PUBLISHED BY THE COMMUNITY HOUSING CYMRU GROUP
December 2013 | January 2014
www.chcymru.org.uk
FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE
Working with theYoung Foundation
Putting membersFIRST in 2013
Update on theHousing (Wales) Bill
Devolve welfare toWales!
–– p7–– p3 –– p6–– p2
SOCIAL ENTERPRISEPOLITICSWELFARE REFORM
Sector sets foundations for a healthier Welsh economy
2 December | January edition
Produced by:
Community Housing
Cymru Group
2 Ocean Way
Cardiff
CF24 5TG
029 2067 4800
Designed by Arts Factory
Editor:
Bethan Samuel, CHC Group
tMr rr@Beth_CHC
Sub Editor:
Edwina O’Hart, CHC Group
tMr rr@edwinaohart
Contributors:
Nick Bennett, CHC Group
Steve Evans, CHC Group
Aaron Hill, CHC Group
Clare James, CHC Group
Matt Kennedy, CHC Group
Hayley MacNamara, CHC
Group
Amanda Oliver, CHC Group
Liam Townsend, CHC Group
Dr Mark Lang, CREW
Regeneration Wales
Alwyn Llwyd, CT Clwyd
David Morris,
Monmouthshire Housing
CommunityHousing Cymru
Group
CHCymru
CHCEvents
A year ago, the CHC Group launched our
corporate plan after consulting widely with
members about how we could put them
FIRST (Fighting Poverty, Innovation,
Regeneration, Social Enterprise and Team
Collaboration). A year on, despite the
challenges of welfare reform and increasing
public sector austerity, CHC is proud to
report on the progress being made.
Fighting poverty was our first priority. We
wanted to increase activities and services
which enabled our members to impact
positively on the economic, environmental
and social circumstances of tenants,
leaseholders and communities.
The Your Benefits Are Changing (YBAC)
communications campaign is playing a vital
part in our fight against poverty. The campaign
was launched to support members to raise
awareness of the welfare changes and to
communicate consistent messages to
tenants. Over 70 organisations have signed
up to support the campaign including
housing associations, local authorities and
charities. The next phase of the campaign
will be rolled out in early 2014.
To complement the campaign, we set up
the YBAC advice line to provide advice and
support to tenants and organisations and to
give those affected practical steps and
advice. The YBAC money advisers provide
free independent advice and are members
of the Institute of Money Advisers. This year
the YBAC Money Advisers have:
• Advised over 6,500 people about the
impact of welfare reform
• Attended over 40 community events,
including tenant fun days
• Reduced annual water bills by £61,000
per annum and have given 272 people the
chance to clear £410,000 of debt via the
Welsh Water Customer Assistance Fund
• Advised people on their budgeting and
made potential savings of over £51,000
• Spoken to 148 people who say they
would like to apply for Discretionary
Housing Payments to cover their
shortfall in housing benefit due to
under-occupancy, and
• Identified over £800,000 of unclaimed
welfare benefits
We recently secured funding from the Oak
Foundation which will enable us to conduct
a study to assess the impact of welfare
reform on the sector, local authorities and
tenants. A proportion of this funding will
also be used for a television campaign which
we’ll run as part of a wider campaign in 2014.
We’ve also supported Moneyline Cymru
throughout the year along with our
members. Three new Moneyline outlets
opened in Merthyr Tydfil, Swansea and
Wrexham in 2013, bringing the total to
eight. Since Moneyline Cymru launched in
2009, it has loaned over £7.8m, approved
over 17,000 loans and helped over 80% of
customers to open a savings account.
As welfare reform continues to impact on
tenants, I’m proud that CHC and our
members have done so much to assist
those most vulnerable to financial
exclusion, something that is likely to grow
as the cost of living crisis continues.
Nick Bennett M rr@Nick_Bennett1
Group Chief Executive
Putting members
in 2013The end of one year and the beginning of another is naturally a time ofreflection on what has been done and the challenges ahead.
FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE
3
Over £1m worth of arrears, more than 700 void
properties, and nearly 50% of tenants unable to pay
the ‘bedroom tax’ in full. These are some of the key
findings of CHC’s research into the impact of the
‘bedroom tax’ just six months into the policy.
WELFARE REFORM
Devolve welfare to Wales!
Speaking at CHC’s Annual Conference, Housing and
Regeneration Minister Carl Sargeant called the figures
‘stark but unsurprising’, and criticised the ‘pernicious’ UK
Government policy.
The moral and ethical arguments against the ‘bedroom
tax’ have always been weak. While ideology may lead you
to divide between the ‘deserving’ and the ‘undeserving’
poor, ideology cannot deny the evidence, and it is ultimately
evidence which should dictate government policy.
Of course, the effect on housing associations is only half
the story. Tenants are struggling to afford the basics, the
use of food banks is escalating, energy companies are
increasing their prices and we are seeing a surge in the
use of high interest lenders and loan sharks. Some payday
lenders are reported to be planning to treble their
business on the back of so-called welfare 'reform’. People
are being pushed further into poverty and the threat of
losing their home is very real.
Landlords are faced with tough choices. We note what’s
been happening around Wales with various protests
taking place across the country, with landlords often
getting the blame. Tenant groups and some politicians
have campaigned for a ‘no bedroom tax evictions’ policy,
but landlords can’t continue to subsidise the extra costs
brought about by welfare reform which would impact on
the potential reduction in services for other tenants who
pay their rent.
This divisive measure threatens social justice and
cohesion, turning tenant against tenant, tenant against
landlord and vice versa. We need to stand back and
realise that the only solution is to take power closer to
the people. In an asymmetric union, we can now look to
Northern Ireland and see them using their powers in
welfare policy to do something different. Welfare should
be devolved to Wales so that we can follow their lead!
The findings in full
• 21,694 RSL households were affected by the under-
occupation charge on 1 April
• Between 1 April and 30 September, 78% of Welsh RSLs
have seen an increase in arrears, totalling £1.7m
• Of the total arrears, £1.1m have been directly
attributed to the ‘bedroom tax’
• 51% of tenants are paying the ‘bedroom tax’ in full,
37% are part paying the charge and 12% have not
been able to pay anything at all
• 1,084 Notices Seeking Possession (NOSPs) have been
issued
• 727 void properties have been attributed to the
‘bedroom tax’
• 89% of RSLs have changed their policies to allow
tenants with arrears to downsize
• 679 tenants have been successfully downsized by RSLs
Aaron Hill twiM rr@Aaron_CHC
Policy Officer
POLICY AND RESEARCH
4 December | January edition
You’re part of thebigger picture
The findings are revealed as part of the latest Welsh
Economic Research Unit (WERU) report which focuses on
the wider economic impact of the sector in the Welsh
economy. At a time when private investment is scarce and
public purse strings are being stretched, it highlights that
housing-led regeneration and building and employment
opportunities delivered by housing associations play a key
role in contributing to the Welsh economy.
The report reveals that the combined spending of Welsh
housing associations in 2012/13 was £1034m, an increase
of 8.7 per cent from the previous year. 81 per cent of this
spend has been retained in Wales, keeping the Welsh
pound local and helping to boost the Welsh economy by
£840m. Almost 30 per cent of the overall spend in
2012/13 was on maintaining, repairing and upgrading
properties to bring homes up to the Welsh Housing
Quality Standard (WHQS) as set by Welsh Government,
and a further £227.5m was spent on the construction of
new affordable homes.
The report also revealed that an estimated £509m was
spent on the regeneration of communities, which might
not have otherwise received investment.
According to the WERU report, the sector’s contribution
to employment has also increased. 8,000 people are
directly employed by Welsh housing associations and for
every direct job provided, two other jobs are supported in
the Welsh economy.
This is the sixth year of the WERU report, commissioned
to demonstrate the true impact of housing associations
on the Welsh economy. The full report is available to read
on CHC’s website.
Edwina O’Hart twtwM rr@edwinaohart
Head of Communications
Sector sets the foundations for a healthier Welsh economy
The latest independent research commissioned by CHC shows that, despite austere
times, Welsh housing associations are bucking the economic trend and boosting the
Welsh economy to the tune of hundreds of millions of pounds.
5
POLICY
A new rent policyfor the sector
Our members have considered the proposal and, through
working with CHC, have relayed observations back to
Welsh Government officials. The policy has several
strands with a crucial feature being the proposed shift
from RPI to CPI in the annual rental calculations. This
shift, whilst broadly accepted, has prompted members to
identify the potential impact on future revenue streams
which underpin maintenance programme investment and
future development of new affordable homes.
As a sector we have liaised closely with Welsh Government
and expect an announcement from the Housing and
Regeneration Minister in the coming weeks.
Steve Evans
Head of Finance and ICT
The Ministerial blueprint for a new rent
policy to be introduced from April 2014
has been shared with the sector.
