220 Spring 2014 Edition

The Heart of Coastal Housing

SPRING 2014

Coastal People

A journeyinto work

Coastal Network

Making ithappen

Coastal Life

Road torecovery

GET ACTIVEget on your bike!

by our tenant stories

Be inspired

and get connected

Go on-line

2 220 COASTAL MAGAZINE SPRING 2014

COASTAL PEOPLE4 My Life - Debbie Green10 Journeys into work20 In the Spotlight -

Maintenance Team

COASTAL NETWORK6 Development News12 HomeSwapper14 Digital Inclusion16 Out & About - Townhill33 Send us your photographs33 Social media

COASTAL VIEWS26 Your views36 Readership survey

COASTAL LIFE8 Geoff Phillips - painter18 Stories to inspire you24 Road to recovery28 Get on your bike34 Garden ready for summer35 What’s on?40 Social Circle

COASTAL MONEY22 Free debt advice32 Upcycling with Kirsty

COASTAL REGULARS30 Food file37 Dave’s dilemmas39 Insider Information

COASTALCOMPETITIONS8 Geoff Phillips - Chocolates28 On your bike - 10 essential

riding packs30 Food File - Mary Berry and

Paul Hollywood book36 Readership Survey -

win up to £50 vouchers of your choice

40 Social Circle - £20 M&S vouchers

Spring 2014

18TENANT STORIES TO INSPIRE YOU

28GET ON YOUR BIKE

10JOURNEYS INTO WORK

3SPRING 2014 220 COASTAL MAGAZINE

This spring, we introduce a 220 which is jam-packed with inspiration. With so many peopleachieving, we just have to share some amazingstories!

Young men Dean, Rhys, Eliott and Jon let us in on their journeys into work. Painter, writer andDylan Thomas enthusiast Geoff Phillips shares hispassion for his successful career. We interviewedNigel Lewis about Digital Inclusion and he tells ushow anyone of any age can join in, just like 90 yearold Gwladys!

Tenants Muriel, Jayne and Coenrad all boast storiesto inspire our readers, and read about how June hasturned her life around on her Road to Recovery!Finally, meet Debbie Green in My Life who hasrecently been appointed as Coastal Housing’s newChief Executive - I’m sure you will all be with us inwishing Debbie all the best in her new role!

Also in this edition, see Steph’s latest developmentnews, find out about our next HomeSwapper event,and Get on your Bike with Bike Ability Wales!

You’ll find the Readership Survey on page 36,please complete this when you have a moment andbe in with a chance to win vouchers - your opinionreally does count! There are plenty of opportunitiesto win prizes throughout the magazine, look out forthe ‘WIN’ star. Remember, you’ve got to be in it towin it!

The 220 Team

220 is designed and published in-house byCoastal Housing Group Ltd3rd Floor, 220 High Street, Swansea, SA1 1NWwww.coastalhousing.co.uk

Data protectionCoastal Housing Group reserves the right touse competition participants’ personal data to inform them of future promotions. Onceyou have entered a competition you mayreceive other related promotional offers. Ifyou do not wish for your personal data to beused for this purpose then you ‘opt out’ bycontacting the promoter in writing by email.The Promoter may not always be CoastalHousing Group and could be any one of anumber of companies associated withproviding prizes.

AccuracyWe try to make sure that the informationprinted in 220 including prices andavailability is correct at time of going topress, but readers should still seekindependent advice before relying on anycontent. We cannot be held responsible forany changes. Colours may vary slightly dueto the printing process. We reserve the rightto edit any material submitted. We cannotaccept any responsibility for errors inarticles or advertisements.

CopyrightNo part of 220 may be reproduced in any format without prior permission from Coastal Housing Group.

Circulation6,000 readers Tenants, Staff, Partners,Contractors and Consultants, Councillors,MPs, AMs together with a wide range ofpeople and organisations who have regularcontact with Coastal Housing Group.

35WHAT’S ON?

Theachievementissue

Front Cover photograph by Viki Spooner


MyLifeMeet Debbie Green, CoastalHousing Group’s new ChiefExecutive. Despite a verybusy schedule, Debbieensures she has a goodwork life balance. Here shetells us about some of thethings that have shapedher life...

THE BEST VIEW IN THE WORLD IS...from the top of Cader Idris. When I did theWelsh Three Peaks Challenge last year, theview took some beating not just because itwas so clear and you can see so much ofNorth Wales but also because I was so gladto make it to the top!

The thing I love in myhome is...my family and my dog – as George Harrison oncesaid the rest is just ‘stuff’.

Debbie Green

5

I love the smell of...buttered toast (with proper butter!)

I once tried...jumping off the top boardin the swimming poolwhen I was ten. It wasvery scary as I hateheights.

I’m so proud that...I got the job as Coastal’s next ChiefExecutive.

I CAN’T LIVEWITHOUT... I’m not very materialistic. Ionce spent 18 monthstravelling and living out of asmall rucksack. When I cameback I thought - ‘why do Ineed all this stuff when I’vebeen quite happy with verylittle’.My favourite

remedy is... fresh juice especially withginger in it – it’s a natural

antibiotic.

I’ve learned that...the things you regret are thethings you don’t have thecourage to do. It’s usually thethings outside of our comfortzones which are the very thingswe should do.

THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE I’VE EVER BEEN GIVEN WAS...don’t be afraid to ask for help.


DevelopmentThe start of a new year is an exciting time! We are lookingforward to the schemes that will be started and completed duringthe year and any new opportunities that may arise. But, it’s alsoalways a busy time for the team, February is the deadline for us to submit our proposed schemes for the year to the WelshGovernment for grant approval. To do this there is a lot of information that we need to gather to provide to them.

News

d

s

n

Steph Radford, Project Engineer, tells us what’s going on in...

Morfydd House, MorristonThis site is adjacent to our existing Clos Camlas site in Morriston. The former Local Authority SocialServices building will be demolished and 26 new one and two bedroom flats built in its place.

The site is very challenging in terms of access and shape but Rio Architects from Cardiff have developedsome very attractive designs. The plans fit in nicely with the existing buildings but at the same

time have an individual and quite continental feel to them with raisedexternal corridors and by retaining the mature trees which are currently

on the site.

The scheme has beensubmitted for planning andwe are hoping to start workon site in the summer.

Castle QuarterWork on our Castle Quarter scheme by local contractors Dawnus isprogressing well and if you walk past the site you can now see thebuilding growing up above the hoardings and really taking shape.

During construction Dawnus have worked closely with the team and so farwe’ve created seven new local employment and training opportunities andhelped some great community projects. The scheme is a mixed usedevelopment incorporating 26 one and two bedroom general needs flats andfour duplex apartments which will be available to purchase throughPennant. There are commercial spaces on the ground floor on both theStrand and Wind Street and a private rooftop garden area for the tenants.We’ve already had a lot of interest in the commercial units and have acouple of very exciting and new restaurants interested in taking the space.At the moment we can’t disclose anything more, but watch this space andwe’ll let you know!


Pendarvis Terrace, Port TalbotWe have just bought the former Ty Afan School on Pendarvis Terrace from the Local Authority and areplanning to demolish the former school building to build 12 new homes on the site.

These will be a mix of one bedroom walk up flats and two and three bedroom homes. Each unit (includingthe flats) will have their own garden area to enjoy as well as private car parkingwhich will be provided within the site. Swansea based, HuwGriffiths Architects have done some great designs incorporatingseveral original features from the former building into the newdevelopment. We have submitted our planning application andare just about to appoint a contractorwith a view to starting work beforeEaster. We’ve also met with localcouncillors and groups to see whatwe can do to help the communityduring the development.


