Melin Homes July e-bulletin

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E-BULLETIN JULY 2011

Two very different local clubs are the latest to benefit from Melin’s Jump Fund. Thornwell F.C under 11’s and Ceffyl Du Carriage Driving for the Disabled have received new kit and equipment to help get their summer season underway.

The Thornwell Dragons, from Chepstow were delighted with the fetching kit they received, which is ‘fantastic’ according to 17 year old manager Leon Ivin.

“This new kit definitely makes us look the part. We will look like professionals next year when we start to play in the East Gwent Under 12’s League.”

Melin Residents Mark Gibbons and Rex Codd also successfully applied for harnesses to help them enjoy their carriage driving at Green Meadow Community Farm, Torfaen.

“When I’m driving, it gives me a freedom I don’t usually have. It’s great because I can be in control, and this harness means I can ride for longer. I love all of the horses too.” said Mark and Rex agreed.

Melin’s Jump fund provides grants of up to £250 for groups and organisations that benefit residents and the communities in which we operate. You can apply online at www.melinhomes.co.uk/jumpfund or call us on 08453 101102.

Jump to it….

Summer is here and our holiday activities and events are well under way. We have a lot organised and hope you will be able to join us.

At each event our staff will be available to give advice and information about a variety of subjects. We’d love to see you so come and see us for a chat.

I think you will agree, this summer we have something for everyone.

26th July• Activity afternoon at Rockfield, Monmouth 24th July • Hollybush and Coed Eva Family Fun Day, Torfaen24th July • Parklife at Tredegar House, Newport 2nd and 9th August • Activity Afternoon at Rockfield, Monmouth 10th August • Family Fun day at Broadmead and Moorland, Newport13th August• Family Fun Broadmead and Moorland, Newport

16th August• Activity Afternoon at Rockfield, Monmouth 24th August• Family Fun Day at Broadmead and Moorland Park, Newport30th August• Activity Afternoon at Rockfield, Monmouth10th September• We will be at the Usk Show, Monmouthshire

For more information contact [email protected]

Melin’s big summer scorcher

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Melin’s successful ILM project is going from strength to strength. ILM (Intermediate Labour Market) is funded by the European Social Fund and managed, in Wales, by WCVA.

The project helps unemployed people get back into work in the construction and green technology sector.

To date, Melin has provided 40 placements through nine different businesses. The scheme so far, has demonstrated excellent results.

Of the 40 placements we have arranged:20 are still on placement• 13 have gone onto full-time employment• 2 have found casual employment• 1 has gone into full-time education• 1 is now volunteering•

This equates to a success rate of 85%.

Some of the local businesses who have accepted placements are:Monmouthshire County Council• Monmouthshire Housing Association• Wundagroup in Crick near Chepstow• Best Impressions in Llancayo• Greenfingers social enterprise in Abergavenny•

Wundagroup manufacture under floor heating and is one of ILM’s biggest employers. So far they have taken on eight trainees and plan to take on more as the scheme progresses.

Tom Edmunds, Wundagroup’s General Manager explained: “The timing could not have been better for us. We are going through a period of rapid expansion and needed to increase our workforce quickly.

Lewis Dowling, 19, from Caldicot has just been offered a permanent job at Wundagroup. He told us: “I really enjoyed my placement here and was able to get my fork lift truck driving license. Now I have a permanent job at the end of it.”

We have more opportunities for local businesses and unemployed people living in Monmouthshire to join the ILM scheme. For more information email Karen Green, or call her on 08453 101102.

ILM = I LOVE MELIN for Monmouthshire youngsters

Do you know a Melin resident, over 18, who would like to return to education or training to improve your career opportunities? If so, our Education Bursary could help.

Every year, we award up to £3,000 to residents to help them with their studies.

Apply online at www.melinhomes.co.uk/bursary. The closing date for applications is 31st July 2011.

