Taff Talkabout Winter edition by Taff housing

Talk About The newsletter for Taff’s Customers | WINTER 2013

#notjusthousing

First Ever Taff Tenant Conference Shine Project Update Tenant Mary Hayes’ award recognition How Safe is Your Home? Energy Saving Tips

And much more…

Contents

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 16

Taff Becomes New Living Wage Employer

Adore Launch Event Welsh Housing Awards Festival Fever Returns to Riverside Best Spooky Costume Taff Tenant Conference Volunteer Update Case Study: Mark Share Your Skills Placement

The Shine Project is Moving Ahead Taff Tenant Mary Hayes

New TPAS Representative

Ty^ Enfys Update

Tea and Toast Morning Fundraising

Development Team Current & Potential Schemes

Personal Independence Payments (PIP) Updates Charge Review Update

17 18 19 20 21

Credit Union Services: How We Can Help

How Safe Is Your Home?

Energy Saving Tips

Words from the editors I

t’s not been long since the autumn edition of Talkabout came off the press, but it’s now time for the winter edition before the various festivities start.

In this edition, we’ll be covering the first ever Tenant Conference which happened recently – with this year’s focus being on volunteering. We’ve included case studies about people who have benefited from volunteering as well as tips on becoming a volunteer. Many of you like to know about our new developments, so we’ve included updates about these. At a rather expensive time of the year we also have some additional information on Credit Unions and updates on other payments and services charges that will relate to Tenants. We can also announce that Steve Dixon, Community Investment Offer for Taff for four and a half years, is leaving us for pastures new. Steve’s contribution to Talkabout has been immeasurable – in terms of the articles he’s written over the years, as well as the work behind the scenes of proof-reading and involvement at the Editorial Panel Meetings. We wish him all the best in his new role with Charter Housing and for the future.

If you’d like to get involved in future editions, or submit articles, please contact Gwion ap Rhisiart on 029 2025 9168 or Josh Dowdall on 0800 121 6064.

Tampering with the Electricity Supply Opportunities to House Swap

Tenant Profiling – Why we need your details Tenant Inspector Update

22 23 24

Meet a Member of Staff Working for a Safer Community Tenant Letters

Social Media Updates

(From top left to bottom right): This issue’s Editorial Team Mary Hayes; Xena Brunel; Josh Dowdall; Sam Shaw; David Moule; Neil O’Farrell; Fanwell Tandi; Steve Dixon; John Redmond; Sue Carleton; James Witcombe; Alan Green; Elio Assuncao; Gwion ap Rhisiart; Keith Abdi.

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Cover photo: A festive Queen Street taken by Jacqui McGree. Created by Carrick - www.carrickcreative.co.uk

www.facebook.com/ TaffHousing TAFF TALKABOUT | 2 | WINTER 2013

twitter.com/ TaffHousing

Photograph: Elaine Ballard, Chief Executive and Tim Entwistle, Tenant Support Worker (Centre Left & Right) with representatives and volunteers from Citizen Cymru Wales.

Taff becomes New Living Wage Employer As part of this year’s ‘Living Wage Week’ held in November, Citizen Cymru Wales visited Taff Housing Association to unveil a plaque in recognition of Taff becoming a Living Wage Employer. Taff is one of only 14 organisations in Wales who are accredited Living Wage Employers. To become Living Wage accredited, employers must demonstrate a commitment to pay a minimum hourly rate to all staff. The rate, which is higher than the national minimum wage, is set independently and calculated annually according to the basic

cost of living in the UK. It ensures a decent rate of pay for individuals to be able to provide for themselves and their families. Elaine Ballard said: “At Taff we value our entire workforce – they are the ones who deliver the business. In addition to the range of benefits that we provide for our staff, we also ensure that all receive a competitive market rate of pay for their job. Where this market rate falls below the amount recommended by the Living Wage Foundation, at Taff we made the decision to upwardly adjust the pay to that of a Living Wage. TAFF TALKABOUT | 3 | WINTER 2013

We felt that it made good business sense, in line with our core values and underpins our mission to be Employer of Choice.”

“At Taff we value our entire workforce – they are the ones who deliver the business.” Elaine Ballard

ADORE LAUNCH EVENT

Adore is a new lettings agency set up by Taff. Any profits will be put back into community schemes.