Win Chocolates from Simple Confectionary

Send your name and address to:Freepost Plus RSXA-CJHX-XUXE,

Coastal Housing Group, 3rd Floor, 220 High Street, Swansea, SA1 1NW or by email to: [email protected]

Closing Date: 30th April 2014. Only one entry per household

Free Prize Draw

WIN


Jeff Phillips of Henllys, has been a professional artist for 32 years.Originally from Waun Wen in Swansea, and having a career inEngineering and in particular the draughtsmanship side, he has

always had a keen interest in art.

Geoff’s professional career as an artist started in 1983 when he opened hisfirst gallery in Uplands Swansea concentrating on portraits andlandscapes. After 1983 Geoff took over a stall in Swansea Market whichhe had for twelve years painting and selling pictures of old Swansea.

In 2000 Geoff received a Lifelong Fellowship from the Millennium Commission forthe Environmental Educational Project which resulted in working at the EnvironmentCentre in Swansea alongside outside agencies The Princes Trust and CommunitiesFirst, which lead to working in local schools raising awareness of the environmentand encouraging art in the curriculum.

In 2001 The Mumbles Development Trust asked Geoff to paint the history map ofMumbles which is still displayed outside The Ostreme Centre in Mumbles to this day.

Five years ago Geoff started getting involved inthe project ‘The Life and Times of DylanThomas’ as the centenary of Dylan’s birthwould be in 2014. The project involves tellingDylan’s life story through art work from hischildhood right through to his life in Swansea,Laugharne, London and New York.

The exhibition launch of the artwork will be on the 1st March in Laugharne at the Millenium Hall and it will then move to the Swansea Grand Theatre and will be displayed between the 8th - 24th April and there are plans for it to be displayed in London.

Geoff’s artwork will also be displayed on confectionary throughout 2014 which willinclude chocolate bars and Welsh fudge promoting the life and times of DylanThomas in partnership with Michelle O’Rourke manager of the The Grand Hotel in Swansea.

Geoff’s passion forart means he isalways involved invarious projectspromoting Walesand the local area.His current projectis based at the NoSign Wine BarSwansea where hispaintings of oldSwansea will bedisplayed in the bar area.

Geoff PhillipsPainter & Writer

Celebrating Dylan Thomas Centenary Year


EliottEliott approached us after we went to one ofthe careers events at his university. He wasalready aware of Coastal as he lives in one of our properties but had never thought toconnect the two things.

We had already allocated all the placements bythe time Eliott called in but we kept his detailsand a month or so down the line anotheropportunity came up in our developmentdepartment. Eliott is studying ConstructionManagement and has been spending the last fewmonths with us on various projects and also haschance to visit our new sites.

Recently we supported Eliott and two of our otherstudents to apply for some funding through AssetSkills to help them undertake a research projectwhich will be presented to a national conferencelater in the year. All three managed to get somefunding and are now known as Asset SkillsAmbassadors.

Speaking of his time so far at Coastal, Eliott said

“I’ve got to see so much that I wouldn’t havedone by just studying, it really helps bringthings to life”.

Dean & Rhys Apprentices Dean and Rhys started with usin September in our Maintenance Team.

We have as many work placements as we canthroughout the year for both school pupilsand people seeking work. Dean and Rhys arepart of the shared apprenticeship schemecalled Cyfle (opportunity in Welsh) and spendtheir time between college and working in ourmaintenance team. They get great hands onexperience and really are treated as part ofthe team. In the coming months they’ll be outon site on our new build projects to give theman insight into how carpenters work in adifferent setting. Their team leader Kevin said:

“I’m delighted with how the boys aregetting on; both their confidence and skillsare developing day by day.”

Stories of four young menHere at Coastal we’ve got a lot going on that you maynot know about. We care about our tenants andcommunities and do what we can to support them. One thing we do is create training and employment

opportunities for local people. Every time we build a newhousing scheme or take on new maintenance contracts

we make sure our contractors provide training,apprenticeships and jobs for local people.

Journeysinto work


JonWe met Jon after a chance conversation he had with one ofour staff. Jon was being made redundant and feared hewouldn’t get another job as he hated interviews and couldnever put across what he was trying to say.

Jon has learning difficulties and had got his current job througha scheme run by Remploy which no longer operates.

We met with Jon to see if we could support him. His lack ofconfidence and nerves were obvious but through a few sessionsof simple interview preparations he started to gain confidence.

We were just starting a new build project in Swansea and knewthat the contractor would be taking on local people so we workedup to the interview date with Jon and even accompanied him tohelp calm his nerves.

Jon has now been in his new job for five months and we’re toldhe is an excellent employee. Jon enjoys his job and even thoughhe is still very shy in nature got through that all importantinterview.

If you want to know more about any opportunitiesthen call Clare Watkins on 01792 479221

“It reallyhelps bringthings tolife.”


Join HomeSwapper and they willautomatically match you to possibleexchanges and home swaps, nine outof ten members get home swap direct

matches in seconds.

If you want to move home, but have not been able to attend this event, you can still join HomeSwapper.When you join, they will AUTOMATICALLY MATCHyou to possible exchanges and home swaps.

9/10 members get home swap direct matches in seconds.

As a Coastal tenant this service is completely FREE for you to join. It will enable you to find properties fromHousing Associations and Councils across the UK, as well as more local exchanges in the Swansea, Neath and Port Talbot areas.

It only takes four simple steps to get started:

1. Log on to www.HomeSwapper.co.uk2. Enter your details and the type of home you want3. HomeSwapper matches you to likely home swaps4. You will receive an e mail or text with details of your

matches.

So if you are living in a home that is no longer right foryou - then register with HomeSwapper.

Need help getting on-line, or just want to find out moreabout HomeSwapper? Give us a call on 01792 479200 andwe will be happy to help you.

“Looking at

prospective

properties.”

“Number of peoplewilling to swap.”

“Able to register on

line with Coastal,

Gwalia, Family &

Housing Options.”

To put you in touch with other like minded tenants who are keen to swap a HomeSwapper ‘speedswapping’ event will be held on:

Thursday 10th April 2014 1pm - 6pm

at Coastal Housing 220 High Street

Swansea SA1 1NW

The event is in partnership with other local Social Housing Landlords

and Council.

A previous HomeSwapper event held in September,2013 was a great success. When we asked tenantswhat was the most useful part of the event for you?,they told us:


Universal Credit?

Universal Credit is the new benefit that will replace:

Income Based Job Seekers Allowance, Income Support,Housing Benefit, Income Based Employment Support Allowance,

Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit

For more information on Universal Credit go to www.yourbenefitsarechanging.co.ukThe UK Government is making changes to the amount of benefits some people receive and the way benefits are paid.This site keeps you up-to-date with all the changes that are taking place. You can also call one of their Your Benefits Are Changing Advice Team on 0300 303 1073 339

Are you ready for

Claim onlineIt is expected that most claims willneed to be made on-line.

Do you have access to the internet?

Do you know how to use the internet?

Do you have an email address?

If you don’t, call Nigel our Digital Co-ordinator on 01792 479274(meet Nigel on page 14)

Setting up a Credit Union accountIf you don’t have a bank account,think about setting up an accountwith a Credit Union.

A budgeting account will enable your bills to be paid directly and anymoney left is transferred onto a cardfor you to spend. You can use the cardor withdraw cash, safe in theknowledge that your bills have beentaken care of.

Coastal will pay your joining fees to set up a budgeting account withNeath Port Talbot Credit Union - call01639 632100.

