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YOUR
MONTHLY
TITLE
MELIN
Viviritum post? Nam prituit ocusa
quodin Etripte numus eriordii sum
virit. UPDATE
Toratra ctortiam aut videm is ponique
rmilique mus, caelari pimperra
re, quis ad ca noximus enerio esteredi
pri se num ponem et? viu vit;Il
THE
vivendi sua pliam ocae inem hebem
terem, Cati publicaes
LOWDOWN
99% QUALITY
SATISFACTION
WITH REPAIRS
AND PLANNED
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TITLE TITLE
Viviritum post? Nam prituit ocusa
quodin Etripte numus eriordii sum
virit.
Toratra ctortiam aut videm is
ponique rmilique mus, caelari pimperra
re, quis ad ca noximus enerio
esteredi pri se num ponem et?
viu vit;Iquideroptere nos conscre
ndeora merfecrena, que cotiliem
Recently we have secured
HEADLINE NEWS STORY
GOES WORKS HERE...
160 SHEDS
INSTALLED
BY MEL’S
HANDYPEOPLE
63 COMMUNITY
EVENTS HELD
SINCE APRIL
2011
Melin gets greener with
energy efficiency
Our energy efficiency
programme goes from
strength to strength.
a further £250,000 from
the Welsh Government’s
Arbed 1 scheme to
continue our extensive
energy efficiency work.
The money will be used
on a fuel switching project
on sheltered schemes
across Newport and
Torfaen that will convert
130 homes from electric
storage heating, to more
efficient gas central
heating.
In other news, despite
recent changes in feed in
tariffs, we’re continuing to
work with our contractor
Southern Solar to install
solar pv panels - we’ve
recently completed
our first installation in
Newport of 34 panels on
roofs at Fosse Road.
Its not just our residents
that are benefitting from
From this month at Melin
Garndiffaith gets
Viviritum post? Nam prituit ocusa quodin
Etripte numus eriordii sum virit.
Toratra ctortiam aut videm is ponique
rmilique mus, caelari pimperra re, quis
ad ca noximus enerio esteredi pri se
num ponem et? viu vit;Itrumed clarben
atodientra reconsulis es imiusce
remquo morum in pos sulicavo, consulus,
quitatiam nonsul ublienius publies
Viviritum post? Nam prituit ocusa
quodin Etripte numus eriordii sum
virit.
Toratra ctortiam aut videm is
ponique rmilique mus, caelari pimperra
re, quis ad ca noximus enerio
esteredi pri se num ponem et? viu
vit;Lint? Mulari perehem is ad sulus.
Etrarei poptimo erites iachuid em
these energy saving
measures - we are too.
We have just installed a
10kw system on our roof
in Pontypool saving us
£5000 and an estimated 2
tonnes of Co2 a year.
David Bolton, Assistant
Director of Asset
Management, commented:
“We’re really looking
forward to working with
the Energy Saving Trust
to continue our efforts
to save our residents
money”.
Going for
gold!
new homes
Assessors from the
Corporate Health
Garndiffaith residents benefit from a
Standard, run by the
further 34 affordable homes. The £3.6million
Iquisl estrud ea faccummy nim Lutet velit, con utatet num quamcommy
Welsh Government,
scheme, Clos y Goedlan, was built in partnership
visited us recently to see
alit alis alit utate dolute with mod Torfaen magna County commod Borough nonsent Council and wisit, the quisim Welsh ipit verilit dolore dio
what we do to ensure
ea cons alis num eugait Government, alit, veliquatet who alit provided a od Social moloborero Housing Grant odipit of lor augiamc that staff onulla are healthy
alit nibh erosto eugiam £2.1million. zzriusto et, Melin quatuerci staff, Board, corper Councillors senibh and Strategic et, vulla feu feu and facidunt happy. They wisi. heard
Housing Team marked the official opening of the homes,
tatie vulputat nulputpatue commod tet
Olor how sum our venim health and
which were built for
wellbeing group, Zest
loreet wis nis accum ecte us by feummy Leadbitter. nonse
diat have venisse been niatem staging events
veliqui bla aliquissim ipsummod tem in
at, con to encourage henim niam staff to
Cllr Gwyneira Clark,
utat luptat. Guer sis er inim zzriurer amet
init lead aute healthy doluptat. lifestyles,
Executive Member for
and promote physical
lobor secte ex er inciliscipis Housing nulputpat. said: “This is
Is alis
and
eum
mental
quat,
wellbeing.
Equatetuer sum delit veliquatinis an excellent nonsed example
quamcom We will modionu be having our
tet lummy nonsequamcon of partnership vel dunt working
llaoreet full assessment vel utat. for
to provide much
lummodo lorper sim dolobore tiniatet,
Ure
the
do
Corporate
odigna
Health
needed good quality
Standard accreditation
quis diat ad do commy affordable nostrud housing eugait for
facing in the euip summer, essim when we
iriuscil duisi. residents of Torfaen”
veniamet will be laor going sustie for gold!
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Empties
Viviritum post? Nam prituit ocusa
quodin used Etripte numus again eriordii sum
virit.