Ballard, a short video gave guests an in-depth look at some of the events and services Taff provides and how Adore exists to support these ongoing community focused initiatives. Guests then settled down to discuss this new and exciting venture over tapas and wine – there was even a Jazz Quartet playing in the background!

On the 30th October, as ghouls and ghosts were getting ready for Halloween, the Taff and Adore teams were busy preparing for Adore Cardiff’s grand launch event. Adore is a new lettings agency set up by Taff. Any profits will be put back into community schemes Held in the elegant surroundings of the Wales Millennium Centre, the event was a fitting launch for our new lettings agency. After excellent speeches by our Chair, Jane Pagler and Chief Executive, Elaine

Christmas & New Year Opening Times

Joe Nicholson, Lettings Manager said “The launch was fantastic and a great springboard for Adore Cardiff. As a lettings agency, Adore aims to offer the very highest level of service with transparent fees, helping landlords maximise their investment and tenants find a place to call home. With all profits going back into the local community through Taff, we can truly say we are an agency that cares!” To watch the video produced to launch Adore Cardiff, go to: www.youtube.com and type AdoreCardiff. For more information about Adore Cardiff, please go to www.adorecardiff.co.uk or telephone 0300 500 0601

December 24th 9am – 2pm December 25th Closed December 26th Closed December 27th Closed December 31st 9am - 3pm January 1st Closed

TAFF TALKABOUT | 4 | WINTER 2013

WELSH HOUSING Awards Tenant, Jayne Palmer has been recognised for her amazing work with a home schooling charity at a national awards ceremony. Taff nominated Jayne for the Community Leader category at the Welsh Housing Awards, held at the Vale Resort Hotel, Hensol, in November. Although she didn’t win it was great for her to be nominated. Jayne set up New Foundations Home Education in 2010 to help her two sons with home schooling, after they faced difficulties in school. New Foundations reaches out to families from far afield, stretching from Ammanford to Hampshire. They currently have 75 families registered with the charity - and the numbers are growing each year. Jayne explained: “I set up the charity for my own children. They needed a peer group – children they could relate to. “The children we have range from new-borns up to 17-year-olds embarking on their A Levels. “We provide a variety of resources for families and we get together once a month for trips. We put on GCSE classes twice a week on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, from 10am-1pm and social and academic activities on Mondays.”

The GCSE classes are held in Taff’s Tenant Resource Room each week as part of their support for the charity and numbers have grown steadily. As part of their activities, Jayne also runs a growing project with the families at the Taff Community Allotment Project. She is also project’s the Secretary. Among those the charity supports are gay and lesbian parents and Traveller families to give them the support they need to get their children educated. Taff Community Investment Officer, Steve Dixon said: “Jayne is an inspirational community leader. New Foundations has grown into an important educational resource for families in south Wales and she is a worthy nominee for the Welsh Housing Awards Community Leader Award.” Parent Lianne Bunce, from Cardiff, turned to New Foundations after concerns about the schooling received by her son Jordan, 14, who has Asperger’s Syndrome, a form of autism. “I turned to the charity three years ago when Jordan was 11 and I was looking to get him support. We could not have been made more welcome. On his first day, Jordan said he ‘absolutely loved it’. For him to say something like that, for a boy without any friends in school, that is worth millions to us. TAFF TALKABOUT | 5 | WINTER 2013

Photograph: Jayne Palmer at the Welsh Housing Awards

“Every Monday without fail, we are at the group and it has changed my son’s life. This is the perfect place for him,” said Lianne, who acts as Treasurer for New Foundations. “It means he has friends now and if there are any problems for him, they are dealt with.”

For more information: www.newfoundationshe.com

Festival fever

returns to Riverside The Riverside Festival took place in November, with themes around healthy eating and learning. The festival was based round the Riverside Warehouse and Wyndham Street Centre, with a number of stalls displaying food, useful information and courses to sign up to. The event had been due to take place in its normal slot in mid-August, but was postponed. Taff put on a fun stall to engage with young people attending the festival – featuring a game that kept them coming back for more all afternoon. The game was simple – guide the metal loop along a twisting wire without making it buzz. Sounds easy? Absolutely not! You need a very steady hand to complete it. It took more than an hour of frustrated attempts from about 30 young people before we had our first prize winner! After numerous attempts, a 10-year-old Tenant from Riverside was the proud winner of a Taff goody bag for completing the game. The stall was then swamped with young people for the next two hours, with several more winning goody bags by the end of the afternoon.