Receiving your moneyUniversal Credit will be paid in onelarge monthly payment into a bank or building society or Post Officeaccount. You will then be responsiblefor making your own rent payments.

It is important that you are able tobudget for the month as you may beused to receiving payments at varioustimes throughout the month orweekly.

More advice on budgeting can be found on Money Matters onpage 22.

It is not expected that it will be introduced in the Swansea and NeathPort Talbot area before 2016, but you need to start getting ready now!

Louise Bolam, Support Services Manager, keeps you up-to-date with information about Universal Credit

What is Digital Inclusion? In a nut shell it is keeping tenants informed and engaged with the widercommunity and the rest of world, by using digital technology includingcomputers, tablets and smart phones to communicate with people andorganisations.

My role is to engage with our tenants, in Neath and Port Talbot under theumbrella of GET NEATH PORT TALBOT ONLINE project partly funded by theWelsh Assembly, and show them how to access the internet, set up an emailaccount and fill in online application forms.

I particularly target the tenants whom require internet access for welfare benefits, as Westminster and the Welsh Government have a long term aim for ALL claimants to make claims online.


Digital Inclusion...

Meet Nigel Lewis Coastal Housing’s Digital InclusionCo-Ordinator. We asked Nigel some questions aboutDigital Inclusion...

How much computer knowledge do I need?None whatsoever. Digital Inclusion is for all ages, irrespective of ability.

My example and one of my favourite customers is Gwladys, who is 90years old and had the courage to attend my Digital Training session atYsbryd Y Mor, Port Talbot.

Gwladys had no idea of what a computer looked like before comingalong. After a few sessions, starting with mouse motion movementtraining, Gwladys is now surfing on the internet! She is keen to book acruise for herself, so I showed her on the internet to search for cruises, toget the best prices. Gwladys also has a passion for history, and wanted toknow more about the first world war. Again she researched this on theinternet herself. She is still a novice, but after a few sessions she is nowconfident enough to turn on the computer herself and is away on theinternet herself before I look around to ask her how she is doing!

Gwladys has said she’s had a new lease of life since, and really looksforward to coming to the classes each week.


What are the benefits?Tenants can benefit by accessing online information, from help withfilling in online welfare benefit forms; finding out about hobbies;researching their family history; saving money by shopping on-line;improving education, life chances, employment and skills; talking to longdistance family and friends.

I think of the internet as accessing all the libraries in the world at once.

One tenant I trained saved £50.00 by shopping on-line for a television.Another accesses his Job Club on the internet and saves his CV on-line forpotential employers to see.

Do I need a computer to join?No. When I am working with a local community, I don’t need an IT suite,just a basic empty room to fit in at least four or five people. If there is noequipment, I come fully loaded with the IT equipment to carry out thetraining.

If you are interested in finding out more, or would like Nigel to hold a session in yourlocal community, please call: 01792 479274, or email: [email protected] @nigel_coastal.


TownhillTownhill is one of the oldest and biggesthousing estates in Wales. It is located justoutside Swansea and has a fabulous locationwith great views of Swansea City Centre,Swansea Bay and Swansea Docks.

Designed as part of the ‘GardenCity Movement’ in the early20th Century when in 1912schemes were put forward forthe construction of 500 houses

in the area. The outbreak of WWI meantthat only six houses were completed - stillstanding today in Islwyn Road. The area ofTownhill as we know it today being built upin the 1940s and 1950s.

111HOMES

Townhill and Coastal Housing Facts:

80FLATS

31HOUSES

OUR FIRST NEW BUILDSCHEME IN TOWNHILLWAS TOWER COURT -

COMPLETED IN JUNE 1993

TOWER COURT COMESOF AGE IN JUNE 2014

WITH 4 OF THEORIGINAL TENANTSSTILL LIVING THERE

Out & About...

Swansea

“Townhill has a very strongcommunity spirit and is a Communities First area.

Neighbours are always happyto lend a hand to each other.”


Community SpiritTownhill has a very strong community spirit and is aCommunities First area, neighbours are always happy tolend a hand to each other. Tower Court, one of our over55s development, is an excellent example of this whereresidents regularly meet up in the communal lounge forcoffee and a chat, bingo is held weekly, fish and chipsuppers, quizzes and many other group activities arearranged by the residents themselves.

GardensMany residents in Townhill are keen gardeners and weregularly have entries into our garden competitionwhere beautiful plants and vegetables have beengrown and prizes awarded.

Meet Nicola, Area Housing Manager Area Housing Manager Nicola Gibbons holds a monthlysurgery for all residents of Townhill on the first Mondayof each month in Tower Court communal lounge. Thisgives all the residents of Townhill and the surroundingarea a chance to speak to Nicola about any tenancyissues that they may be facing or any ideas which theywant to put forward.

Gordon the Caretaker RetiresGordon Morgan, Caretaker, maintained all ofTownhill’s properties and gardens to an exceptionalstandard. Well known to all of the residents ofTownhill and always happy to help. Sadly forCoastal Housing Group, Gordon retires in April2014. He will be sorely missed by tenants andcolleagues. A massive THANK YOU GORDON forall your hard work.

If you would like to live in Townhill, call us on 01792 479200.

Tower Ball RoomThe Tower Ball Room was a much-loved and iconicbuilding which was a centre point in Townhill. There aretales of the Tower Cinemas during the 1941 Blitz and its1958 revamp when it became one of the most glamorousballrooms in Wales with a sprung dance floor ‘similar tothat of the Dorchester Hotel’. From the early 1960s the rockbands gradually changed the scene with jivers, boppersand rockers hitting the dance floor. Sadly the Ballroomburned down in 1993 but the memories still remain withmany residents in Townhill who remember many Saturdaynights enjoyed there.

Local FacilitiesTownhill has many facilities that are all well used andwhich include an excellent library within the PhoenixCommunity Centre which also has a community café, anursery, conference rooms, all weather floodlit sports pitchand playground. There are many local shops which are ineasy walking distance and a local Post Office. Townhill hasexcellent schools and the west of Townhill is home to oneof the Swansea Metropolitan University campus wherearound 6,000 students study many who are from theSwansea bay area.


Britain’s volunteers carry outa huge range of activitieswhether that be through a

group, club or as an individual.People volunteer for many numberof reasons. Coastal tenant MurielBirmingham decided to volunteerfor the Stroke Association after

losing her husband. Muriel and her husband had receiveda lot of support and care following his stroke and Murielfelt that she wanted to give something back, whilst alsogiving her something worthwhile to do.

Muriel attends Hazel Court for two hours every week,sitting with people who have suffered a stroke and helpingthem to regain the ability to talk and write again. She saysthat she has learnt a lot about the causes of strokesthrough the training that she and other volunteers havereceived. It has also been an opportunity for her to meet a lot of new friends.

Information for volunteering with the Stroke Association is available through Gorseinon Hospital.

Storiesto Inspire You

As well as being rewarding, volunteering can also opendoors to finding employment in areas of work that youmay not have otherwise considered.

If you are between 18-25 years of age and interested in volunteering check out www.volunteerics.org

Alternatively, if you think that you could give some of your time to offer a befriending servicewww.royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk

STORY ONE...The Volunteer – Muriel

“As well as beingrewarding, volunteeringcan also open doors tofinding employment inareas of work that youmay not have otherwise

considered.”


Volunteering orspending unpaidtime doingsomething for thebenefit of othershas been receivingGovernmentsupport for thepast twenty yearsand is viewed asan essential act ofcitizenship.