Toratra Melin ctortiam Leasing aut is videm doing is its
ponique bit to rmilique help reduce mus, caelari the pimperra
number re, quis of ad empty ca noximus homes enerio
esteredi in Wales pri se and num bring ponem some et?
viu of vit;Patum them cid back se into moride use. ad ad
inatquo According caella L. to molusa a survey orunit. by
the Chartered
Institute of Housing and
Shelter Cymru, there
were an estimated
TITLE 23,000 long term empty
Viviritum
properties
post? Nam
in Wales
prituit
in
ocusa
quodin 2009/2010. Etripte numus Since eriordii April sum
virit. 2011, we have helped
Toratra occupy ctortiam 45 properties aut videm is
ponique from rmilique private mus, landlords, caelari
pimperra 11 of re, which quis ad had ca been noximus
enerio empty esteredi for pri six se months num ponem or
et? longer. viu vit;Efecero We now acit; have nius caequas 22
pratiamquium properties comaios in Newport, At vignatil
13 in Torfaen, and 10 in
Monmouthshire. We’re
well on our way to
achieving our target of
50 homes by April.
TITLE
January 2012
We have also seen
similar success from our
Monmouthshire Leasing
Scheme, where we are
managing 83 properties
across the county on
behalf of Monmouthshire
County Council. The
scheme provides
temporary
Viviritum accommodation post? Nam prituit for ocusa
quodin homeless Etripte numus households. eriordii sum
virit.
Toratra ctortiam aut videm is
ponique rmilique mus, caelari pimperra
Sparkling
re, quis ad ca noximus enerio
esteredi pri se num ponem et? viu
vit;Mei and potarberceri shining
intilicae quit
acere temquam sulabus simus.
Muli, Children vocciam mero across ac taturo South publicus
Wales ad se, nihinum have been pra L. Teatquidiu given
cum the atil hosunum chance to octodiurnius shine pubitis,
thanks oponsumEtrus to our senties Jump simente
rvivivere Fund. ta We re issimis gave £250 silium se to in
sena Theatre nortemunu Arts vidieni to create hiciendam
unte, a nonsus CD called etio habenat Sparkle gra, and Catuus
Shine! acchuis; - nost a new o cla musical nosustis vit.
written in aid of the
Sparkle Appeal, which
teaches themes of
friendship and respect
TITLE by following the story
Viviritum of Leo post? the Nam Star. prituit ocusa
quodin Etripte numus eriordii sum
virit. Emma Rowland,
Toratra Director, ctortiam said aut “We videm hope is
ponique that rmilique this will mus, help caelari raise pimperra
awareness re, quis ad ca of noximus The enerio
esteredi Sparkle pri se Appeal, num ponem and et? we viu
vit;Otiae
are grateful
teatum deorem,
to Melin
contro,
for
et
vere ac terorte, nihicaturit eli
its fantastic support”

Top quality
A team of Melin staff attended
the Welsh Quality Awards at City
Hall in Cardiff. We were assessed
against the criteria of the European
Foundation for Quality Management
model, which is a framework for
organisations’ management systems.
It acts as a self assessment tool, and
is designed to help organisations
improve the service they provide.
Santa’s spotted...
Clerk of Works
Chris Parrish, our Technical Officer,
has been appointed Clerk of Works
for a £1.5m refurbishment scheme
working with Gwalia in Swansea.
He has recently started work on
the project, which is a Care Home
Remodelling Scheme in Llanrumney,
Cardiff. Chris said “I’m carrying out
inspections regularly and love
travelling to a different part of the
world.”
Jason takes steps towards
his first job...
Seventeen year old Jason Hughes from Cwmtillery
is the latest person to benefit from Stepping
Stones, a project that is part of our Melin Works
programme. He has taken part in training and
work tasters to help improve his chances of finding
employment in the construction industry.
Having completed his Bricklaying Level 1 Diploma,
Jason needed practical experience. Stepping Stones
was recommended to him by Careers Wales, and
Jason was soon signed up to study for his CSCS
card (Construction Skills Certification Scheme) to
allow him on site.
He then undertook work experience with Greenhill
Construction at our Mountain Road development,
Santa was spotted by some of our
young residents at Llys Gwydd,
Cwmbran, giving out presents and
spreading some festive cheer. He has
been travelling around on the Melin
Sleighbus throughout December to
visit Melin residents, give out presents,
and sing carols at some of our
sheltered schemes.
Energy Week
It’s Big Energy Week from the 16th
to 21st January. We will be doing
our bit to help raise awareness of
the support available for people
struggling to cope with rising fuel
bills. We will be giving out practical
advice on how people can reduce
their bills and what financial support
is available during an information
event in Gwent Square, Cwmbran.
in Ebbw Vale, learning how to build faced brickwork
walls. “It’s great to have got some practical
experience and I’m really looking forward to going
onto another site soon.”
Site Manager Kevin Beckitt was very impressed
“His application to the job is excellent and it’s very
important to give younger people a chance to come
through the construction industry.”
Since taking part in the programme, Jason has
seen yet more success after being offered an
apprenticeship with Greenhill to continue his
training.
