News Categories: Local news / community

Sleeping Bags and Tents urgently wanted

St Mary’s hostel in Bangor provide a gate service to homeless people in Bangor. This service provides crucial support to help the homeless stay warm and dry, offering food, clothing items and emergency camping provisions such as tents and sleeping bags.

This service relies on donations to keep going.

We do not have any tents or sleeping bags left at the moment. With cold weather fast approaching this is worrying situation.

If you have any spare sleeping bags or tents please donate them. You can drop them off at St Mary’s Hostel, Love Lane, Bangor or contact 01248 362211 for alternative arrangements.

Summer 2016 Edition of Clwb Seren available now!

You can read the Summer 2016 edition of Clwb Seren, North Wales Housing’s Tenant Newsletter online here.

This is a special edition as it includes a personal message from Paul Diggory, Chief Executive, who will be retiring at the end of May 2016. More information about his replacement will be revealed soon.

A few other highlights from this edition include our total fundraising for Wales Air Ambulance (page 3), the winners of our Saint David’s Day competition (page 5), details about our Job Skills Workshop (page 6) and of course our Kids Corner (page 13).

Do you have a story for the next edition of Clwb Seren? Any feedback? Email it to [email protected] or via post to: Sian Parry, North Wales Housing, Plas Blodwel, Broad Street. Llandudno Junction. Conwy. LL31 9HL.

Residents Transform Disused Land into Wildflower Garden

North Wales Housing residents in Ffordd Eithinog and Lon Mieri in Bangor have transformed a disused piece of land into a wildflowers and a meadow garden.

There was overwhelming support for the project when residents were asked what they would like to see on this land.

Ann Williams, Wildlife Gardening Project Leader for North Wales Wildlife Trust led an information session for residents to learn more about the project and wildlife as a whole.

Residents took part in the planting of the wild flowers along with NWH staff, Wildlife Gardening Project Leader, and North Wales Wildlife Trust volunteers.

Emma Briscoe, Assistant Housing Officer at North Wales Housing said:

I am so happy that we have been able to involve Anna at the NW Wildlife Trust in planting a wildflower meadow with our tenants at Eithinog, I have had my eye on this piece of land for some time in the hope that we could do something along these lines.”

It will bring a much needed habitat for bees and insects and have a positive impact on the environment and for the community as a whole. We are hoping that the local school will also be able to use the land for their wildlife projects.”

Iwan Evans, Tenant Participation Co-ordinator, North Wales Housing added:

It has been a successful project and brought about increased engagement with some of the residents.”

Similar events will be advertised on the Events Calendar or you can keep up to date on our Facebook or Twitter page.

New Housing List launched: Single Housing Registers in Conwy and Flintshire

The way that you apply for social housing and how homes are allocated in Conwy and Flintshire has changed.

Flintshire County Council, Conwy County Borough Council and all the Housing Associations in the two counties are working in partnership to make it easier for people to apply for social housing.

There’s now just one housing register in each county and all properties are allocated from that single register.

Previously the Councils and each housing association had their own housing registers and prospective tenants had to apply to each separately.

The new system aims to make it easier to apply for social housing and make the housing register easier to understand.

Under the new system, people who apply for social housing will be assessed to see if they meet certain statutory criteria, which will determine their level of housing need.

They will also be assessed as to their local connection with the area and community in which they want to live. The new system has a number of bands and only those people in the greatest and most urgent need will be in the higher bands and therefore get priority for housing.

Housing Solutions will offer and discuss the best housing options with each customer depending on their circumstances. Advice will cover the whole range of affordable housing options, including social housing, private rented accommodation, home ownership and other available alternatives.

Cllr Phil Edwards, Conwy’s Cabinet Member for Communities said:

There is a shortage of social housing and this new approach will help us provide a range of realistic options for people; to help them secure housing in the areas they want, by exploring the range of options available in the county.”

Paul Diggory, Chief Executive, North Wales Housing said:

We’re pleased to be involved in the development of this new system. It’s going to make it easier for people to apply for housing and for those who administer applications.”

If you are applying for a home in Flintshire or Conwy, you must make an application to:

Conwy: Conwy Housing Solutions 0300 1240050 www.conwyhousing.co.uk

Flintshire: Flintshire Housing Solutions 01352 703777 www.flintshirehousing.co.uk

New Personal Development Grant available to tenants

NWH are pleased to be able to offer a Personal Development Grant of up to £250 for our tenants, designed to tackle financial barriers that may be preventing you from accessing education, training or employment.

Examples of what can be funded include tools or equipment for a job or qualification e.g. hairdressing kit or books for college; course fees or clothes for interviews.

Click here to find out if you’re eligible and how to apply.

Push the button to access all Eirias

Two North Wales Housing tenants have enjoyed a day at the all-star Access All Eirias concert, by simply liking the organisations Facebook page.

North Wales Housing is encouraging tenants to use social media as a way of engaging with the organisation, helping them find out information and offering feedback or opinion. NWH recently ran a competition with two Access All Eirias tickets up for grabs – to be in with a chance, all tenants had to do was simply like the Facebook page or follow NWH on Twitter.

