Welsh Housing Awards 2011 - Chartered Institute of Housing

Welsh Housing 

Awards 2011 

Good Practice 

Compendium 

Sponsored by: 

Cymru 

www.cih.org/cymru 

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tywys chi drwy’r cyfnod cythryblus hwn. 

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ar 024 7647 2704 i gael gwybod mwy. 

We share good practice 

with our members 

Our Good Practice service provides 

you with an unrivalled gateway to 

housing information, guidance and 

practice you can trust, plus the support 

of a well-established partner to guide 

you through these turbulent times. 

Call our Good Practice helpline 

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Foreword by the Chair of CIH Cymru 

Welcome to the Welsh 

Housing Awards Good Practice 

Compendium 2011. 

The aim of this compendium is to ensure that 

the fantastic innovation and good practice 

demonstrated in the wide range of nominated 

projects and partnerships are captured and 

disseminated, so that the whole housing sector 

and beyond can learn from and celebrate some 

of the great work that is being undertaken. 

This publication showcases all of the projects 

that were shortlisted in the ‘organisational’ 

category of awards but I would also like 

to commend those individuals who were 

nominated for their Community Leadership 

or Outstanding Academic Progress, all of 

whom demonstrated a level of dedication and 

commitment that should be regarded as an 

inspiration to everyone who works in this sector. 

The standard of entries was once again 

exceptionally high and demonstrated 

the resourcefulness and creativity of our 

sector. The judging panels had over 100 

outstanding applications to consider, each 

one demonstrating how the housing sector 

is making a positive difference to individuals 

and communities across Wales. Choosing a 

shortlist was therefore an incredibly difficult 

task. I would like to express special thanks to 

my fellow judges, Mike Owen, Dave Adamson, 

Lee Morgan, Jane Jones and Anne Delaney for 

giving up their time to help make some very 

hard decisions in picking a shortlist and overall 

winners. I would positively encourage the 

resubmission of some of the fledgling projects 

to the 2012 Welsh Housing Awards when they 

have become more established. 

Housing is not just about “bricks and mortar” 

it is quite fundamentally about people and 

what inspirational people we have within our 

sector, our organisations and our communities. 

Housing professionals continue to rise to the 

challenge of delivering excellent services to 

their customers, involving, empowering and 

regenerating communities, and providing 

outstanding leadership through extremely 

difficult times. Moreover, the housing 

sector is at the forefront of innovation in 

driving forward the sustainability agenda, 

whether that be in terms of addressing the 

environmental challenges or delivering longterm 

jobs and training opportunities for the 

people of Wales. 

The Welsh Housing Awards are about 

celebrating these successes and highlighting 

the huge range of positive outcomes that 

housing delivers – we hope you feel inspired 

by the examples included within this 

publication and that it serves as a tool for 

learning and sharing positive practice in your 

organisations across Wales. 

Jane Mudd 

Chair, CIH Cymru 

Welsh Housing Awards 2011 | Good Practice Compendium 3

List of shortlisted projects 

Empowering and involving communities 

Community Wellbeing Coaches 

WLGA in partnership with Newydd Housing 

Association 

page 

5 

Working for me Charter Housing 6 

Our Business Gofal 6 

Participatory Budget Cartrefi Conwy 7 

W&M Enterprises Valleys to Coast 8 

Most community focussed contractor 

Wates Living Space - Reshaping Tomorrow Wates Living Space 8 

More than just paint and brushes Quicksons, nominated by RCT Homes 9 

At the heart of the community Cowlin Construction, nominated by United Welsh 10 

Delivering efficiency and value for money 

Welsh Water Debt advice company Valleys to Coast 11 

Prevention by Intervention Charter Housing 11 

Cardiff Accessible Homes Cardiff Community Housing Association 12 

Developing and regenerating communities 

Merthyr Valleys Homes Programme British Gas Community Energy in partnership 13 

with Merthyr Valleys Homes 

Building your own future in Sir Gar Carmarthenshire County Council 14 

“Diamond Jubilee” Valleys to Coast 14 

Local letting agreement in Tregaron Cymdeithas Tai Cantref 15 

Making the best use of stock 

Woodside & Nightingale Court, Newport 

Newport City Homes 16 

- ‘Turning hard to lets into hard to gets’ 