An update on digital inclusion
Universal Credit is due to be rolled out across the UK in
2017 and, as part of the government’s digital by default
agenda, the majority of claims will need to be made
online. Our research has identified that there are over
214,000 digitally excluded social housing tenants in Wales
which represents nearly half of all tenants. An intervention
is therefore required to remove the barriers to digital
inclusion. Significant work has been undertaken by RSLs
and organisations such as Communities 2.0 to overcome
skills and motivation barriers; however, progress on
access, particularly affordable broadband, has been left
behind. It is estimated that 42,000 social housing tenants
that are not online cite the high costs of access and
equipment as the main reason. Broadband packages are
not affordable to social housing tenants. However, in
comparison, the hardware market is more competitive
which is driving down the costs of devices.
This group has identified the work taking place across the
sector and researched the various interventions available
to provide affordable broadband to social housing
tenants. Our research findings are included in the final
report which is currently being circulated amongst Chief
Executives. We have identified that RSLs can develop
broadband schemes for social housing tenants via a
number of interventions, and we have seen examples in
practice across the UK. However, as there is no one size
fits all model that can be replicated by all RSLs due to
differences in stock and priorities, the lack of capacity and
expertise in the sector to identify the most suitable
intervention is preventing progress. We therefore
recommend to the Welsh Government that a new entity
should be created (preferably in the form of a social
enterprise) which would provide RSLs with tailored
support and advice on developing new broadband
services for tenants. Check CHC’s website for updates!
Hayley MacNamara twtwitM rr@Hayley_CHC
Regeneration Officer
CHC has worked with a Task and Finish Group made up of representatives from the
sector and Communities 2.0 to look at how internet access can be made affordable to
social housing tenants.
POLITICS
6 December | January edition
New powers for Wales
A ‘fundamental shift’ in powers from London to Cardiff –
that’s what the Silk Commission called for back in
November last year. After almost a year of waiting, the
UK Government responded to the commission with their
package of fiscal powers to be devolved to the National
Assembly for Wales. Ditching the rose garden for the
Senedd, we saw a rare joint press conference with the
Prime Minister and his Deputy. They announced that
Wales would gain power over Stamp Duty Land Tax and
Landfill Tax, along with the power to borrow funds for
large infrastructure projects, with the ‘full response’ from
UK Government to follow. Nick Clegg called for the
money raised from devolved taxes to be used to build
affordable housing, and who can disagree?
When the full response came the UK Government said it
would offer Wales a referendum on devolving income tax,
albeit in a very different system to Silk’s recommendation.
Business rates would be devolved fully too, and any
future Welsh Government will be able to create new taxes.
The announcements on fiscal powers mark the halfway
point for the Silk Commission – Part 2 recommendations
will be published in the spring. If a fundamental shift is
what the commission is looking for, why not echo CHC’s calls
and recommend parity with Northern Ireland on welfare?
Update on the Housing(Wales) BillThe first Housing (Wales) Bill was introduced on 18
November and is currently in Stage 1 of the legislative
process. It presents a real opportunity to ‘make a difference’
and outlines a number of ways Welsh Government hopes
to alleviate pressures in the housing system, namely:
• Standardising rents, service charges and quality of
housing as outlined in the Welsh Housing Quality
Standard (WHQS).
• Placing a duty on local authorities to provide sites for
Gypsies and Travellers where need has been identified.
• Giving local authorities the power to charge 50% more
than the standard rate of council tax on homes that
have sat empty for a year or longer to promote the
government’s Houses into Homes scheme.
• Introducing a homelessness prevention duty which
will strengthen the requirement for partnership
working between LAs and HAs in delivering a housing
solutions service.
• Reforming the Housing Revenue Account Subsidy
(HRAS) system, meaning that councils will be able to
use their rental income to fund their housing stock.
• Introducing a compulsory registration and licensing
scheme for private sector landlords and management
agents which is intended to give more power to the
tenant especially when a landlord is not registered.
Assistance will also be given to the provision of housing
by Co-operative Housing Associations which will help
increase the supply of affordable homes.
CHC welcomes the bill and will be feeding into discussions
as it passes through the various committee stages.
Welcome, Liam! I recently joined the CHC Group as a Political and
Administration Assistant. My first week involved going
from meeting to meeting which has provided me with an
excellent chance to meet members of the team and learn
more about the work of the group. I have joined CHC at a
very interesting time. During my first week the Housing
(Wales) Bill was introduced and I have learned a great
deal about the challenges that the Bill hopes to tackle and
those that may still occur. My main role is to monitor
political proceedings that are important to the sector and
share news and information with the policy team and
others so that everyone is aware of everything going on in
and outside of the Welsh Assembly.
I hope to be a useful member of the policy team and of
the Group as a whole, and I will work hard to ensure that
my supportive role is easily accessible to all.
Liam Townsend twtwitM rr@ rr@Liam_CHC
Political and Administration Assistant
029 2067 4822 / [email protected]
7
SOCIAL ENTERPRISE
They recently partnered with CHC alongside their existing
partners such as Social Enterprise UK, WCVA, NESTA,
UnLtd and others to set up the first Welsh Accelerator
programme which began in September. Nine ventures
have been identified from Wales, including the Your
Benefits are Changing project.
As you know, CHC’s money advice team first began to
deliver a service in 2010 from Moneyline Cymru offices.
This was solely funded by The Big Lottery. Since then the
service has gone from strength to strength and now
provides advice for Welsh Water customers and housing
associations.
The money advice team has come together with the
welfare reform awareness raising campaign to become
the Your Benefits are Changing team.
Among other things, the YBAC team has to date:
• Helped 740 people in fuel poverty to claim £105,000
via the Warm Home Discount scheme
• Helped people manage over £1.2m of debt
• Identified 216 appropriate trust funds to help people
obtain grants suitable for their needs
Every couple of weeks, the nine projects meet up with
various experts which have been brought in by the Young
Foundation for intensive learning days.
The tools we work with allow us to look at YBAC under
the microscope and spot the gaps in our business plan.
Also, access to people who make funding decisions in
their daily work has allowed us to ponder on some of
those really difficult questions.
The Accelerator programme finishes at the end of January
2014, when we hope to have developed a number of new
products including training, a book of benefits and a wider
media campaign.
If you would like to know more about the work Your
Benefits are Changing is doing with the Young Foundation,
please contact [email protected]
Clare James tM rr@Clare_CHCymru
Housing Services Policy Officer
Working with TheYoung FoundationThe Young Foundation, amongst many other things, provide support and finance to
entrepreneurs running social ventures, advice for organisations seeking to invest in or
procure services from social ventures, and assistance with developing revenue
participation agreements and social impact bonds.
£105,000
740
£1.2m
216trust funds to
help people
obtain grants
suitable for
their needs
goes to help people manage
debts
claimed via the Warm Home
Discount scheme
people helped
in fuel poverty
8 December | January edition
SupportingPeopleProgrammeIt was highly encouraging when the draft budget figures
were released to see that the Supporting People Programme
Grant had only received a 1.5% cut. Of course, any reduction
to key budgets is a bad thing, but the ‘only’ in this case
reflects the far heftier cut we were once expecting.
Going forward, developments within the programme will
include the development of an option for long term
governance and an approach to accreditation. In addition,
all Regional Collaborative Committees are in the process of
producing their Annual Report and Welsh Government will
be commissioning work on a review of the transition year.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank members
and partners such as Care & Repair Cymru and Cymorth
Cymru for their efforts in highlighting the vital role of
services provided through the programme, both through
raising this locally and working with CHC to highlight the
work of members nationally.
If you would like to share the views of your organisation
on the changes taking place regarding how Supporting
People is delivered in Wales, please contact
Collaboration with theWelsh NHS ConfederationIn an exciting move towards greater collaboration, CHC
has seconded two members of staff (Matt Kennedy and
Aaron Hill) on a part-time basis to provide a policy and
public affairs service to the Welsh NHS Confederation. We
believe that this collaboration will provide great
opportunities to build on the work members have been
conducting at a local level with colleagues in health by
feeding into the national health agenda in Wales.
This will also allow for further promotion of the role that
housing associations and Care & Repair agencies have in
reducing the pressures on Health and Social Services. At a
time where the NHS is facing a number of pivotal
challenges relating to finances, service re-configuration
and integration, this is a prime opportunity to build the
links in shaping some of these changes and ensuring that
appropriate opportunities for members are identified.
We strongly welcome this opportunity to work closely
with the Confederation and will be providing members
with further updates on this work. This collaboration is an
important element of the ‘Team Collaboration’ objective
in CHC’s Corporate Plan for 2013-16, and we look forward
to reporting on the results.
Matt Kennedy twM rr@Matt_CHC
Policy Officer: Care, Support and Health
Update
HEALTH AND HOUSING
9
NEWS IN BRIEF
#HousingDayTweetathon Housing organisations across the UK recently took part in
a ‘Tweetathon’ where we used the #HousingDay hashtag
to tweet about our activities on 13 November. This was a
great way of raising awareness about what goes on in the
sector on a daily basis, as well as demonstrating the
variety of projects staff are involved with. Tweets from
the sector included community regeneration activities,
working with hard to reach groups, launching housing
schemes, producing the tenant magazine, processing
applications, working on recruitment adverts, organising
events, visiting tenants, liaising with the local Care &
Repair agency, giving money advice, fitting kitchens,
providing tenants with advice on getting back to work,
digital inclusion activities, working on an energy saving
strategy… the list goes on! The #HousingDay hashtag was
the top trending topic at its peak in Cardiff and the UK,
and we’re hoping to arrange a Welsh equivalent in the
new year. More information to follow!