Helen and Robert Mawson of Menai Bridge liked NWH on Facebook and were the lucky winners. They had a brilliant day enjoying Welsh legend Tom Jones and other stars at the Colwyn Bay venue.

Iwan Evans of North Wales Housing said:

“Social media has become an incredibly important communication tool for us and we want as many of our tenants as possible to be engaged with us via their preferred social media platform. Competitions such as this let our tenants know we have a social media presence and helps drive traffic and interest towards us online.”

He added:

“We’re pleased Helen and Robert enjoyed their day and would encourage all of our tenants to look out for other similar initiatives throughout 2014.

Summer fun

North Wales Housing has announced details of its annual Summer Fun Day extravaganza!

Widely considered a highlight of the year for the association and often attended by hundreds of tenants, this year’s event will be held on Wednesday 20th August at Ysgol Morfa Rhianedd, Ffordd Cwm, Llandudno.

With the fun kicking off at 11am until 3pm, visitors can expect a whole host of activities and challenges. Already on the bill are a DJ, talent show, face painting, arts and crafts, treasure hunt, play area, garden area and various sports activities, with more to be confirmed.

Everyone attending can enjoy a free lunch and free transport will be arranged to bring residents to and from their homes. All of the association’s tenants across North Wales have been invited to attend.

Iwan Evans of North Wales Housing said:

“This is an important day in the North Wales Housing calendar. Not only is it a really fun day but it gives people the opportunity to chat to people from both within their communities and from other nearby towns.”

“We’ve got loads of activities arranged from the sporty and active to the more sedate and relaxed. We’d encourage all of our tenants to join us on the day!”

Members of the North wales Housing team will also be on hand to offer support and advice regarding any aspect of their tenancy. Information from other partner organisations including the Credit Union, Crest, Bus Stop and Conwy Council recycling will also be available on the day.

 

For more information about the fun day please contact us on 01492 572727 or [email protected]

A spring clean to go green

Residents at housing estates throughout the Conwy region have made use of a number of temporary giant skips, binning old and disused waste that will be used for recycling as part of a series of ‘Environmental Action Days’.

The North Wales Housing managed initiative began as a one off some six years ago and has since turned into an annual event that residents look forward to as an opportunity for a big festive clear out.

Household items from washing machines, TV’s and small electrical goods are skipped alongside broken fencing toys, games and much more. The massive skip is then collected and goods recycled and reused where possible.

Garth Butcher of North Wales Housing, who helps manage the day said:

“Not only is this Environmental Day a great opportunity for people to have a clear out but it also encourages community members to meet and chat. Often you’ll find that neighbours who have never spoken to each other start to engage and help each other out which is brilliant!”

In total, 24 skips will be placed within local communities with each holding two tonnes of waste. Once completed after the 12 week roll out, the North Wales Housing team will have expected to collected almost 50 tonnes of waste.

Ysgol Maelgwyn pupils bring festive sparkle to Plas Blodwel

Young pupils from Ysgol Maelgwyn in Llandudno Junction have taken part in an all-school Christmas competition to design and produce the best festive decoration.

Over 100 pupils took part in the Christmas Decoration challenge, set by North Wales Housing that saw a huge array of colourful designs produced and submitted for the competition. The offices of North Wales Housing sit almost opposite Ysgol Maelgwyn in Plas Blodwel, and the school challenge has been a great opportunity for the two to come together at Christmas.

Chief Executive of North Wales Housing, Paul Diggory, judged the decorations and was delighted with the results. He said:

“What a brilliant, imaginative and creative bunch of decorations! I am incredibly impressed by the ideas submitted, making it really difficult to choose a winning four.”

Four children from four different age groups were chosen and presented with gift tokens.

Paul added:

“Congratulations to the winners whose decorations will now sit amongst all other Ysgol Maelgwyn colourful trinkets on our tree at the head office.”

The judging event was held as part of the school’s annual Christmas Fayre and representatives from North Wales Housing joined staff, pupils, parents and even reindeer during the afternoon that for many marked the start of the festive season.

HO HO HO – Honour your neighbour with festive cheer

Residents across Conwy/Gwynedd are being invited to ‘Nominate a Neighbour’ who they believe deserves an early Christmas surprise and hamper full of goodies.

North Wales Housing is once again launching its annual festive campaign with 15 tasty hampers up for grabs for tenants living within Gwynedd/Conwy. The winners will be paid a surprise visit from North Wales Housing closer to Christmas when Father Christmas, his reindeer and a team of festive helpers will roll up in their sleigh to presents the hampers and some Christmas cheer.

All NWH tenants have been sent a nomination form and prepaid envelopes or could email [email protected] and briefly detail why they feel their neighbour deserves a nomination – Have they shown outstanding support for other community members, helped launch a community initiative or project or just been a really great neighbour?? The organisation is keen to hear from everyone!

The Nominate your Neighbour initiative marks the start of the Christmas celebrations for North Wales Housing and has become a welcome date in the housing associations calendar.

Paul Diggory, Chief Executive of North Wales Housing said:

“This is a great initiative that tenants and staff are always keen to get involved in. This year we’re offering more hampers which means we want more people to get involved to nominate their special neighbour, so please take the time to get in touch – we want to hear from as many of our tenants as possible!”