Independence Solutions, a valued contractor of North Wales Housing, has generously donated potatoes, carrots, and sprouts. The NWH team promptly delivered the nutritious donation to local food banks in Bangor and Caernarfon. A big thank you to Independence Solutions for their generosity and positive impact on our community.
We look forward to working closely with Independence Solutions in 2024.
Taverners Court resident Val Conway, pictured in the yellow tee-shirt, celebrated her 78th birthday in June and committed to walking 78,000 steps in a week to raise money for the charity SHINE. SHINE provides specialist advice and support for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus.
Residents and scheme Manager Susan Gough joined Val on the first day of her fundraising and a really lovely afternoon was had by all.
Val was awarded the BEM for her services to charity in the New Years Honours list. She tirelessly raises money for a variety of charities and volunteers on a weekly basis for the Llandudno PHAB Club (Physically Handicapped and Able Bodied), although the pandemic has temporarily put paid to the weekly meetings.
Good luck to Val on your challenge!
This year we let NWH staff decide on which charity we fundraise for the next year. We put a shortlist of suggestions to vote, and the winning charity is… Mind Cymru!
Mind Cymru is the Welsh branch of the mental health charity which offers information and advice to people with mental health problems and lobbies government and local authorities on their behalf.
With a year that has been a challenge for many people’s mental health, we can’t wait to start fundraising and help support this amazing charity.
Our chosen charity for 2020-2021 was Awyr Las. Awyr Las is a local North Wales charity that works alongside the NHS to ensure that patients benefit from better NHS services when they need them the most.
At a time where so much admiration and gratitude was shown to our NHS staff, we thought they were a very fitting charity for us to be supporting.
We raised a total of £3,010 for the charity!
Because of working from home, we haven’t been able to carry our as much fundraising activities as we would have liked. Thank you everyone for your support.
North Wales Housing have successfully completed their ‘Around the World in 80 days’ challenge with 3 and a half days to spare this January.
At the end of October NWH launched the wellbeing and fitness challenge for staff, friends and family, aiming to walk, cycle or run 24,901 miles in 80 days. Not only did the housing association make it back to Llandudno Junction safely after traveling the world, they travelled a further 2,150 miles, finishing in Marrakesh in Morocco.
Emma Williams, Assistant Director Finance and head of the Charity Panel, said:
“When choosing the challenge we wanted to achieve two things. We wanted to help the health and wellbeing of staff, which like everyone else’s was struggling during the pandemic. Secondly, we wanted to raise money for charity. We thought this was the perfect idea. As well as taking part staff have also collected sponsorship that will go to this year’s charity, Awyr Las.”
“The challenge has gone amazingly well, better than we could ever have imagined and I am so proud of everyone who has taken part. It has brought people together in a special way and shown how much of a family NWH really are. We truly live in a beautiful part of the world and I have taken tremendous joy in seeing different parts of North Wales.”
Residents in some of our schemes have also taken a keen interest in the challenge, in Hafod y Park, our Extra Care scheme in Abergele in particular.
Shelley Hughes, Hafod y Parc Scheme Manager explains:
“Residents asked me daily which country we had reached throughout the challenge, which helped motivate me to get my miles in. The challenge also gave them something to focus on every day, which is great comfort for them during the pandemic and its restrictions.”
All sponsorship money collected will be donated to this year’s charity, Awyr Las, the North Wales NHS charity.
Keen not to lose momentum, NWH have another challenge up their sleeve which they’ll be starting in February.
As we settled into life working from home, fundraising has been a bit more of a challenge, but that hasn’t stopped North Wales Housing. They are always up for a challenge… and what a challenge they have chosen!
At the end of October NWH launched an ‘Around the World in 80 days’ challenge, a wellbeing/fitness challenge for NWH staff and our families aiming to walk/cycle/run as far as we can around the world in 80 days, a target of 24,901 miles by 16th January.
Emma Williams, Assistant Director Finance explained:
“When choosing the challenge we wanted to achieve two things. We wanted to help the health and wellbeing of staff and secondly, we wanted to raise money for charity. We thought this was the perfect idea. As well as taking part staff will also collect sponsorship that will go to this year’s charity, Awyr Las.”
As of 30th November NWH staff, family and friends have clocked 7,500 miles, getting out in all weathers as well as hammering the treadmill. With a planned route that takes them on a tour across the world, they’ve currently reached China.
Emma says:
“It’s gone really well so far, so many people have got involved. We’re seeing staff going on walks and bike rides with their families and pets. We’re seeing beautiful views of North Wales, some are sharing historical meaning behind their walks which is nice.”