Ever thought of a good idea or thought you coulddo something better than someone else? Tenants,Jayne and Coenrad are ex-pats from South Africa

and missed certain foods that were not available inBritain. This gave them the idea of filling the gap inthe market and setting up their own business.

They went to their local Jobcentre with the idea andwere put in touch with Business Connect. They were allocated a BusinessAdvisor who gave them all the help and guidance they needed to start up theirbusiness and were able to access a grant and assistance from the local authorityas well as a low cost start up loan through Business Connect.

They have just completed their first year in business and Jayne said that theyhave learnt a lot and have adapted their business through the lessons learnt.Jayne advises anyone contemplating starting up their own business should not to be surprised if the first year’s business plan or anticipated earningstargets are not achieved. Instead, use the experience as a learning curve toprogress the business.

Their original idea of Hampers filled with products from specific parts of theworld has developed into a gift basket business for any special occasion frombirthdays and anniversaries to wedding and new baby celebrations. They alsomake bespoke baskets and have expanded their range to 120 gifts and baskets.Gifts start at £6.50 and gift baskets from £20.

If you are interested in their products find them atwww.worldofhampers.co.uk or the World of Hampers on Facebook.

STORY TWO...The Entrepreneurs – Jayne and Coenrad

SOME OF OUR MOST USEFUL TOOLS: Power drill, laser measurer, tape measure, screwdriver, hands, Stanley knife, hammer, knowledge, multi-tool, a hair slide and the all essential hair straighteners!


SpotlightMaintenance

in the

Meet Coastal’s Maintenance department. There’s the Repairs team, the Schedulers, Administrators,Surveyors, Inspectors, and Planned Maintenance- 26 members in total.

They offer a fast, professional and friendly service when it comes tocarrying out repairs. From fixing windows and toilets to installingnew kitchens and bathrooms, we are Jack of all trades! Wemustn’t forget those behind the scenes who make sure everything runs smoothly,ensuring your appointments are kept and organising your annual Gas Safety

checks. Without these honest, hard working, stubborn, friendly, witty, multifaceted, creative,crazy, considerate, experienced, innovative, normal, perfectionist, laid back, quiet (really?!),tall and short people, your homes just wouldn’t be the same! This lot are all vital inmaintaining the high standards of Coastal’s properties.

Here are some of the best bits about working in Maintenance - the friends we’ve made, thegreat teams we’re lucky to be part of, the people we meet, the variety, payday, spreadsheetsand database queries, resolving tenant’s maintenance issues and working with Matthew!

WE’RE A TALENTED BUNCH...With many hidden talents among us – we’ve a rally co-driver, a violinist, superb cooks, a singer, an arm wrestling

pro, a black belt In taekwondo, a man of many accents, a horse rider, an expert at walking handstands and one with an unusual party trick!

IN OUR LUNCH BOXES, YOU WILL FIND SANDWICHES OF ALL KINDS:

THE PERFECT NIGHT IN FRONTOF THE TV WE WOULD WATCH:

Mrs Brown’s Boys, The Wire, Breaking Bad,Eastenders, Sex and the City, Top Gear,Celebrity Big Brother and MOTD.

Plus some good old classics including Red Dwarf, Last of the Summer Wine, Dads Army and Only Fools & Horses!


We’re 50/50 whenit comes to lovingrugby v football.

You’d be far morelikely to find us in the pub than in the gym!

Our most commonbad habit is biting

our nails!

5ft - 6ft 3”

7.5Our average foot size is

Between us...

- Our height ranges from

1014 yearsof life experience

Collectively we have

WE’VE MET AN INTERESTING ARRAY OF FAMOUS FACES:

From Prince Charles, Ioan Gruffudd, Richard Wilson, Gareth Edwards, Jeremy Austin, Phil Bennett, Anthony Hopkins,

Katie Price, Roy Keane, Ayrton Senna, Stevie Wonder, Kevin Bacon, Jimmy Carr, Jimmy White, Nicky Butt,

Shirley Bassey and The Queen!


If you are struggling to pay off debts or have money worries that younever seem to get rid of, then you would probably benefit from gettingsome proper debt and money advice. There are a number of good, free,services where you can seek advice over the phone, in person or on-line.

MoneyMatters

Shelter Cymruwww.sheltercymru.org.ukShelter Cymru is the people and homes charity in Wales.Experts on housing and debt problems and providing freeand specialist advice to people who need their help.

Free Debt Advice - 01792 469 400Advice & Support - 0845 075 5005Email: [email protected]

Help with - housing arrears, rent arrears, gas, water andelectric bills, bailiffs, court fines and Council Tax arrears.They hold advice surgeries at venues in Swansea,Pontardawe, Neath and Port Talbot. To find out where and when visit their website or give them a call.

National Debt Line www.nationaldebtline.co.ukTel: 0808 808 4000 Provides free and confidential advice on how to deal with your debt problems. They can provide information packs on personal budgeting, sample letters to write to creditors, fact sheets and guides on different subjects related to debt.

Debt Panic Buttonwww.debtpanicswansea.org.ukDebt Panic Button is a partnership led by Swansea Councilas they were worried that people did not know where to gofor genuine, free debt help. The Debt Panic Button won’tdestroy your debts, but it will help you to take control andget some proper free support.

Money Advice Servicewww.moneyadviceservice.org.ukTel: 0300 500 5000Money Advice Service helps people manage their moneythrough their own free and impartial advice service. Set upby the Government, they offer an independent service.Sign up for their free online newsletter.


Citizenship Awarded to Christopher Edwards for

‘Outstanding Contribution & Dedication to the Community’

In the Autumn of

2013, Coastal Hou

sing Tenant, Chris

topher

Edwards was pres

ented with a ‘Citi

zenship Award’ by

Neath

Town Mayoress, K

aren Fisher. Chris,

from Blaengwynf

i in

Port Talbot, but n

ow living in Neath

Town Centre, has

worked tirelessly

helping others in t

he voluntary secto

r in

Neath as well as w

orking with the So

uth Wales Police a

nd

their Learning Di

sability Strategy. C

hris is a long stan

ding

member of All Wa

les People 1st and

represents them i

n

forums, travelling

all over Wales in

dependently. Chris

is also

on the board of m

anagement repres

enting tenants lik

e

himself in Comm

unity Lives Conso

rtium.

Charity at CoastalHere at Coastal we like to do our bit to give back

to our local community. So throughout 2013Coastal staff took part in many fundraising events

in the office and raised £1,900 for local charities –

Alzheimers Society, Llys Nini, Singleton Hospital

Chemotherapy Unit and Ty Olwen.

Supported People

In addition, our Tenancy Support team and Learning Disabilities team support those residents underthe age of 55. We also engage with several Managing Partners to provide residents with a variety ofservices. You may already know that part of this service is funded by ‘Supporting People.’

Supporting People is a government programme for funding, planning and monitoring housingrelated support services. Its aim is to improve the quality and effectiveness of the support services at a local level.

Ideally, in the first instance, Coastal would like you to make any comments, compliments orcomplaints regarding the service to managers within the Supported Housing team in order for us torespond to problems as quickly as possible. However, you can also contact your local SupportingPeople team if you feel that we haven't adequately dealt with your issue.

Our Supported Housing section provides support to a number ofour tenants through our Solutions, Independent Living and ExtraCare teams to those aged 55 and over.

