The Key Spring 2014

KEY

5 / We list the areas whereproperties will be painted

15 / Why not try ourrecipe for Hot Cross Buns?

GOFYNNWCH OS YDYCH CHI'N EISAU FERSIWN GYMRAEG O'R CYHOEDDIAD YMA

THE

SPRING 2014 THE NEWSLETTER OF PEMBROKESHIRE HOUSING

Springtime!

16 / Customer Survey coming soon

Tenants’ Panel News

I hope thateveryonehad a veryhappyNew Yearand youare alllookingforward tosomemuch

needed Spring sunshine! There are lots of interesting

stories and information inside thisedition. Please let us know if you oryour local Tenants and ResidentsAssociation have any articles to goin the next newsletter. Contact yourArea Officer to let them know.

Robin Ashton, our new TenantInvolvement and CommunityInvestment Officer will be startingwork in March. Robin will besupporting our Tenants’ Panel, andour local Tenants and ResidentsGroups. She will also be; findingmoney for new projects, helpingpeople into employment, andhelping people to use the internet.

Sadly, this will be my last articlein The Key as my 12 month term asChair comes to an end at the MarchTenants’ Panel meeting.

I have really enjoyed my time asChair and hope to continue tovolunteer my time as a PanelMember.

My Vice Chair Maggie Kirby willbe Chairing the meetings as of Apriland I would like to say a huge thankyou to her for all her help andsupport over the last year and wishher a happy and successful 12months as Chair.

Many thanks also to HelenWright as Panel Secretary forkeeping us and our paperwork inorder!

There will now be a vacancy fora new Vice Chair, so if you wouldlike to nominate either yourself orsomeone else for the position,please come along to the Panelmeeting in March, even if you wouldjust like to see what we get up to!

Many thanks,Sue Rogers

2 / The Key Spring 2014

Welcome to your Spring Edition of The Key...

TENANTS’ PANEL MEETINGS ARE OPEN TO EVERY TENANT

Sue Rogers, Chair of Tenants’ Panel writes

HomeSwapper is free to all tenants of PembrokeshireHousing and is an easy-to-use and exciting new way tomove home.

You can swap homes with another tenant using HomeSwapper andbest of all it is absolutely FREE! HomeSwapper uses the details yousupply to automatically match you to other tenants who may have ahome that you’d like and who would also be interested in your home.

When HomeSwapper finds you a match you will be alerted by SMStext or email. You can then log onto HomeSwapper, look at the homeyou have been matched with and if you like the look of it you canarrange to visit it. You can use HomeSwapper straight away by loggingon to www.HomeSwapper.co.uk and registering to use the service.

HomeSwapper is part of the HomeSwap Direct agreement and meansyou will also be alerted to matches available to you on other sites.

Moving is nowmuch easier with...

Moving home?

The Key Spring 2014 / 3

Welcome to your Spring Edition of The Key...

TENANTS’ PANEL MEETINGS ARE OPEN TO EVERY TENANT

Our Tenants’ Panel joinedup with tenants fromPembrokeshire CountyCouncil and Cantref for the2013 Feedback Feast at theNant Y Ffin in December.

Tenants were consulted on thenext joint local tenant participationstrategy, the joint ‘Your Home –Your Say’ leaflet and the ChoiceHomes @ Pembrokeshireapplication form and gave their ideas on joint training and study visits forthe year ahead. The day ended with a delicious Christmas lunch that wasenjoyed by all.

Tenants’ Panel meets up with other tenants

Help with your money


Has your housing benefit been reducedbecause you have a ‘spare’ bedroom?

So far, we have successfully helped 70 tenants toapply for a Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) tohelp them to pay the shortfall in their rent.

If you are affected by the Bedroom Tax andwould like to apply for a DHP, please contact ourBenefits and Money Advisors for assistanceon: 0800 854568 or 01437 763688 or e-mail [email protected]

After calling CAP a Debt Coach and SupportWorker will visit you in your own home. Theywill help you prioritise bills and negotiateaffordable debt repayments.

