Heart of the Matter Newsletter 3

Heart Matterofthe

Spring 2011 Issue 3

Bridging theGeneration Gap

Young people from Brynfarmand Gurnos, Brynmawr get building

Tenants choose new kitchens

Volunteers needed inWaunheulog

Many of Tai Calon’s tenantstake great pride in ensuringthat their estates are keptclean and tidy. One of thecommunity supportmechanisms that Tai Calonhas now put in place is theintroduction of its ‘GreatEstate Walkabout’ programmeto identify any estate issues.

Tai Calon and its partners arebeginning to make real progressin addressing some of theconcerns raised by tenants.Blaenau Gwent Council, isfunding a team of litter wardensacross Blaenau Gwent, one ofwhom is Terry Briggs based onthe Waundeg estate.

Although Terry retired a numberof years ago, he really wantedsomething worthwhile to do duringhis spare time – something thatwould keep him busy and make adifference to others.

So now he spends a couple ofhours every morning cleaning uplitter on the estate, and having achat with local tenants andresidents along the way.

Local tenants Christine Morganand Diane Bennett sing Terry’spraises. “The estate is so muchcleaner. He really is marvellous,and is doing such a great job for allof us around here”, said ChristineMorgan. She added “He isn’t at allphased by some of the youngermembers of our community andhe really enjoys his job.”

Diane added “He has made sucha vast improvement to the estate.

2 | Heart of the Matter

Keeping Waundeg Tidy

There is no doubt thatTai Calon takes antisocialbehaviour issues veryseriously and ensures thatthey are dealt with asquickly as possible. Theorganisation wants to makesure that tenants remain safein their homes, and ensurethe quality of life within itscommunities.

An example of this was the swiftaction taken when an antisocialbehaviour injunction wassuccessfully lodged back inFebruary. The injunction waslodged against a Blaina manfollowing a history of domesticabuse against his former partner,a tenant of Tai Calon

An escalation in domestic abuseat the property, led to anapplication being made to thecourt for the injunction by TaiCalon Community Housing, inpartnership with the BlaenauGwent Domestic Abuse Serviceand the Police.

Tai Calon was aware there hadbeen a history of domestic abuse,and a number of the neighbourshad complained that severalincidents had taken place,including smashed windows andthreats of violence.

Members of the organisation’sneighbourhoods team did nothesitate in instigating a ‘withoutnotice application’ for aninjunction. The court granted animmediate interim orderprohibiting the man, not a tenantof Tai Calon, from going within50 metres of the area concerned.He was also banned from makingcontact in any capacity with thevictim, with the power of arrestfor any breach of the order until2013.

Success in Gaining AntisocialBehaviour Injunction

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He not only keeps our streetsand gardens clean and tidy, healso makes sure that the footballpitch at the back of thecommunity centre is kept litterfree for the kids. He is a greatasset to all of us living here. Ithink he quite enjoys having achat with everyone on his rounds.He never passes you by without afriendly word!”

Terry Briggs

Antisocial Behaviour Injunction 2

Keeping Waundeg Tidy 2

News In Brief 4

Tenants talking to tenants 5

Equalities Panel holds

first meeting 6

Join Tai Calon 7

Responsible Dog Ownership 7

Enjoying Life Again 8

Young People ZoneBuilding Bridges 9

Green Space Launch 10

Tai Calon on Facebook

and Twitter 12

ContentsIf you would like tocontact Tai Calon youcan phone us on0300 303 1717

If you wish to report arepair,enquire about yourrent, or would like tospeak to a member ofstaff from Tai Calonplease telephone0300 303 1717.

Or you can:Write to or visit us at:Solis One, Rising SunIndustrial Estate, BlainaNP13 3JW

Email us: [email protected]

Contact Us

Just prior to Christmas,many of you very kindlycompleted our tenantquestionnaire ‘Help Usto Ensure Our ServicesMeet Your Needs’.

Prize DrawWinner...