The Welsh Housing Partnership (WHP) was established in
August 2011 as a collaborative funding vehicle to deliver
quality housing for intermediate rent across Wales. The
WHP is a joint venture between CT Clwyd, Coastal,
Hendre and Seren and provides affordable housing in a
financially efficient manner. Its target market was
‘working people in housing need but not a priority for
social housing, households not in a position to buy, and
people who were looking for a more secure solution than
the private rented sector’. In 2012/13, Welsh
Government made available a further £6m to the WHP,
resulting in a further 266 homes purchased and
extending its coverage to 20 local authorities. Based on
the success of the first two years, Welsh Government has
made budget provision for funding of a further £12m
during 2013-2015. During the four years, WHP will have
delivered over 920 additional affordable homes across
Wales for a total investment of over £100m.
Welsh HousingPartnershipUpdate
Royal Approval forDoiran Jones
CHC and Care & Repair Cymru’s Vice Chair, Doiran
Jones, has been awarded with an OBE for his services
to housing. The Officer of the British Empire award
was presented by Prince William at Buckingham
Palace. Doiran is passionate about housing and has
been a board member with Melin Homes and
involved in the sector in a variety of roles for 31
years. He has also been a local magistrate for over
20 years. Doiran was delighted to receive what he
described to be an ‘overwhelming honour’ for his
services in housing, which he feels is ‘a privilege to
have been involved in for the past 31 years.’ On his
return from The Palace Doiran said: ‘It was great to
meet Prince William and he seemed very well
informed on the issues facing the housing sector
today.’ Congratulations, Doiran!
10 December | January edition
A MEMBER’S PERSPECTIVE
Tackling Anti Social Behaviourin MonmouthshireOver recent years, Monmouthshire Housing Association (MHA) has been improving the
way we deal with Anti Social Behaviour (ASB). Our robust ASB policy, procedures and
toolkit put victims first, focusing on early intervention, supporting both victims and
perpetrators. This and our partnership working with other organisations were key
factors in achieving HouseMark’s accreditation for Anti Social Behaviour.
A new Community Safety Team was introduced with a
wealth of experience, including two experienced senior
housing officers and two retired police officers. The new
team brings a wide mix of skills with extensive experience
of generic housing, ASB and community safety. Using
these skills, the team has been able to expand the
services provided to include perpetrator profiling and
supporting and safeguarding victims of domestic abuse.
The team works closely with our neighbourhood officers,
our tenants, local residents and our partners to achieve
safe and secure local communities. Early intervention is a
key part of our community safety work with mediation,
dedicated support and in some cases cognitive behavioural
therapy offered to both victims and perpetrators.
By using our IT systems and through partnership working,
the team is able to identify hot spots of different types of
ASB, therefore targeting prevention or support projects
accordingly. As a result of this a recent successful project
was set up, organised by MHA’s Community Investment
Team, to help women suffering from isolation or domestic
abuse. The project encourages confidence building
through learning new skills and meeting new people.
Through perpetrator profiling, the team can now work
with tenants to identify reasons which contribute to them
committing ASB. One example of this involved the team
working closely with a tenant and their family. The team
identified that unemployment was a factor in the poor
behaviour they were displaying. It was apparent that they
wanted to work but required essential training to secure
employment. By referring them to MHA’s Work and Skills
Wise Team, the relevant training was sourced and funding
was secured through Jobcentre Plus. The tenant is now in
employment and no further complaints of ASB have been
received.
The accreditation process encouraged the team to
scrutinise all aspects of the ASB service. Challenging
targets have been set and information gathered through
feedback from service users helps to steer continuous
improvement in the service.
In short, we are very proud of the achievements and
dedication of our staff in promoting safe and secure
communities in Monmouthshire.
David Morris
Director of Housing
and Communities, MHA
11
CREW UPDATE
Busy times at CREWRegeneration WalesVibrant & Viable PlacesCREW has been asked by Welsh Government to provide
support to local authorities in Wales as part of the Vibrant
and Viable Places bidding process. Vibrant and Viable
Places is the Welsh Government framework to provide
regeneration funding to local authorities and their
partners. CREW will not be involved in assessing any of
the Stage Two applications and will therefore be able to
provide independent and impartial advice.
CREW is providing advice on monitoring and evaluation;
innovative regeneration practice; town centre issues;
stakeholder engagement; housing-led regeneration; and
‘critical friend’ review of proposals prior to submission.
Where Waters Meet Conference
On 16/17 October Maritime Heritage Wales Ltd, working
with CREW, held the Where Waters Meet conference in
Swansea. The conference included a variety of speakers
focusing on the theme of maximising waterfront locations
and making them the focus of business, science and
economic development in Wales.
Business Improvement Districts In the last month, CREW has arranged two seminars in
Wrexham and Swansea to promote the development of
Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) in Wales. Both
seminars attracted an audience of over 90 people from
private, public and third sector organisations in Wales.
The presentations can be found on the CREW website.
Case StudiesTwo recent case studies have been uploaded to the CREW
website. Jemma Bere has updated a case study
completed by CREW in 2010 on the Glyncoch Community
Partnership. This has been updated to reflect the changes
to the Community First Clusters and the pattern of
community regeneration delivery to date, utilising co-
production methodology.
Hayley MacNamara has also completed a case study on
the Loudoun Square Regeneration Project in Butetown,
Cardiff. The project involved the building of a new state of
the art health centre, a new culture and media centre, a
community hub, 11 brand new retail units and the
creation of 61 new affordable homes.
Opinion PieceGuest author, Sarah Wyburn, considers the important
role played by small legal practices in the high street
economy in the latest CREW Opinion Piece. Her opinion
piece, 'High Street Legal Practices: A Key Role in Small
Towns', is available on the CREW website. If you would
like to contribute a future Opinion Piece please contact
www.regenwales.org
Dr Mark Lang twtwM rr@DrMarkLang
CREW Regeneration Wales
M rr@CrewRegenWales
Conferences:
Training Courses:
12 December | January edition
JANUARY 2014
22 HR Conference
Mercure Holland
House Hotel
CARDIFF
EVENTS
For further information about our training courses, please
contact: [email protected].
FEBRUARY 2014
06 Rent Arrears Management: The ‘Bedroom Tax’ and
Universal Credit Conversations CARDIFF
19 Managing Complaints CARDIFF
20 Introduction to Housing Development CARDIFF
FEBRUARY 2014
4/5 Chief Executives’
Conference
Rossett Hall Hotel
WREXHAM
JULY 2014
10/11 Resources Conference
Metropole Hotel
LLANDRINDOD WELLS
JANUARY 2014
14 An Introduction to Housing Associations CARDIFF
15 Bribery Act & Data Protection CARDIFF
21 Reducing the Risks of Lone Working NORTH WALES
23 Recovering Housing Debt CARDIFF
24 Social Media: Facebook, Twitter & Blogging CARDIFF
28 Chairing Skills CARDIFF
For further information about our conferences, please contact: [email protected]
Follow us on @CHCymru and @CHCEvents
FEBRUARY 2014
20/21 Governance Conference
Metropole Hotel
LLANDRINDOD WELLS
Annual ReviewIt’s been a busy year for CHC. Find
out how we’ve been putting our
members FIRST in 2013:
PR and Communication AwardsCHC’s PR and Communication Awards took place earlier
this month during the Communications Conference in
Llandrindod Wells. Once again, some fantastic projects
were submitted with over a hundred award submissions.
You can read all about the winners and their projects in
the enclosed insert.
Campaign of the Year award The Your Benefits are Changing' campaign won the
'Campaign of the Year' award at CIH Cymru's Welsh
Housing Awards last month. Partnership working has
been key to the success of the campaign with over 70
supporting organisations, so our thanks go out to all
organisations and individuals who have supported the
campaign. We look forward to working on the next
phase... more details to follow in the new year!
PinterestThe CHC Group has recently joined Pinterest in order to
promote members’ activities on yet another social media
channel. Pinterest is a visual social networking site which
allows you to create different ‘boards’ for various
categories. You can ‘pin’ images to these boards which
then link straight back to the site they originated from.
CHC’s Pinterest account has the potential to be a fantastic
visual representation of the great work housing associations
carry out in their communities all over Wales, and we’re
excited about this new development. Please contact
[email protected] for further information.
www.pinterest.com/chcgroup
APRIL 2014
08 An Introduction to Housing Associations CARDIFF
MARCH 2014
06 Creating Successful Tenancies Through Void
Management CARDIFF
21 An Introduction to Service Charges CARDIFF
26 TUPE changes & Employment Law Update CARDIFF
31 Repairs for Non Technical Staff CARDIFF
Rhagfyr 2013 | Ionawr 2014
www.chcymru.org.uk
GAN Y PRIF WEITHREDYDD
Gweithio gydaSefydliad Young
CAMAU i roiaelodau’n gyntaf yn2013
Diweddariad ar FilTai (Cymru)
Dylid datganolillesiant i Gymru!
