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WINTER 2013
The Heart of Coastal Housing
Warm up with our chunky winter broth recipe
FABULOUS indoor fitness ideas
Exciting new developments
Coastal Network
Coastal Life
Coastal People
Beautiful Glynneath
Winning formula
Family matters
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Winter 2013 COASTAL PEOPLE
COASTAL LIFE
4 My Life - Roger Gill 14 In the Spotlight Independent Living
8 16 18 23 24
COASTAL NETWORK 6 12 26 32
Development news Out and about - Glynneath Deeplake texting Digital inclusion
COASTAL VIEWS 27 You said, we did
Life in the fast lane SYSHP project Indoor fitness this winter Home style Trace your family tree
COASTAL REGULARS 20 22 26 29 30
Food file Talkback with Holly Farrell Coastal social media Dave’s dilemmas Insider information
COASTAL COMPETITIONS 20 Food file - win a food hand blender 24 Trace your family tree - win a copy of ‘Who Do you Think You Are Encyclopaedia of Genealogy’ book 28 Childrens’ competition - win Vue cinema vouchers
COASTAL MONEY 10 Energy saving tips 11 Welfare reform update
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DEVELOPMENT NEWS
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FOODS TO KEEP COLDS AT BAY
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COSY UP YOUR HOME FOR WINTER
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The
cosy
issue
Front Cover photograph by Matthew Griffiths
220 is designed and published in-house by Coastal Housing Group Ltd 3rd Floor, 220 High Street, Swansea, SA1 1NW www.coastalhousing.co.uk Data protection Coastal Housing Group reserves the right to use competition participants’ personal data to inform them of future promotions. Once you have entered a competition you may receive other related promotional offers. If you do not wish for your personal data to be used for this purpose then you ‘opt out’ by contacting the promoter in writing by email. The Promoter may not always be Coastal Housing Group and could be any one of a number of companies associated with providing prizes. Accuracy We try to make sure that the information printed in 220 including prices and availability is correct at time of going to press, but readers should still seek independent advice before relying on any content. We cannot be held responsible for any changes. Colours may vary slightly due to the printing process. We reserve the right to edit any material submitted. We cannot accept any responsibility for errors in articles or advertisements. Copyright No part of 220 may be reproduced in any format without prior permission from Coastal Housing Group. Circulation 6,000 readers Tenants, Staff, Partners, Contractors and Consultants, Councillors, MPs, AMs together with a wide range of people and organisations who have regular contact with Coastal Housing Group.
Stay Cosy this Winter with 220! With a New Year approaching now is a good time to reflect upon the highlights of 2013 and look forward to a healthy and prosperous 2014. With the temperatures dropping, warm yourself up with our tasty Chunky Winter Broth and keep fit with some Indoor Exercise suggestions. Cosy up your home with our simple top tips and learn how to Save Energy and ££££’s over the colder months. Our inspirational stories including Life in the Fast Lane with tenant Bill Harries and Genealogist Jim Kimpton shows you how to Trace your Family Tree. Our cover guy Geraint Edwards shares his involvement in Street Football Wales. Coastal’s Roger Gill gives you an insight to his life outside of work, and the Spotlight is on the Inspirational Living Team this winter. Talkback with Holly Farrell will help to keep you busy on those long winter’s days. Beautiful Glynneath is featured in Out & About and keep informed with local Development News. Look out for a chance to win a hand blender and a copy of ‘Who do you think you are?’, and for the kids there’s a chance to win a £20 Vue cinema voucher by completing the maze!
am e T 0 2 2 The
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My Life Roger Gill
Meet Roger Gill - Coastal’s Communications Co-ordinator. Working hard as the link between Coastal and the rest of the world doesn’t mean Roger hasn’t got time to take a minute to tell us a little about himself.
THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE I’VE EVER BEEN GIVEN... is to listen. It is the most important part of communicating.
When I was a child... I wanted to be a fighter pilot - I loved the noise and the speed and may have watched Top Gun a few too many times.
I love the smell of… GARLIC. I love wild garlic, garlic in food, I don’t even mind the smell of garlic on people (weird I know!) The more garlic the better! (and its good for you. See page 20)
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I am most known for... being extremely accident prone. My lack of fear and clumsiness as a child has meant numerous visits to Morriston A&E
I’m so proud.. that I am Captain of South Gower RFC
I ONCE TRIED... a sky dive in New Zealand. No matter what anyone tells you, it doesn’t feel anything like floating. I definitely preferred bungee jumping.
I’m very good at GIVING ADVICE OR SO I’VE BEEN TOLD. People always seem to come to me to ask about all types of issues.
My favourite remedy is...
I GET FREAKED OUT BY... DEEP WATER and not knowing what lurks beneath. I don’t like it if I can’t see the bottom.
SLEEP!
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Development News
It’s been a busy time in our Development Department and the team have been working hard on some very exciting new schemes as well as continuing progress with our on-going developments and carrying out twelve month defect inspections on schemes that are now one year old.
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Potter’s Wheel, Kingsway This is one of our most recent and most exciting purchases. The existing public house will be staying on the ground floor and we will make every effort to minimise any disruption to them during our renovation of the upper floors. The renovation, which is planned to start next Spring, will be for a mixture of 26 one and two bedroom flats on the upper two floors of the building with an extra floor added on top and car parking in the existing basement. The initial designs by Cardiff based C2J Architects are looking really good.
Urban Village Phase Two The first phase of our Urban Village project is now complete and tenants have started to move into the Strand Court and Strand Mews flats, plus we have new neighbours, including the Evening Post and Indycube, moving into the floors below us filling up the building. The second phase of this multi-million pound regeneration scheme is now underway. Known as the ‘Creative Cluster’ this phase focuses on providing an open floor space for creative or cafe use, a venue for the performing arts with intimate and attractive public space and the construction of a four or five storey office block. This phase will provide many challenges including the conversion of the listed warehouse on the site and a nine metre difference in level between the High Street side of the site and the Strand side. We can’t wait to see the listed building when it is finished and are really excited about the interest we have for creative uses that the space will provide. Holder Mathias Architects have worked hard to produce some great designs which really make the most of the difficult site.
