Summer 2017

Welcome to Gwalia’s first e-magazine for tenants, providing some key information, helpful advice and interesting articles.

The magazine is being sent to all tenants we have an email address for and a printed copy is available on request.

As this is the first e-mag we are keen to get tenant feedback on it so please take time email us your feedback at the end. There is also an opportunity to submit your articles and photos.

Magazine Contents

Good news - Everyone's a winner! & Parc Penrhiw is a Playful Community
Focus On - Recharges & Help to get back into work
You & Your Tenancy - Universal Credit - will it affect you?, Getting to know you! & Services when you need them
Your Community - Community dosh fund - bringing communities together
Summer events - Come & see us
Get involved - You can influence Gwalia decisions & services
Have your say - New opportunity for tenants to influence the housing sector in Wales, Share your good news and photos & Tell us what you think of the e-mag

Good News

Everyone's a winner!

Gwalia’s Old Oak Housing Co-operative has won top slot in TPAS’(Tenant Participation Advisory Service) Awards for 2017! We’re extremely proud to say that this great group of people have taken on some pretty considerable challenges on the way to becoming a fully fledged housing co-op and as a result came first in the ‘Improving Services’ category – with some stiff competition from a number of other schemes.

Parc Penrhiw is a Playful Community!

Parc Penrhiw Residents are a new group that aim to provide play and social activities on their street. They’ve been inspired through our Playful Communities project to get together and transform a patch of grass on their street into a community garden and a place to play and socialise.

Free house basics for tenants in Blaenymaes

The 104 in Broughton Avenue provides a valuable resource for new tenants who were struggling to access essential housing goods. They are able to provide free items ranging from 3 piece suites, beds and bedding to the basics like cutlery and pots and pans. Recently they received a large quantity of wallpaper from B&Q.
For more information you can call Brian on 01792 578741 (Monday, Wednesday & Friday 9am - 2pm) or click here to email him.

Focus On

Recharges

So that we can continue to invest in our existing housing stock and provide high quality affordable homes for people in Wales, we would like to remind Tenants of our Recharge Policy and advise that we will recover outstanding money that is owed in relation to rechargeable repairs. This includes lock changes that have taken place due to accidental damage or lost keys.
If you have had a repair that falls under the policy and would like to discuss making a payment with a member of staff, please click here to contact the team

Would you like help to get back into work?

Steps Ahead can support you in finding a job; can help you build confidence ready for work, source training, work placements, paid apprenticeships, volunteer opportunities plus business mentoring.
You can apply for a start up grant to cover the price of transport, training, childcare, protective equipment and business start up costs.
For more information please contact Susan James on 01792 488288 or click here to email her.

You & your tenancy

Universal Credit - Will it affect you?

Universal Credit is already here and will affect thousands of Tai Gwalia tenants over the next few years. If you claim Universal Credit you will receive payment towards your rent which you will have to pass on to your landlord.
You can find out more about Universal Credit & how it might affect you here

Getting to know you!

We want to ensure that the services we provide are tailored to meet the individual needs of our tenants. To do this we'd like to know more about you so please take a few moments to provide us with your details here

Services when you need them

Our dedicated customer website MyGwalia allows you to access our services any time of day and night. Providing a wealth of tenancy information, up to date rent statements and repairs log and the ability to pay rent and report repairs. Click here to register/login.

Your community

Community Dosh Fund!
Bringing Communities together

Want to set up a community garden, take the street out to a local museum, organise big event, learn something new, then you can apply for up to £500 from the Community Chest!
Applications must be received 5 weeks prior to the activity and you can match fund by raising monies or by using your volunteer time; 1 hour equals £10.

Click here for the application pack

Summer events

Come & See Us

Gwalia is going to be in lots of different places over the summer holidays including our fun and food event and our free community play days & the Pirate Ship.
Click to find out where we are going

Get involved!

You can influence Gwalia decisions

We have a number of ways that customers can influence our services and big decisions. Click for more
We also run Gwalia Voices, which we consult with via email so there is no need to come to a meeting.
Sign up to Gwalia Voices here

Have your say

New opportunity for tenants to influence the housing sector in Wales

If you would like to give your views on important housing issues to the Welsh Government and other key community decision makers in Wales, then join Tenant Pulse. If you join TPAS Cymru will occasionally ask you about your views via short surveys. Each time you give your view you could win High Street vouchers.

Click here for more information

Share your good news and photos

We’d love to include relevant articles and photos from tenants in future editions so if you have something you’d like to share then please click here to send them to us.

What did you think?

We’d like your feedback on our first e-mag and input into what you’d like to see in future editions.
Please take a couple of minutes to e-mail us your feedback.

Gwalia is part of Pobl Group Ltd which is registered as a Charitable Co-operative and Community Benefit Society No. 29682R and is registered with the Welsh Government No. J139.

Gwalia is a registered social landlord with charitable rules registered with the Financial Conduct Authority - Mutual Societies Registration (20180R) - and the Welsh Government (L006).

Gofal a Chymorth Gwalia Cyf is registered as a Domiciliary Care Agency with the CSSIW (IP27488R).