Sheltered Housing Options Appraisal RCT Homes 17 

Stoneleigh Manor More Options 

Homelessness Project 

Wales and West Housing Association 18 

Developing skills and capacity 

Customer Learning and Involvement 

Flintshire County Council 18 

Programme – CLIP 

Bron Afon’s Learning Development Bron Afon Community Housing 19 

Programme 

ZIGGIES RCT Homes 20 

Outstanding leadership by a local authority 

Securing Gifted Houses for our Local Flintshire County Council 21 

Communities 

Ty Unnos 

Conwy County Borough Council with 

21 

Cymdeithas Tai Clwyd 

Loan Rangers Powys County Council 22 

Penywaun CESP Area Rhondda Cynon Taff County Borough Council 23 

4 

Welsh Housing Awards 2011 | Good Practice Compendium

Empowering and Involving Communities 

For example a local authority, voluntary sector, private sector or partnership 

initiative which has: 

n provided recognised training and education opportunities to residents; 

n developed innovative community development projects; 

n involved customers directly in assessing, shaping and improving specific services. 

Community Wellbeing Coaches 

(WLGA in partnership with Newydd 

Housing Association) 

The Community Wellbeing Coaches 

(CWC) tackle the socio economic causes 

of ill health among some of our most 

vulnerable communities. 

The project aims to demonstrate the 

impact that the housing sector can have 

on improving the health and wellbeing of 

tenants and communities by addressing 

these causes, and targeting the service 

towards those who do not traditionally 

access services. 

CWC are recruited from local communities, 

providing employment opportunities. 

The CWC work on a 1:1 basis, or in a group 

setting with clients to set goals, agree action 

plans and provide individual support where 

necessary focussing on behaviour change. 

Some early outcomes for the programme 

include engagement with in excess of 

200 community members, with over 50 

completing Personal Health Plans and setting 

goals, increased take up of services, such 

as smoking cessation and financial literacy. 

The programme is being fully evaluated to 

demonstrate the impact that it has had. 

Contact: 

Maria Uren, Programme Manager for Health 

Improvement, WLGA, 

Email: maria.uren@wlga.gov.uk 

Tel: 07800 994816 


Working for me 

(Charter Housing) 

The Working for Me project is a truly 

innovative community project that helps 

people take control of their lives and 

shows them and others what some of 

the most excluded people in society can 

achieve. With funding from Charter, the 

WG and the SHARE, it targets tenants 

who have the most difficulty in getting 

and maintaining mainstream employment. 

The project works on the premise that 

everyone has a skill and that the best way for 

some people to earn an income is to turn that 

skill into self employment or a business so 

when and how they work is in their control. 

Confidence and motivation sessions help 

people think through what they are good at, 

what is achievable and examine opportunities. 

Business planning plays a vital role, ideas are 

tested vigorously so people only embark on 

ventures with a likelihood of success. There 

have been 13 new starts so far. 

Contact: 

Bron Lloyd, Head of Community Regeneration, 

Charter Housing 

Tel: 01633 678546 

Email: bron.lloyd@charterhousing.co.uk 

Our Business 

(Gofal) 

The project was set up to work with 

residents and individuals receiving tenancy 

support from Taff Housing, Cadwyn, CCHA 

and United Welsh Housing Association 

within Cardiff. This includes running 

surgeries at 5 hostels such as Ty Seren 

[Young Women’s Homeless Hostel] and 

2 Young Men’s Refugee hostels. 

The provisions accessed by the 160 referrals 

included: 

n 61 Referred to Genesis 

n 36 ILA [Individual learning accounts] 

n 31 Basic Skills Courses 

n 47 Short Courses 

n 39 One year Courses 

n 2 University 

n 29 Training 

n 41 Volunteering 

n 45 Employability 

n 19 Paid work 

n 5 Disengaged 

6 


Gofal also run several courses in-house such 

as Basic Computers, English for Computers, 

Confidence Building and STEPS [effective 

thinking]. The project is a client lead initiative 

that focuses on sustaining motivation, 

increasing aspirations, exploring opportunities 

and helping individuals realise their potential. 

Quotes form the STEPS course: 

“Totally changed my outlook on 

life I thank god I’ve been given a 

second chance” 

Contact: 

Alessa Hill, Employment Case Worker, Gofal 

Email: alessahill@gofal.org.uk 

Tel: 029 2045 3840 

“Inspired and motivated me, so I 

can change my life for the better” 

Participatory Budget 

(Cartrefi Conwy) 

formed to examine the ideas and shape 

them into workable projects. Each project 

could receive up to £2,500 and 21 varied 

community projects from across Conwy 

County went forward for the community 

voting process. 