SwanseaSupporting People Team17 - 19 High Street, Swansea SA1 1LFTelephone: 01792 533700Fax : 01792 533704Email: [email protected]

Neath Port TalbotSupporting People TeamFirst Floor, Civic Centre, Neath SA11 3QZTelephone: (01639) 685209Email: [email protected]


RecoveryThe Road to

June, originally from Kent, had a very traumaticand abusive childhood and she started drinkingheavily when she was just 18 years old.

June’s story of how she turned her life around - from street drinker to community volunteer


In 1995 June moved to Wales to livewith her partner who was originallyfrom Wales. Their relationship brokedown and she was told to leave.June secured a Council flat but was

attacked by her ex-partner’s friends. Shefled to a refuge in Cardiff and after awhile, she was offered a Council flat inSwansea.

June lost her Council tenancy through thebehaviour of street drinkers in her flat,and in 2008, June found herself homelessagain and living on the streets. June hadtemporary accommodation with helpfrom the Shoreline Project and CyreniansCymru but she kept getting evicted as herdrinking was out of control.

“I used to getarrested a lot andspend nights in aprison cell. I didn’tlike my lifestyle, Iwas having fits

because of the drinkbut I wanted to

change.”

The Ebenezer Baptist Church asked people living on the streetsto come to church and June started attending regularly, and on5th May 2010, June was taken into a rehabilitation unit by aChristian Charity.

“It was the first time that I stopped drinking in a verylong time. I couldn’t do it on

my own.”

After 10 months, June left rehab and secured temporaryaccommodation with The Wallich at the Gorwelion Project.This project specialises in supporting people with complexneeds and substance misuse issues.

“I liked it there. There was always someone to talk to if I hadany problems. Nigel was my support worker and he helped me set up direct debits, pay bills and open a bank account.Sue was there to support me when my mum and grandsonpassed away.“

When June was ready to live independently, Coastal offeredher a permanent home in February 2013.

“I love my flat. It’s really cosy. I get on with the neighbours.It’s in the city centre but it’s quiet.”

June has completed training and counselling courses and she’sa regular volunteer for organisations such as The Wallich andCyrenians Cymru helping with the soup runs for homelesspeople. She also helps to look after people with dementia at Ty Conway Day Centre and gives talks to the recruits at SouthWales Police about street drinking.

“I have not drunk a drop of alcohol since 5th May 2010. Thefits and shakes have stopped but I have a lot of memory losswhich makes me struggle with everyday tasks. I feel goodabout my life now. I’ve helped other drinkers and I would liketo be a proper support worker. Most of my street drinkingfriends did not make it but I’m a survivor.”

Coastal Housing Group works in partnership with The Wallich toprovide accommodation and support to vulnerable people. TheWallich is a charity who has been working with the homeless forover 30 years. They specialise in providing services for people withcomplex needs and people who, because of their high supportneeds, are often banned or excluded from other services and havedifficulty in accessing any other accommodation.

The Wallich have a number of projects in Swansea such asGorwelion and Shoreline, where they provide temporary andpermanent accommodation for those who are addressing issuessuch as alcohol and substance misuse. They support individuals indeveloping life skills and to re-establish themselves in thecommunity.

To find out more, visit their website: www.thewallich.com


You Said...We are always out and about talking totenants, finding out what they are up toon their schemes and just generally finding out different ways to connect and communicate.

We had some Halloween parties which werespooky, scary and full of laughter with tenantsfrom Llys y Felin, Gerddi Alexander & WeaversMill. Children of Harrington Street and Cwm Roadhad a Hair raising time at Waun Wen CommunityCentre that was decked out like a Ghostly Grotto.In Ynys Lee children enjoyed activities as they cutout pumpkins; made some creepy masks and wenton a ‘halloween hunt’.

There were Christmas get togethers at HarbourQuay, Birchgrove Road, Ivy Bush Court, Clos CoedNant & Llysyfelin. Children got up close andpersonal with reindeer when they paid a visit toYnys Lee and when the families of HarringtonStreet and Cwm Road went to visit them at FollyFarm.

The Social Circle for tenants over 55 have beenbusy with their monthly coffee mornings in Neathand Swansea; attending their Annual Christmasdinner at the Aberavon Beach Hotel; enjoying anafternoon at the Pantomime “oh yes they did...”

We’ve been out talking totenants at schemes and onestates by holding regularopen surgeries with AreaHousing Managers atTower Court, Waunceirchand Hanover Parklands.

Our digital inclusion ITcourses have been reallytaking off as weencourage tenants to geton-line and get ready forthe changes which willcome in Universal Credit.

Meeting tenants at our local

housing surgeries...

Digital Inclusion...

Having fun...


We do this by looking at the ‘demand’ coming infrom customers, finding out what matters to thecustomer and then adjusting our way of doingthings so it reflects what people want from us.

Recently we have been looking at how we dealwith requests for Adaptations; how we collect andmanage rent; how people can access our housingregister. In all of these reviews we gained tenantopinion, by asking what it felt like to be on thereceiving end of our services. When we takedemand we look at the type of things we arebeing asked - for example in the rent review wenoted that we are always asked “How much rentdo I owe”. It would be much easier if they couldfind out themselves by going on - line, so in thenear future we will have a facility via our website that will allow tenants to find thisinformation out for themselves.

We surveyed tenants at CwmRoad to find out what it’s liketo live there. Tenants told usthey were either satisfied orvery satisfied when we askedthem what they thought aboutthe upkeep of the grounds,general cleanliness and howmuch they liked living there.Comments included “I amhappy here”. “I like living in Cwm Road”.

We did...

Reviewing how we dothings to make them

better for the customer...

Tenant Survey...

Our maintenancedepartment are now ableto offer tenantsmoving intoproperties that need tobe redecorated, a paintpack so that they canchoose the colourscheme for their newhome.

Paint Packs...


Bike!

We want you to get on your bike and get active with the aim of settingup small cycling groups within your communities in Swansea, Neathand Port Talbot. There’s no need for lycra or an expensive bike withmega gears, all you need is a basic bike, a water bottle and awaterproof jacket... just in case!

With the recent British success at the Tour De France and the Olympics more andmore people have been inspired to give cycling a go. The ever increasing cost ofrunning a car, along with all new roads having to include a cycle lane, cycling, as a mode of transport, is now a real option.

Cycling is not only a cheap way to get about from A to B, but it can also be a verysociable activity with health benefits! With so many off-road cycle routes in SouthWales it is also a great way to explore the miles of beautiful forests, historic canalsand coastal paths we are very lucky to have nearby.

It’s easy to take part, just contact Janet Gange, our Community Inclusion Manager,by email [email protected] or by telephone on 01792 479259

Follow us on Facebook for updates about the ‘Get on your Bike’ campaign.

We are teaming up with Bike Ability Wales andWheelright to run a number of cycling events,

starting this spring.

On Your

For more information about cycling in your area visit:www.bikeabilitywales.org.uk www.wheelrights.org.uk www.sustrans.org.uk

By raising your heartrate through exercisejust five times a weekmeans that you are50% less likely tosuffer from stroke,

heart disease or type-two diabetes.

Did you know?

Most of the cycle routes,particularly around theNeath & Port Talbot

valley areas are old coalrailway lines.

By cycling to work youcould reduce your carbonfootprint by around 1.8tonnes per year and helpreduce global warming


Our boss on his bikeOur outgoing Chief Executive, Tim Blanch, is a cycling enthusiast and cycles almost everyday. He often parks his car just outside Swansea and cycled into work to avoid the queuesof getting into the city and the hassle of finding a parking space.

Tim is also a volunteer ranger for Sustrans covering a seven mile section of the NationalCycle Network, which runs between London and Fishguard. His duties involve riding hisroute every couple of weeks, checking that signs are still in place and watching out forobstacles along the way e.g. fallen branches and brambles.