Photographs: A contestant on the ‘buzz game’ at the Taff stall tries her luck

BEST SPOOKY COSTUME GOES TO... Jakob Shaw aged exactly 4 years and 11 months who was a scary pirate. Congratulations to Jakob who wins a £20 voucher. TAFF TALKABOUT | 6 | WINTER 2013

Taff Tenant Conference Taff’s first ever Tenant Conference has been hailed a success by those who took part. The event focused on volunteering and training, with Tenants getting access to key information to help them make the right decisions about getting involved in their community and accessing courses to improve their lives. Participants were inspired by talks from experienced volunteers and guest speakers from Cardiff Metropolitan University and Cardiff Volunteer Centre, who took part in talks and workshops aimed at providing information people could take away and use. Taff’s new Volunteer Coordinator, Clare Parry gave a good talk on new opportunities at

“Volunteering has never been more important, with so many colleges and employers looking for people who have benefited from positive placements.” Steve Dixon

Taff for volunteers, while also announcing the organisation’s latest free training programme, which aims to give Tenants a wide range of courses to improve their skills. Wales Volunteer of the Year and Taff Tenant, Mandy Powell spoke of her volunteering work with the homeless and the difference it has made to her confidence and outlook on life. Toutou Monzeli talked about how he started out at Taff as a refugee and volunteer. His positive outlook and enthusiasm led to a full-time job at Taff as a Support Worker – a great role model for current volunteers. Community Investment Officer, Steve Dixon, TAFF TALKABOUT | 7 | WINTER 2013

Photographs: The Conference attracted a large number of new Tenants interested in signing up to the exciting new programme.

who helped organise the day, said it had been a very successful event for Tenants to be involved in. “Volunteering has never been more important, with so many colleges and employers looking for people who have benefited from relevant placements. Developing your confidence, skills and experience through volunteering is a really positive outcome.” For more information about volunteering, please contact Clare Parry: clare. parry@taffhousing.co.uk

Volunteer update

By Clare Parry, Volunteer Coordinator Building on its well established reputation for offering work placements, September saw the launch of Taff’s new Supported Volunteer Programme, funded by the Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA) and Welsh Government’s Volunteering in Wales Fund.

The Supported Volunteering package includes a 12 week voluntary placement alongside accredited training, employment skills training, one to one support with the Volunteer Coordinator and networking opportunities to meet with other volunteers. The programme was the main feature at Taff’s first ever Tenant Conference held recently, receiving widespread interest from a variety of backgrounds, ages and abilities. Over 40 volunteer application forms have been received to date from Tenants and the wider community keen on getting involved – with eleven application forms received at the Tenant Conference alone. Since September, twelve volunteers have started a placement internally with Taff and with partners including Diverse Cymru and community organisations, increasing their skills whilst accessing free accredited (nationally recognised) training. Eight volunteers have attended training, including Agored Cymru accredited units such as Volunteering in the Community and other workshops, such as Cardiff Council Domestic Violence training. www.wcva.co.uk

Funded by

Case study: Mark Following his placement with the Tenant Support team, volunteer Mark has been successful in obtaining paid employment with Taff as a Tenant Support Worker. We caught up with Mark, during his second week in post to find out how he is settling in: “When my Manager, Beverley suggested I applied for the Tenant Support position during my third week of volunteering at Taff, I was really pleased that my efforts and interest in pursuing a career in support had been recognised so early on. Diagnosed with a brain injury as a result of a motorbike accident several years ago, I wanted to apply knowledge obtained

during the course of my Counselling degree and personal experience, whilst refreshing my understanding of sector changes. When I contacted Taff, the Volunteer Coordinator, Clare explained that volunteering can be a route into employment, provide an opportunity to update my CV and access free training which would improve my employment prospects. That has certainly been the case! Volunteering at Taff has allowed me to get my foot in the door and get back into work. I would definitely recommend Taff’s Supported Volunteer Programme to anyone interested in improving knowledge, skills and prospects.”