Annouska Wheeler applied last year and received £1,000 to help with her studies and has now

completed her NVQ in Playwork. She told us: “I am now a qualified playworker which has helped me to get a job at Nutkin Nursery in Lydney which I am thoroughly enjoying. Thank you Melin.”

Contact [email protected] for more information.

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Helping hand for residents

James Bannister has been able to continue his carpentry training thanks to a unique partnership between Melin Homes, Monmouthshire Housing Association (MHA) and the Leadbitter Group.

James, 24, from Abergavenny, is an apprentice carpenter at MHA studying for his NVQ level 2. To be able to continue his course he had to gain experience in the construction side of carpentry.

MHA did not have any new developments underway so they contacted Melin to see

if James could continue his training at our development of 34 new homes at Garndiffaith.

We were only too happy to oblige and arranged for the contractor, Leadbitter, to host James on site to continue his training and gain experience of building roofs, staircases and all the carpentry work associated with new buildings.

James has now completed all his modules and will become a fully qualified carpenter in June.

James benefits from an excellent partnership

Melin recently won the Monmouthshire County Council (MCC) contract to manage their Leasing scheme, which involves the day-to-day management of 86 properties across Monmouthshire. The properties are owned by private landlords but leased to us for a set period during which time we will be responsible for certain repairs, collecting rent and allocating the properties.

The properties that MCC refer to Melin will be used as temporary accommodation for homeless people until permanent accommodation can be found.


Melin are new managers of Monmouthshire leasing scheme

Clos y Goedlan, Garndiffaith, Pontypool will be completed by August 2011.

One x 3 bedroom semi detached house - • £87,500Two x 3 bedroom end terrace houses - • £87,500One x 2 bedroom semi detached house - • £77,000Two x 2 bedroom mid terrace houses - • £73,500

Phase One at Mountain Road, Ebbw ValeOne x three bedroom semi detached • house - £91,000

Information on Phase Two of Mountain Road will available soon. Register your interest now with our Homebuy team.

Eastville Road, Ty Llwyn, Ebbw ValeSix x three bedroom houses - £91,000•

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Homes for sale in Torfaen Homes for sale in Blaenau Gwent

Residents in Gerdd i’r Mynydd, Crickhowell recently showed Shadow Energy Secretary Huw Irranca-Davies MP how they have been benefiting from Melin’s commitment to green and energy efficient schemes.

Huw heard how resident, Laura Costema has been reaping the benefits of solar panels.

Laura explained: “It is working brilliantly - if I use all of my appliances for doing things like washing and cooking during the day when the panels are producing the most energy, I use hardly any of the money on my electricity meter”.

Residents are provided with meters that allow them to monitor their electricity usage so that they can get the most out of the system. These meters feed back to Melin who ensure that the system is working properly. The panels will save each household a minimum of £120 a year.

We are the first housing association in Wales to self fund energy efficient solar panels and have spent £250,000 from the Feed in Tariff scheme (FIT), which pays the users of renewable energy for the power they save and export back into the grid.

We have installed over 100 solar panels to date and we plan to install around 100 a year over the next five years, using £1 million funding from the Welsh Government’s ‘Arbed’ scheme to give residents the benefits of renewable energy.


Melin’s commitment to green homes

The prices shown represent 70% of the property price which you will purchase with a deposit and mortgage.

For more information contact our Homebuy team on 01495 745925.

For all these properties you must be registered with either Torfaen or Blaenau Gwent Council’s Homebuy scheme and you will have to meet eligibility criteria. Call us and we will send you all the application forms.

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Melin was recently awarded funding from the Welsh Government to launch a 12 month GwirVol Volunteering Programme for young people aged between 16 and 25.

Young residents have been selected and will now begin setting up projects in areas such as:

• A sports and activities programme for young Melin residents• An IT and Digital Inclusion Initiative• An environmental project which will include energy efficiency, a

gardening initiative and recycling throughout our communities.

We will keep you posted about their projects.


