twyncarmel news spring 2015

Twyncarmel News Spring 2015

New development latestSome of you may be wondering why, when we have Planning Permission to go ahead with the development of 2 x 1 bed disabled bungalows and 8 x 1 bed flats on the old flats field , nothing has happened yet.

Merthyr Tydfil Council Planning department had wanted us to develop along the road opposite numbers 121 to 126. However our latest site investigations have thrown up some issues with this. Whilst they could be overcome, it isn’t possible to do this within the timescale we had to spend the grant monies available.

The development has been put on hold for the moment. Should funding become available again in the future, we will explore the various options at that time.

Wales & West Housing50th Anniversary Join the party!

Apply for a 50th anniversary grant to host a celebration with other WWH residents in your scheme or community!

Throughout 2015, Wales & West Housing is celebrating its 50th anniversary – and we would love residents to celebrate this special year with us.

So, we have introduced a grant for residents to host a WWH 50th anniversary party at your scheme or in your community.

From a tea party in a communal lounge, to a disco in your local community hall or even a BBQ in the scheme gardens, we’ll be able to provide residents with a party pack and up to £250 so you and your fellow WWH residents can celebrate with us.

If you are interested in holding an event on Twyncarmel, wold like to find out more and apply for a grant on behalf of your scheme or community, simply speak to Meryl Thomas your housing officer on 07929 201459, or call our Customer Service Centre on 0800 052 2526.

Twyncarmel Newsletter | Spring 2015

Making a difference: we’re here to help

In Cyfarthfa Ward from April to December 2014, 70 vouchers for emergency food were received by Merthyr Cynon Foodbank which helped feed 193 people.

In addition, WWH are helping around 30 households a month by delivering food hampers throughout Merthyr Tydfil, which are kindly donated by Kings Church in Newport.

Sharon Jones, WWH’s Tenancy Support Officer, has also helped many residents in need:

• 39 people obtained Discretionary Housing Payment

• • 25 people obtained white goods under

Save the Children Eat, Sleep, Learn, Play scheme

• • 21 people moved to smaller properties as a

result of the bedroom tax

As part of our 50th anniversary celebrations, we have also introduced our new Making a Difference to Your Future grant. We have allocated £50,000 to help you take part in educational, training and employment opportunities throughout 2015.

Individual residents can apply for a grant to overcome any barriers that have been stopping them from getting into work, college or training.

There is no set limit on the amount you can apply for and each application will be considered on an individual basis. The amount awarded will be what you need to help you make an opportunity into a reality. This could include paying for specialist training; suitable clothing for job interviews or purchasing equipment to help you start your business.

Feeling the pinch? There’s help at hand...

| www.wwha.co.uk | 0800 052 2526 | Twitter: @wwha

For more information about our Making a Difference to Your Future grant, contact Kristin Vaughan (Employment and Enterprise Coach) at [email protected] or call Kristin on 0800 052 2526.

Resident Cheryl Litchfield-Payne received a Making a Difference to Your Future grant to help her purchase vital machinery for her clock making business

• 60 people with various problems including identifying and claiming additional benefits, supporting appeals, budgeting advice and writing to debtors

And that’s not all, as budgeting advice she has given has enabled 30 people to make a rent payment agreement and keep to it. These payments include reducing any arrears.

Think you could use Sharon’s help?Call her today on 07826 526 511 to make an appointment. We can’t guarantee she can help with all of your problems, but sometimes just talking a problem over can help. You can also ring our customer service centre on 0800 052 2526.

Turn over to page 4 to read Cheryl’s story...

Twyncarmel Newslett er |Spring 2015

| www.wwha.co.uk | 0800 052 2526 | Twitt er: @wwha

• 23 want the kick-a-bout improved and 14 would then use it more oft en

• 15 want it left where it is and 8 would like it moved to the fi eld

Asked what other faciliti es they wanted onthe old fl ats fi eld site:

• 12 said a rugby pitch• 10 said a small bike track• 8 said a football pitch

Other things requested included:

• 8 wanted the play areas improved/restored• 1 each wanted a skate park, hopscotch

and other games painted on paving behind kick-a-bout area, a new shop at the top end of the estate and somewhere to ride a scooter/motor bike.