We’re giving away 10 Essential Cycling Packs

For you chance to win just answer this question:

By cycling to work every day, you can reduce yourcarbon footprint by how many tonnes each year?

A) 1.5 tonnes B) 1.8 tonnes C) 2.1 tonnes

“Cycling is a verysociableactivity

with healthbenefits.”

Please send your answer, alongwith your name, address &telephone number to:

Freepost Plus RSXA-CJHX-XUXE,Coastal Housing Group, 3rd Floor, 220 High Street,Swansea, SA1 1NW

or by email to:[email protected] Closing Date: 30th April 2014Only one entry per household

CompetitionWIN


Ingredients:2 large boneless skinless chickenbreasts, cubed

2 tablespoons of olive oil2 tablespoons of balsamicvinaigrette salad dressing

1 bunch of fresh spinach, rinsed and dried

1 pint of strawberries, sliced4 ounces crumbled goat cheese1 (5 ounce) pecanHandful of fresh mint

Spring Fresh

HerbsSpringtime soil bringsforth fresh, leafy herbslike dill, chives, parsleyand mint. Handfuls ofthese, together withspinach, lettuce, and

freshly shelled peas makethe perfect side salad for

some of the otherwinners of the season,such as lamb and

seafood.

For the

Love offood

Spring StrawberrySalad with ChickenServes: 8

Method:1. Place the chicken breast meat into a skillet

with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and twotablespoons of balsamic vinaigrette overmedium heat; cook and stir until the chickenis browned, no longer pink in the centre, andthe juice has nearly evaporated, about 10minutes. Remove the chicken to a bowl andlet cool.

2. Place the spinach into a salad bowl; scatterthe strawberries, goat cheese, and candiedpecans over the spinach. Drizzle twotablespoons of olive oil and two tablespoonsof balsamic vinaigrette over the salad andtop with the chicken. Serve slightly warm orchilled.

StrawberriesStrawberries are low fat,low calorie; high invitamin C, fibre, folicacid, potassium. Theyare the first fruit to

ripen in the spring andthe only fruit with seeds

on the outside.


Ingredients:150g fresh blackberries125g unsalted butter, softened175g caster sugar½ teaspoon vanilla extract2 medium free-range eggs100ml buttermilk200g self-raising flour1½ tablespoons Demerara sugar,

for sprinkling

Method:1. Heat your oven to 180c/350F/gas4.

Gently wipe the blackberries clean with kitchen paper –only rinse them if they look very dirty, thenthoroughly drain and pat dry.

2. Put the soft butter into a mixing bowl and beat withan electric mixer until creamy. Gradually beat inthe caster sugar. Once all the sugar has been added,scrape down the sides of the bowl, then add thevanilla and beat for a couple of minutes longer untilthe mixture looks paler and fluffy. Scrape down thesides of the bowl again.

3. Beat the eggs in a small bowl with a fork, just to mix,then gradually add to the butter mixture, beating well aftereach addition and scraping down the sides of the bowl from timeto time as before. Add about a third of the buttermilk and gently fold in with a plastic spatula or large metal spoon, then fold in about a third of the flour. Fold the rest of the buttermilk and flour in the same way, in two batches each.

4. Scrape the mixture into the prepared tin and spread evenly. Scatter the berries over the top and gently press them into the mixture so they are about half-submerged.Sprinkle evenly with the Demerara sugar. Place in the heated oven and bake for 35 - 40 minutes until golden and a skewer inserted into the centre of the sponge comes out clean.

5. Set the tin on a wire rack. Run a round-bladed knife around the sponge to loosen itfrom the tin, then gently unclip the tin side and remove the cake. Leave it to cool a bit.

Blackberries:Blackberries contain a good amount ofminerals such as

potassium, manganese,copper, andmagnesium.

Blackberries contain Copper

which is required inthe bone metabolism

as well as inproduction of white and red blood cells.

Blackberry Buttermilk SpongeMakes one thin 9-inch cake, serve up to 6 people

SpinachSpinach grows best incool, moist conditions.Regular consumption offresh, organic spinachjuice has been shown toimprove skin health

dramatically.

Feta CheeseFeta is one of the

world’s oldest cheeses.By Greek law, feta iscured at least threemonths in brine.

Butter MilkButtermilk is low in fatand calories. It containsgood bacteria calledLactic Acid Bacteria’(LAB) that help in

improving the generalimmunity of the body.

MintMint provides a coolingsensation to the skinhelping to treat minor

burns and skinirritations due to itsanti-inflammatoryproperties and it canease and unblock the

breathing andrespiratory passages as

well as relieveheadaches.

Win a Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood Cook Book.

Send your name and address to:Freepost Plus RSXA-CJHX-XUXE, Coastal Housing Group, 3rd Floor, 220 High Street, Swansea, SA1 1NW or by email to: [email protected] Closing Date: 30th April 2014. Only one entry per household

Free Prize DrawWIN


Home Styleon a Budget

Coastal’s Customer Service Manager, Kirsty Walton,follows on from her upcycling advice, and tells uswhat she has achieved on a small budget.

Transform an old garmentUnpick all the main seams of the garment and lay it flat on the floor. Usingyour cushion as a template, add an additional two inches and cut out two largesquares from your material. Then simply sew around three of the edges(making sure your cushion cover pieces are placed the correct way for turningout later) and leave the other for the opening. If confident add a zip to the lastopening, or thread ribbon, or sew buttons for fasteners. Here we used an oldjumper, but you could use a t-shirt, sweater or even a denim skirt.

Re-invent your favourite quote! For around a £1 you can pick up a variety of foam letters and with their stickybacking they can be attached to a canvas, an old picture frame and wood etc,which when painted transforms the whole look – be warned though craft likethis can become addictive!

Just happens to be lying around Shells and pieces of driftwood were collected from Swansea beach (take it fromus it’s one of the best beach sources for driftwood) and left to dry outcompletely. Using a glue gun they can then be used to create your own designs.Here, we created a frame around a piece of mirrored glass (you could applydirectly to an existing frame), and the shells to create the heart were applieddirectly on to glass.


TOP APPS

Camera+ This app is fast and easy to use with loads of features that allow youto add effects, edit and enhance your pictures. It even allows you toset focus and exposure separately. So many features, it’s definitelyworth having in your tool bag!

Flipagram A cool free app where you can take multiple photos from yourcamera roll and set them to music of your own choice. Editingallows you to re-order and re-size, leaving you with a greatslideshow that you can post to Instagram or Facebook, or simply use for your own viewing pleasure.

OverWant to express your thoughts with your photos? Over lets you addtext, banners, clipart, logo’s and icons with customised fonts forpractically every occasion. A fantastic idea that turns your photo’sin to stories.

The best experiencesWe thought for this editionwe would research some ofthe best photo apps currentlybeing used to allow you to getthe best experience from yoursmart phone and achievesome amazing photo shots.

Join in the conversation…Tweet us @coastalhousingFollow us on Facebook

Photographs WantedDo you take photographs of what you see around you every day?ARE YOU A SNAPPY SNAPPER? AN INSTAGRAM ADDICT? A COMMITTED PHOTOGRAPHER?

We want you to send us your photographs and show us whatyou have been up to. We’ll then use the shots to publish on oursocial media sites, use in our publications, put up on our website. Any shots that are published we’ll send you some vouchersas a thank you. Entries to reach us by 30th April 2014.