233 High Street As you will have noticed if you have walked down High Street lately, the old Bush Hotel was sadly demolished. It had fallen into such a bad state of disrepair that it was deemed to be a dangerous structure by Swansea Council. We hope that our plans for a mixed use development on the site will help the ongoing regeneration of High Street becoming a link between the Strand, King’s Lane and the High Street. The refreshing new scheme by the Swansea Architects Powell Dobson will include 38 residential apartments, 10 commercial units and an open courtyard for tenants to enjoy, giving a continental feel to the site.
Royal Buildings Port Talbot It could be a very Happy New Year for applicants on our waiting list for Port Talbot. The construction of 37 one and two bedroom flats, nine adapted flats, four commercial units and parking is due to be completed this month and it is hoped that they will be occupied by end of 2013. When we first announced plans to demolish the old buildings some local residents were quite upset and were opposed to our plans. We hope that now the building is nearing completion that they approve of the results.
Found Out, Dunvant Plans for our development at the derelict Found Out Pub in Dunvant are progressing well. The Pennant Homes site is for twelve two-bed four person apartments with parking. It is hoped that we will appoint a contractor by the end of 2013 and that construction will start next spring with completion the summer after.
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Bill Harris is a warm, easy going gentleman, taking life at a more normal pace nowadays. Settled and living at our Cwmfelin development in Swansea, you would never guess that Bill has had a successful and fabulous career in racing, working with greats such as Gerhard Berger, Michael Schumacher and Ayrton Senna. His nerves of steel are hidden well away!
Life in the...
Fast Lane AN INSPIRATIONAL STORY OF BILL HARRIS’S CAREER
B
orn in Newcastle, Bill moved to Pembrey when he was a young boy and lived near Pembrey Airfield with his family. At age ten he learned to drive on the airfield, owning his first car at age eleven! From this Bill’s passion for cars and racing flowed through his veins, determined to forge a career in racing.
Qualifying as mechanic and rally driving his Ford Escort around Wales, he had his first break working as Race Mechanic with a London based Rally Team. In 1982 Bill advanced into Formula One working as the ‘Front Right Wheel Gun’ Mechanic. Bill operated the drill gun to carry out wheel changes taking just three seconds with two other mechanics pulling off the tyre. Bill said “we had to really focus, we’d hear through our headsets two laps prior that the driver would be coming in, then the car arrives in front of you so I’d start drilling”. Eventually Bill became Chief Mechanic, overseeing all aspects of the car. Bill successfully arranged for the first ever team test drive of a Formula One car, the Onyz at Pembrey Airfield which was driven by the Swedish driver Stefan Yohanson.
“I always wanted to travel the world and I did, and got paid for it!”
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Bill’s Amazing Career •
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Bill became one of the most experienced and respected Team Managers in racing successfully forming teams winning many championships He worked with three Formula One Teams over ten years, including Benetton at aged just 25, moving on to McLaren where he coordinated the development of the McLaren F1 road car He headed up the McLaren F1 GTR customer racing programmes which saw McLaren take a dominate position in GT Racing, including an outright win at Le Mans 24 in 2002. Bill was Manager at Team Cadillac in its assault on Le Mans and the American Le Mans series He became Race Director for Pagani working on the legendary Zonda, one of the greatest supercars ever built with a top speed of 220 miles per hour Bill became Racing Coordinator with McLaren 1993 - 98. Here he was responsible for making sure everything from mechanics to fuel were in place ready for the race He worked for Cadillac for three years, racing all throughout the USA and lived in Atlanta Bill is still involved in racing, last month he was out in Spa, Belgium working as Race Engineer with Ford GT cars.
Bill inspired his nephew who is now number one Mechanic for McLaren. At his first race feeling nervous taking off the wheel in the pit stop Bill said to him “don’t worry, there’s only 55 million people watching!” Asking Bill how he would sum up his career he replied “I always wanted to travel the world and I did, and got paid for it!”
MOST MEMORABLE Team taking both 1st and 2nd at the Australian GP. FAVOURITE DRIVERS Cadillac drivers were so laid back. Senna never went out until the last 5 minutes during qualifying, and then he’d instantly beat everyone! Schumacher was the most professional. DISASTEROUS MOMENT Wheel Gun failed in Canada 1990, took 20 seconds and felt like a lifetime! BEST FUN Canadian Grand Prix were big party times! FAVOURITE PLACE St. Tropez WINTER 2013 220 COASTAL MAGAZINE
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Energy&
Money Saving Tips
Winter is an expensive time for everyone, not just because of the holiday season, but also because of the extra we have to pay for our winter fuel bills. Here we give you some hints and tips on how you can save £’s and cut the cost of your spending over the next few months.
Be kinder to your laundry... by washing them at 30 - 40C. You'll save on your electricity bill if you do, as 90% of the washing machine’s energy is going on heating the water!
Turn your thermostat down... by as little as one degree centigrade you could save as much as £60 per year.
Put more clothes on... before you turn the heating up. Sitting around your home in your shorts and t shirt when its freezing outside is just not sensible.
Pull your curtains... as soon as it gets dark and help keep the heat in.
If it's not in use - turn it off... even items on charge like lap tops and phones will use energy, so get in the habit of switching off and unplugging.
Compare gas and electricity charges.. There are lots of sites and companies who will do this like USwitch.com Take a look at this web site www.yourbenefitsarechanging.co.uk It’s full of great money advice information and can help you save on lots of things like your home phone and broadband, mobile phone plus top tips for living on a low income.