TAFF TALKABOUT | 8 | WINTER 2013

Share your skills placement – Cake decorating October saw Taff’s first ever ‘share your skills’ volunteer placement, where a former Taff hostel resident delivered her first ever cake decorating class at Alexandra Court. Residents and other Tenants had a great time decorating cupcakes, learning professional skills and techniques from their volunteer teacher. Participants were having so much fun, they stayed nearly four hours, rather than for the planned two!

“Another brainwave, well tutored and great fun.” The feedback they gave was glowing: “Another brainwave, well tutored and great fun.” – Michelle. “We really enjoyed ourselves, it was very therapeutic and relaxing.” – Pauline. The event also provided a networking opportunity for Tenants “I love these mini courses, it was a great opportunity to make friends as I am a new Tenant.” Liz. Sharing photos and feedback from the event on the Taff Facebook page has inspired other Tenants to get involved in sharing their skills, with new taster sessions being planned for the New Year.

As part of Taff’s new and exciting Supported Volunteering Programme, Taff is interested in hearing from any Tenants who would like to share their skills with others. Please get in touch to discuss. Clare Parry, Volunteer Coordinator clare.parry@taffhousing.co.uk Tel: 029 2025 9146 Funded by

TAFF TALKABOUT | 9 | WINTER 2013

The Shine Project is MOVING AHEAD Since we first introduced the Shine Project in the summer edition of Talkabout, Project Manager, Caroline Davies has been very busy developing this new support service for young parents. Caroline and colleagues have been busy recruiting a team of Family Support Workers and Childcare Workers who will all be in place by January 2014 to deliver the service across

Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan. Caroline said: “We are also very pleased to be able to reveal the new logo we’ve developed to raise the profile of our project. We wanted it to be vibrant,

friendly and accessible for young families and we hope that you agree that we’ve managed to achieve this aim.” If you would like to know more about the Project, you can call 029 2025 9114 or email shine@taffhousing. co.uk for further details. The Shine promotional material, referral form and general information will shortly be available on our website, so watch this space.

The aim of the Shine Project is to build up the skills and confidence of young parents and help them build strong, nurturing families that give their children the best possible start in life.

Taff Tenant Mary Hayes Tenantiaid Cymru/ Welsh Tenants recently recognised the achievements of veteran Taff Tenant, Mary Hayes, at a recent award ceremony. Sponsored by CIH Cymru, the awards were in recognition of the voluntary efforts made in the pursuit of good housing management and participation practice in the communities. The winners of the awards received

a framed certificate in recognition of their work and were enrolled into Welsh Tenants’ Hall of Achievements. This year three women received special recognition for their contribution locally, regionally and nationally over many decades to the pursuit of better relations with their landlords.

TAFF TALKABOUT | 10 | WINTER 2013

Photograph: Mary is pictured here receiving her certificate from Steve Clarke of Welsh Tenants at a recent Welsh Tenant ATTAIN event.

Photograph: Tenant representatives from Taff at the TPAS Conference.

New TPAS Representative Heidi Beverstock, Taff Board Member, writes… Some of our Tenants and Staff had a busy couple of days in November. Five of our Tenants attended the TPAS Annual Tenant Participation Conference and Exhibition. We attended various workshops and they had a lot of useful information to bring back to a number of Taff Tenant Groups.

Conference in November. Mary was congratulated and thanked for her many years of service with the board of TPAS Cymru, helping to represent Tenants’ interests. In front of an audience of 400 people at the Mercure Hotel in Cardiff, Mary received a bouquet of flowers and a gift voucher from board member, Maldwyn Little, who gave a short speech saying how much her knowledge and experience would be missed.

Mary Hayes, who has always made sure that everything done within Taff is for the benefit of the Tenants, decided to stand down this year from the TPAS Board. I would personally like to thank Mary for all her hard work, for the time and effort she has put in, and I know she will be greatly missed. However, due to Mary standing down it left a seat to be filled. I am delighted to tell you that I am going to take Mary’s seat, having been voted in on the AGM on Wednesday. I just hope I can fill Mary’s shoes and serve Taff’s Tenants as well as she did! Mary Hayes was delighted by a surprise presentation at the Tenant Participation TAFF TALKABOUT | 11 | WINTER 2013

We’ve been very busy at Ty^ Enfys with a wealth of activities for Halloween. These included stone painting (to resemble pumpkins); Staff and babies dressing up for a Halloween party and buffet; and various Halloween themed sessions in the playroom, which included playdough and painting! The babies and toddlers really enjoyed dressing up. We’ve had a ‘ghoul toddler’ and a ‘skeleton baby’ to name but a few.