Acti viti es for young people

We consulted with 23 young people aged between 6 and 16 years old on what types of faciliti es they wanted. They told us:

Progress to dateWard Councillors have agreed to fund half the cost of improving the kick-about and WWH will pay the other half and maintain the area aft erwards.

We are investi gati ng the possibility of creati ng a joint football/rugby pitch on the old fl ats fi eld area and a small dirt bike track.

When the weather improves, a couple of hopscotch ‘courts’ will be painted on the paving slabs behind the kick-about area with help from Cambria Maintenance Services.

• 10 people wanted a safe area for children to play and more acti viti es and faciliti es for children.

• There is currently a youth club on the estate run by Gellideg Foundati on Group. It meets every Monday night for 8 to 11 year olds and every Thursday night for those aged 11+.

• Every Tuesday morning there is a parent and toddler group.

What you wanted What we are doing

We are looking at funding opti ons to improve the kick-a-bout area and fi eld to improve play opportuniti es.

In additi on we have met with Merthyr Tydfi l Council’s Sports Development Offi cer, who has agreed to provide FREE training for coaches to work with children and young people to deliver additi onal acti viti es.

If you would like to volunteer to do the training and run sessions with local children and young people contact Alison Chaplin on 079 2920 1429 or 0800 052 2526.



Cheryl’s storyteam that she was looking into setting up her business making clocks and other craft items in the new year.

One of the Community Enterprise Team’s objectives is to help residents into employment or self-employment by offering support and funding (where possible) through our Making a Difference to your Future grant.

The team met with Cheryl and discussed what tools she would need to help her start up. Wales & West Housing, through their 50th anniversary grant, then purchased the tools and Cheryl is now using them to make her bespoke items. We also supported her by arranging an appointment with Taste of Enterprise to discuss a business plan, available training and registering as self-employed.

We wish Cheryl every success with her new venture!

Cheryl has been a resident of Twyncarmel for many years and has taught classes locally as an adult community tutor.

A keen arts and craft person, she decided to turn her hobby into a business after her teaching hours were cut in November 2014 due to funding.

When the Community Enterprise Team knocked on her door as part of their consultation in December, one of the things they discussed was Cheryl’s current employment status. Cheryl then told the

Our Employment Team spoke to 34 Twyncarmel residents about what you wanted. They told us:

• 6 people needed assistance with getting furniture and white goods

• 6 people wanted a job (that will pay the bills and fit in with caring responsibilities)

• 5 people wanted training/work experience to help them get a job and a 6th person also needed assistance to increase their working hours.

What you wanted What we are doing

• We do occasionally have furniture and white goods donated to us which we give to residents in need. Our Employment Team is looking at how we can do this more effectively to meet the growing demand.

• Our Employment Team is working on helping people into employment and finding work experience.

Contact Kristin Vaughan on 0800 052 2526 or email [email protected] if you are interested in these initiatives.


Get it Together Award

The Get it Together project was a year long initiative involving young people aged 13 to 23. Funded by Paul Hamblyn Foundation, WWH worked with young people from Twyncarmel, Gellideg Foundation Group youth club at The Fact Shop and Treharris Boys and Girls Club. Liam Evans led the team on Twyncarmel that won the Skills Award at a celebration evening held to mark the end of the project.

Twyncarmel Newsletter |Spring 2015

Twyncarmel youngsters recognised for Best Delivery of the Project

All Change at Keir Hardie University Health Park Practice 3Drs BU Jayadev & Dr A Jayadev retired from Practice 3, Keir Hardie University Health Park at the end of March . The Practice will continue with Dr Velupillai, Dr Strinati and Dr Roper taking over.

If you are a Patient at Practice 3 and you need to see a doctor, nothing will change. You willstill contact Practice 3 for an appointment and one of the new doctors will see you.