Contact organisations like the Energy Saving Trust... The Energy Saving Trust is a government-backed organisation that looks at all ways to help you save on your fuel bills. You can contact them at www.energysavingtrust.org.uk Call: 0800 512 012, email: advicewales@est.org.uk
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Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is being replaced by Personal Independence Payment (PIP) WILL I BE AFFECTED BY THIS CHANGE? Yes, if you receive DLA and are aged between 16 and 64. You will be invited to apply for PIP. The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) will write to you and tell you how to apply. You will not be affected if you get Attendance Allowance. WHEN WILL THIS CHANGE HAPPEN? • From June 2013, new claims will be for PIP not DLA. •
From October 2013, if you get DLA and report a change in your condition, you will be reassessed for PIP.
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If your DLA award is due to end or be reviewed on or after 7th October 2013, you will be contacted in writing by DWP asking if you wish to apply for PIP.
What will PIP be like? PIP will consist of two components: 1. Daily Living component - How much support you need with day to day activities. 2. Mobility component - How much support you need to get around. You may be awarded one or both of these components. Each component has a standard rate and an enhanced rate. Do I have to be assessed? Yes. When you claim PIP you may be required to have a face-to-face consultation. During this process you will be assessed on your ability to undertake twelve activities. You will score points on each activity. The activities include preparing food and drink, dressing and undressing, communicating, and moving around.
THERE IS NO AUTOMATIC TRANSFER FROM DLA TO PIP YOU MUST APPLY.
Changes to Disability Benefits WILL IT AFFECT YOU? Our tenant survey in 2013 told us that 38% of households have at least one member that is in receipt of Disability Living Allowance. There are major changes being made to disability benefits. Find out if you will be affected.
Where can I find out more? If you are concerned about changes to your benefits you can speak to your Area Housing Manager or: www.gov.uk/pip www.yourbenefitsarechanging.co.uk www.gov.uk/pip-checker Turn 2 Us: 0808 802 2000 Disability Benefits Helpline: 08457 224 433 If you wish to make a new claim for PIP telephone 0800 917 2222 (textphone 0800 917 7777)
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Out & About...
Glynneath Glynneath is located in the Vale of Neath at the edge of the Brecon Beacons National Park; it sits in an area of dense forestry and is sometimes referred to as waterfall country due to the beautiful waterfalls in the surrounding countryside.
Glynneath and Coastal Housing Facts:
58 HOMES
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44 FLATS
14 HOUSES
T
he area has a rich heritage and has functioned as an industrial coal mining centre, aided by Neath canal built in 1775, to a present day tourism hub attracting visitors indulging in gorge walking, canoeing and hiking.
LONGEST TENANCY HELD FOR THE LAST 24 YEARS AT LLYS YR YSGOL
FIRST SCHEME COMPLETED NOVEMBER 1990
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Groups and Clubs Glynneath has a wide spectrum of groups and clubs that cater for most interests. Glynneath Rugby Club has always had a significant influence in the town as have the RAFA and Social Club, offering an opportunity for locals to come together. Glynneath and District Allotment Society was established as far back as 1917 and the longest standing member of the Society is Coastal tenant Dewi James of Heathfield Court who started work on his plot with his father some 50 years ago!
COASTAL PROPERTIES Coastal manages a mixture of flats and family houses in Glynneath. Phil Harries is the area caretaker and does a fantastic job of maintaining the communal areas and ensuring the gardens are always filled with flowers in bloom. We also have a number of keen gardeners living in Glynneath and their efforts were recognised in the summer when prizes were awarded for their outstanding efforts.
FAMOUS FACES Max Boyce MBE was born in Glynneath in 1943 and rose to fame in the 1970’s as a folk singer after securing a record contract with EMI. Max has had a varied career on stage and screen; his career has endured to the present day and he was awarded a MBE in the millennium New Year’s honours list. Dolly Morgan MBE, age 93, of Llys-yr-Ysgol is another widely recognised face in Glynneath. Dolly worked as a lollypop lady in Glynneath for many years, helping generations of children to safely cross the road to the school which was located on the site where Llys-yr-Ysgol flats now stand. Dolly received an MBE in recognition of her exceptional work and contribution to the community. Dolly worked well into her 70’s and fondly remembers all of the children who she helped over many years.
Redevelopment 25 years ago, Town Councillor Dai Thomas and Dr Thomas called together local Glynneath residents to talk about the redevelopment of the disused JD Lloyd Builders Yard. Coastal Housing (former Swansea Housing Association) were asked to become involved to undertake the new development and the 28 one bedroom flat at Heathfield Court were completed in November 1990. Eleven of the original residents formed the committee for Heathfield Court and, whilst the membership over the years has changed, the Glynneath Housing Co-operative Committee has remained committed over the past 25 years to overseeing the management of Heathfield Court.
Llys Yr Ysgol The 18 one-bedroom flats at Llys Yr Ysgol were built on part of Cwm Nedd School playground (hence the name). In fact, at one end of the scheme you can still see the cast iron former school gate. Llys Yr Ysgol benefits from being right in the heart of the main High Street in Glynneath and is right in the hub of all the village activity. In the summer, you won’t fail to notice the attractive garden forecourt with residents sitting out and, in winter, the Town Counsil ensure that Llys Yr Ysgol remains Glynneath’s focal point by erecting a Christmas tree in the grounds. WINTER 2013 220 COASTAL MAGAZINE
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Independent Living in the
Spotlight We introduce Coastal’s Support Services department - made up of Community Services, ADAPT, Solutions, Extra Care and Independent Living! There’s too many of them to mention in the team of 39, who between them offer many services each focusing on the welfare of our tenants...
W
e love our jobs, and have the skills to offer a flexible service tailored to our tenants’ lifestyles, including: wellbeing visits, assessments for adaptations, tenancy support, new applicant home visits, transfer visits, advice on income maximisation, budgeting, lifeline installation, the social circle. We also offer a friendly chat, a morning call, help with form filling or dealing with mail. We have backgrounds in care and support work, working with the homeless, in GP Surgeries, insurance, welfare advice, Travel, M&S, elderly services management, working for the opposition, the Health Protection Agency, hairdressing, baking and a timber company!
Our favourite cuppa is Tea One individual manages a few pints of tea a day!