Send us your photos in any format to:email: [email protected] by post: Freepost Plus RSXA-CJHX-XUXE, Coastal Housing Group, 3rd Floor, 220 High Street, Swansea, SA1 1NW

PHOTOGRAPHS C

OURTESY

OF M

IKE D

AVIES O

F RHODFA BEVA

N, NEATH


SummerGet Your Garden Ready for

If you want a great garden this Summer,whatever its size, it’s never too soon tostart the ground work.

Clean Up Your PatchGive your garden and your pots a good weeding so the weeds don’t flower and go to seed.Weeding is a job that needs doing constantly - little and often is better. Clean up all theleaves and debris from the winter and get rid of any dead plants. Generally dig/rake overthe patch, replace any compost and clean up any edging and paving stones, etc.

Mix in Some FertiliserOrganic fertilisers are the best, but anything that will give your plants the best chance willdo. The soil will probably have become compacted over the winter months, so loosening itup and then digging in the fertiliser before you plant. Plants like well-aerated soil, sodigging it over will help.

Add some ColourThink about the colour scheme you want to see in your garden. Do you want coolblues, blushing pinks, fiery reds or just a riot of colour?Drawing up a plan of what you want in the gardenbefore you start planting will makes you consideryour plant mix. You may also want to think aboutwhich plants will attract bees and butterfliessuch as marigold, sweet William, cornflowerand Buddleia.

Grow a Herb BedHerbs look and smellgreat, are easy to growand of course are good foryou. Nothing adds to thetaste of summer salads, than theaddition of freshly cut herbs.Herbs will happily grow in potsor plant them in your borders.Herbs which like a sunny spotinclude rosemary, sage, thymeand lavender. More suited toshady and moist areas areparsley, mint and chives.

All garden photos were taken in tenant gardensin 2012 and 2013. We’ll be out and about duringthe summer looking at your gardens andrunning some competitions - like who can growthe tallest Sunflower. Send us your photographsof your glorious garden.

There is alwayslots going on inand aroundSwansea, Neathand Port Talbotthroughout theyear, so here’sjust a littletaster of what’staking placefrom Marchuntil the endof May.

For more information on things to do in Swansea visit:www.swanseabayfestival.co.uk or call the Tourist Information

Centre on 01792 468321.

For more events taking place in Neath Port Talbot visit:www.visitnpt.co.uk or call the Tourist Information Centre

on 01639 636674.

What’s on

in your Area

MARCH18 - 22 M

arch Clwyd Theatr Cym

ru presents Under

Milk Wood,

Swansea Grand T

heatre

23 MarchSports Re

lief Mile, Blackpill Lido,

Swansea / Aberav

on

Pier, Port Talbot

23 MarchMutt Strutt

, Gnoll Country P

ark

29 MarchDavid Va

ughan Lewis prese

nts: A Celebration

of Song,

The Gwyn Hall

30 MarchMothering

Sunday Lunch in

the Castle, Margam Castle

30 MarchOnly Boy

s Aloud, National

Waterfront Museum

APRIL2 April

Talk: The Ruins of

Neath Abbey By

Mr John Richards,

Glynneath Trainin

g Centre

12 AprilClass Act

Theatre School p

resents Cats The M

usical,

Pontardawe Arts C

entre

15 - 17 April Animal Antics,

Plantasia

17 AprilThe Com

edy Club Network

, The Princess Roya

l Theatre

19 AprilDungeon

s and Dragons Da

y, Oystermouth Cas

tle

20 AprilGuided T

our - Dylan’s Swa

nsea , Dylan Thom

as Centre

26 April Gorseino

n Food Festival, C

anolfan Gorseinon

Centre

MAY 1 - 31 M

ay Clyne in Bloom, Clyne G

ardens

3 MayCraft Fai

r, Neath Community Ha

ll

6 & 20 May Swansea

Bay 5K Races, Sw

ansea Prom

15 MayAmser Jazz T

ime Presents: The Or

ient House Ensem

ble,

The Gwyn Hall

17 & 31 May Dylan Th

omas Return Journey,

National Waterfront

Museum - Cwmdonkin Park

27 MayVintage C

ar Fayre and Funf

air, Singleton Park


Readership SurveyPlease spare a few minutes to answer these questions. Your views areimportant to us and your feedback will help us improve our magazine.

1. Do you regularly read 220 magazine? q Yes q NoIf no, please explain why:

2. What do you like about the magazine?

3. Is there anything you don’t like?

4. Is there anything else you would like to read about or see more of in themagazine?

5. Do you have access to the internet? q Yes q No If yes...

i. Would you prefer to have the magazine sent to you via email? q Yes q No

ii. Would you prefer to read the magazine online? q Yes q No

iii.Where do you access the internet from? q Home q Work q Friend/relative’s house q Library q Other

iv. How do you access the internet?q Computer q Tablet/iPad q Smart phone/Mobile phone q Smart TV q Other

v. Do you use any social media?q Facebook q Twitter q Instagram q Pinterest q Youtube q Flickr q Other q Don’t use social media

6. Are you? q Male q Female

7. Age Group?q 18 – 25 q 26 – 35 q 36 – 45 q 46 – 55 q 56 – 65 q 66 +

Name:

Address:

Telephone: Email:

Win 1st Prize £50 Vouchers of your choice, 2nd Prize £25 Vouchers, 3rd Prize £15 vouchersIf you would like to be entered into a free prize draw for the chance to win please send your completed

to us along with your contact details:

Please return your survey to: Freepost Plus RSXA-CJHX-XUXE, Coastal Housing Group, 3rd Floor, 220 High Street, Swansea, SA1 1NW

Alternatively you can complete the survey online at: www.surveymonkey.com/s/YGK2LHGClosing Date 30th April 2014


Dave’s DilemmasI HATE MY KITCHEN!It’s in good condition but I’d like a more modern one. I don’treally like cooking but my sister has just had a new kitchenwhich looks lovely compared to mine. My parents gave meand my boyfriend some money when we got engaged and Iwant to spend it on new kitchen units but my boyfriend saidthat he’d rather we spent the money on a holiday as we’venever been away together.

QI’m glad you wrote in before going ahead as you need tomake sure that you ask Coastal’s permission before you

make such a big change to your home. Your Area Housing Manager willbe able to advise you on whether you can go ahead with theimprovement or not and you’ll need to fill in a form with the details ofwho is going to carry out the work. Your Area Housing Manager will alsoknow when your kitchen is due to be replaced so, before you make adecision, find out whether it is due to be replaced in the next few years.

How about a kitchen makeover with a funky new colour scheme rather thanchanging the units? Or check out Kirsty’s ‘Homestyle On A Budget’ ideas on page 32. Thatway you and your boyfriend may also be able to go away for a romantic weekend together. I wonder if your sister will have the same memories of her kitchen in years to come as you willhave of a trip with your boyfriend.

DAVE SAYS:

Dave The Sheep helps sort out your life

CompetitionsIn this edition we have five exciting competitions for you to enter:

Page 8 FREE PRIZE DRAWGeoff Phillips, Painter, Writer - Win Chocolates from Simple Confectionary

Page 28 COMPETITIONGet on your bike- Win 10 essential riding packs

Page 30 FREE PRIZE DRAWFood File- Win a Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood Cook Book

Page 36 FREE PRIZE DRAWReadership Survey- Win £50 Vouchers of your choice, £25 Vouchers, and £15 vouchers

Page 40 COMPETITIONSocial Circle- Win £20 gift voucher for Marks & Spencer

Vue Cinema Voucher winnerAndrea Sarsfield of Mount Pleasant, Swansea

Encyclopaedia of Genealogy winnerJean Sarsfield of Mount Pleasant, Swansea

Food Hand Blender winnersGlen Barnett of SA1, SwanseaJohn Davies of Swansea

Competition Winners


Insider information

Making a comment or complaintIf you have a problem with any of our services we’ll try our best to resolve itquickly and effectively. All complaints are logged and then passed on to therelevant person in the organisation to deal with it, who will become yournamed contact. You can also speak to the manager of the relevant teamabout your complaint.