(Phil Crozier, Chairman, Tai Calonwith the winning questionnaire)

Over 3000 completedquestionnaires were returnedand entered into a Prize Draw for£50 worth of shopping vouchers,drawn by our Chairman PhilCrozier.

Congratulations go to the luckywinner, Dale Williams of Sirhowy,Tredegar. He chose £50 worth ofArgos vouchers as his prize!

Heart of the Matter | 3

www.taicalon.org

Have you got any ideason how to ensure yourestate is great? Comeand join us on one of ourgreat estate walkabouts!

The walkabouts cover theEbbw Fawr, Sirhowy andEbbw Fach valleys and givetenants and residents theopportunity to work togetherwith Tai Calon’s officers to findways of improving theirestates and communities.Some of the issues identifiedon previous walkabouts werethe protection of green areason estates, parking, litter andgraffiti. Tai Calon’sneighbourhood officers aretaking steps to make surethese issues are beingaddressed.

If you want to join us on ournext walkabout, you can finddetails of future walkabouts inthe timetable shown here.

For more informationcontact a member of ourCommunity Involvementteam on 0300 303 1717.


News In Brief...The first meeting of Tai Calon’sMembership ScrutinyCommittee took place on the28th February. The role of thisgroup is to scrutinise the workof Tai Calon’s Board and SeniorManagement on behalf of theTai Calon Membership. TheScrutiny Committee is makingsure that the promises made totenants in the offer documentare being kept.

It is important to Tai Calonthat when our contractors areworking in your home you havea point of contact. Tai Calon’sfull team of Tenant LiaisonOfficers are now in post, tohelp and support tenants whosehomes are receiving kitchenand bathroom upgrades, newroofs and central heatingsystems. Emma Ridout,Fernando Greco and CathGriffiths will be responsible formaking sure that tenants arefully informed as the work isongoing, presenting tenantswith kitchen choices andproviding support to those whoneed assistance. If you wouldlike to speak to a member ofthe Tenant Liaison team orwould like further information,then please contact us on0300 303 1717.

Tenants and staff will soon bestarting work on developing adesignated Tenant Resourceroom at Solis One, Tai Calon’sheadquarters. Tenants will beasked to make suggestions onhow their room could be bestutilised. One idea that has been

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suggested is a dedicatedoffice resource fortenants which couldinclude PC’s andphotocopiers.

Apr May Jun

Sirhowy Valley

Georgetown 24thSirhowy - Lower 17th 28thCefn Golau 5th 31stAshvale 10th 21stTown Centre 19thYsguborwen 12th 7thNantybwch& Tafarnaubach

3rd 14th

Dukestown 26th

Ebbw Fawr Valley

Beaufort 5thGarnlydan 17thRassau - Upper 19th 7thHilltop - Upper 10th 28thHilltop - Lower 26th 14thBriery Hill 31stNewtown 3rd 21stGlyncoed 24thCwm 12th

Ebbw Fach Valley

Twyncynghordy 5thGurnos Estate 12thBrynfarm 19th 7thWinchestown 3rdCoed Cae 10th 28thFfoesmaen 17thCwmcelyn 14thRoseheyworth 24thCwmtillery 26thBrynithel 31stSwffrwyd 21st

Tenant volunteers Mike andAngela Roberts, Jen Griffiths,David Grainger-Jones, EmlynJenkins and Ann Street, havebeen assisting Tai Calon tocapture valuable informationfrom other tenants to helpimprove the organisation’sservice delivery.

They very kindly volunteer theirtime each week, and play a keyrole in carrying out tenant repairssatisfaction surveys. This involvesphoning other tenants to askthem about their experienceof Tai Calon’s repairs process.

Many of the volunteers have beenworking with Tai Calon for sometime, and following transfer in July2010 got involved with a variety ofthe organisation’s tenantconsultation groups.

Jen Griffiths said, “By beingon such a variety of tenantconsultation groups, and byengaging with other tenants forthe repairs service questionnaire,I can see both sides of the coin.You not only get to know staffmembers a lot better, but it is anexcellent way of building aninformative and trustworthyrelationship with other tenants.”