The guest list to our dinner party is exciting... with David Walliams, Adam Levine, Richard Gere, Audrey Hepburn, Jon Bon Jovi, Ant & Dec, Davina McCall, the cast of the original Star Wars, Erin Boag, John Bishop, Clint Eastwood, Bruce Forsyth, John Lennon and Alistair Griffin.
Between us... Our average height
5ft 3” Our average foot size is
6 Our combined age
1844 14
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OUR GREATEST ACHIEVEMENTS TO-DATE... our kids, giving up smoking, getting through the last few years, navigating modern life, snorkelling in the Red Sea (thankfully with not a shark in sight!), surviving the Iraq war as a TA personnel, a tandem skydive, knowing when to act professional and when to act like a child, getting a degree, playing football in a final at the Vetch, scoring 180 in darts, and climbing Snowdon.
OUR FRIENDS WOULD REFER TO US AS: DETERMINED
Cheeky HUNGR Y
TTY CHA
erbo Chatt
ICAL
Creative
MAD
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MISCHIEVO
Lovely
Loyal
POLIT
US
Childish MAVERIC
K
HAPPY
Unique
KNOWL
EDGEAB
LE
WE LOVE OUR PETS Tess, Cassie, Lola, Ripley, Lyra, Brodie, Skye, Willow, Joel and Shadow just to name a few of our furry friends!
G FACTS: N I T S E R E T SOME IN KEF
a the BBC, won a, worked for di In re in ed liv l We’ve Liverpoo (whe the Cavern in in d ke or e, w in ar p, ian subm scholarshi been on a Russ ), g! gi to ed s, al us hot co the Beatles or, walked on ooting instruct sh a as icipated in ed rt ifi al pa qu harlton and C y bb Bo r Si by a been coached arity. We’re also calendar for ch e yl st s irl G r a ing a Calenda n and piano, be aying the orga Kings’, and zu Ju musical lot, pl cal band ‘The lo ul sf es cc su The Dark!’ member of a ck band ‘In To ro g un yo g in dd managing a bu
IF WE COULD BE ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW WE’D BE: on Kilimanjaro, Borneo, Niagara Falls, Langland Bay, under the Northern Lights, where we met loved ones, on a beach somewhere hot, Splash Mountain in Disneyworld Florida, America, Ghana, Dubai, Seattle, at home with the family, cruising Route 66, listening to my son playing his guitar.
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Meet
Geraint Geraint Edwards is 19 years old and lives in Swansea. He used to live with his dad in Rhondda, but three years ago their relationship broke down and he was asked to leave home. Geraint moved to Swansea to live with his mum, but his mum couldn’t afford to keep him and after a short time he was asked to leave her home as well.
O “Supporting, Enabling and Empowering Young People”
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nce he left his mum’s house Geraint ‘sofa-surfed’ between his friend’s homes until the BAYS Project arranged for Geraint to stay temporarily in bed and breakfast accommodation. “It was a shock to the system. I felt lonely and depressed and I didn’t know what to do”. The BAYS referred him to SYSHP and last year, Geraint was offered a flat by Coastal. “For the first time in a year, I had that lovely feeling!”
Geraint’s brothers helped to decorate his flat in Mount Pleasant which improved his relationship with them. “SYSHP helped me get on with my life. They arranged for me to do training courses and get qualified, and they helped me get a job!”.
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Swansea Young Single Homeless Project Coastal Housing Group and SYSHP have a long standing and successful relationship in providing accommodation and housing-related support to vulnerable young people. SYSHP is a partnership of young people, staff and volunteers managed by a voluntary management committee.
Their purpose is to enable young people with housing issues to take up their rights; support young people to develop the skills needed to live independently; and to support young people in becoming active participants in the community in which they live. To find out more about SYSHP, visit: www.syshp.org.uk
“For the first time in a year I had that lovely feeling!”
Street Football Wales Geraint is a keen footballer and in October 2012 he went to Mexico as Vice Captain and he was awarded Most Improved Player when he represented Wales in the Homeless World Cup. He’s just returned from Poland for the Homeless World Cup where he went as part of the Management Team. Geraint works full time as a Project Worker for Street Football Wales where he coaches football and helps to organise events. Geraint plays centre midfield and goalkeeper for Swansea Panthers football club (where he was awarded Player of the Year 2013) and he has also started an apprenticeship in Business Management.
Street Football Wales is a social inclusion project currently run in Wales. The league is made up of team members aged 16 and above facing social exclusion through homelessness, substance misuse, mental ill health or cultural issues. By promoting social inclusion through sport, the Homeless World Cup develops innovative and effective solutions to homelessness worldwide while encouraging homeless people to change their lives for the better.
To find out more, visit their website: www.streetfootballwales.org
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HOUSEHOLD CHORES Nobody enjoys cleaning, but think of the calories you could burn whilst doing your chores! Half an hour vacuuming burns about 90 calories, while mopping the floors for the same time should burn around 85 calories – this will make the cleaning worthwhile!
JOIN THE GYM Gym membership at your local leisure centre will include a detailed induction and the opportunity to plan an exercise regime with a qualified instructor based on your own fitness levels. Discounted gym memberships may be available in your leisure centre with a Passport to Leisure – see our PTL feature over the page.
GET IN FRONT OF THE TV Buy a workout DVD and enjoy working out in the comfort of your own home. You can also buy a wide range of exercise based games for entertainment consoles such as the Wii, X-box and Playstation. Activities include dancing, running, golf, boxing or yoga! Beating your personal best can be addictive and so much fun!
There’s no need to feel the chill this winter, instead, feel the burn and stick to indoor exercise!
BE A SPORT Joining a local indoor sports team means that you’re more likely to commit to exercise as you wouldn’t want to let your team down by skipping sessions - Try a racquet sport (tennis, squash, badminton), football, table tennis or Netball.
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SPLASH ABOUT For a low impact workout swimming is a great form of all around exercise. Your local leisure centre will cater for all abilities and hold classes such as women/adult only, parent and toddler groups, and lessons for different age groups.