To book an appointment please phone their client enquiries team free on0800 328 0006 or if using a mobile 01274 760 839 may be cheaper. CAP willhelp anyone regardless of their religious beliefs.

Money Management coursesChristians Against Poverty are also running money management courses attheir centre at Marine House, Nantucket Avenue, Milford Haven SA73 2BE onFriday 21st March and Friday 28th March from 12.00pm to 2.30pm. If you would like to book a place, please go to www.capuk.org and enter yourpostcode. For further info about the course please visit www.capmoney.org

Are you affected by the Bedroom Tax?If so, like 70 other tenants, you might be ableto apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment

Weighed down by debt?Christians Against Poverty can help

Cyclical painting programme


Properties in the areas below are to beincluded in the 2014 cyclical paintingprogramme which happens every six years

on a rolling programme. The programme willstart in April and will be completed around

November time, depending upon weather conditions.

Area 1Albion Court

Britannia DriveCambria House

Castle StreetElizabeth CourtFlemish CourtPembroke StreetPenfro PlaceRhiannon HouseCefn Maes, St ClearsLongstone, St FlorenceArea 2Jubilee GardensKnowling MeadNewell HillNorth Close

Park AvenueWinifred PlaceCromwell CourtFairfields, Strongbow WalkPowell CloseSouth RoadThe ParadeArea 3Barn StreetBarn CourtBeaumont CourtCefn Callod, TrefinFountain RowHazel Grove, Winch LaneMin Y LlanPortfield

Shoemaker CourtWesley WayGarfield GardensJohn Morgan CloseSt James StreetArea 4Ffynnon Wen,

St DavidsHeol Glyndwr, FishguardBrook AvenueCherry Tree CloseFort View, GelliswickHubberston CourtPreseli CourtRomily Reach, GelliswickWaterloo SquareArea 5Gordon Parry Road

We will visit the area before work begins to make sure any damage is put right andrepairs are done before painting begins.

The painting contractor will contact you a week before hand to offer you achoice of colours. (Choice might be limited if you live in a flat or a terraceproperty). Please think ahead and try to help our contractors by moving flower potsor other moveable items away from external walls before they arrive and startpainting.

You can contact your Area Officer or Customers Services Advisor is you haveany problems you want to discuss either before or during the painting programme.

Thank you for your co-operation.

Cyclical Painting Programme for 2014

Weighed down by debt?Christians Against Poverty can help


Rent and service charges

New rent policyrecently issuedby the WelshGovernmentand how it affects youPlease find enclosed withthe newsletter details ofyour revised rent andservice charges for2014/2015. Rents andservice charges will changewith effect from Monday 7thApril 2014.

The Welsh Government hasissued a new rents policy, whichwill apply to housing associationtenants throughout Wales fromApril 2014.

The new policy sets the overallamount of money the WelshGovernment expects each housingassociation to collect in rent,having regard to the local housingmarket, and wage levels in eachCounty.

Who is not included?Some of our homes are notincluded in this policy:

• Homes for Life HousingSchemes,

• Supported housing schemes

• Intermediate rent homes.

Overall rents will increase onaverage by around 4% in April.

Does Pembrokeshire Housinghave any discretion?Pembrokeshire Housing is able todecide what differences there willbe in rents between differenthomes, and what reasons are usedto make one rent higher or lowerthan another rent.


Rent and service charges

Was there any consultationwith customers?Just over a year ago, weconsulted our customers to helpus devise a new rent scheme, onwhat reasons should be used tomake one rent higher or lowerthan another rent.Customers told us that:

• the size of the home(number of bedrooms) was themost important reason to havea different rent,

• the type of home (flat,bungalow, house) was anotherreason to charge a differentrent,

• they did not think thelocation of the homeshould make a difference tothe rent.Our new rent scheme reflects

this customer feedback, withlower rents for smaller homesthan bigger homes, and lowerrents for flats, when compared tohouses, and bungalows of thesame size.