Many families in Blaenau Gwent now have new homes thanks to Melin’s developments in Swfrydd and Mountain Road, Ebbw Vale. 43 new properties were officially given to residents over the past month, taking our total number of properties in Blaenau Gwent from 270 to 313.

But that is not all, There are a further 33 properties currently being built at Mountain Road and Melin has also bought 12 flats at Mount Street, Tredegar, which will be available to rent in August giving Melin a grand total of 358 Melin properties.

If you, or someone you know, is interested in renting a Melin Home in Blaenau Gwent complete the council’s housing application form.

Melin brings new homes to Blaenau Gwent

Three members of Melin staff travelled to London in May to take part in the moonwalk raising money for breast cancer research.

They completed the 26.2 miles in 81/2 hours walking throughout the night and finishing at 8am Sunday morning. They raised a grand total of £1,530 with only a few blisters between them.

Well done ladies.

As part of Melin’s move to more digital services, residents can now report any repairs to us by sending us a text message.

We can now also be contacted via Facebook and Twitter. See our new profiles on www.twitter.com/melinhomes and www.facebook.com/melinhomes You may want to send us a tweet or become our friend.

Melin’s AGM will take place on Wednesday 28th September at 7.00pm at the Glen-Yr-Afon Hotel Usk. Make a note to come along.

Going the extra 26 miles Melin goes digital

Date for your diary

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Melin was recently awarded Customer Service Excellence for being an organistion which has exceptional customer focus and is responsive to their needs.

Customer Service Excellence (formally called Charter Mark) is a UK Government practical tool which helps public organisations deliver customer-focused services. The award recognises organisations who focus on delivery, timeliness, information, professionalism and staff attitude as well as those who understand the user’s experience and operate a robust system for measuring service satisfaction.

Although we are very proud to get this award, the behind-the-scenes work of carrying out the self-assessment is much more important. By constantly testing the services we provide we ensure that Melin continuously improves, develops a highly skilled workforce and puts customer focus at the heart of all we do.

We have also been awarded the Rainbow Mark - which reflects our commitment to equalities and diversity, and that our policies promote access to our services to the Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual and Transgender (LGBT) community.


It’s official – we love our customers

Melin has recently expanded the services we offer by launching a new leasing scheme across Torfaen, Monmouthshire and Newport.

The scheme uses empty and existing properties in the private sector to provide vital housing for homeless families. Melin takes over the management of private landlords’ properties in return for fixed rental payments and maintenance –the properties will then be rented out to those in need.

This new Melin leasing scheme will address homelessness problems cost-effectively by using existing properties.


Melin leasing….. a new service to help combat the shortage of homes

If yes, you may want to tell them about the homes we are selling through our low-cost home ownership scheme - Homebuy.

Homebuy lets you pay for just a percentage of the total house price, usually 70%, and we provide an interest-free loan for the remaining 30%. The loan is paid back to us when you sell the property.

Do you know someone who is looking to get onto the property ladder?

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Melin staff recently braved the heavy rain to take a trip to Lime Crescent in Newport to give residents a hand cleaning up the local area.

We ordered skips and informed residents beforehand of their arrival so that when staff arrived we found residents ready and waiting to dispose of their unwanted items.

Both staff and residents were keen to see them filled as they all dodged the showers. The weather certainly helped to speed things up - after an hour or so both skips were filled up and the area was rubbish free.

Well done to all those who helped on the day, especially Kaliegh, our GwirVol volunteer and Donna and Emma our Lime Cresent volunteers.

Melin is having a new housing management system installed by Capita Software Services which will improve the way we work.

Features of the system will include a resident’s portal where tenants can log into view important information and pay rent.

Integrated computer and telephone systems will also be installed that will streamline customer service.

The new system, which will be fully installed by early 2012, will improve our commitment to being a top housing provider.


Melin staff dodge the rain to help residents with their clean-up

New IT system will help us understand our residents needs better

Melin’s dispute resolution team has been awarded the Welsh Government standard on dealing with Anti-social behaviour by meeting seven key commitments.