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EXERCISE CLASSES With a huge variety of exercise classes available to choose from, there’s bound to be something you’ll love. Pick up a time table from a leisure or community centre to find a class that suits you and arrange to go with friends for added fun and motivation.
PLAYTIME Take the kids to a soft play centre and join in the fun – you’ll enjoy yourself just as much as the little ones with the added bonus of a good workout!
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N.B. Before participating in any form of exercise, please consult your GP for advice.
Keep Fit
Indoors This Winter
If your household is on a low income, you may be entitled to join a Passport to Leisure (PTL) scheme giving you great savings on fitness activities at Neath Port Talbot and Swansea Leisure Centres.
7 MINUTE WORK OUT An exercise regime devised by scientists called ‘The seven-minute Workout’ is believed to provide as many health benefits as going for a run or weight training. All you’ll need to complete the series of exercises is a step, a wall and seven minutes! To find out more, search: ‘7 minute workout’ on the internet or download the App onto an iPhone or iPad.
NEATH PORT TALBOT RESIDENTS: GET FIT STAY HEALTHY WITH CELTIC LEISURE
SWANSEA RESIDENTS: PAY LESS, ENJOY MORE WITH LEISURE SAVINGS ACROSS THE CITY
Passport to Leisure Membership provides FREE access to all eight facilities and activities, which include: Health and Fitness Suites, Strength and Conditioning Areas, Functional Training Zones, All Exercise Classes, Fitness Rooms, Swimming, Squash.
Did you know that you can save money on visits to Leisure Centres and more? See huge savings at: LC Waterpark, Swimming at Active Swansea Leisure Centres, Active Swansea Monthly Membership, Active Swansea Fitness Classes, Holiday Clubs, Plantasia, Restaurants, and many more Swansea venues
To check your eligibility for 87p PTL Membership please contact a Membership Representative on 0845 123 2234.
Join for just £2. To find out if you’re entitled to a PTL check out www.ptlswansea.com for full details or call 01792 635 473.
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Oily fish
For the
Oily fish including salmon and mackerel are rich in Omega-3 fatty acids; compounds that help reduce harmful inflammation the body.
Love of food
Garlic These pungent cloves do more than just flavour your food. Garlic also contains allicin, a sulphuric compound that produces potent antioxidants when it decomposes.
Foods to keep colds at bay this winter and boost your immune system.
Red peppers Like citrus fruits, red peppers are high in vitamin C. In fact, one red pepper has 150 milligrams of the nutrient that's twice the recommended daily allowance for women.
Give your immune system a boost and stay healthy during the long, cold winter by enjoying one of these vitamin and antioxidant-packed recipes.
All-in-one chunky winter broth Serves: 4 Ingredients: 2 x 400g/14oz cans chopped tomatoes 2l/3½ pints vegetable stock 4 carrots, peeled and sliced 2 x 420g/15oz cans mixed beans 175g spinach 1 tbsp roasted red pepper pesto Method: 1. Tip the canned tomatoes into a saucepan along with the stock, bring to the boil, then turn down the heat and throw in the carrots. Gently simmer the soup until the carrots are cooked, about 15 minutes. 2. Stir in the pulses and spinach and heat until the spinach has wilted. Spoon in the pesto and gently mix into the soup. Serve with some crusty bread.
To enter our Free Prize Draw to win a Food Hand Blender send us your name and address on a post card to:
WIN
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Freepost Plus RSXA-CJHX-XUXE, Coastal Housing Group, 220 High Street, Swansea SA1 1NW Or email: ask@coastalhousing.co.uk Closing date 24th January 2014
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Welsh Cakes Makes approx: 12 Ingredients: 225g/8oz self-raising flour, sieved 110g/4oz salted butter 1 egg (beaten, topped up with milk) A handful of sultanas or mixed fruit Milk, if needed 85g/3oz caster sugar extra butter, for greasing
Method: 1. Rub the fat into the sieved flour to make breadcrumbs. Add the sugar, dried fruit and then the egg. Mix to combine, then form a ball of dough, using a splash of milk if needed. 2. Roll out the pastry until it is a 5mm/Ÿin thick and cut into rounds with a 7.5-10cm/3-4in fluted cutter. 3. You now need a bakestone or a heavy iron griddle. Rub it with butter and wipe the excess away. Put it on to a direct heat and wait until it heats up, place the Welsh cakes on the griddle, turning once. They need about 2-3 minutes each side. Each side needs to be caramel brown before turning although some people I know like them almost burnt. 4. Remove from the pan and dust with caster sugar while still warm. Some people leave out the dried fruit, and split them when cool and sandwich them together with jam. TIP: If you don’t have a traditional bakestone - you can use a wide, flat pancake pan, but any heavy, non-stick pan will do also.
Skinless turkey breast Lean proteins, such as turkey breast with the skin removed, are high flu fighters.
Dark chocolate Ounce for ounce, pure cocoa contains more of the diseasefighting antioxidants known as polyphenols than most berries.
Brazil nuts These rich, creamy nuts are high in protein, healthy fats, and selenium, a mineral that's essential for proper immune function.
Oats Eat them in a bowl or a bar, oats are known for its cholesterol-lowering and immuneboosting properties.
Carrots & sweet potatoes
Immunity-Boosting Smoothie
Ginger-Peach Smoothie
Boost your immunity during the cold winter months with antioxidant-packed blueberries and cranberries and vitamin C rich strawberries and apples.
Disease-fighting ginger and juicy vitamin-packed peaches will bolster your immune system and keep you healthy.
1/4 cup (50ml) blueberries 4-5 large strawberries, hulled 1 small apple, cored 1 tbsp (15ml) honey 1/4 cup (50 ml) dried cranberries 1 1/4 cups (300ml) water, to taste
2 cups (500ml) frozen unsweetened sliced peaches 1 cup (250ml) plain yoghurt 1/2 cup (125ml) apricot juice 1/4 cup (50 ml) ginger ale, chilled 2 tbsp (25ml) honey 1/4 tsp (1ml) minced fresh ginger
Orange fruits and vegetables, such as carrots and sweet potatoes, are rich in beta-carotene.