The voting event took place on 15 March 

and over 100 tenants attended to cast their 

votes for each of the projects. Cartrefi Conwy 

staff managed the lively event to ensure 

that everyone had a chance to participate. 

Although there was one overall winner, Ffordd 

Dyffryn School, Sensory Garden project, they 

were able to support all 21 projects financially 

and awarded funds totalling over £36,000. 

Contact: 

Andrew Bowden, Chief Executive, 

Cartrefi Conwy 

Email: andrew.bowden@cartreficonwy.org 

Tel: 0192 805504 

In October 2010 Cartrefi Conwy asked 

tenants to submit ideas for improving 

the physical environment of their 

communities. The response was terrific 

and following the flood of ideas, a 

working group of tenants, staff and the 

Wales Participatory Budgeting Unit was 


W&M Enterprises 

(Valleys to Coast) 

W&M Enterprises is a social enterprise 

that provides employment and training 

opportunities to people disadvantaged 

in the labour market. It is a spin-off from 

the Family Employment Initiative (FEI) 

supported by Valleys to Coast (V2C), 

British Trust for Conservation Volunteers, 

Coalfields Trust and Communities First. 

The FEI engages people on two social housing 

estates in Bridgend in local environmental 

projects, teaching them new skills, building 

cohesion amongst residents and instilling 

confidence in their ability to make a difference. 

The FEI then looks to progress people onto 

further training and work experience, where 

W&M is a key provider. 

W&M are managed by a community board, 

providing more training opportunities for local 

people. The skill levels and confidence of the 

staff and management board have steadily 

increased over the last 18 months. They 

have tendered for other contracts, including 

environmental projects for a local school, which 

has taken them beyond the basic V2C grass 

cutting contract they had been delivering. 

Contact: 

Steve Curry, Community Regeneration 

Manager 

Tel: 01656 762445 

Email: steve.curry@v2c.org.uk 

Most community focussed contractor 

For example a contractor which has: 

n a proven track record in embracing the targeted recruitment and training agenda for 

example through the Can Do Toolkit ; 

n innovative delivery of community benefits; 

n demonstrated practical examples of delivering corporate social responsibility objectives to 

local Welsh communities. 

Wates Living Space – 

Reshaping Tomorrow 

(Wates Living Space) 

Living Space is a family owned 

construction company, proud of their 

114 year history. With bases in Cardiff 

and Wrexham, they work with a range 

of Welsh Housing Associations providing 

WHQS, new build, extra care and retrofit 

schemes. Their passion, however, lies in the 

communities where they live and work. 

Sustainable communities need people 

in employment and Living Space’s focus 

on employing locally and engaging with 

local businesses has proven successful 

through ‘Building Futures’ and ‘Meet the 

Buyer’ events in North, Mid and South 

Wales. Thanks to these programmes, they 

have seen 60% of long term unemployed 

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people back into work and a drive to a 

100% Welsh supply chain in Mid Wales. 

Wates believes in the power of partnerships, 

and through collaborative working, it 

has helped to raise the aspirations of 

people, young and old, in even the most 

disadvantaged Welsh communities. 

Contact: 

Carla White, Customer Liaison Manager, 

Wates Living Space, 

Tel: 07739 333473 

Email: carla.white@wates.co.uk 

More than just paint and brushes 

(Quicksons, nominated by RCT Homes) 

According to RCT homes, Quicksons 

consistently show that they care about 

their customers and communities. 

n They do this by recruiting 9 out of 10 of 

their workforce from the South Wales area. 

n They listen to customers, many of whom 

are vulnerable or elderly. It’s the small things 

that matter to tenants, things like spending 

time to explain what they do and how it is 

really important. 

n On many occasions Quicksons have adapted 

their work programme or schedule to the 

changing needs of RCT Homes’ tenants 

(regardless of the impact on themselves). 

The feedback they get back regularly from 

customers, illustrates their positive impact: 

“The contractors have done an 

excellent job of work and they were 

very friendly, helpful and cared 

about my home and garden”. 

A fabulous example of 

their commitment to 

RCT Homes’ Give and 

Gain days is that yearon-year, 

since 2010 they 

have donated £6,000 

to these days, excluding 

their expertise! 