The team has a firm but fair approach to dealing with any incidents of anti-social behaviour and has employed a number of innovative techniques to help them tackle anti-social behaviour, support witnesses and help people make long-lasting changes.

Their use of legal remedies to punish perpetrators of anti-social behaviour and evict serious offenders’ works alongside creative tools such as using mediation and cognitive behavioural therapy to help victims and perpetrators make long-term changes in their lives.

For more information call Rachel Mason on 01495 745919 or email her [email protected]

Shhhhhhhh

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Our award-winning Community Safety Team have been at the forefront of helping our residents feel happy in their homes, and are now extending their services to other Housing Associations.

In 2010, we were the first Landlord in Wales to offer our residents Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). Because of the therapy’s success we are now expanding this through our innovative Be Me service.

Be Me offers a way of helping people cope better with many of life’s difficulties, and is being pioneered as a method for tackling anti-social behaviour. CBT helps people to understand how thoughts, feelings and behaviours are linked and teaches better ways of handling negative emotions.

The therapy promotes positive and long term change, with a resident who has already benefitted from Be Me commenting, “What a difference it has made. I feel better about myself and more hopeful about my future. “

Be Me is leading the way in the housing sector, with Housing Manager Rachel Mason invited to speak to our partners about the techniques her team have been pioneering.

She was chosen to run workshops on the therapy at the Social Landlords Crime and Nuisance Group All Wales ASB conference in July, where she officially launched Be Me. Rachel’s expertise will also be utilised by Dyfed Powys Police when she presents the service to them this September.

For more information about Be Me contact Rachel Mason on 08453 101102 or email her at [email protected] You can also visit the website at www.icanbeme.co.uk

Creating friendlier communities

Melin manages the Care and Repair agencies in Torfaen and Monmouthshire. As well as benefitting from our support services both teams will soon be sharing offices with Melin staff in their Pontypool offices.

Care and Repair agencies in Torfaen and Monmouthshire heard recently that they will receive a share of £1.5 million funding from the Welsh Government.

The funding will be for Independent Living Grants (ILG) which will help older people remain safe in their own homes on adaptations such as stair lifts and walk in showers.

The grant will help address ‘waiting lists’ for adaptations, maximise independence and help relieve pressures on hospitals as well as saving substantial amounts of money for the NHS and social services.

It is estimated that for every £1 spent on adapting a person’s home £7.50 is saved from health and social services budgets.

The ILG is available for people over 60, living in their own home or in privately rented accommodation, for adaptations involving works between £1,000 and £10,000 who have been referred to care and repaire by a designated Health or Social Care professional.

You can contact Care and Repair Tofraen on 01495 768870 or 0300 111 3333 or email them at [email protected]

You can contact Care and Repair Monmouthshire on 01873 854195 or email them at [email protected]

Care and Repair round-up

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Two important visitors pop into Care and Repair offices in Torfaen

Lynne Neagle, Assembly Member for Torfaen recently visited Care and Repair Torfaen to see the vital work we do for older people.

Lynne spent the day with staff, firstly visiting our offices in Ty Clarence, Pontypool, and then visiting clients who had benefited from Care and Repair services.

Mrs B of Cwmbran told Lynne about the help she had received from Care and Repair which included sourcing charitable funding for her property to be re-wired and a much-needed mobility scooter.

Following the visit Lynne Neagle said: “I had no idea of the wide range of services that Care and Repair provide. I am incredibly impressed not only with the quality of work carried out but also the way they constantly look for ways to improve their clients’ quality of life”.

Care and Repair’s other important visitor was Wales’ Commissioner for Older People, Ruth Marks, who visited Care and Repair Torfaen as part of her tour of innovative services for older people provided by Melin Homes.

Ruth Marks said: “I appreciated the opportunity to meet staff and residents in particular. The extent of the services and all the effective partnerships in place with other agencies provides good support for older people in the area.”

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Melin Homes July e-bulletin