Angela Roberts agreed. Shecommented, “When I’m on thephone talking to the other tenants,I always tell them that theinformation they give us is reallyvaluable and is used by Tai Calonto improve its repairs service, andthat ultimately it is for their benefit.I also think that other tenants feelmuch more comfortable talking tous as fellow tenants, as we aregoing through the same repairsprocess as they are.”

The tenant repairs satisfactionsurvey is split into two main areas;the first deals with the process of‘reporting a repair’ and the secondwith the ‘actual repair process’,from the time repairs staff knockon the door to the time they leavethe property.

The aim is to complete aminimum of 1000 satisfactionsurveys per year, and the group ison schedule to meet this target.

If you would like to become atenant volunteer to carry outtenant satisfaction surveys, pleasecontact Louise Burgwin or AndyMacDougall on 0300 303 1717,and they will be happy to give youfurther details.

www.taicalon.org

Tenants talking to tenants


Jen Griffiths

Tai Calon’s newly formedEqualities Panel was heldon Monday 14th February2011 in the Tenant ResourceCentre sited at Tai Calon’soffices in Blaina.

The Panel, which comprises80% tenants and 20% staff, willbe responsible for ensuring thatthe principles of equality andfairness are at the heart of theorganisation and that it deliversservices which are non-discriminatory and sensitive tothe diverse needs of all itstenants.

“The Panel has anambitious action plan,” saidAnn Ingram, one of the tenantrepresentatives on the Panel.“We are determined that thegroup will not become a talkingshop, but will lead initiativeswhich will improve services toTai Calon tenants and theircommunities.”

Alan Burkitt, Equalities Advisorfor Blaenau Gwent Council, whoalso attended the first meetingcommented, “I’m reallyimpressed with the turnout tothis first meeting, and the factthat we have representationfrom individuals who may beaffected by equalities issues.

People have attended todaywho are visually impaired, havehearing impairments or aredisabled.”

The Panel’s next meeting isscheduled for the 11th of April.Ann Ingram will be the regularcontributor to future issues of‘Heart of the Matter’ on behalfof the Panel.

If you would like to join thePanel or would like furtherinformation, please contactAndy MacDougall orLouise Burgwin on0300 303 1717.


www.taicalon.org

The Equalities Panelholds first meeting


Responsible DogOwnership & DogFoulingIn a national survey the Tidy Britain Group found that80% of people questioned were "greatly concerned bydog mess".

Dog fouling has been anissue that has been raised bya number of tenants duringTai Calon’s great estatewalkabouts this year. In anattempt to inform dog ownersand address this particularcommunity nuisance,Tai Calon’s neighbourhoodteams are working with tenantsand residents to ensure theyare fully aware of theirresponsibilities and thepotential health risksassociated with dog mess.

So what should aresponsible dog owner do?Well, under the Dogs (Foulingof Land) Act 1996, all dogowners are obliged to clean uptheir dog’s mess. Failure to doso is an offence and couldresult in a £75 Fixed PenaltyNotice, or even a fine of up to a£1000.

JoinTai Calon

Do you want to play akey role in the runningof Tai Calon and have asay in the services youreceive?

If you do, then why notbecome a member ofTai Calon?

Tai Calon is a communitymutual organisation - a typeof co-operative. By becominga member, tenants andleaseholders are given anopportunity to shape theorganisation and influenceservices.

As a member you can:• Vote at Tai Calon’s Annual

General Meetings• Approve the appointment of

independent Board members• Elect a Scrutiny Committee to

hold Tai Calon’s Board toaccount on behalf of members

• Receive an officialshareholding certificate andbe entered into regular prizedraws

• Attend Tai Calon’s membertraining events and conferences

Membership of Tai Calon isfree and you would not beunder any obligation to attendmeetings – all you have to dois fill in a simple form anddecide how involvedyou want to be.

www.taicalon.org

To become a member, orfor more information, pleasecontact the CommunityInvolvement & InvestmentTeam on 0300 303 1717or email [email protected]

Dog owners should makesure they always carry adoggy or carrier bag to pick upexcrement, and dispose of it inthe designated red dog bins.If there are no such binsavailable, take the bag homeor dispose of it in a normallitterbin.