If the problem is out of our control to fix, we will let you know. If you are notsatisfied with the outcome, then you can write to the Chairman of our Boardof Management, Mr Francis Jones, at our Swansea office address.

Public Services OmbudsmanThe Public Services Ombudsman for Wales will look into any complaint froma member of the public about the way they have been treated by a publicbody, including a housing association.

Public Services Ombudsman for Wales1 Old Field Road, Pencoed, Bridgend, CF35 5LJPhone: 0845 601 0987 Email: [email protected] www.ombudsman-wales.org.uk

HomeSwapperWho will you swap with?HomeSwapper is the biggest andbest home swapping service in theUK for social housing tenants. Everyyear the service successfully helpsthousands of people swap homesacross the UK. As a Coastal tenantthis service is completely FREE foryou to join, and allows you to findproperties from a variety of sociallandlords, as well as Coastal, givingyou a much better chance atfinding the swap you want. There isno limit to the number of refusalsyou make, and you can access thesite to explore your options at yourown leisure.

It only takes four simple steps to getstarted:1. Log on to:

www.homeswapper.co.uk 2. Enter your details and the type

of home you are looking for3. HomeSwapper automatically

matches you to potential homeswaps

4. They will email or text you thedetails of your matches for you to look at.

Address to Serve NoticeSection 48(1) of the Landlord and Tenant Act 10987 requires that we provideyou with an address at which notices may be served on Coastal HousingGroup Ltd, your Landlord.

Coastal Housing Group Ltd, 3rd Floor, 220 High Street, Swansea, SA1 1NW

Home Insurance for tenantsHome contents insurance may be the last thing on your mind, especiallywhen you have lots of other outgoings. But have you thought about how youwould replace all your furniture and other possessions if the worst happenedand you had a fire, flood or burglary?

My Home Contents insurance offers affordable contents cover forleaseholders and tenants. Call: 0845 337 2463

“HomeSwapper made atremendous difference toour lives. Following my hipreplacement operation itmeant that we could movestraight into our bungalow.”


If you smell gas: Call the NationalGas Emergency Lineon: 0800 111 999

Emergency RepairsWe provide an Emergency Repairsservice outside of our normal officehours – at evenings and weekends.

Emergency Repairs telephone: 0845 680 8888 (24-hour)

Emergencies are classed as:• A major leak• Total failure of electrics• Fire• Locking yourself out• Personal security• Sewage overflow• Complete failure of heating

system between 1 November and 1 May.

In an emergency we will visitwithin four hours and the repairwill be completed, or made safe,within 24-hours. If the call out isNOT an emergency or it’s yourown fault (e.g lost keys) then wewill charge you for the work.

For general repairs and enquiries:01792 479200 or contact CoastalHousing Group Ltd.

Free Gas Safety ChecksBy law, all gas boilers and gas fires in housing association properties need anannual safety check by a Gas Safe registered engineer. This will include:

• Annual servicing flue and ventilation check• Carbon monoxide check• Mains wired smoke alarms check.

You MUST allow the gas service engineers working for Coastal Housing intoyour home to do their work. If we try, and fail, to get access, we will takelegal action against you.

“Carbon Monoxide can KILL, make sure you get your FREE gas check”

Emergency repairs out-of-hours service

PayPoint: Use your Allpay card (up to a maximum of £124.99 in any singletransaction) anywhere you see the PayPoint sign.

Post Office: Pay by cash or cheque at any post office. Cheques should be madepayable to: Post Office Ltd

Debit or Credit Card: Call Allpay on: 0870 243 6040 or the 24hr service at:www.allpayments.net or pay via our website:www.coastalhousing.co.uk . Follow the link from ‘Tenant Services’to ‘Pay Rent’. You can also pay by Debit or Credit Card, but NOTcash, at any of our offices.

Direct Debit: Pay your rent weekly or calendar monthly in advance by directdebit. Please ask us for a direct debit form.

By Cheque payable to: Coastal Housing Group LtdWrite your name and address on the back, send to: CoastalHousing Group Ltd, 3rd Floor, 220 High Street, Swansea, SA1 1NW.Your area Housing Officer or Support Worker can check if you areclaiming all the benefits you are entitled to and also give free debtadvice, speak to them if you have trouble paying your rent.

Paying your rentYour rent and any service charges are due weekly in advance and arecharged to your account every Monday morning. YOU must make sure thatyour rent is paid on time. There are lots of easy ways to pay:

Coastal Housing contact details:Swansea Office: 3rd Floor, 220 High Street, Swansea, SA1 1NWNeath Office: 41-43 Windsor Road, Neath, SA11 1NHTelephone: 01792 479200, email: [email protected]

Out-of-hoursemergency officenumber: 0845 680 8888

Communal areasAs of March 2012 the Welsh Fire and Rescue Service Policy stated that nostorage or the charging of mobility scooters is permitted in communal areas.The rubber tyres on bikes are also hazardous in a fire so bikes cannot bestored in communal areas either. Coastal is responsible for your communalareas and it is important that all exits leading out are kept clear in case ofemergency. If you have any issues or questions about these guidelines or forall rules about communal areas please refer to your tenancy conditions oralternatively you can contact any one of our Housing Officers.


As a result of moving to a new venue we felt a change of name would be a great idea too!We want to bring your ‘Coffee Morning’ into the 21st century so we’re looking for namesto promote it in a fresh and vibrant style! Ideas we’ve had in the office so far have been‘Coastal Crew’, ‘Time ‘n’ Talk’ and ‘Catch-Up Cafe’, but we’d love you to come up withthe name instead. The winner will receive a £20 gift voucher for Marks & Spencer… so tobe in with a chance of winning put on your thinking caps and send us your ideas.

Send your entries to: Freepost Plus RSXA-CJHX-XUXE, Coastal Housing Group, 3rd Floor, 220 High Street, Swansea, SA1 1NW or by email to: [email protected] Closing Date: 30th April 2014. Only one entry per household

Competition WIN

Win £20 gift voucher for Marks & Spencer

CircleSocial

Coastal’s

Coffee Mornings are back!Due to popular demand your Swansea Coffee Morning for the over 55s has moved to Cafe Nisse, Wind Street. The Neath venue is still Cafe Espresso. Join us at either one of these venues any time between 10am and 12 noon on the following dates and there'll be a free cuppa and a friendly chat waiting for you.

Cafe Nisse 5th March, 2nd April, 7th May, 4th JuneCafe Espresso 6th March, 3rd April, 8th May, 5th June

Coffee mornings are just a small part of the social circle meetings for the over 55s. We arrange a wide variety of excursions which have included a Brecon Canal barge trip, race day at Ffos Las and avisit to Longleat Safari Park to name but a few! There’s something for everyone whether you fancy just one or all ofthem…the choice is yours! So if you’re interested in what we’ve got planned this year and you fancy joining ourmailing list then simply give us a ring on 01792 479266. Bookings are on a first come first served basis and arealways very popular so make sure you get in early to avoid disappointment.

220 Spring 2014 Edition

Documents

Transcript of 220 Spring 2014 Edition