–– t7–– t3 –– t6–– t2
MENTER GYMDEITHASOLGWLEIDYDDIAETHDIWYGIO LLES
Sector yn gosod y sylfeini ar gyfer economi mwy iach yng Nghymru
CYHOEDDWYD GAN GRŴP CARTREFI CYMUNEDOL CYMRU
2 Rhifyn Rhagfyr | Ionawr
Cynhyrchwyd gan:
Grŵp Cartrefi Cymunedol Cymru2 Ocean WayCaerdyddCF24 5TG
029 2067 4800
Dyluniwyd gan Arts Factory
Golygydd:
Bethan Samuel, Grŵp CHC
tMr rr@Beth_CHC
Is-olygydd:
Edwina O’Hart, Grŵp CHC
tMr rr@edwinaohart
Cyfranwyr:
Nick Bennett, Grŵp CHC
Steve Evans, Grŵp CHC
Aaron Hill, Grŵp CHC
Clare James, Grŵp CHC
Matt Kennedy, Grŵp CHC
Hayley MacNamara, Grŵp
CHC
Amanda Oliver, Grŵp CHC
Liam Townsend, Grŵp CHC
Dr Mark Lang, CREW
Adfywio Cymru
Alwyn Llwyd, CT Clwyd
David Morris, Tai Sir Fynwy
CommunityHousing Cymru
Group
CHCymru
CHCEvents
Flwyddyn yn ôl, lansiodd Grŵp CHC eincynllun corfforaethol ar ôl ymgynghori’neang gydag aelodau ar y CAMAU i’w rhoi yngyntaf (Cydweithredu fel Tîm, Arloesi,Menter Gymdeithasol, Adfywio ac Uno ynerbyn Tlodi). Flwyddyn yn ddiweddarach, erheriau diwygio lles a chynildeb cynyddol yny sector cyhoeddus, mae CHC yn falch iadrodd ar y cynnydd a wnaed.
Uno yn erbyn tlodi oedd ein blaenoriaethgyntaf. Dymunem gynyddu gweithgareddaua gwasanaethau oedd yn galluogi ein haelodaui gael effaith gadarnhaol ar amgylchiadaueconomaidd, amgylcheddol a chymdeithasoltenantiaid, lesddeiliaid a chymunedau.
Mae gan ymgyrch gyfathrebu Mae Budd-daliadau yn Newid ran hollbwysig yn einbrwydr yn erbyn tlodi. Lansiwyd yr ymgyrchi gefnogi aelodau i godi ymwybyddiaeth o’rnewidiadau mewn budd-daliadau a chyfathrebunegeseuon cyson i denantiaid. Mae dros 70sefydliad wedi ymuno i gefnogi’r ymgyrchyn cynnwys cymdeithasau tai, awdurdodaulleol ac elusennau. Caiff cam nesaf yrymgyrch ei ymestyn yn gynnar yn 2014.
I gyd-fynd â’r ymgyrch, fe wnaethomdrefnu llinell gyngor ffôn i roi cyngor achefnogaeth i denantiaid a sefydliadau arhoi camau a chyngor ymarferol i’r rhai yreffeithiwyd arnynt. Mae cynghorwyr arianMae Budd-daliadau yn Newid yn rhoicyngor annibynnol rhad ac am ddim ac ynaelodau o Sefydliad y Cynghorwyr Arian.Eleni mae ein Cynghorwyr Arian wedi:
• Rhoi cyngor am effaith diwygio lles i dros6,500 o bobl
• Mynychu dros 40 digwyddiadcymunedol, yn cynnwys dyddiau hwyltenantiaid
• Gostwng biliau dŵr blynyddol gan£61,000 y flwyddyn a rhoi cyfle i 272 obobl i glirio £410,000 o ddyled drwyGronfa Cymorth Cwsmeriaid Dŵr Cymru
• Rhoi cyngor i bobl ar drin arian agwneud arbedion posibl o dros £51,000
• Siarad gyda 148 o bobl a ddywedodd yrhoffent wneud cais am Daliadau Tai arDdisgresiwn i gau’r bwlch yn eu budd-daltai oherwydd tanddefnyddio, a
• Dynodi dros £800,000 o fudd-daliadaunad oedd yn cael eu hawlio.
Cawsom gyllid yn ddiweddar gan SefydliadOak fydd yn ein galluogi i gynnal astudiaethi asesu effaith diwygio lles ar y sector,awdurdodau lleol a thenantiaid. Defnyddircyfran o’r cyllid yma ar gyfer ymgyrch deledua gaiff ei rhedeg fel rhan o ymgyrch ehangachyn 2014.
Rydym hefyd wedi cefnogi MoneylineCymru ar hyd y flwyddyn ynghyd â’nhaelodau. Agorodd tair cangen newydd oMoneyline ym Merthyr Tudful, Abertawe aWrecsam yn 2013, gan ddod â’r cyfanswm iwyth. Ers lansio Moneyline Cymru yn 2009,mae wedi benthyca dros £7.8m, cymeradwyodros 17,000 o fenthyciadau a helpu dros80% o gwsmeriaid i agor cyfrif cynilo.
Gyda diwygio lles yn parhau i effeithio ardenantiaid, rwy’n falch fod CHC a’nhaelodau wedi gwneud cymaint igynorthwyo’r rhai sydd fwyaf agored iallgau ariannol, rhywbeth sy’n debygol ogynyddu wrth i’r argyfwng cost byw barhau.
Nick Bennett M rr@Nick_Bennett1
Prif Weithredydd Grŵp
i roi aelodau’ngyntaf yn 2013Mae’n naturiol bod diwedd un flwyddyn a dechrau blwyddyn arall ynamser i fwrw golwg yn ôl ar yr hyn a gyflawnwyd a heriau’r dyfodol.
GAN Y PRIF WEITHREDYDD
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Gwerth dros £1m o ôl-ddyledion, mwy na 700 ounedau gwag, a bron 50% o denantiaid yn methutalu’r ‘dreth ystafelloedd gwely’ yn llawn. Dyma rai oganfyddiadau allweddol ymchwil CHC i effaith y ‘drethystafelloedd gwely’ chwe mis ar ôl i’r polisi ddod i rym.
DIWYGIO LLES
Dylid datganoli lles i Gymru!
Wrth siarad yng Nghynhadledd Flynyddol CHC galwoddCarl Sargeant, Gweinidog Tai ac Adfywio, y ffigurau’n
‘llwm, ond dim yn syndod’ a beirniadu polisi ‘dinistriol’Llywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig.
Bu’r dadleuon moesol a moesegol yn erbyn y ‘drethystafelloedd gwely’ yn wan bob amser. Er y gall ideolegeich arwain i wahanu rhwng y tlawd ‘haeddiannol ac‘anhaeddiannol’, ni all ideoleg wadu’r dystiolaeth, ac yn ypen draw tystiolaeth ddylai osod polisi’r llywodraeth.Wrth gwrs, dim ond hanner y stori yw’r effaith argymdeithasau tai. Mae tenantiaid yn ei chael yn anoddfforddio pethau sylfaenol, mae’r defnydd o fanciau bwydyn cynyddu, mae cwmnïau ynni yn codi eu prisiau agwelwn ymchwydd yn y defnydd o fenthycwyr llog uchel asiarcod benthyca. Dywedir fod rhai benthycwyr diwrnodcyflog yn bwriadu treblu eu busnes ar gefn yr hyn a elwiryn ‘ddiwygio lles’. Caiff pobl eu gwthio ymhellach i dlodiac mae’r bygythiad o golli eu cartref yn un real iawn.
Mae dewisiadau anodd yn wynebu landlordiaid. Nodwnyr hyn fu’n digwydd o amgylch Cymru gyda gwahanolbrotestiadau ar draws y wlad, gyda landlordiaid yn aml yncael y bai. Ymgyrchodd grwpiau tenantiaid a rhaigwleidyddion am bolisi o beidio troi neb o’u cartrefioherwydd y dreth ystafelloedd gwely, ond ni alllandlordiaid barhau i roi cymhorthdal at y costauychwanegol oherwydd diwygio lles a fyddai’n effeithio ary gostyngiad posibl mewn gwasanaethau ar gyfertenantiaid eraill sy’n talu eu rhent.
Mae’r mesur hwn yn peri rhwyg ac yn bygwth cyfiawnderac undod cymdeithasol, gan droi tenant yn erbyn tenant,tenant yn erbyn landlord a landlord yn erbyn tenant. Maeangen i ni sefyll yn ôl a sylweddoli mai’r unig ateb ywmynd â’r pŵer yn nes at y bobl. Mewn undeb asymetrig,gallwn yn awr edrych at Ogledd Iwerddon a’u gweld yndefnyddio eu pwerau mewn polisi lles i wneud rhywbethgwahanol. Dylid datganoli pwerau lles i Gymru fel y gallwnddilyn eu harweiniad hwy!