If you see an incident of anowner allowing their dog tofoul a public area withoutclearing it up, you can reportit to Blaenau Gwent Councilon (01495) 311556, who willinvestigate the matter foryou. You will of course needto provide as much detailedinformation as you can, suchas a time and location.


Josie is Enjoying Life Again!Not so long ago, Josie Poultney was living in an areawhere youngsters from the neighbourhood were makingher feel intimidated.

Josie spoke to us about howher life has improved sincemoving into shelteredaccommodation atGlanffrwyd Court.

She said “I became more andmore unhappy living in myprevious home, particularly aftermy husband of 50 years passedaway. I found life without himvery hard and frightening,especially when the localyoungsters were behaving sobadly.”

Then Josie explained how herlife changed. Almost a year agoshe moved into Glanffrwyd Court

in Ebbw Vale, one of Tai Calon’ssheltered housing schemes, andshe is loving life there!

Josie explains that since movinginto sheltered housing, she feelsso much happier and lovesnothing more than joining in withall the organised activities –Bingo on Thursday’s, cards onTuesday’s and the chip run twicea week!“I love the feeling of belonging toa little community – we all lookout for each other, and there isalways someone to have a chatwith.”

Josie has her own studio flat withkitchen/lounge/bedroom. She

talks about how she loves to sitand enjoy the view or watch a bitof TV, and how friends andfamily can come and visit as andwhen they please.

Josie said “I love it here!Everyone is so nice, and there isalways a lot to do!”

“At the moment, I am countingthe days until April, when I takethe trip of a lifetime to go on acruise around the Mediterraneanwith my family. One of thehighlights for me will be a visit tomy father’s war grave,something I have alwayswanted to do.”

www.taicalon.org

The course has been verysuccessful, so much so thatfuture funding has beenapplied for so that theproject can be rolled outacross the Tredegar andEbbw Vale areas.

Chloe Williams,Community Involvementand Investment Officer forTai Calon hadthis to say aboutthe project, “Weare really keenthat the studentsare in a positionto move ontobigger andbetter thingsas a result ofcompletingthe course.”

“With thesupport ofTai Calon andthe ConstructionYouth Trust, wewill be workingtogether withthe youngparticipants toidentify futuretraining andemploymentopportunities.”

Have you ever wanted to be able to build a bird box,some planters for the garden, or even a park bench?

Well that is exactly theopportunity that seven youngpeople from the Brynfarm andGurnos estates, Brynmawr, havebeen given. The ‘BuildingBridges’ project has beenorganised by Tai Calon inconjunction with theConstruction Youth Trust.

The project, aimed at 14-25year olds, provided a unique5 week taster course for basicconstruction and carpentryskills. It gave participants achance to develop their skillswith a view to progressing intofurther education oremployment. The course ranthroughout February & Marchat Tai Calon’s headquarters inBlaina.

Lunch and transport wasprovided for the duration of thecourse, so all the studentsneeded to do was to getcreative!!

Anna Norris, one of theparticipants said, “I wanted togain skills to do further training.It’s really good to be involved.”

Jamie Griffiths, another of thestudents agreed, “This is agreat experience to learn newskills.”

Building Bridges...


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Young people from theCheeky Dragons Youth Forumand officers from Tai Calon,Keep Wales Tidy, the BritishTrust for ConservationVolunteers (BTCV) andCommunities First workedtogether to get the arealitter free.

The litter pick was just part of arange of ideas that Waunheulogtenants and young people cameup with on an ‘ideas day’ held inWinchestown Community Hall onthe 12th January .

Other ideas included treeplanting, new fencing, pathwaysand a picnic area created from agreen space makeover. On the25th February, tenants and youngpeople on the estate planted 100trees throughout the area.