Where your existing rent isabove, or below, what it should beunder the new rent scheme, wewill make adjustments to your rentover the next few years.

Some people will see nochange in the rent; other peoplewill see a slightly larger rentincrease.

Our new rent scheme seeks tokeep intermediate rents below thelocal housing allowance.What about service charges?Service charges are paid forspecific services you receive.These charges are based on theactual cost of providing theservice. We have simplified andcombined some service chargesthis year.

Rent changes in April – a quick checklist• The letter enclosed with “The

Key” gives you the new rentand service charges.

• The Council will write to youif you receive housingbenefit, with details of anychanges.

• Do nothing if you pay bydirect debit; we will make thechanges and notify you.

• Tell your bank of the new rentif you pay by standing orderor bank giro credit please.

Ensuring a quality service


Our Quality Assurance Team iscurrently taking part in their firstpilot assessment.

They have done a bit of ‘mysteryshopping’ visiting other housing associationsto compare customer reception facilities withour own.

The Team will write a report based ontheir findings and make recommendations forimprovements with help from TPAS Cymru.

If you would like to get involved in thenext assessment and join our QualityAssurance Team then please get in touchwith Jane Robinson on 01437 763688 or0800 854568 … and find out more!

‘Mystery Shoppers’ revealed to beour own Quality Assurance Team!

Building communities


The Big Lunch is a chance to gettogether with your neighbours andbuild up community spirit.That’s great, but how do I getinvolved?

Easy! Just followthese THREEsimple steps..1. Get your FREE

‘The Big Lunch’info pack

You can orderyour free information pack at by

registering at www.thebiglunch.com

2. Plan the big event!It can be as simple or extravagant as youlike. From a few neighbours getting togetherin the garden or on the street, to a full blownstreet party with food, music and decorationthat quite literally stops the traffic

Is an annual get together on the first Sunday inJune! Are you going to join in the fun this year?

3. Enjoyyourself andthe lunchHave fun andremember to takelots of photos!

We can providetenants andresidents groups practical help withthe design and printing of flyers andhelp towards the cost of putting on aspecial event of up to £200 a year.So why not start planning a day toremember for you and yourneighbours in your street?

Please choose your category by ticking one or more boxes:

Best Communal Garden□ Best Estate □ Best Improved Garden□Tallest Sunflower □ Adult’s Garden □ Children’s Garden □Vegetable & Herb □ Greenhouse □Window Boxes, Planters & Hanging Baskets Display □Name:Address:

Post Code:Tel No: email:

The judges will be looking for…

Design and layout

Colour

Hard and soft landscaping

Produce

Overall impression

Everyone who enters will receive acertificate. Plaques will be presentedto the winners of Best Estate and BestCommunal Garden categories. Prizeswill be given to the winners andrunners up of all other categories.

This competition is open to all of ourtenants and to children who have aguardian or parent who is a tenant ofPembrokeshire Housing.


Garden Competition Garden Competition

There is a wide range of categories to choosefrom so you can pick one, or more, that is just right foryou, no matter what size of garden you have. Judging will take place on 9th and 10th July 2014.

To enter, please complete and return to Meyler House by Friday 4th July2014. (See full address on back page).

Potty about plants? Crazy about cauliflowers? Wild about window boxes?If you’re passionate about your garden and growing stuff then don’t miss your chance to enter

the Pembrokeshire Housing Garden Competition 2014 - there’s a category for everyone!


Garden Competition Garden Competition

Top tips on growing that perfect sunflower...

Choose the variety of sunflower that fits yourgarden’s needs.Find a place in your garden with FULL sun, sheltered from the wind, e.g. along a fence, the side of a house or behind a row of sturdy trees.Allow the soil to warm before planting the seed. The best time to plant is mid-April to late May.Loosen the soil, dig a hole one inch deep, place a few seeds in the hole and cover with the soil.Water the soil regularly to help the sunflower grow but be careful not to flood the seeds.Watch it grow and grow and grow!