TY Enfys Update

Ty^ Enfys is Taff’s supported housing project for single mothers

We are now planning for Christmas and have yet to find a victim to dress up as Father Christmas and sit in our grotto! We’re also hoping that Lisa will dress up as an Elf again this year, as she brings so much charm to the proceedings! Whilst this is all going on, we carry on with our regular activities including ‘Mini Munchers’ breakfast club and our Rainbow playgroup. We also hold regular Wednesday evening activities, which started in November with pizza making. We’ve also had sessions on anger management, Christmas decorating and Christmas bingo. These activities were all suggested by the residents in their latest forum – keep up the good work ladies! TAFF TALKABOUT | 12 | WINTER 2013

tea and toast morning fundraising

Photograph: New Foundation Home Education students vote on recipient country.

To celebrate the arrival of the new Taff Community Allotment toilet and this year’s World Toilet Day, Taff staff hosted a ‘Tea and Toast’ morning to raise funds to twin the new facility with a latrine in a developing country. Members of the Tenant Services team delivered breakfast, including Josh’s homemade posh white bread and Clare’s healthy breakfast muffins, to over 60 staff based in Alexandra House in return for donations. Toilet Twinning raises funds to enable people living in poor communities to have clean water, a decent toilet and to learn about hygiene – a vital combination that prevents the spread of disease, reduces the number of deaths among children, and brings hope for the future. 2.5 billion people across the world don’t have somewhere safe to go to the toilet, with three children under the age of five dying every minute because of dirty water and poor sanitation. Talking toilets is taboo but toilet twinning is a novel, practical and long-lasting way of tackling poverty. Taff Community Allotment Secretary, Jayne Palmer,

commented: “I was thrilled when I was told about staff raising funds for toilet twinning! Having a toilet at the allotment has made such a difference to everyone who uses this community resource. The benefit that a latrine will have on a community in a developing country that is currently without one is unimaginable.” Allotment Group members were asked to vote for their preferred recipient country during their celebration lunch for being named ‘Community Group of the Year,’ and collectively decided to twin their toilet with a latrine in Uganda.

www.toilettwinning.org Photograph: Housing Officer, Charles enjoys a ‘healthy’ muffin. TAFF TALKABOUT | 13 | WINTER 2013

DEVELOPMENT TEAM Current Schemes The Wessex Street site has now been named. The apartments will be known as Cwrt Wessex whilst the two houses will continue with the Cowbridge Road East numbering. The Scheme is now on track and ready for handover mid April 2014.

Cwrt Wessex

Cwrt y Bragdy

Cwrt y Bragdy is the name given to the Maltings development. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s another site that has risen from the ground and is progressing nicely. The blocks and brickwork to the flats has finished and the roof is being fitted. The first two houses have been built up to the roof level and the windows have also been fitted. This Scheme is programmed to be completed by the end of April 2014 and will complement Cwrt Treganna and the local community in general.

Earl Lane site Earl Lane (not named yet) is a less exposed site nestling roughly between Plymouth Court and Grange Court bringing much needed additional quality housing to the local area.

The block and brickwork to the four houses is ongoing with roofs starting to be constructed in Mid-December. There are four flats that are also at the same stage as the houses. The scheme is on programme and should be finished by early April 2014.