Y canfyddiadau yn llawn
• Effeithiodd y tâl tanddefnydd ar 21,694 o aelwydyddLCC ar 1 Ebrill
• Gwelodd 78% o LCC Cymru gynnydd mewn ôl-ddyledion rhwng 1 Ebrill a 30 Medi, yn gyfanswm o£1.7m
• O’r cyfanswm o ôl-ddyledion, priodolwyd £1.1m ynuniongyrchol i’r ‘dreth ystafelloedd gwely’
• Mae 51% o denantiaid yn talu’r ‘dreth ystafelloeddgwely’ yn llawn, 37% yn talu rhan a 12% wedi methutalu dim o gwbl
• Cyhoeddwyd 1,084 NOSP (Hysbysiad Ceisio Meddiant)
• Priodolwyd 727 uned wag i’r ‘dreth ystafelloedd gwely’
• Newidiodd 89% o LCC eu polisïau i alluogi tenantiaidgydag ôl-ddyledion i symud i gartrefi llai
• Mae LCC wedi llwyddo i symud 679 tenant i gartrefi llai
Aaron Hill twiM rr@Aaron_CHC
Swyddog Polisi
POLISI AC YMCHWIL
4 Rhifyn Rhagfyr | Ionawr
Rhan o’r darlunmwy
Datgelir y canfyddiadau hyn fel rhan o adroddiaddiweddaraf yr Uned Ymchwil i Economi Cymru (WERU)sy’n canolbwyntio ar effaith economaidd ehangach ysector yn economi Cymru. Ar adeg pan fo buddsoddiadpreifat yn brin a’r pwrs cyhoeddus dan bwysau cynyddol,mae’n dangos fod gan adfywio dan arweiniad tai a chyfleoeddadeiladu a chyflogaeth a gyflwynir gan gymdeithasau tairôl allweddol wrth gyfrannu at economi Cymru.
Dengys yr adroddiad fod gwariant cyfunol cymdeithasautai Cymru yn 2012/13 yn £1034m, cynnydd o 8.7 y canto’r flwyddyn flaenorol. Cadwyd 81 y cant o’r gwarianthwn yng Nghymru, gan gadw’r bunt Gymreig yn lleol ahelpu i hybu economi Cymru gan £840m. Gwariwyd bron30 y cant o’r cyfanswm gwariant yn 2012/13 ar gynnal achadw, atgyweirio ac uwchraddio anheddau i godi cartrefii Safon Ansawdd Tai Cymru a osodwyd gan LywodraethCymru, a gwariwyd £227.5m arall, bron chwarter, aradeiladu cartrefi fforddiadwy newydd.
Dangosodd adroddiad WERU hefyd y gwariwyd amcangyfrifo £509m ar adfywio cymunedau, na fyddai fel arfer efallaiwedi derbyn buddsoddiad.
Yn ôl adroddiad WERU, mae cyfraniad y sector atgyflogaeth hefyd wedi cynyddu. Caiff 8,000 o bobl eucyflogi’n uniongyrchol gan gymdeithasau tai Cymru ac ambob swydd uniongyrchol a ddarperir, caiff bron ddwyswydd arall eu cefnogi yn economi Cymru.
Dyma’r chweched blynedd i adroddiad WERU, agomisiynwyd i ddangos gwir effaith cymdeithasau tai areconomi Cymru. Mae’r adroddiad llawn ar gael i’wddarllen ar wefan CHC.
Edwina O’Hart twtwM rr@edwinaohart
Pennaeth Cyfathrebu
Sector yn gosod y sylfeini ar gyfer economi fwy iach yng Nghymru
Er y cyfnod o gynildeb ariannol, dengys yr ymchwil annibynnol ddiweddaraf agomisiynwyd gan CHC fod cymdeithasau tai Cymru yn mynd yn groes i’r tueddiadeconomaidd ac yn hybu economi Cymru gan gannoedd o filiynau o bunnau.
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POLISI
Polisi rhentnewydd i’r sector
Mae ein haelodau wedi ystyried y cynnig, a thrwy weithiogyda CHC, wedi cyfleu sylwadau’n ôl i swyddogionLlywodraeth Cymru. Mae gan y polisi nifer o feysyddgyda’r cynnig i symud o RPI i CPI wrth gyfrif rhentblynyddol yn nodwedd hollbwysig. Er y derbyniwyd ysymudiad yn gyffredinol, mae wedi ysgogi aelodau iddynodi’r effaith bosibl ar ffrydiau refeniw’r dyfodol sy’nsylfaen i fuddsoddiad mewn rhaglen cynnal a chadw adatblygu cartrefi fforddiadwy newydd yn y dyfodol.
Fel sector rydym wedi cydlynu’n agos gyda LlywodraethCymru a disgwyliwn gyhoeddiad gan y Gweinidog Tai acAdfywio yn yr wythnosau nesaf.
Steve Evans
Pennaeth Cyllid a TGCh
Cafodd y glasbrint Gweinidogol ar gyferpolisi rhent newydd i’w gyflwyno o Ebrill2013 ei rannu gyda’r sector.
Diweddariad ar gynhwysiant digidol
Caiff Credyd Cynhwysol ei ymestyn ar draws y DeyrnasUnedig yn 2017 ac, fel rhan o agenda digidol diofyn yllywodraeth, bydd angen gwneud y rhan fwyaf o’rhawliadau ar lein. Dynododd ein hymchwil bod dros214,000 o denantiaid tai cymdeithasol sydd wedi euhallgau’n ddigidol yng Nghymru, sef bron hanner yr holldenantiaid. Felly mae angen ymyriad i ddileu rhwystraucynhwysiant digidol. Mae LCC a sefydliadau felCymunedau 2.0 eisoes wedi gwneud gwaith sylweddol ioresgyn rhwystrau sgiliau a chymhelliant; fodd bynnag,gadawyd cynnydd ar fynediad, yn neilltuol fand eangfforddiadwy, yn llusgo. Amcangyfrifir fod 42,000 odenantiaid tai cymdeithasol nad ydynt ar-lein yn nodi maicostau uchel mynediad ac offer yw’r prif reswm. Nid ywpecynnau band eang yn fforddiadwy i denantiaid taicymdeithasol. Fodd bynnag, o gymharu, mae’r farchnadcaledwedd yn fwy cystadleuol ac mae hynny’n golygu bodcostau dyfeisiau yn gostwng.
Dynododd y grŵp y gwaith sy’n digwydd ar draws y sectorac ymchwilio’r gwahanol ymyriadau sydd ar gael i
ddarparu band eang fforddiadwy i denantiaid taicymdeithasol. Cynhwysir ein canfyddiadau ymchwil yn yradroddiad terfynol sy’n cael ei gylchredeg ymysg prifweithredwyr ar hyn o bryd. Rydym wedi dynodi y gall LCCddatblygu cynlluniau band eang ar gyfer tenantiaid taicymdeithasol drwy nifer o ymyriadau a gwelsomenghreifftiau ar waith ar draws y Deyrnas Unedig. Foddbynnag, gan nad oes unrhyw un fodel yn ateb pob galw ygall pob LCC ei defnyddio oherwydd gwahaniaethaumewn stoc a blaenoriaethau, mae diffyg galluedd acarbenigedd yn y sector i ddynodi’r ymyriad mwyaf addasyn atal cynnydd. Rydym felly’n argymell i LywodraethCymru y dylid creu corff newydd (os oes modd ar ffurfmenter gymdeithasol) a fyddai’n rhoi cefnogaeth achyngor pwrpasol i LCC ar ddatblygu gwasanaethau bandeang newydd ar gyfer tenantiaid. Cadwch lygad ar wefanCHC am y newyddion diweddaraf!
Hayley MacNamara twtwitM rr@Hayley_CHC
Swyddog Adfywio
Mae CHC wedi gweithio gyda Grŵp Gorchwyl a Gorffen yn cynnwys cynrychiolwyr o’rsector a Cymunedau 2.0 i edrych sut y gellir gwneud mynediad i’r rhyngrwyd ynfforddiadwy i denantiaid tai cymdeithasol.
GWLEIDYDDIAETH
6 Rhifyn Rhagfyr | Ionawr
Pwerau newydd i Gymru
‘Symud sylfaenol’ mewn pwerau i Gaerdydd o Lundain -dyna’r hyn y galwodd Comisiwn Silk amdano ym misTachwedd y llynedd. Ar ôl bron flwyddyn o aros,ymatebodd Llywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig i’r Comisiwngyda’u pecyn o bwerau cyllidol i’w datganoli i GynulliadCenedlaethol Cymru. Gan symud o’r ardd rosod yn StrydDowning i’r Senedd, gwelwyd cynhadledd ar y wasg brinar y cyd rhwng Prif Weinidog a Dirprwy Brif WeinidogLlywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig. Cyhoeddwyd y byddaiCymru’n cael grym dros y Dreth Stamp, Treth Tir a’r DrethDomen Lanw, ynghyd â’r grym i fenthyca arian ar gyferprosiectau seilwaith mawr, gyda ‘ymateb llawn’ ganLywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig i ddilyn. Galwodd Nick Cleggam ddefnyddio’r arian a godwyd o drethi a ddatganolwydi adeiladu tai fforddiadwy, a phwy all anghytuno?