Contact: 

Lisa Balfe, Policy Research Officer, RCT Homes 

Tel: 01443 494589 

Email: lisab2@rcthomes.co.uk 


At the heart of the community 

(Cowlin Construction, nominated by 

United Welsh) 

Cowlin Construction Ltd has displayed 

exemplary work at the United Welsh 

Housing with Care site Llys Nant Y 

Mynydd, Nantyglo. The contractor has left 

a long lasting legacy in the community. 

Whilst based in Nantyglo the team from 

Cowlin Construction showed qualities which 

go beyond corporate social responsibility 

protocols. The whole team showed a unique 

eagerness to engage with the local community, 

schools, unemployed and community groups. 

There is hardly anyone who has not benefitted 

from their proactive approach to community 

regeneration and willingness to get stuck in. 

Led by Mark Stephens, Project Manager, 

Cowlin Construction delivered tangible 

benefits to the local community of Nantyglo. 

Open the time capsule, which they buried with 

Coed y Garn Primary School in the grounds of 

Llys Nant y Mynydd, in 50 years and you will 

witness the moment captured when Cowlin 

Construction was completely intertwined with 

the Nantyglo community. 

Contact: 

Louise O’Brien, PR & Communications Advisor, 

United Welsh 

Tel: 029 2085 5659 

Email: lobrien@uwha.co.uk 

Delivering efficiency and value for money 



n restructured services to make them more efficient; 

n found ways of using their resources more effectively; 

n worked jointly with partners and customers to make services more efficient; 

10 


Welsh Water Debt advice 

company 


Valleys to Coast (V2C) collects water rates 

from its customers on behalf of Welsh 

Water. This has identified significant levels 

of water indebtedness and requires a 

new approach to its collection services, as 

more can be done to help those who are 

experiencing genuine financial hardship. 

Welsh Water offer a service known as the 

Customer Assistance Fund, that offers to 

“write off” existing debts in excess of £150 

on the condition that ongoing payments 

are made in full and on time. 

V2C’s Utility Debt Advisor works with those 

customers identified as eligible to apply to the 

Customer Assistance Fund. All customers who 

engage with this service are offered and provided 

with personalised budgeting advice and financial 

capability training. The service also identifies other 

financial issues that require redress. Signposting 

and referral systems have been put in place with 

organisations including the CAB, Moneyline 

Cymru, local Credit Union and utility suppliers. 

Contact: 

Keryl Jones, V2C 

Tel: 01239 712036/ 07968 428141 

Email: keryl.jones@v2c.org.uk 

Prevention by Intervention 

(Charter Housing) 

Charter recognise that a failure on 

their part to recognise that a tenant is 

not coping could mean that they lose 

their home, dramatically altering the 

course of their life. PBI was developed 

alongside their System Thinking approach 

and was instrumental in creating 

streamlined services that deliver tangible 

improvements in people’s lives and 

financial efficiency for Charter. PBI has 

permanently removed the danger that 

staff might just follow a process. 

PBI now wraps the whole of Charter creating 

supportive relationships to ensure tenancies 

are sustained and lifestyles balanced. A suite 

of proactive approaches exist for prospective 


and new tenants. Before PBI only 57% of 

new tenancies had no risk of failure in the 

first 6 months but by July 2011 they hit 94%. 

Property repossessions have dropped by 50%, 

rent arrears have reduced, and £400,000 of 

additional tenant income was secured in 12 

months along with other System Thinking 

company benefits. 

Contact: 

Scott Sanders, Director of Housing, 

Charter Housing Association 

Tel: 01633 678556 

Email: scott.sanders@charterhousing.co.uk 

Cardiff Accessible Homes 

(Cardiff Community Housing 

Association) 

Cardiff Accessible Homes (CAH) is a project 

(managed by Cardiff Community Housing 

Association) that provides physically 

disabled persons a holistic housing service 

which includes managing a central 

disabled persons housing list, adapted 

property database, Occupational Therapist 

assessments, housing advice and support. 

This involves working in partnership 

with the local authority, several housing 

associations, agencies and voluntary 

organisations with a view to finding positive 

solutions and outcomes for disabled persons 

regarding their housing issues. 

As well as managing disabled re-housing in 

Cardiff, CAH also manage the referral process 

for Physical Adaptation Grants (PAG’s). This 

involves the project employing Occupational 

Therapists (funded by partner housing 

associations) and arranging OT visits and 

assessments in order for clients to be able to 

have adaptations installed in their properties. 