Potty about plants? Crazy about cauliflowers? Wild about window boxes?If you’re passionate about your garden and growing stuff then don’t miss your chance to enter

the Pembrokeshire Housing Garden Competition 2014 - there’s a category for everyone!

The Big Prize Draw


REWARD

The BIG Thank You Prize Draw is our way of saying thank youto our customers who pay their rent regularly and on time.

ONE lucky person will win the BIG £250 PRIZE and FIFTEEN other people will win £25 each.

of up to£250?

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

? ? ? ? ? ? ?

WILL IT BE YOU?

BIG THANK YOU

Big Day Out


£250The BIG DayOut is a FREEfun day for allthe family withinformationstalls,activities andentertainmentfor everyone toenjoy. Look out formore details comingyour way very soon.

It’s big, it’scoming back and it’s FREE! It’s the...

B GDAY OUT

You said... we did


As a tenant I want moreadvice and support to help me withtenant and community involvement.

You asked us for advice andsupport in getting involved

Robin Ashton will join us in March as your new Tenant Involvement andCommunity Investment Officer.

It’s all about us listening to you and then acting upon it

Watch out for more details in future editions of The Key

Joining the Tenants’ Panelmeans havingyour voice heard

Come along to one of our Tenants’ Panel Meetings and have theopportunity to meet other tenants, exchange ideas and shareviews. Meetings are held at Meyler House, Haverfordwest at 6pm.

All members are volunteers whomeet 10 times a year to reviewpolicies and services, judgecompetitions and exchange ideas. There is also the opportunity tomeet tenants of other landlords attraining events, conferences orduring exchange visits.

Meetings are informative and fun sowhy don’t you give it a try and comealong to one of our meetings:Monday 10th March Monday 14th AprilMonday 12th May Monday 9th JuneMonday 14th July Monday 8th SeptMonday 13th Oct Monday 10th Nov

Robin Ashton will join us in March as your new Tenant Involvement andCommunity Investment Officer.


A seasonal treat

Hot Cross Buns – an easy to make classic Easter treatIngredients for the buns

500g strong white bread flour½ tsp salt2 heaped tsp mixed spice50g caster sugar50g butter, chopped into cubes200g mixed dried fruits7g sachet easy-blend dried yeast200ml milk2 eggs

For the crosses and glaze3 tbsp plain flourHoney or golden syrup, for brushing

Method1.Tip the flour into a bowl and stir in thesalt, mixed spice and sugar.

2. Rub in the butter with your fingertips.Stir in the dried fruit, sprinkle over theyeast and stir. Gently heat the milk until itswarm enough to put your finger in for just acouple of seconds.

Beat with the eggs, then pour into the driedingredients.3. Using a blunt knife, mix the ingredientsto a moist dough, then leave to soak for 5mins. Take out of the bowl and cut thedough into 8 equal pieces.4. Shape the dough into buns on a flouredsurface. Space apart on a baking sheet,cover loosely with cling film, then leave ina warm place until half again in size. Thiswill take 45 mins - 1 hr 15 mins, dependingon how warm the room is.5. When the buns are risen, heat oven to220C/fan 200C/gas 7. Mix the flour with 2tbsp water to make a paste. Pour into aplastic food bag and make a nick in one ofthe corners. Pipe crosses on top of eachbun.

6. Bake for 12-15 mins until risen andgolden. Trim the excess cross mixture fromthe buns , then brush all over with honeyor golden syrup. The buns will keep freshfor a day. After that they are best toastedand served with butter.

Customer satisfaction survey

Pembrokeshire Housing is getting a regulatory assessment this summer


The Welsh Government’s Housing Regulation Team, will beundertaking a Housing Association Regulatory Assessment ofPembrokeshire Housing, starting in August, as part of aprogramme of assessing every housing association in Wales.

You can learn more about the role of the team, and see examples ofassessment reports on the other housing associations from the WelshGovernment website, www.wales.gov.uk via, Topics, Housing & Regeneration,Housing Services & Support, Housing Regulation. The results of our assessmentwill be published on our website, and in a future edition of “The Key”.