Pan ddaeth yr ymateb llawn, dywedodd Llywodraeth yDeyrnas Unedig y byddai’n cynnig refferendwm i Gymruar ddatganoli treth incwm, er mewn system wahanoliawn i argymhelliad Silk. Byddai trethi busnes yn cael eudatganoli’n llawn hefyd a gallai unrhyw LywodraethCymru greu trethi newydd yn y dyfodol.
Mae’r cyhoeddiadau ar bwerau cyllidol yn nodi’r pwynthanner ffordd ar gyfer Comisiwn Silk - cyhoeddirargymhellion Rhan 2 yn y gwanwyn. Os mai newidsylfaenol yw’r hyn mae’r Comisiwn yn edrych amdano,pam nad yw’n adleisio galwad CHC ac argymell y dylaiCymru gael yr un pwerau â Gogledd Iwerddon ar les?
Diweddariad ar Fil Tai(Cymru)Cyflwynwyd Bil Tai (Cymru) cyntaf ar 18 Tachwedd ac maear hyn o bryd yng Ngham 1 y broses ddeddfu. Mae’n gyflegwirioneddol i ‘wneud gwahaniaeth’ ac mae’n amlinellunifer o ffyrdd y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn gobeithiolliniaru pwysau yn y system dai, sef:
• Safoni rhenti, taliadau gwasanaeth ac ansawdd tai felyr amlinellwyd yn Safon Ansawdd Tai Cymru.
• Rhoi dyletswydd ar awdurdodau lleol i ddarparusafleoedd ar gyfer sipsiwn a theithwyr lle dynodwydangen.
• Rhoi’r pŵer i awdurdodau lleol godi 50% yn fwy nachyfradd safonol treth gyngor ar gartrefi a fu’n wag amflwyddyn neu fwy i hyrwyddo cynllun Troi Tai’nGartrefi y Llywodraeth.
• Cyflwyno dyletswydd atal digartrefedd fydd yncryfhau’r gofyniad am weithio partneriaeth rhwngawdurdodau lleol a chymdeithasau tai wrth ddarparugwasanaeth datrysiadau tai.
• Ad-drefnu’r system Cymhorthdal Cyfrif Refeniw Tai(HRAS) gan olygu y gall cynghorau ddefnyddio euhincwm rhent i ariannu eu stoc tai.
• Cyflwyno cynllun cofrestru a thrwyddedu gorfodol argyfer landlordiaid sector preifat ac asiantau rheoligyda’r nod o roi mwy o rym i’r tenant yn arbennig pannad yw landlord wedi cofrestru.
Rhoddir cymorth hefyd i ddarparu tai gan gymdeithasautai cydweithredol fydd yn helpu cynyddu’r cyflenwad odai fforddiadwy.
Mae CHC yn croesawu’r bil a bydd yn bwydo i drafodaethauwrth iddo fynd drwy’r gwahanol gamau pwyllgor.
Croeso, Liam! Ymunais â Grŵp CHC yn ddiweddar fel Cymhorthydd Polisia Gweinyddiaeth. Yn fy wythnos gyntaf es o gyfarfod igyfarfod a roddodd gyfle ardderchog i mi gwrdd agaelodau’r tîm a dysgu mwy am waith y grŵp. Ymunais âCHC ar amser diddorol iawn. Cyflwynwyd Bil Tai (Cymru)yn ystod fy wythnos gyntaf a dysgais lawer iawn am yrheriau y mae’r Bil yn gobeithio eu trin a’r rhai a all ddal iddigwydd. Fy mhrif rôl yw monitro trafodion gwleidyddolsy’n bwysig i’r sector a rhannu newyddion a gwybodaethgyda’r tîm polisi ac eraill fel bod pawb yn gwybod beth sy’ndigwydd y tu mewn a’r tu allan i’r Cynulliad Cenedlaethol.
Gobeithiaf fod yn aelod defnyddiol o’r tîm polisi a’r Grŵpyn ei gyfanrwydd, a byddaf yn gweithio’n galed i sicrhau ybydd fy rôl gefnogi ar gael yn rhwydd i bawb.
Liam Townsend twtwitM rr@ rr@Liam_CHC
Cymhorthydd Gwleidyddol a Gweinyddiaeth029 2067 4822 / [email protected]
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MENTER GYMDEITHASOL
Buont yn gweithio’n ddiweddar gyda CHC ynghyd âphartneriaid presennol megis Social Enterprise UK,Cyngor Gweithredu Gwirfoddol Cymru, NESTA, UnLtd aceraill i sefydlu rhaglen gyntaf The Accelerator yng Nghymrua ddechreuodd ym mis Medi. Dynodwyd naw menter oGymru, yn cynnwys prosiect Mae Budd-daliadau yn Newid.
Fel y gwyddoch, dechreuodd tîm cyngor arian CHCddarparu gwasanaeth yn 2010 o swyddfeydd MoneylineCymru. Ariannwyd hwn yn llwyr gan y Loteri Fawr. Aeth ygwasanaeth o nerth i nerth ers hynny ac mae’n awr ynrhoi cyngor i gwsmeriaid Dŵr Cymru a chymdeithasau tai.Daeth y tîm cyngor arian ynghyd gyda’r ymgyrch codiymwybyddiaeth diwygio lles i ddod y tîm Mae Budd-daliadau yn Newid.
Ymysg pethau eraill, hyd yma mae tîm Mae Budd-daliadauyn Newid wedi:
• Helpu 740 o bobl mewn tlodi tanwydd i hawlio£105,000 drwy’r cynllun Disgownt Cartref Cynnes
• Helpu pobl i drin dros £1.2m o ddyled• Dynodi 216 o gronfeydd ymddiriedolaeth priodol i
helpu pobl i ganfod grantiau addas ar gyfer euhanghenion
Mae’r naw prosiect yn cwrdd bob ychydig wythnosaugyda gwahanol arbenigwyr y daeth Sefydliad Young â hwyat ei gilydd ar gyfer dyddiau dysgu dwys.
Mae ein dulliau gwaith yn ein galluogi i olwg ar MaeBudd-daliadau yn Newid dan y chwyddwydr a gweld ybylchau yn ein cynllun busnes. Hefyd, fe wnaethmynediad i bobl sy’n gwneud penderfyniadau cyllido yn eu gwaith beunyddiol ein galluogi i ystyried rhai o’rcwestiynau gwirioneddol anodd hynny.
Daw rhaglen The Accelerator i ben ddiwedd Ionawr 2014,a gobeithiwn y byddwn erbyn hynny wedi datblygu nifer ogynnyrch newydd yn cynnwys hyfforddiant, llyfr am fudd-daliadau ac ymgyrch ehangach yn y cyfryngau.
Clare James tM rr@Clare_CHCymru
Swyddog Polisi Gwasanaethau Tai
Gweithio gydaSefydliad YoungYmysg llawer o bethau eraill, mae Sefydliad Young yn darparu cefnogaeth a chyllid ientrepreneuriaid sy’n cynnal mentrau cymdeithasol, rhoi cyngor i sefydliadau sy’ndymuno buddsoddi neu gaffael gwasanaethau gan fentrau cymdeithasol, a chynorthwyoi ddatblygu cytundebau cyfranogiad refeniw a bondiau effaith cymdeithasol.
£105,000
740
£1.2m
216Dynodi 216 o
gronfeyddymddiriedolaeth
priodol i helpu pobli ganfod grantiauaddas ar gyfer eu
hanghenion
Helpu pobl i drin dros £1.2mo ddyled
drwy’r cynllun DisgowntCartref Cynnes
Helpu 740 o boblmewn tloditanwydd i hawlio
8 Rhifyn Rhagfyr | Ionawr
DiweddariadRhaglenCefnogi PoblRoedd yn galonogol iawn gweld pan gyhoeddwydffigurau’r gyllideb ddrafft mai dim ond toriad o 1.5% a fuyn y Grant Rhaglen Cefnogi Pobl. Wrth gwrs, mae unrhywostyngiad mewn cyllidebau allweddol yn beth gwael acmae’r ‘dim ond’ yn yr achos hwn yn adlewyrchu’r toriadaullawer halltach y buom yn eu disgwyl ar un amser.
Yn y dyfodol, bydd datblygiadau o fewn y rhaglen yncynnwys datblygu opsiwn ar gyfer llywodraethiant hirdymora dull gweithredu at achrediad. Hefyd, mae pob PwyllgorRhanbarthol Cydweithredol yn y broses o gynhyrchu euHadroddiad Blynyddol a bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yncomisiynu gwaith ar adolygiad o’r flwyddyn drosiant.
Hoffwn fanteisio ar y cyfle yma i ddiolch i aelodau aphartneriaid megis Care & Repair Cymru a CymorthCymru am eu gwaith yn amlygu rôl hanfodol gwasanaethaua ddarperir drwy’r rhaglen, drwy godi hyn yn lleol agweithio gyda CHC i amlygu gwaith aelodau’n genedlaethol.