Since April 2009 CAH has been able to 

help over 800 clients remain in their home 

by providing necessary reports highlighting 

required adaptations. The service has led to 

significantly reduced waiting times for clients 

to have the required adaptations installed 

which has led to clients being able to remain 

in their homes longer in a safe and secure 

environment whilst reducing the risk of falls, 

slips and hospitalisation. 

Contact: 

Robert Baker, Project Manager, Cardiff 

Accessible Homes 

Tel: 02920 468 408 

Email: rob.baker@ccha.org.uk 

12 


Developing and regenerating communities 



n developed new financial/investment models; 

n improved the physical quality of homes in the community; 

n brought empty properties back into use. 

Merthyr Valleys Homes 

Programme 

(British Gas Community Energy in 

partnership with Merthyr Valleys 

Homes) 

Merthyr Valleys Homes tenants are 

benefiting from cheaper energy bills and 

improved aesthetics of their home after 

energy efficiency measures were installed 

as part of a regeneration project. 

A £1 million investment from ARBED and 

£200,000 from the Low Carbon Building 

Programme funded the project which 

has meant that properties have had Solar 

Photovoltaic and Solar Thermal panels installed 

by British Gas and external wall insulation 

fitted by British Gas and the Joyner Group. 

Planned improvement works such as roof line 

work and the renewal of rain water goods 

were also carried out as part of the external 

wall insulation. 

The project has not only benefitted tenants 

but it has also provided multiple work 

opportunities for local businesses and 

individuals. Suppliers, installers and trainees 

who were at the heart of the programme were 

sourced within a 15 miles radius from the site 

-a remarkable community achievement 

Contact: 

Ceri Williams, Energy Solutions Manager, 

British Gas Community Energy 

Tel: 07769 546 224 

Email: Ceri.Williams@britishgas.co.uk 


Building your own future in 

Sir Gar 

(Carmarthenshire County Council) 

Building Your Own Future in Sir Gar 

was developed in 2010 to align with 

Carmarthenshire County Council’s 

£203 million Carmarthenshire Homes 

Standard programme, exploiting an 

opportunity to develop links and training 

with the local construction industry and 

training providers. 

Developed in partnership by Carmarthenshire 

County Council’s Property Services division, 

Communities First, Coleg Sir Gar, and 

CCTAL, it promotes construction as a career, 

and encourages the economically inactive 

to consider further education, training or 

employment. Run over six-weeks, it is delivered 

entirely in the community, offering handson 

experience of trades including carpentry, 

plastering, plumbing and tiling. 

It includes a visit to a local construction site 

and an introduction to college-based building 

courses. Participants also make a picnic table and 

bench sets which are donated to the community. 

Over 200 people have already benefitted, with 

over 60 securing either employment or college 

places – people who previously had little desire 

or confidence to do so. 

Contact: 

Ray Symes, Senior Operational Officer, Property 

Services Division 

Tel: 01554 784100 

Email: rsymes@carmarthenshire.gov.uk 

“Diamond Jubilee” – the 

refurbishment and local letting 

scheme of Jubilee Crescent 


Jubilee Crescent suffered from multiple 

housing blights of poor building condition, 

poor estate layout, worsening crime statistics 

and a history of problematic allocations. 

After a bad spate of arson, refurbishment was 

undertaken on three blocks in a challenging 

area of the estate, which was completed in 

July 2010. However, the neighbourhood was 

not a balanced community in terms of age 

range and economic mix and the area’s longterm 

sustainability was at risk. 

A new Local Lettings Scheme allowed 

allocations for a specific mix of tenants. 

Existing tenants were consulted along with 

the Local Authority, in consideration of their 

priority-need households. 

14 


Since refurbishment: 

n 10% failure of nominations, compared with 

74% previously 

n Average age at allocation up from 25 to 35 

n Overall tenancy failure rate down from 77% 

to 18% 

The flats are fully occupied with a good mix 

of tenants – people in full-time employment, 

families and young people in training or 

education. 

Contact: 

Julie Stewart, Housing Manager, Valleys to 

Coast Housing 

Tel: 01656 762418 

Email: julie.stewart@v2c.org.uk 

Local letting agreement in 

Tregaron 

(Cymdeithas Tai Cantref) 

Local Lettings Agreements have been used 

by Cantref before in rural areas where 

there are close knit communities bound by 

language, culture and social networks and 

a lack of affordable housing. 