Your views really matter to us and thank you for taking part

You could be chosento take part in acustomer satisfactionsurvey, funded by the WelshGovernment, in March andApril this year.

You may be asked to fill in aquestionnaire or asked your views overthe phone.

R M G Clarity is the company who willcarry out this survey and the answers yougive them will be completely confidential.

As a thank you, you will be entered into afree prize draw where you could win vouchers of your choice worth:1st Prize £150 2nd Prize £75 3rd Prize £25 ...to spend on whatever you want!

Your Home – Your Say

Help with your money

Switch on to cheaper energy… By getting together we can reduce your bills!Everyone who pays a home energy bill in Wales can join inand save money!

The idea is simple, by getting a large number of potential customerstogether, we get the energy companies to compete against each other tooffer us the best deal.

The more people that group together the bigger thesavings you could make! By buying energytogether, participants of previous collectiveswitching schemes have saved between£60 and £250 per household per year.So how can I join the scheme?You can register your interest online at www.cydcymru-energy.com, or by phone (free from landlines) on 0800 0935902.Registration is open from 27th January2014 to 7th March 2014.


The group meets once a month foropen discussions, informationsharing and to plan socialactivities.

If you consider yourself or a memberof your family to be living with a disabilityand you are interested in becominginvolved in this group then feel free tocontact us on 01437 763688.

Pembrokeshire Housing Disability GroupA chance for people to meet, chat and have fun


Future proof your home

Go green with afree Electric VehicleCharging PointFuture proof your home by having anElectric Vehicle Charging Pointinstalled free of charge (worth £1400)

Call 01834 888 330 to register your interest or email: [email protected] Silverstone Green EnergyUnits 5 & 6 Rushacre Enterprise Park, Redstone Road, Narberth, Pembrokeshire SA67 7ETwww.silverstonegreenenergy.co.uk* Please note that your charging point will bemonitored remotely for 3 years.

• No electric car required

• Must have off street parking

• Subject to conditions

• 16Amp charging point asstandard, 32Amp available forjust £100

• This offer is made by SilverstoneGreen Energy in conjunction with Government OLEV (Officeof Low Emission Vehicles) 75%

subsidised scheme.

Register your interest with Silverstone

Receive your info pack / contract

Arrange installation date

Installed, completed & checked

Sign paperwork

You are ready for carbon free motoring*

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How does it work?


Competition corner

Name: Age:Address:

Post code: Phone number: email:

We have 25£5 vouchersto give awayto 25 luckychildren!Try and find all6 words in theword searchabove and thensend it alongwith thecompetition entry slip to Meyler House (full address on back page). Closing date for entries is Friday 11th April 2014 and the Tenants’ Panel willbe pulling the names of the winners out of a hat on Monday 14th April 2014.You could be one of our lucky winners!Rules of entry. This competition is open to children who on the 11th April2014 are aged under 13 years old and have a parent or guardian who is atenant of Pembrokeshire Housing. One entry per child please.

BUNNYEGGGARDEN

GREENGROWINGPUDDLE

Springtimeword searchcompetition

Getting in touch


By post or in person: Meyler House, St Thomas Green, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, SA61 1QPBy phone: 01437 763688 or

01437 774703Freephone: 0800 854568Minicom: 01437 774768email: [email protected] Housing Online: Open all hours on www.pembs-ha.co.uk forinformation, ordering repairs or to pay rent.

Enclosed: Your personalised quarterlyrent statement with your newsletter. Ifyou have any problems with rentissues please contact your Area Officerwho will be pleased to assist.

There are many ways to contact us:

When phoning Pembrokeshire Housing

Options 1, 2, 3, 4, 5Will take you straight through to yourCustomer Service Advisor, by pressing thearea number you want on your key pad.

Option 7Will take you straight through to theFinance Department for you tomake a rent payment.

Just a reminder that we have new telephoneoptions for our customers when calling ouroffice on 01437 763688 or 0800 854568

Documents

The Key Spring 2014