Half Term Litter Pick and activities with Cat Protection

The rain, sleet and snow held off long enough for the litter pick during February half term to take place.

This time, we collected 4 black bags of rubbish from the old flats site – much less than usual but that may be down to the poor weather we have had.

Following the litter pick, we went back to The Fact Shop for refreshments. Sarah Davies from Cat Protection held fun session on responsible cat ownership, including cat needs and body language.

The children and young people showed they had an impressive knowledge of the subject.

Everyone went home with goody bags including activity books (ideal for the weather), colouring pencils and a felt cat they had personally decorated.

Charley, Tasha and Owain

Owain and Sara

Tasha with her catAlex with her catCharley with her cat



Twyncarmel Facebook page

When we completed our survey on how you wanted to be kept informed, the majority of you said you’d like to have a Newsletter. However, 9 people (13%) said they would like to communicate via Facebook. Since that time, we have found more people are contacting us via the internet and smart phones.

So in response to the growing demand we will be launching a Twyncarmel Facebook page shortly, which will allow us to keep you informed as things happen and allow you to let us know what you think.

But don’t worry, the quarterly newsletter will still be coming through your doors.

Let us know the type of items you’d like to see on this page and we will see what we can do.

Merthyr Council is changing the way it recyclesWhilst around 75% of household waste could be recycled, the Council is currently only collecting around 48.2% from homes in the County Borough.

The target of 52% will increase to 58% by 2016 and the Council will be fined for not meeting the target. That will lead to increased Council Tax demands and reduced services at a time when budgets are already under pressure.

To encourage more recycling the Council is reducing the size of the wheelie bins (non-recycled waste) to 140 litres and will not take any black bags by the side of the bin or empty the bin if the lid cannot be closed. As now it will be collected fortnightly. Any residents who have additional waste through nappies, incontinence waste or very large families can apply for a larger bin but this will still be collected fortnightly.

Waste Item How can I recycle? When is it collected? Cans, plastics (bottles and tubs), paper, card, drink cartons, glass (bottles and jars) Use the GREEN Box Weekly from your kerbside Garden Waste Use the GREEN Bag Weekly from your kerbside Food Waste Use the Blue bin Weekly from your kerbside

Any rubbish that is fly-tipped or isn’t collected by the Council, will be disposed of by ourselves. The cost will be passed onto all residents via increased service charges unless the culprits can be identified.

If you need more help or information Contact Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council on phone 01685 725138 or email [email protected] or online at www.recycleformerthyr.co.uk

So, please play your part – recycle responsibly and report anyone you see fly tipping

Twyncarmel Newsletter |Spring 2015

Twyncarmel Newslett er | Spring 2015

| www.wwha.co.uk | 0800 052 2526 | Twitt er: @wwha

New reminder system should improve waiti ng ti mes for hospital appointments

Cwm Taf University Health Board is launching a free appointment reminder service using text and voice messages to help reduce the number of pati ents who do not att end their hospital appointments.

By providing a FREE message either by text to mobile phones or with a voice call to home phones 7 days and then 24 hours before, people will be reminded of the ti me and date of their booked appointment. It will give pati ents who do not need the appointment, or are unable to att end, the opportunity to cancel or re-arrange the appointment.

Cwm Taf University Health Board hopes this will reduce the number of appointments where no one turns up by 30%. With some 72,000 appointments missed last year, a 30% reducti on would lead to around 21,000 appointments which could be given to someone else. The fi rst phase of the service will be introduced in Outpati ents and will be rolled out to other departments throughout the year. So please, if you change your phone number, let your Doctor and the hospital know if you are waiti ng for an appointment.

Tell us your viewsWe hope you have found this newslett er useful! If there is anything in parti cular you’d like us to look at in the next editi on please let us know!

Contact Alison Chaplin, Community DevelopmentProject Offi cer 07929 [email protected]

Follow us on Twitt er @wwha

Check out our website:www.wwha.co.uk

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twyncarmel news spring 2015

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