The 3 key areas for eligibility are residency, 

family and professional & educational. 

The agreement also allows those that are 

originally from Tregaron wishing to return to 

be eligible, supporting those that have moved 

away for education or employment reasons. 

Other fundamental connections that hold a 

community together, key to the agreement, can 

be having a close member of the family living in 

the village or children attending a local school 

and applicants having permanent employment. 

It is important to get a balance of sustainable 

communities and ensure homes are allocated 

to those with a local connection, strengthening 

the local community and economy. Due to 

the success of the local letting agreement in 

Tregaron, Cantref will continue to develop 

new homes with consideration to the local 

community and local cultures. 

Contact: 

Lynne Sacale, Chief Executive, Cymdeithas Tai 

Cantref 

Tel: 01239 712036 

Email: lynnes@cantref.co.uk 

Making the best use of stock 



n effectively managed their assets, including rationalising their stock or changing tenure types; 

n successfully reduced under-occupancy; 

n taken steps to identify and tackle tenancy fraud. 

Woodside & Nightingale Court, 

Newport – ‘Turning hard to lets 

into hard to gets’ 

(Newport City Homes) 

NCH commissioned a project to tackle 

‘hard to let’ issues in its largest sheltered 

scheme, Woodside and Nightingale. 

Despite winning a design award in the 

eighties, the scheme had become outdated 

and was no longer meeting the needs or 

aspirations of older people. 

16 


This was evidenced by a significant 

number of voids and high refusal rates. 

To address this NCH decided to combine 

WHQS works with a programme to convert 

bedsits into spacious ‘apartments’. Residents 

were fully involved in the planning and design 

process, culminating in a joint approach with 

design students and staff in creating ‘show 

homes’ for viewing. 

Some comments received from new 

occupants, include: “love the design” and “so 

much space, even for storage”. 

So, what were termed ‘hard to let’ have now 

become homes that are ‘hard to get’ and NCH 

has made the best use of its existing stock 

to meet the needs and aspirations of older 

people. 

Contact: 

Joanna Fairley, Communications and 

Governance Manager, Newport City Homes 

Tel: 01633 227644 

Email: joanna.fairley@newportcityhomes.com 

Sheltered Housing Options 

Appraisal 

(RCT Homes) 

The sheltered housing options appraisal 

is about bringing poor quality, out-ofdate 

homes for older people up-to-date. 

RCT Homes wanted to meet residents’ 

aspirations and needs not just now but well 

into the future. 

Bryn Ivor, the first 

completed scheme, 

was running 

with over 50% 

voids and offered 

poor quality 

accommodation 

prior to 

refurbishment. 

RCT Homes are 

proud to have 

achieved stateof-the-art 

homes providing a home for life 

with an active, vibrant community of older 

people living independently in the heart 

of their community. The open and airy 

accommodation provides a great range of 

activities including a “sensory” garden for 

residents and the wider community. 

The key to the success of the scheme was 

close collaborative working between RCT 

Homes, tenants and volunteers. The icing 

on the cake was obtaining the RNIB “Visibly 

Better” Platinum Accreditation – the first in the 

UK on a refurbished scheme. 

Contact: 

Shirley Davies, Homes and Neighbourhoods 

Director, RCT Homes 

Tel: 01443 494403 

Email: shirleyd@rcthomes.co.uk 


Stoneleigh Manor More 

Options Homelessness Project 

(Wales and West Housing 

Association) 

Stoneleigh Manor ‘More Options 

Homelessness Project’ in Brecon is a 

ground-breaking & creative partnership 

which sees public and third sector 

organisations working together with 

private landlords to maximise opportunities 

for homeless people in Powys. 

A partnership was established between Wales 

& West Housing Association, Powys County 

Council Homelessness Prevention & Housing 

Options Team, PCC Supporting People Team 

and Cefni Lettings. The project at Stoneleigh 

is an excellent example of the best use of a 

property which had been empty for over 2 

years, which now addresses; 

n the shortage of suitable Temporary 

Accommodation in the area which meets 

Welsh Government TA standards 

n the lack of co-ordinated tenancy support 

n the needs of Stoneleigh residents and the 

wider community 

n PCC’s commitment to meet statutory 

obligations for the provision of Temporary 

Accommodation 

n the potential offered by the private sector 

to meet the need for wider housing options 

beyond social housing 

Contact: 

Jackie Bloxham, Housing Manager 

Tel: 029 2041 4083 

Email: jackie.bloxham@wwha.co.uk 

Developing skills and capacity 



n developed a culture of learning and improvement; 

n developed innovative approaches to training and development; 

n provided flexible benefits and reward schemes for staff. 