Pumpkin Seeds They are packed with fibre, vitamins, minerals, and numerous health promoting antioxidants.
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If the wintry weather keeps you in you don’t have to hibernate! Holly takes a look at some ways to fill those long winter days.
Have a carpet picnic Prepare some picnic food (or mini food because it makes it just a bit more fun!) and have a picnic inside. The best thing about carpet picnics is that they're great whatever the weather!
Start a journal It's nice to have a good moan and you may find you like writing. If you don't want to write about your life, write a story instead. It's yours so you can make it whatever you want and you could even win something if you enter it into the hundreds of competitions that are running all the time.
Make a Snowman (Indoors!) All that you need is cornstarch, shaving foam and something to put it in. Mix the cornstarch and shaving foam inside the container and you've got 'snow'. Build up your snowman, give him some clothes from buttons and ribbons and you're done! You could even make a little snow family!
Re-design your room. It's fun to move your things around now and then and it helps to tidy and organise everything as well. I love to rearrange my room because it seems like a new room altogether once I'm done!
Have a film festival Pick a genre (horror, comedy, sci-fi, etc), just watch old favourites or enjoy someone else's choice. Check out newspaper TV pages as, sometimes, films out of the cinema are on there, along with the classics.
Bake
Invent an ice-cream flavour
Not only is cooking fun, but you can eat the final product! Try something winter themed; such as winter cookies, with snowmen iced on.
Get some vanilla ice-cream, and add different foods (especially sweet things) until you find the perfect combination. Then name it! My favourite is Welsh Cake and M&Ms!
Learn a magic trick You could just learn a simple card trick, or a more complicated trick that will take longer but looks amazing! Have a look on Youtube where there are thousands of tutorials and videos to help you. 22
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Cosy up Your Home When winter is here with the wind, icy rain and snowy weather our homes becomes our sanctuary, so why wouldn’t we want to create a warm and cosy atmosphere indoors? Follow these simple tips to make your home a warmer place.
SMALL TOUCHES... like the flickering light from a few candles, or fairy lights can instantly give a room a cosy feel.
HAVE THROWS OR BLANKETS... in warm colours draped over chairs and sofas, close at hand ready to wrap around you on a chilly evening.
KEEP THE COLD AIR OUT... with a well-placed draught excluder by doors that can let a chill in.
IS THERE ANYTHING WORSE THAN A COLD BARE FLOOR? Keep your feet warm with a soft rug placed besides your bed, or a footstool to raise your feet off the floor.
ACCESSORIES... can also add the look of warmth, bowls of pine cones are seasonal, and fun and cheap to collect.
SCENTS... can also add a cosy effect, scented candles and sprays come in various varieties; cinnamon, pine, vanilla, all adding festive and soothing scents to your home.
TO SAVE ON HEATING... consider adding lots of layers of bedding to keep you warm and toasty during the night, and it’s surprising the variety of patterns that look good together.
SWAP CUSHION COVERS... and go for warm textures and colours that invite you to cuddle up, and turn your home from cool to cosy.
A FEW SMALL TOUCHES CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE.
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Trace Your
Family Tree
Have you always wanted to do your family tree, but don’t know where to start? Then let Coastal tenant, Jim Kimpton show you how.
I
n 1980 Jim was living in Cornwall and just starting out on his naval career. He said no sailor liked to get a ‘blank mail bag’ which basically meant 'no post'. He decided to write to all the 'Kimptons' he could find living in the UK. The response was overwhelming - Jim received 100s of replies. People sent him snippets about their family trees and asked for help when there were stuck at a point in time. The rest is history! Since then, Jim has traced his own family back to 1538 and his wife's to 1645. He found out that his surname 'Kimpton' came from 'Greek Urn' or 'Cyma's Urn' which over the years changed to 'Kaminton' then to
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'Kympton' until it current spelling of Kimpton originating from a village of in Hertfordshire.
“Jim has traced his own family back to 1538 and his wife’s to 1645.”
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Tracing Back the Trees of Other Families Jim and his wife Alison, have traced 100s of family trees and had commissions from a few well known families including: • Sir Henry Tate - of Tate Gallery fame • John Waddington - of Monopoly fame • Bernard Cribbens - the Actor He has also, for fun, traced the lives of all the four ‘Goons’ - Spike Milligan, Peter Sellers, Harry Secombe and Michael Bentine. JIM’S CURRENT PROJECTS Jim likes a project to trace and his latest geneaology challenges are no exception. He is in the process of tracing all the families of the servants who worked at Newton House in the grounds of Dinefwr Park & Castle, Llandeilo, on the estate during the period of 1841 - 1912. His ambition, is to get all the living descendents to attend an open day at Dinefwr Park and dress up as their forefathers might have before them. BRECON BEACONS WWII AIRCRAFT CRASHES 30 aircraft crashed on the Brecon Beacons in World War II. Jim has identified all the air craft and now intends tracing the family trees of all the air crew. No mean feat!