Samantha Woodward, aged17, and Chair of the localCheeky Dragons Youth Forumsaid, “A lot of the young peoplein this community really careabout what goes on. We wouldlike to improve the area we livein and the lives of everyone wholives here – particularly from ayoung person’s perspective.”

“We have ideas on how wewould like to see our open green

spaces being used and by joiningforces with others we can reallymake it happen.”

The schemes have been fundedin partnership between Tai Calon,its funders Barclays Bank andBTCV.

BTCV is a charity with asuccessful history ofenvironmental volunteeringthroughout the UK and aroundthe world. It isworking with TaiCalon to establisha qualificationbasedvolunteeringprogramme onthe estate.

If you would liketo get involved inthe Waunheulogproject, have anyideas for green


Youngsters launch Waunheulog‘green space’ makeover projectA group of youngsters put on their tabards with litter-picks at the ready, to launchthe green space makeover project in Waunheulog on the 22nd of February.

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space makeovers in your areaor want more information onthe Tai Calon’s work withincommunities, contact NatashaJones, Kelsey Watkins or ChloeWilliams on 0300 303 1717.For more information on BTCVand its volunteering programme(the Family Employment Initiative)contact John Singleton on01685 844556.


Tenants choose theirfavourite kitchensOver 500 tenants attendeda ‘kitchen drop in’ eventwhich took place at theTai Calon headquarters inBlaina, on Wednesday 16thMarch 2011.

Tenants from all over BlaenauGwent selected their preferredkitchen manufacturers as wellas selecting their preferredkitchen finishes.

Paula Robbins, fromSt Georges Court, Tredegarsaid “The kitchens are lovely,I was quite surprised at all thechoices. They are such goodquality, compared to what wecurrently have. It’s so nice tohave a choice”.

Jennifer and Barry Lewis havelived in their home in Brynmawrfor 8 years and said, “We havehad the same kitchen since wemoved in. We are really lookingforward to a new, modernkitchen. It’s great having achoice which we never hadbefore and they are lovely”.

The kitchen programme ispart of Tai Calon’s five yearcommitment to its tenants.Kitchen and bathroomimprovements have alreadybeen completed inWinchestown in Nantyglo,Waundeg in Tredegar andNewtown in Ebbw Vale.A timetable of the next phaseof works is currently beingdeveloped, based on a ‘most inneed’ approach.

Jen Barfoot, Chief Executiveof Tai Calon commented“The number of our tenantsthat turned up to the eventwas amazing and took us bysurprise. We will now be ableto offer kitchens that we knowour tenants want.

The most popular choiceswill form part of the selectionoffered to tenants whenimprovement works are beingundertaken in their home.”

The ‘Lessons Learnt’ eventswere laid on for tenants tocome and give us their viewson how the wholeimprovement programmeexperience was for them.

We asked for feedbackon things like...• What did you like or

dislike about the process?• Are you happy with your

new kitchen/bathroom?• What could we do better

next time?

The information we havegathered will be used to shapehow we deliver the next stageof the improvementprogramme.The Pilot refurbishment

programme is nearlycomplete, and Tai Calonhas been busy organisinga series of ‘Lessons Learnt’events for tenants whohave had new kitchens andbathrooms fitted, or hadtheir homes rewired.

www.taicalon.org


Tai Calon is now usingFacebook and Twitter topublicise its events. Facebookand Twitter are fantastic socialnetworking tools and can helpus to keep everyone informedabout all kinds of things.

Anyone who wants to getinvolved with Tai Calon, or learnmore about what events arecoming up can check ourFacebook and Twitter updates.

Tai Calon now onFacebook and Twitter!Tai Calon has taken the plunge into online media,launching a new Facebook and Twitter page.

Why nottake a look

We look forwardto networkingwith you!

www.taicalon.org

Heart of the Matter Newsletter 3

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Transcript of Heart of the Matter Newsletter 3