Customer Learning and 

Involvement Programme – CLIP 

(Flintshire County Council) 

Flintshire County Council’s housing 

department has developed a joined 

up approach to community learning 

and involvement; creating a culture 

of staff and tenants learning together 

and supporting each other in gaining 

knowledge and experience in community 

matters. 

18 


Several projects have been developed and 

delivered through formal and informal 

training, community learning opportunities 

and sharing experiences for both staff and 

tenants of the Council. 

Through the Programme they are: 

n Breaking down the barriers and challenging 

perceptions 

n Gaining a better understanding of roles, 

responsibilities, and the experience of 

volunteers and staff 

n Working together to monitor and improve 

services 

The outcomes focus on gaining a greater 

understanding and appreciation of what 

customers’ expectations are when delivering 

services in their homes and communities, 

fostering mutual respect, and empowering 

staff and tenants to work together developing 

services and within the community. 

Contact: 

Debbie Davies, Customer Involvement Officer, 

Flintshire County Council 

Tel: 07789 945403 

Email: debbie.davies@flintshire.gov.uk 

Bron Afon’s Learning 

Development Programme 

(Bron Afon Community Housing) 

Bron Afon Community Housing has 

embedded a culture of Learning and 

Development. Bron Afon employees, Bron 

Afon Board and Members, volunteers 

and young people are encouraged to 

embrace learning to develop their skills, 

knowledge, experience and confidence. 

Since stock transfer they have developed 

many new and innovative ways to 

encourage learning and this has included: 

n Leadership Development Programme and 

management development programme for 

managers across the organisation 

n Apprentice schemes, placements and work 

experience and training for all ages, which 

have lead to some permanent employment 

with Bron Afon. 

n Mentoring for students 

n Bron Afon Membership Development 

programme specifically designed to meet 

the training needs of their membership 

n Encouraging professional qualifications 

n OCN accredited Green Futures Programme 

which included 90 staff, tenants, 

leaseholders and residents took part and 

debated a wide variety of issues, including 

growing food and sustainable design. 

n Urban design courses for tenants and residents 

n Young people projects such as down to 

earth and hales house ‘move on’ project 

Contact: 

Liz Evans, Head of Community Housing, Bron 

Afon Community Housing 

Tel: 01633 620026 

Email: liz.evans@bronafon.org.uk 


ZIGGIES 

(RCT Homes) 

Ziggies is a project aiming to promote a 

family friendly approach to reading and 

supports literacy through the exploration 

of stories. Sponsored and designed by RCT 

Homes staff volunteers, Ziggies encourages 

parents to read with their children and 

support them to complete a number of 

exciting activities relating to the themes 

and messages of a chosen weekly story. 

Sessions begin with ‘story time’ where children 

and their parents sit down together and 

follow the words as a story teller takes them 

through the book. Families then break to 

complete a number of activities relating to the 

book which includes creative art work such as 

mask making, puzzles, games, team building 

activities and many more. 

Parents have been further supported by RCT 

Homes to continue the project themselves 

with financial support to purchase materials 

and training on planning future activities. 

A sustainable project at the heart of their 

communities. 

Contact: 

Catryn Grundy, Tenant Empowerment Officer, 

RCT Homes 

Tel: 01443 494403 

Email: shirleyd@rcthomes.co.uk 

Outstanding leadership by a local authority 

For example a local authority which has: 

n led local partnerships to deliver housing solutions; 

n taken the strategic lead in community regeneration; 

n promoted a multi agency approach 

20 


Securing Gifted Houses for our 

Local Communities 

(Flintshire County Council) 

This project represents an innovative 

approach which has led to three new 

homes being gifted to Flintshire County 

Council as part of its affordable housing 

policy, with a further 26 in the pipeline. 

The Housing Strategy Team, with Planning 

colleagues, have found a flexible way to make 

the most of existing planning policy; instead 

of the usual 30% affordable housing provision 

being required, gifted homes to the Council, 

to the value of 30% of the development, can 

be stipulated instead. 

Redrow Homes and David Wilson Homes North 

West have both praised Flintshire for devising 

the scheme, describing it as the first of its kind 

in the region to use a Section 106 contribution 

in this way. The properties will be made 

available for rental to applicants registered on 

the Affordable Homeownership Register. 