Jim’s Advice on how to Get Started on your Family Tree 1. Speak to yo ur family first to find out yo family history. ur If people pass away, this information ca n be lost fore 2. Gather to ver. gether as man y family docu as you can lik ments e certificates for birth, bapt engagement, ism, marriage, deat h, records of employments . 3. Look at ol d family bibles and photogra they will ofte phs as n have dates and names on 4. Draw your them family tree an d start to fill blanks based in the on the inform ation you alre have. ady
tree and go to issing from your m 's at wh t ou d 5. Fin have free access , where you can your local library than logging o.uk - its cheaper to www.Ancestry.c ha d ve to pay. as then you woul on line at home want to know ired to start and sp in el fe u yo if , So e contact Jim at g your family tre more about tracin a look at some mail.co.uk or take treetectives@hot of these sites: d.co.uk www.genesreunite uk o. t.c as yp dm www.fin
WIN
To enter our Free Prize Draw to win a copy of ‘Who Do You Think You Are Encyclopedia of Genealogy’ Freepost Plus RSXA-CJHX-XUXE, Coastal Housing Group, 220 High Street, Swansea SA1 1NW Or email: ask@coastalhousing.co.uk Closing date 24th January 2014
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TOP APPS www.houzz.com Called the ‘Wikipedia of interior and exterior design’ by CNN. Houzz has the largest database of home designs ideas on the net. Browse photos by style, room and location and save them to a virtual ideabook. FREE APP
www.pinterest.com Pinterest is where you go to discover new things and collect stuff you love. If you find something online you want to build, cook, buy or do, just Pin It to your board.
Use your Smartphone to seek out cheaper deals With an app for just about anything, we thought we would ask our colleagues what apps they are using to save money. Here are their top four.
Join in the conversation… Tweet us @coastalhousing Follow us on Facebook
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www.dulux.co.uk/app Do you often have a colour in mind but don't know where to start? Do you sometimes see a colour you like when you are out and about eg: a vase; a flower; a sofa and would love to know if a similar paint colour exists? This free app has everything you need to make shopping with Homebase quicker and easier: • • • • •
Latest prices and offers Store stock checker Reservation service Store opening times Customer product reviews
www.stumbleupon.com Dive into epic, escape the ordinary. StumbleUpon is a discovery engine (a form of web search engine) that finds and recommends web content to its users. Its features allow users to discover and rate Web pages, photos, and videos that are personalized to their tastes and interests using peer-sourcing and socialnetworking principles.
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BIRCHGROVE ROAD, SWANSEA - Tenants have asked for benches so they can enjoy the communal gardens in fine weather – we will now budget for this request and supply them to the site in April 14.
Here are just some of things our Area Housing Managers have been talking to tenants about.
CWR T to dis MAI, NE c the c uss the r ATH - We e a usag r park ba sults of a met tena e. We nts sur ve rrier syste o m th will now peration y about at wi cost u DA opera and ll p - A RTF provi te the bar allow ten for a ne O f w d r a t i e e n r fr ts tip er c RD and p an aut omat om their to rovid vis ping, omp DRIV f i a c l e at dditio e he it wit we a laint E, B nal f family m xit funct s; a ion embe ob. TOWER COURT, pro lth o h the rran s abo ONY r s with TOWNHILL - We met an res blem ffice loca ged f ut fly MAE N HA with tenants to discuss to ident , agr r to l l env or a j get s a ee oo R o i Ma BO renewing the border of so k a ronm int the nd cof nage UR Q site ulti me o t the ent an area of the m a p l cle t tog fee m r, Nic UAY, communal garden that are ately ions et or ol S t w h d a . e her nin a G A1 rra ith tenants tend. At their ten issue and g to ibbo - Are ng e request we have replaced Pa ants s we to fin bring ns, a a Ho r u the old wooden border Nic king living re tha d ou ever rrang sing with a brick type effect. wit ola i in th at t t rea t wha yone ed a h in h a r s now e are is lo lly m t som the equ a w vel att c o er e of y are est nta as for ctin rais site. ed to a. e ad dit g the d an CWMFELIN GREEN, ion WA d SWANSEA - A Consultation al SKETTY - We met tenants in pa G rki Event at Cwmfelin in Sketty at Hanover Parklands ng September addressed the issues and Devon View and, as a I, of drainage and making result of concerns expressed RT MA & CW een S improvements to their W about safety in the E b THE M - We have ants at communal green space. community, the local PCSO H NEAT ing with ten oice of has upped his patrols. h lt consu hemes on c wal of ene se sc r e e h t l h t LLYS Y FELIN, MANSELTON s for muna colour in the com Tenants told us they wanted s t carpe social events, so we got together areas. with them to encourage YNYS LEE, CWMAVON - We have involvement and share ideas. been holding events in this We also acted on their request community with the aim of for a new sign for the communal encouraging more local input and wc and to replace some rotten engagement including the installation CWM ROAD, fencing. We arranged for tenants of raised flower beds and allotments HAFOD - Some to meet their local AM Mike with work carried out by residents met at the Hedges. This gave tenants the Groundworks; holding a 'secure bike Grand Hotel to talk chance to talk to him and tell marking' event with the local Police about how we could them their views. Community Support Officers. get more people interested in the management of the scheme.
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WIN
Childrens’
Competition WIN VUE CINEMA VOUCHERS!
YOUR TASK: Connect the two Zebras Send your completed entry along with your name, address and telephone number to: Freepost plus RSXA-CJHX-XUXE Coastal Housing Group, 220 High Street, Swansea, SA1 1NW Or email: ask@coastalhousing.co.uk Closing Date: 24th January 2014
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Dave’s Dilemmas Dave The Sheep helps sort out your life
MY SON, WHO IS 24, MOVED IN WITH HIS GIRLFRIEND A FEW MONTHS AGO AND NOW I’VE BEEN HIT BY THE BEDROOM TAX. I’m not working at the moment and I’ve got to find extra money every week to pay towards the rent. Housing Benefit won’t pay the full rent for a two bedroom flat because I live here on my own. I would rather move but my son doesn’t want me to in case things don’t work out with his girlfriend. What should I do?
Q DAVE SAYS:
It is definitely worth considering a move to a smaller property. Moving to a one bedroom flat may mean that Housing Benefit would cover your rent in full. I can appreciate that your son would like to keep his options open but you must also think of yourself now. If your son doesn’t want you to move, would he consider helping out by paying the shortfall in Housing Benefit until he is more settled? If this isn’t an option, it is worth you getting in touch with Coastal to discuss a transfer to a one bedroom flat. You’re doing the right thing looking into this now before your finances really start to suffer, but before you make a decision to move, take into account that moving can also be costly when you consider the price of new carpets, a removal van, etc. I hope it all works out for you.