Os hoffech rannu barn eich sefydliad ar y newidiadau amy ffordd y cyflwynir Cefnogi Pobl yng Nghymru, cysylltwchâ [email protected] os gwelwch yn dda.
Cydweithredu gydaConffederasiwn GIG CymruMewn symudiad cyffrous tuag at fwy o gydweithio, maeCHC wedi secondio dau aelod o staff (Matt Kennedy acAaron Hill) ar sail ran-amser i ddarparu gwasanaeth polisia materion cyhoeddus i Gonffederasiwn GIG Cymru.Credwn y bydd y cydweithredu yma yn rhoi cyfleoeddgwych i adeiladu ar waith aelodau ar lefel leol gydachydweithwyr yn y sector iechyd drwy fwydo i’r agendaiechyd cenedlaethol yng Nghymru.
Bydd hyn hefyd yn caniatáu hyrwyddo rôl cymdeithasautai ac asiantaethau Gofal a Thrwsio ymhellach wrthostwng y pwysau ar Iechyd a GwasanaethauCymdeithasol. Ar adeg pan fo’r GIG yn wynebu nifer oheriau hollbwysig yn ymwneud â chyllid, ail-gyfluniogwasanaeth ac integreiddio, mae hwn yn gyfle rhagorol i
adeiladu’r cysylltiadau wrth lunio rhai o’r newidiadau hyna sicrhau y dynodir cyfleoedd addas ar gyfer aelodau.Rydym yn croesawu’n fawr y cyfle yma i weithio’n agosgyda’r Conffederasiwn a byddwn yn rhoi newyddionpellach i aelodau ar y gwaith. Mae’r cydweithredu yma ynelfen bwysig o’r amcan ‘Cydweithredu fel Tîm’ yngNghynllun Corfforaethol CHC ar gyfer 2013-16, acedrychwn ymlaen at roi adroddiad ar y canlyniadau.
Matt Kennedy twM rr@Matt_CHC
Swyddog Polisi: Gofal, Cymorth ac Iechyd
IECHYD A THAI
9
NEWYDDION YN GRYNO
Trydarathon#HousingDay Cymerodd sefydliadau tai ar draws Prydain ran ynddiweddar mewn ‘Trydarathon’ lle defnyddiwyd hashtag#HousingDay i drydaru am ein gweithgareddau ar 13Tachwedd. Roedd hon yn ffordd wych o godiymwybyddiaeth am yr hyn sy’n digwydd yn y sector arsail ddyddiol, yn ogystal ag arddangos yr amrywiaeth obrosiectau y mae staff yn ymwneud â hwy. Roeddnegeseuon gan y sector yn cynnwys gweithgareddauadfywio cymunedol, gweithio gyda grwpiau anodd eucyrraedd, lansio cynlluniau tai, cynhyrchu’r cylchgrawntenantiaid, prosesu ceisiadau, gweithio ar hysbysebionrecriwtio, trefnu digwyddiadau, ymweld â thenantiaid,cydlynu gyda’r asiantaeth Gofal a Thrwsio leol, rhoicyngor ar arian, gosod ceginau, rhoi cyngor i denantiaidar fynd yn ôl i’r gwaith, gweithgareddau cynhwysiantdigidol, gweithio ar strategaeth arbed ynni... mae’r rhestryn parhau! Ar ei frig, hashtag #HousingDay hashtag oeddy prif bwnc trendio yng Nghymru a Phrydain, agobeithiwn drefnu ymgyrch debyg yng Nghymru yn yflwyddyn newydd. Mwy o wybodaeth i ddilyn!
Sefydlwyd Partneriaeth Tai Cymru ym mis Awst 2011 felcyfrwng cyllid ar y cyd i ddarparu tai o ansawdd ar gyferrhent canolraddol ledled Cymru. Mae’r Bartneriaeth ynfenter ar y cyd rhwng CT Clwyd, Coastal, Hendre a Serenac mae’n darparu tai fforddiadwy mewn modd sy’neffeithiol yn ariannol. Ei marchnad darged oedd ‘poblmewn gwaith sydd angen cartref ond nad ydynt ynflaenoriaeth ar gyfer tai cymdeithasol, aelwydydd heb fodmewn sefyllfa i brynu, a phobl yn edrych am ddatrysiadmwy sicr na’r sector rhent preifat’. Clustnododd LlywodraethCymru £6m arall i’r Bartneriaeth yn 2012/13, gan arwainat brynu 266 yn fwy o gartrefi ac ymestyn ei wasanaeth i20 awdurdod lleol. Yn seiliedig ar lwyddiant y ddwyflynedd gyntaf, mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi gwneuddarpariaeth yn y gyllideb ar gyfer £12m arall yn ystod2013-2015. Yn ystod y pedair blynedd, bydd y Bartneriaethwedi sicrhau dros 920 o gartrefi fforddiadwy ychwanegolledled Cymru am gyfanswm buddsoddiad o dros £100m.
Diweddariadar BartneriaethTai Cymru
CymeradwyaethFrenhinol i Doiran
Dyfarnwyd OBE i Doiran Jones, is-gadeirydd CHC aCare & Repair Cymru, am ei wasanaethau i’r sectortai. Cyflwynwyd yr OBE iddo gan y Tywysog Williamym Mhalas Buckingham. Mae Doiran yn angerddolam dai a bu’n aelod o fwrdd Cartrefi Melin ac ynymwneud â’r sector mewn amrywiaeth o rolau am31 mlynedd. Bu hefyd yn ynad lleol am dros 20mlynedd. Roedd Doiran wrth ei fodd i dderbyn yrhyn a ddisgrifiodd fel ‘anrhydedd anhygoel’ am eiwasanaethau yn y maes tai, ac mae’n teimlo iddi fodyn fraint ymwneud â’r maes am dros 31 mlynedd.Pan ddychwelodd o’r Palas, dywedodd Doiran:‘Roedd yn wych cwrdd â’r Tywysog William ac roeddyn ymddangos yn wybodus iawn am y materion sy’nwynebu’r sector heddiw.’ Llongyfarchiadau, Doiran!
10 Rhifyn Rhagfyr | Ionawr
SAFBWYNT AELOD
Mynd i’r Afael ag YmddygiadGwrthgymdeithasol yn Sir FynwyMewn blynyddoedd diweddar, bu Cymdeithas Tai Sir Fynwy (MHA) yn gwella’r ffordd ydeliwn gydag ymddygiad gwrthgymdeithasol. Mae ein polisi a gweithdrefnau cadarn a’npecyn cymorth yn rhoi dioddefwyr yn gyntaf, yn canolbwyntio ar ymyriad cynnar, gangefnogi dioddefwyr a thramgwyddwyr. Roedd hyn a’n gwaith partneriaeth gyda sefydliadauyn ffactorau allweddol wrth sicrhau achrediad HouseMark am ymddygiad gwrthgymdeithasol.
Cyflwynwyd Tîm Diogelwch Cymunedol newydd gydachyfoeth o brofiad, yn cynnwys dau uwch swyddog taiprofiadol a dau swyddog heddlu wedi ymddeol. Mae gany tîm newydd gyfuniad eang o sgiliau a phrofiad helaeth odai cyffredinol, diogelwch cymunedol a thrin ymddygiadgwrthgymdeithasol. Gan ddefnyddio’r sgiliau hyn, galloddy tîm ehangu’r gwasanaethau a ddarperir i gynnwysproffilio tramgwyddwyr a chefnogi a diogelu rhai sy’ndioddef o gam-drin domestig.
Mae’r tîm yn gweithio’n agos gyda’n swyddogioncymdogaeth, ein tenantiaid, preswylwyr lleol a’npartneriaid i sicrhau cymunedau lleol diogel a chadarn.Mae ymyriad cynnar yn rhan allweddol o’n gwaithdiogelwch cymunedol gyda chyfryngu, cefnogaethymroddedig ac mewn rhai achosion gynnig therapiymddygiad gwybyddol i ddioddefwyr a hefyd dramgwyddwyr.
Drwy ddefnyddio ein systemau technoleg gwybodaeth athrwy weithio partneriaeth, gall y tîm ddynodi’r mannaugwaethaf ar gyfer gwahanol fathau o ymddygiadgwrthgymdeithasol, gan felly dargedu gwaith ataliaethneu gefnogi prosiectau. Sefydlwyd prosiect llwyddiannusyn ddiweddar fel canlyniad i hyn, a drefnwyd gan DîmBuddsoddiad Cymunedol MHA, i helpu menywod sy’ndioddef o arwahanrwydd neu gam-drin domestig. Mae’rprosiect yn annog adeiladu hyder drwy ddysgu sgiliaunewydd a chwrdd â phobl newydd.