The Council intends to deliver more affordable 

housing this way. 

Contact: 

Penny Storr, Housing Strategy Officer, Flintshire 

County Council 

Tel: 01352 703830 

Email: penny_storr@flintshire.gov.uk 

Ty Unnos 

(Conwy County Borough Council 

with Cymdeithas Tai Clwyd) 

Ty Unnos is an innovative housing 

development in Dolwyddelan funded 

through the Social Housing Grant 

programme. Over the last few years Conwy 

County Borough Council, Cymdeithas 

Tai Clwyd, Dolwyddelan Community 

Council, Conwy and Denbighshire’s Rural 

Housing Enabler, Forestry Commission 

Wales, Snowdonia National Park, Coed 

Cymru, Elements Europe and the Welsh 

Government have worked in partnership 

on this development. 

The timber framed technology was created 

by Coed Cymru, Elements Europe and the 

Welsh School of Architecture to assist the build 

of affordable, sustainable housing to meet 

current housing needs in the village. 

The end product; four affordable houses 

named Tai Glan Gors. They are top quality, eco 

friendly homes set in a beautiful location, built 

for the people of Dolwyddelan. 

Contact: 

Sam Parry, Housing Strategy and Performance 

Manager 

Tel: 01492 574224 

Email: sam.parry@conwy.gov.uk 


Loan Rangers 

(Powys County Council) 

“The innovative way Powys 

Council has established this project 

ensures Empty Homes are brought 

back into use. This model offers 

greatest opportunity for success 

compared with others in the UK.” 

Mid Wales Housing Association 

“Our partnership with PCC 

is invaluable in establishing 

innovative products and has 

helped green up local households 

more quickly.” 

Robert Owen Community Banking Fund 

Contact: 

Ian Fraser, Housing Services Manager, Powys 

County Council 

Tel: 01938 551214 

Email: ianf@powys.gov.uk 

Loan Rangers is a unique & highly adaptive 

interest-free loan scheme – tailored to 

local needs & individual strategies. 

Some of its key features are: 

n Easily implemented – adapted from 

established grant application process 

n In-house administration & financial recovery 

– avoids costly FSA registered organisations 

n 50% maximum funding - includes 1st year 

payment “holiday” to establish rental income 

n Annual loan recovery over 5 years – allows 

accurate forecasting of finance & facilitates 

planning 

n Virtually self-financing – 88% of capital 

recycled for re-distribution 

n Pioneering & successful – Powys setting 

standards of collaborative working with 

partner organisations 

22 


Penywaun CESP Area 

(Rhondda Cynon Taff County 

Borough Council) 

Due to the costs involved when fitting 

external wall insulation to non-traditional 

types of housing it was unaffordable for 

the private residents in the Penywaun 

community in Aberdare to take advantage 

of CESP without other investment. The 

outstanding leadership and strategic 

direction by Rhondda Cynon Taf CBC 

enabled six different funding streams to 

be levered in to Penywaun and brought 

together funding from Arbed, Heads of 

the Valleys, Aberdare Low Carbon Town, 

CESP, RCT Homes and the Local Authority’s 

Capital Grant Programme. This was no 

easy task as these schemes had conflicting 

priorities and deadlines and there were 

also legal and procurement issues to 

overcome in extremely short timescales. 

The successes of the project in delivering a 

‘whole house, whole community’ approach 

could not have been achieved without 

the partners involved including Scottish & 

Southern Electricity, Effective Energy and SERS 

Limited, but especially RCT Homes whose 

commitment to deliver across tenures and trust 

in the local authority enabled delivery into the 

private sector. 

Scheme successes to date include external wall 

insulation, free loft insulation and cavity wall 

insulation, energy efficient boiler replacement 

as well as generation of local employment and 

training. 

Contact: 

Keryl Lanfear, Housing Strategy Officer 

Rhondda Cynon Taf CBC 

Tel: 01443 425369 

Email: keryl.lanfear@rctcbc.gov.uk 


Get set 

for the 

Housing Olympics 

Wales’ Premier Housing Conference and Exhibition 

20th – 22nd March 2012 

Cardiff City Hall and Hilton Hotel 

For further information including exhibition and sponsorship opportunities visit our website at 

www.cih.org/cymru or email us at wales.events@cih.org

Welsh Housing Awards 2011 - Chartered Institute of Housing

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