TAFF TALKABOUT | 14 | WINTER 2013

POTENTIAL Scheme Canton Police Station At Taff we are committed to our communities and to providing good quality social housing that enhances the lives of those that we house. Canton Police Station, whose original building dates back to 1881 is well known as an iconic landmark. The original, in its heyday, was an intriguing Victorian building which, most agree, resembled a small castle. Granted not quite on the scale of Cardiff Castle, but just as impressive in its own way. The ‘wiser’ amongst us can recall the station having a bell tower that was used to summon officers from afar, who would in turn signal others with the screech of a whistle. Unfortunately, this building was demolished in 1961 and replaced by the rather less impressive current structure. Often commented on for its bleak appearance, the current building is no longer used as a Police Station and is regarded by some as somewhat of an eyesore. Squatters visited for a while, unhappy that the building is empty when there are people in dire need of homes –we agree! So, just like with the success of Turner Court (the old Pub on the Mud) the team plan to build much needed accommodation on the site and replace the current blemish with modern, cost effective and sustainable apartments that further improve the area of Canton. In respect to the site’s rich history…we’re sure we’ll find some way of remembering the old Police Station! Photographs: Top to bottom: Canton Police Station as it was before it was demolished in 1961. A photo taken of the building after it was replaced. Artist’s impression of the redevelopment scheme. TAFF TALKABOUT | 15 | WINTER 2013

Personal Independence Payments (PIP) Update As you may already be aware, the Government is in the process of replacing Disability Living Allowance (DLA) with Personal Independence Payments (PIP). PIP is intended to help with extra costs caused by long term ill health or disability for people aged 16-64. People claiming PIP will be assessed to calculate the level of financial help they will receive.

Timescales for the introduction of PIP • From the 8th April 2013 all new claimants are being assessed for PIP rather than for DLA. • Existing claimants of DLA probably won’t be affected until 2015 or later, however, there are exceptions. Since 28th October 2013 anybody in Wales, East Midlands, West Midlands or East Anglia is invited to make a claim for PIP if their DLA is due to end or if there is a change in how their condition affects them. If you have any concerns or questions about this, please contact a member of the Rents Team on 0800 121 6064 or alternatively you can contact the Department of Work & Pensions (DWP).

Service Charge Review Update We have previously contacted our Tenants who live in flats to let you know that we are carrying out a review of our service charges. The review is being carried out with the aim of simplifying and reducing

our service charges to help make our overall rents more affordable. Whilst it has been some time since we last contacted you, work has continued in the background and we are aiming to have the new service charges in place TAFF TALKABOUT | 16 | WINTER 2013

by April 2014. The service charge consultation will start in the next few weeks giving you the opportunity to provide us with your feedback. Please get in touch with the Rents Team on 0800 121 6064 for more information.

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Credit Union Services:

How We Can Help Cardiff & Vale Credit Union, a local not-for-profit organisation with over 6,000 members, has set ambitious targets to help more local people access our services.

What are the benefits of joining Cardiff Credit Union?

• Your money with credit union is safe as it is protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. • Savers enjoy an annual dividend that We have noticed a high number of is based on the profit Cardiff & Vale Taff Tenants signing up to our Credit Credit Union make during the financial Union. In partnership with Taff Housing year (conditions apply). Association, we want to ensure that as • Members can withdraw their savings, many Taff Tenants as possible benefit and can pay off loans at any time from the services we offer. without incurring any charges or fees (subject to terms and conditions). OUR SERVICES INCLUDE • Members gain free life insurance, up to £5,000 (subject to terms and Flexible savings accounts conditions). • Money is kept within the community. Affordable loans, with a maximum We are a local business and money interest rate of 26.8% APR saved and borrowed is usually spent locally. Christmas saver accounts

Junior accounts for those under 16

‘Rent Protect’ accounts – specifically targeted at those who need help to manage their money and prioritise their rent

Laptop renting scheme

If you would like more information on any of these services, or would like to apply: • Call (029) 2087 2373 • Visit the website www.cardiffcu.com or email ccu@cardiffcu.com • Like us on Facebook • Call into the office at the Advice Hub in Marland House or Taff’s reception

Beat the High Interest Lenders The Credit Union’s interest rate on loans is considerably cheaper than Provident, payday lenders such Wonga, and some store and credit cards. TAFF TALKABOUT | 17 | WINTER 2013

HOW SAFE IS YOUR HOME? Gas Safe Register is the official list of gas engineers who are legally allowed to work on your gas boiler, gas cooker and gas fire. Gas Safe Register has launched an interactive gas map, which identifies the most dangerous postcodes in the country. The map, www.staygassafe.co.uk, reveals how many unsafe gas appliances have been found lurking in an area and is the first time that gas data has been compared across postcodes. The data, compiled by Gas Safe Register, which has inspected just under 100,000 homes in Great Britain in the last three years, found that one in six homes - the equivalent of 4.28 million households had an unsafe gas appliance. It also reveals: • Gas fires are the most dangerous gas appliances in homes with one in three inspected found to be unsafe • Gas emergency services have visited over 120,000 incidents in one year Alarmingly, one in three gas customers in Great Britain around 7.69 million households - admit they’ve never had their gas appliances checked or maintained. This is despite eight in 10 people (82%) recognising that they should do it in order to protect themselves from gas dangers.