Drwy broffilio tramgwyddwyr, gall y tîm yn awr weithiogyda thenantiaid i ddynodi rhesymau sy’n cyfrannu atiddynt gyflawni ymddygiad gwrthgymdeithasol. Felenghraifft o hyn, bu’r tîm yn gweithio’n agos gyda theulutenant. Dynododd y tîm fod diweithdra yn ffactor yn yrymddygiad gwael yr oeddent yn ei arddangos. Roedd ynamlwg eu bod eisiau gweithio ond eu bod angenhyfforddiant hanfodol i sicrhau cyflogaeth. Drwy euhatgyfeirio at Dîm Gwaith a Sgiliau MHA, sicrhawyd yrhyfforddiant perthnasol a chyllid drwy’r Ganolfan BydGwaith. Mae’r tenant bellach mewn cyflogaeth ac nidderbyniwyd unrhyw gwynion pellach o ymddygiadgwrthgymdeithasol.
Anogodd y broses achredu y tîm i graffu ar bob agweddo’r gwasanaeth ymddygiad gwrthgymdeithasol.Gosodwyd targedau heriol a chasglwyd gwybodaeth drwyadborth gan ddefnyddwyr wasanaeth i helpu i lywiogwelliant parhaus yn y gwasanaeth.
Yn gryno, rydym yn falch iawn o lwyddiant ac ymroddiadein staff wrth hyrwyddo cymunedau diogel a chryf yn SirFynwy.
David Morris
Cyfarwyddydd Tai a Chymunedau, MHA
11
DIWEDDARIAD CREW
Cyfnod prysur yn CREWAdfywio CymruLleoedd Llewyrchus Llawn AddewidMae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi gofyn i CREW gefnogiawdurdodau lleol yng Nghymru fel rhan o broses gaisLleoedd Llewyrchus Llawn Addewid, fframwaithLlywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer darparu cyllid adfywio iawdurdodau lleol a’u partneriaid. Ni fydd CREW yncymryd rhan wrth asesu unrhyw un o’r ceisiadau Ail Gama bydd felly’n gallu rhoi cyngor annibynnol a diduedd.
Mae CREW yn rhoi cyngor ar fonitro a gwerthuso, arferadfywio blaengar, materion canol tref, ymgysylltu ârhanddeiliaid, adfywio dan arweiniad tai ac adolygiad‘cyfaill critigol’ o’r cynigion cyn eu hanfon.
Cynhadledd y Glannau
Ar 16/17 Hydref cynhaliwyd Cynhadledd y Glannau yAbertawe a drefnwyd gan Maritime Heritage Wales Cyf,yn gweithio gyda CREW. Roedd y gynhadledd yn cynnwysamrywiaeth o siaradwyr yn canolbwyntio ar themacynyddu lleoliadau ar y glannau a’u gwneud yn ffocws argyfer datblygu busnes, gwyddoniaeth ac economaidd yngNghymru.
Ardaloedd Gwella BusnesYn y mis diwethaf, mae CREW wedi trefnu dwy seminar ynWrecsam ac Abertawe i hyrwyddo datblygu ArdaloeddGwella Busnes yng Nghymru. Bu cynulleidfa o dros 90 obobl yn y ddwy seminar o’r sector preifat, sectorcyhoeddus a’r trydydd sector yng Nghymru. Mae’rcyflwyniadau ar gael ar wefan CREW..
Astudiaethau AchosCafodd dwy astudiaeth achos eu lanlwytho ar wefanCREW yn ddiweddar. Mae Jemma Bere wedi diweddaruastudiaeth achos a gwblhawyd gan CREW yn 2010 arBartneriaeth Gymunedol Glyncoch. Diweddarwyd hyn iadlewyrchu’r newidiadau i’r clystyrau Cymunedau ynGyntaf a phatrwm cyflenwi adfywio cymunedol hyd yma,yn defnyddio methodoleg cynhyrchu ar y cyd.
Mae Hayley MacNamara hefyd wedi cwblhau astudiaethachos ar Brosiect Adfywio Sgwâr Loudon yn Butetown,Caerdydd. Roedd y prosiect yn cynnwys adeiladu canolfaniechyd newydd o’r math diweddaraf, canolfan diwylliant achyfryngau newydd, canolbwynt cymunedol, 11 unedfanwerthu newydd sbon a chreu 61 o gartrefi fforddiadwynewydd.
Darn BarnMae’r awdur gwadd, Sarah Wyburn, yn ystyried rôl bwysigpractisau cyfreithiol bach yn economi’r stryd fawr yn NarnBarn diweddaraf CREW. Mae ei darn barn, ‘PractisauCyfreithiol y Stryd Fawr: Rôl Allweddol mewn Trefi Bach’ar gael ar wefan CREW. Os hoffech gyfrannu Darn Barn yny dyfodol, cysylltwch â [email protected] osgwelwch yn dda.
www.regenwales.org
Dr Mark Lang twtwM rr@DrMarkLang
CREW Adfywio Cymru
M rr@CrewRegenWales
Cynadleddau:
Cyrsiau Hyfforddiant:
12 Rhifyn Rhagfyr | Ionawr
IONAWR 2014
22 Cynhadledd Adnoddau
Dynol
Gwesty Mercure Holland
CAERDYDD
DIGWYDDIADAU
I gael mwy o wybodaeth am ein cyrsiau hyfforddiant, cysylltwchâ [email protected] os gwelwch yn dda.
CHWEFROR 2014
06 Rheoli ôl-ddyledion rhent: Sgyrsiau am y ‘drethystafelloedd gwely’ a Chredyd Cynhwysol CAERDYDD
19 Rheoli Cwynion CAERDYDD
20 Cyflwyniad i ddatblygiad tai CAERDYDD
CHWEFROR 2014
4/5 Cynhadledd Prif
Weithredwyr
Gwesty Rossett Hall
WRECSAM
GORFFENNAF 2014
10/11 Cynhadledd Adnoddau
Gwesty Metropole
LLANDRINDOD
IONAWR 2014
14 Cyflwyniad i Gymdeithasau Tai CAERDYDD
15 Deddf Llwgrwobrwyo a Diogelu Data CAERDYDD
21 Gostwng y risgiau i staff sy’n gweithio ar ben euhunain GOGLEDD CYMRU
23 Adennill dyledion tai CAERDYDD
24 Cyfryngau Cymdeithasol: Facebook, Twitter a BlogioCAERDYDD
28 Sgiliau cadeirio CAERDYDD
I gael mwy o wybodaeth am ein cynadleddau, cysylltwch â[email protected] os gwelwch yn dda.
Dilynwch ni ar @CHCymru a @CHCEvents
CHWEFROR 2014
20/21 Cynhadledd
Llywodraethiant
Gwesty Metropole
LLANDRINDOD
Adolygiad BlynyddolBu’n flwyddyn brysur i CHC. Darllenwch am ein CAMAU i roi’n aelodau yn gyntaf yn 2013:
Gwobrau Cysylltiadau
Cyhoeddus a ChyfathrebuCynhaliwyd Gwobrau Cysylltiadau Cyhoeddus aChyfathrebu CHC yn gynharach y mis hwn yn ystod yGynhadledd Cyfathrebu yn Llandudno. Unwaith eto,roedd prosiectau gwych wedi’u cyflwyno gyda dros gant oenwebiadau. Gallwch ddarllen popeth am yr enillwyr a’uprosiectau yn y ddalen amgaeedig.
Gwobr Ymgyrch y Flwyddyn Enillodd ymgyrch ‘Mae Budd-daliadau yn Newid’ wobr‘Ymgyrch y Flwyddyn’ yng Ngwobrau Tai Cymru CIHCymru fis diwethaf. Bu gweithio partneriaeth ynallweddol i lwyddiant yr ymgyrch gyda dros 70 osefydliadau’n cefnogi, felly diolch i’r holl sefydliadau acunigolion a gefnogodd yr ymgyrch. Rydym yn edrychymlaen at weithio ar gam nesaf yr ymgyrch... mwy ofanylion i ddilyn yn y flwyddyn newydd!
PinterestMae Grŵp CHC wedi ymuno â Pinterest yn ddiweddar ihyrwyddo gweithgareddau aelodau ar sianel cyfryngaucymdeithasol arall eto.. Mae Pinterest yn saflerhwydweithio cymdeithasol gweledol sy’n eich galluogi igreu gwahanol ‘fyrddau’ ar gyfer gwahanol gategorïau.Gellir ‘pinio’ delweddau ar y byrddau hyn sydd wedyn yncysylltu’n syth yn ôl i’r safle y maent yn tarddu ohonynt.Mae gan gyfrif Pinterest CHC y potensial i ddangos gwaithgwych cymdeithasau tai ym mhob rhan o Gymru, acmae’r datblygiad yn un cyffrous. Cysylltwch â [email protected] i gael mwy o wybodaeth.
www.pinterest.com/chcgroup
EBRILL 2014
08 Cyflwyniad i Gymdeithasau Tai CAERDYDD
MAWRTH 2014
06 Creu tenantiaethau llwyddiannus drwy reoli unedaugwag CAERDYDD
21 Cyflwyniad taliadau gwasanaeth CAERDYDD
26 Diweddariad ar newidiadau TUPE a chyfraithcyflogaeth CAERDYDD
31 Atgyweiriadau i staff heb fod yn staff technegolCAERDYDD