01267 225 996 or 01267 232 101.

A typical food parcel will include:

Food bankopening times:

Monday 11:00 am – 2:00 pmTuesday 11:00 am – 2:00 pmFriday 11:00 am – 2:00 pm

Closed Bank holidays.

• Beans• Cereal • Pasta• Pasta sauce• Rice• Soup

• Tea/coffee• Tinned Fruit• Tinned meat/fish• Tinned veg• Biscuits

Cupboard Love

If you need items of furniture foryour home, did you know thatthere is a furniture donationcharity next to the food bank?

Xcel furniture – part of the Xcel project – is anexcellent place to find cheap pre-loved furniturefor your home. They collect, recycle and sellsecond hand furniture and white goods.

Contact them on 01267 225 995 and you couldsoon be the new owner of that piece offurniture you’ve been managing without!

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Get a Craving for Saving

Interested in a rewarding wayto save money? This excitinginitiative makes it far moreappealing and easier to save.

Backed by the Government, ‘Help to Save’ allows peoplewho are entitled to Working Tax Credit or receivingUniversal Credit to get a bonus of 50p for every £1 theysave over 4 years.

How payments workYou can save between £1 and £50 each calendar month.You do not need to make payments into the accountevery month.

You can pay into your Help to Save account by debit card,standing order or bank transfer.

The maximum you can pay into the account each monthis £50.

You can only withdraw money from your Help to Saveaccount to your own bank account.

Eligibility You can open a Help to Save account if you’re any of thefollowing:• Receiving Working Tax Credit.• Entitled to Working Tax Credit and receiving Child Tax

Credit.• Claiming Universal Credit and your household income

is £569.22 or more from paid work in your last monthlyassessment period.

If you get payments as a couple, you and your partner canapply for your own Help to Save accounts. You need toapply separately.

Interested? Here’s how to apply • Visit www.gov.uk/get-help-savings-low-income/how-

to-apply.• You need a Government Gateway user ID and

password. If you do not have a user ID, you can createone when you apply.

• You’ll be asked to provide your UK bank details whenyou apply.

On Point Budgeting:Payment Planning PyramidIt can be hard to know what's most important when thereare so many bills to look out for. An easy way to set out abudget plan is to separate your bills into three different groups.

Once you've worked out what's in your budgeting pyramidyou can take a step back and organize your expenses.

Need some extra helpwith budget planning?Pop in to our financial

inclusion drop-in servicein the office Tuesday

mornings 9.30- 12.00pm.

3. Extras These are theperks that make life thatlittle bit easier – such asday trips, holidays, gymmemberships or meals out.

1. Essentials These are 'cannot' avoidbills, they include - rent, council tax, gas,electricity and water rates.

2. Can Control These areexpenses that you need butyou may be able to cut backon, they include: food clothes,phones or transport.

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news and views

Boiler Care: Stay Safe and Save Money

Every day the boilers in our homes arehard at work behind the scenesproducing all the heat and hot waterwe need. The boiler is truly at the‘heart of the home’ but have youtaken a moment to think about itscondition and efficiency?

Every year we carry out gas safety checks at all of ourproperties to make sure that all boilers are workingcorrectly and there are no problems.

Your boiler may be due its annual service and it is reallyimportant that it is checked by a qualified engineer, whowill need access to the property to do the checks.

It is important that we are able to carry out this essentialmaintenance to:

• Protect your family from potential dangers – A faultyboiler that isn't regularly serviced has an increased riskof malfunctioning, and could possibly produce carbonmonoxide gas. This gas is poisonous and could lead toserious health problems if left unchecked. This is why ayearly service is crucial.

• Prevent costly problems – This will allow us to spotany problems and deal with them head on. If theseproblems go unchecked, they will gradually worsenover time.

• Keep things efficient – Allowing us to make sure yourboiler is working efficiently will keep energy bills to aminimum.

Home Gas Servicing MOT – Style

We are changing the way we carry out our gas safetychecks on your property – we can now arrange for safetychecks to be carried out any time 10-12 months after thelast service was carried out and still retain the original date.

This means that, similar to a car MOT, there will be noshortening of the inspection period. This means that we nolonger have to wait until the last minute to carry out theservice, and we now have more time to contact you to tellyou that the service is coming up.

1 Direct Debit is easy to set up and can be done over thetelephone.

2 Payments are automatically taken from your bank onthe setup payment date – so that’s one less thing tothink about.

3 You can choose a payment date suitable to you fromthe dates available.

4 We automatically amend your Direct Debit to reflectany changes in charges to your account.

5 You are covered by the Direct Debit guarantee, whichprotects your money and you.

To discuss setting up a Direct Debit, call: 01267 232 714

5 Reasons To Pay by Direct Debit

By far the best way to payyour charges is by DirectDebit because there are somany benefits to paying bythis method:

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All Aboard for Tenancy Support

On the Hunt for aNew Home inCarmarthenshire?

Tenancy support can: • Help you to responsibly manage your tenancy in the

long term.• Provide advice on benefits, budgeting, paying bills,

managing debt and dealing with paperwork.• Help you to access employment, training, education

and voluntary work.

• Help with applying for grants and other funding.• Provide advice on maintaining good relationships with

neighbours and overcoming social isolation.

If you wish to be referred please contact us atcustomerservices@bromyrddin.co.uk or give us a call01267 232 714.

How do I join? Call Carmarthenshire Council on 01554 899389. They will ask you a few questions and aslong as you are eligible to join the register they will giveyou your login details to get you started.

CanfodCartref.org.uk

Do you need support to manage your tenancy? A number of providersoffer free, independent housing related support in your area.

Stay Settled:EU or EEA CitizenSecured Status Are you an EU or EEA citizen? If so, to continue living in the UK after 30 June 2021, you and your familycan apply to the EU Settlement Scheme.

If your application is successful, you’ll get either settled or pre-settled status.You may be even able to stay in the UK without applying if, for example,you’re an Irish citizen or have indefinite leave to remain.

For more information please visit www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families

Our first home let through

Canfod Cartref.