Gas safety is a life or death matter and something that shouldn’t be ignored. Follow Gas Safe Register’s advice: 1. Visit www.staygassafe.co.uk to find out about the gas dangers and risks in your area. 2. Get all of the gas appliances in your home safety-checked and maintained annually by a Gas Safe registered engineer – this will ensure that your appliances continue to work safely. As a Tenant of Taff servicing of your heating system is FREE OF CHARGE and is carried out by the Association on an annual basis. 3. Don’t fall victim to illegal gas work - only use a Gas Safe registered engineer and ask to see their Gas Safe ID card.

For gas safety advice or to find and check an engineer visit the Gas Safe Register website at www.GasSafeRegister.co.uk. Alternatively call the free helpline on 0800 408 5500. TAFF TALKABOUT | 18 | WINTER 2013

Energy Saving Tips during this cold winter Winter is here and those long, hot summer days seems a long way away. We all know energy prices seem to be increasing all the time and paying bills can be a big worry for some of our Tenants. With this in mind, The Energy Saving Trust has handy hints and tips for you to reduce your bills.

Turn it off

Try to be aware of unnecessary lights left on, and appliances left plugged-in or on standby. Nearly all electrical and electronic appliances can safely be turned off at the plug without upsetting their systems – some satellite and digital TV recorders may need to be left plugged in so they can keep track of any programmes you want to record – but check the instructions on any appliances you aren’t sure about. A typical household could save between £50 and £90 a year just by remembering to turn off appliances left on standby.

Careful in the kitchen

You can save over £55 a year just by being careful how you use your kitchen appliances. The following tips can help you reach this saving: Set your washing machine to wash at 30°C. Using a bowl to wash up rather than leaving the hot tap running. Don’t fill your kettle right up every time – just boil the amount of water you need.

Get a head

If you’ve got a shower that takes hot water straight from your boiler or hot water tank (rather than an electric shower) then you may be able to fit a water-efficient shower head and that could reduce your hot water usage whilst still maintaining the sensation of a powerful shower. Through installing a water-efficient shower head, a family of four could save around £75 a year on gas for water heating, as well as a further £90 on water bills if they have a water meter.

The information was provided by the Energy Saving Trust.

If you would like further information please visit their website

www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/wales

TAFF TALKABOUT | 19 | WINTER 2013

Tampering with the Electricity Supply There have been a couple of instances where Tenants have tampered with the electricity supply in their homes.

In both cases our electricians were duty bound to report the incidents to the authorities – Tenants who tamper with electrics could be prosecuted, but more importantly, they are risking the lives of themselves and their families. In one case, the wiring was so dangerous that the residents could have We want you to be safe, so please Helping tenantsinjured acrossor Wales swapInhomesdon’t usingtamper Facebook been seriously even to killed. with electricity – let us another, the supply had been by-passed know if you have a problem, and we’ll to provide free electricity – this is illegal, do our best to help. as well as dangerous.

1 Opportunities to House Swap Like our Facebook page

Mutual Exchanges are often the quickest way to find a new home for many tenants. House Swap Wales is a new scheme using social media to connect Tenants Join across a group Wales who are looking to swap homes. Here’s how it works:

• House Swap Wales is a Facebook driven scheme to help tenants across Wales find other tenants to swap property quickly and easily through Facebook.

Like our Facebook page

• Visit theyour Facebook page by Post property searching for House Swap Wales and like the page now for updates on people who want to swap homes in your area.

• On the page you will find links to groups where you can leave posts about the type of property you have or are looking for. People can then message you to discuss this further. To find out more information about how this scheme works, please contact your Housing Officer on 029 2025 9100, visit www.houseswapwales.co.uk or check out House Swap Wales on Facebook.

Post your property

Join a group

Find a swap!

www.houseswapwales.co.uk facebook.com/houseswapwales