Competition winners Homeswapper
Pedometer Winner
August - Beverley Bowen of Cadoxton, Neath September - Rachel Masson of Sandfields, Port Talbot October - Christopher Garmey of Waun Wen, Swansea Home Speed Swap Event Prize draw - Mr Wilks of Hafod, Swansea
Mr C Jones of Norton, Swansea
Annual Report – Photography Competition Winners
Raspberry Cakery
Mike Davies Stephen John Emma Williams Runners Up Anthony Lewis
Tickled
Plantasia family ticket Zoe Lloyd of Sketty, Swansea
Natasha Milward of Mount Pleasant, Swansea
Beverley Scott of Townhill, Swansea
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Insider information HomeSwapper Who will you swap with? HomeSwapper is the biggest and best home swapping service in the UK for social housing tenants. Every year the service successfully helps thousands of people swap homes across the UK. As a Coastal tenant this service is completely FREE for you to join, and allows you to find properties from a variety of social landlords, as well as Coastal, giving you a much better chance at finding the swap you want. There is no limit to the number of refusals you make, and you can access the site to explore your options at your own leisure. It only takes four simple steps to get started: 1. Log on to: www.homeswapper.co.uk 2. Enter your details and the type of home you are looking for 3. HomeSwapper automatically matches you to potential home swaps 4. They will email or text you the details of your matches for you to look at.
Making a comment or complaint If you have a problem with any of our services we’ll try our best to resolve it quickly and effectively. All complaints are logged and then passed on to the relevant person in the organisation to deal with it, who will become your named contact. You can also speak to the manager of the relevant team about your complaint. If the problem is out of our control to fix, we will let you know. If you are not satisfied with the outcome, then you can write to the Chairman of our Board of Management, Mr Francis Jones, at our Swansea office address.
Public Services Ombudsman The Public Services Ombudsman for Wales will look into any complaint from a member of the public about the way they have been treated by a public body, including a housing association. Public Services Ombudsman for Wales 1 Old Field Road, Pencoed, Bridgend, CF35 5LJ Phone: 0845 601 0987 Email: ask@ombudsman-wales.org.uk www.ombudsman-wales.org.uk
Address to Serve Notice Section 48(1) of the Landlord and Tenant Act 10987 requires that we provide you with an address at which notices may be served on Coastal Housing Group Ltd, your Landlord. Coastal Housing Group Ltd, 3rd Floor, 220 High Street, Swansea, SA1 1NW
Home Insurance for tenants “HomeSwapper made a tremendous difference to our lives. Following my hip replacement operation it meant that we could move straight into our bungalow.”
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Home contents insurance may be the last thing on your mind, especially when you have lots of other outgoings. But have you thought about how you would replace all your furniture and other possessions if the worst happened and you had a fire, flood or burglary? My Home Contents insurance offers affordable contents cover for leaseholders and tenants. Call: 0845 337 2463
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Free Gas Safety Checks By law, all gas boilers and gas fires in housing association properties need an annual safety check by a Gas Safe registered engineer. This will include: • • •
Emergency repairs out-of-hours service
Annual servicing flue and ventilation check Carbon monoxide check Mains wired smoke alarms check.
You MUST allow the gas service engineers working for Coastal Housing into your home to do their work. If we try, and fail, to get access, we will take legal action against you. “Carbon Monoxide can KILL, make sure you get your FREE gas check”
Paying your rent Your rent and any service charges are due weekly in advance and are charged to your account every Monday morning. YOU must make sure that your rent is paid on time. There are lots of easy ways to pay: PayPoint: Use your Allpay card (up to a maximum of £124.99 in any single transaction) anywhere you see the PayPoint sign. Post Office: Pay by cash or cheque at any post office. Cheques should be made payable to: Post Office Ltd Debit or Credit Card: Call Allpay on: 0870 243 6040 or the 24hr service at: www.allpayments.net or pay via our website: www.coastalhousing.co.uk . Follow the link from ‘Tenant Services’ to ‘Pay Rent’. You can also pay by Debit or Credit Card, but NOT cash, at any of our offices. Direct Debit: Pay your rent weekly or calendar monthly in advance by direct debit. Please ask us for a direct debit form. By Cheque payable to: Coastal Housing Group Ltd Write your name and address on the back, send to: Coastal Housing Group Ltd, 3rd Floor, 220 High Street, Swansea, SA1 1NW. Your area Housing Officer or Support Worker can check if you are claiming all the benefits you are entitled to and also give free debt advice, speak to them if you have trouble paying your rent.
Communal areas As of March 2012 the Welsh Fire and Rescue Service Policy stated that no storage or the charging of mobility scooters is permitted in communal areas. The rubber tyres on bikes are also hazardous in a fire so bikes cannot be stored in communal areas either. Coastal is responsible for your communal areas and it is important that all exits leading out are kept clear in case of emergency. If you have any issues or questions about these guidelines or for all rules about communal areas please refer to your tenancy conditions or alternatively you can contact any one of our Housing Officers.
Coastal Housing contact details: Swansea Office: 3rd Floor, 220 High Street, Swansea, SA1 1NW Neath Office: 41-43 Windsor Road, Neath, SA11 1NH Telephone: 01792 479200, email: ask@coastalhousing.co.uk
If you smell gas: Call the National Gas Emergency Line on: 0800 111 999 Emergency Repairs We provide an Emergency Repairs service outside of our normal office hours – at evenings and weekends. Emergency Repairs telephone: 0845 680 8888 (24-hour) Emergencies are classed as: • A major leak • Total failure of electrics • Fire • Locking yourself out • Personal security • Sewage overflow • Complete failure of heating system between 1 November and 1 May. In an emergency we will visit within four hours and the repair will be completed, or made safe, within 24-hours. If the call out is NOT an emergency or it’s your own fault (e.g lost keys) then we will charge you for the work. For general repairs and enquiries: 01792 479200 or contact Coastal Housing Group Ltd.
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