You can follow their journey on their Facebook, Twitter or visit their website where they will be posting updates.
We are extremely pleased to reveal that our chosen charity for this year is… Awyr Las
Awyr Las is a local North Wales charity that works alongside the NHS to ensure that patients benefit from better NHS services when they need them the most.
The charity provides life-changing equipment and services for patients in hospitals and in communities across North Wales from small items like comfortable chairs for A&E and dialysis patients to cutting-edge technology for the cancer, stroke and special care baby units.
At a time where so much admiration and gratitude is shown to our NHS staff, we think this a very fitting charity for us to be supporting.
North Wales Housing (NWH) are pleased to reveal that we have raised a total of £3,752 for charity in 2017 – 2019.
Different to previous years, this total will be split between two charities, Createasmile and to purchase a CuddleCot for Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor.
Emma Williams, Assistant Director Finance, who also leads the Chairty Panel explained:
“We are pleased to have fundraise for two worthwhile causes; the Charity Panel couldn’t decide between the two and we thought why not!”
The total amount has been raised by a steady stream of activities that have taken place, including a Facebook auction, bingo, raffles, tuck shop and dress down payday’s.
Creatasmile is a registered charity for children with autism/aspergers ADHD, all disabilities, special educational needs and their family. They offer family fun sessions and support monthly across North Wales.
Sharon L. Bateman, C.E.O./Founder of Creatasmile accepted the cheque from the NWH Charity Panel this June:
“Creatasmile are delighted to receive the fund raising thanks to all at North Wales Housing and their tenants.”
“The money raised gives children and families the opportunity to enjoy great fun events monthly where children with autism and additional needs can be themselves away from the judgment of people who do not understand spectrum disorders and where their family can relax and meet others in similar situations, as well as enabling us to deliver training and Agored Cymru qualifications for older children with additional needs over 13 years old.”
“Creatasmile ethos is that every child and young person should be able to reach their full potential and thanks to North Wales Housing we are being able to see this happening in our community.”
The second choice by the Charity Panel is a Cuddle Cot for Ysbyty Gwynedd. A cuddle cot is a cooling pad which can be inserted into any type of baby bed – from Moses baskets to carry-cots, prams to cots – to allow the families of babies who have passed away time to grieve. North Wales Housing have raised enough money for Ysbyty Gwynedd to purchase one cuddlecot.
Emma Williams, Assistant Director Finance said:
“NWH staff like to get involved in the community; working in housing we can see the benefit of investing in the community and the services it offers.”
“Thank you to everyone who took part in any of the fundraisers; this was done outside of work time so we really appreciate it. Thank you also to all businesses who donated prizes to our Facebook auction.”
We are pleased to reveal that the charity for 2019 – 2020 is North Wales Mountain Rescue Association. Formed in May 1973 the association provides rescue services across the whole of North Wales through its member organisations. Teams include Aberdyfi Search and Rescue team in the south, to South Snowdonia Search and Rescue Team, Aberglasyn Mountain Rescue Team, Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team, Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation and North East Wales Search and Rescue.
They provide a range of rescue activities including searching for people in mountainous and inhospitable terrain, rescue from swift and flood waters and searching for vulnerable people missing from home. All of its members are unpaid volunteers, willing to turn out in all weathers at any time of day to help those in need.
North Wales Housing is organising an online Facebook auction during March 2019 to raise funds for our chosen charities, Create a smile and Cuddle-Cots for Ysbyty Gwynedd Hospital.
The auction follows on from the success of their 2016 auction which raised an amazing £1,095.10 for St David’s hospice.
The auction is now LIVE! You can follow the auction on our Facebook page here https://www.facebook.com/events/243148986624730/. Click ‘Going’ to receive all lot notifications. Lots will include family tickets to Padarn lake railway, Penrhyn castle and Foel farm as well as a £20 voucher to Tops Chinese restaurant, £20 fuel voucher, various bottles of alcohol and gift sets, a £25 Argos gift card and many more.
Interested in bidding but not on Facebook? Get in touch.
North Wales Housing staff and residents celebrated St David’s Day on Friday 1st March.
St David is the patron saint of Wales and he is celebrated on the 1st every year.
Staff at both the Llandudno Junction and Bangor office came together over lunch to celebrate. They tucked into traditional food such as lobsgows, leek soup (or cawl!) and Welsh cakes over a Welsh-themed quiz. All proceeds went to their chosen charity Createasmile and a Cuddle-cot for Ysbyty Gwynedd.
Residents at some of our schemes also marked the occasion, enjoying a lovely Welsh-themed lunch and music. Llys y Coed residents enjoyed a performance by Welsh duo Dylan a Neil in their shared area.