Investing in our
people
Our reassessment for the
Investor In People accreditation will
take place in March. The standard has
been extended and it’s now possible
to achieve different levels - Bronze,
Silver and Gold. We’re going for Gold
and our People and Learning team
have been busy writing an action plan
to help us meet the criteria of the
standard. They will be holding
awareness raising events for our staff
over the next few months.
£155 singing
success
The Melin Staff Christmas Choir
were in good voice recently when
they serenaded Cwmbran
shoppers with renditions of some
classic Christmas carols. After
treating the Cwmbran crowds to
festive favourites such as ‘Rudolf the
Rednose Reindeer’ and ‘Twelve days
of Christmas’, the Choir
enjoyed some mince pies. All that
singing clearly paid off as they raised
an extraordinary £155 in just one
hour. The money will go to the MS
society through our intrepid Melin
ThunderWalkers.
Ty Hafan
Four years ago, residents at Victoria
Court Sheltered Scheme in
Abergavenny adopted Ty Hafan as
their sole charity. They felt because
they have had long happy lives -
something which is denied to some
children, they wanted to help out.
This year they have donated an
astounding £415.

Open Housing ThunderWalk for for MS society
Work on implementing our new
housing and IT system is going well.
Phase 1 successfully went live at
the end of October, and the Open
Contractor Module, which includes
features to manage our Direct
Workforce was implemented in
November. Next up is the
OpenMobile module in February.
Siarad
Cymraeg?
As part of our commitment to
customer service, we’ve signed up to
the Welsh Language Scheme, in
accordance with the Welsh Language
Act 1993, which pledges to publish
information in Welsh wherever
appropriate, and to treat English and
Welsh equally. We have translated press
releases and publications already.
Tredegar Court gets festive
We are always working hard to increase the
number of affordable homes across the five
Local Authorities that we work in. Since we
began in March 2007 we have increased the
number of homes we manage from 2,720 to
3,404 (October 2011) – which is an extra
684 new homes, including two extra care
schemes – and 2012 will be no exception.
Our Development team have a number of
projects in the pipeline to help increase the
supply, affordability and quality of new homes.
We have scheduled over 11 new
developments this year and are always
continuing to look at potential sites for
development and new possibilities for
funding. What else we are building this year:
Four members of our staff are taking part in the
ThunderWalk in May 2012 - walking 54miles in 24
hours up four different mountains in the Brecon
Beacons, in aid of the MS Society. They have been
busy clocking up the miles in preparation and will
be doing a whole host of activities to fundraise.
After successfully raising £103 by selling tea,
Residents at Tredegar Court, Newport,
were given a helping hand to get festive
by a group of volunteers taking part in an
Engagement Gateway Programme with
Solas. They asked if they could help put up
the Christmas decorations and gain some
experience working with our residents at
the sheltered scheme. We were pleased to
work with Solas on this and the residents
were very happy with the results.
Factory Road, Brynmawr - We
will be commencing construction of 40 high-quality, affordable homes and a new Scout
Hall, in Brynmawr, in early 2012.
St Francis Close, Talywain - We are building 16 new affordable homes
available to rent and buy under our Low Cost Homeownership Scheme, for completion
in March 2012.
Pendragon Close, Rogiet – Our new development in Rogiet will comprise of
15 new affordable homes, including a bespoke property with special adaptations for a
family. These are due to be completed in March 2012.
IT works
Our Universal Home Access
programme is well underway, with
233 home computers installed in
homes across Torfaen. Residents at
our new development in
Garndiffaith, Clos y Goedlan, were
the latest to benefit from the
scheme, as we have installed 23 PCs
there.
Developing homes and communities Torfaen and
Monmouthshire
are moving in…
The Strategic Housing teams from
Torfaen County Borough Council and
Monmouthshire County Council will
be sharing our Ty’r Efail office in
Pontypool from the 9th January.
Word up....
toast (and a few cakes) to staff, from their trolley,
the Melin Trekkers have topped this. The team
were joined by staff volunteers for bag packing in
Morrisons, Brecon, and shoppers were so grateful
they gave very generously, donating an amazing £820
in just one day! If you think you would be able to
help support our team then please get in touch.
Keeping warm
Care and Repair Torfaen are
supporting the national ‘Keep
Well This Winter’ campaign in
conjunction with Care and
Repair Week by holding a series
of roadshows across Torfaen
throughout January. Visitors can
find out more about the Agency
and the services it provides to
help older or disabled home
owners and private tenants live
in safe, warm, well maintained
and appropriately adapted
homes. Last year the local
Torfaen agency helped over
1559 people to continue to live
independently in their own
homes, of which 58% were aged
75+
Care and Repair Monmouthshire
will also be continuing with their
successful Life Cafe project
during this year’s Care and
Repair Week.
We recently used a new telephone interpreting service for the first
time to sign up some new non-English speaking residents.We pride
ourselves on communicating well with our residents, so the service,
called ‘The Big Word’, ensures that our Customer Service teams
communicate with any resident that doesn’t speak English. Thanks
to this service, we can now have fluent 1-2-1 conversations with
people in over 234 languages. Neighbourhood Officer Bev Mellor, who
recently signed-up some Mandarin speaking residents, commented:
“It’s very important that we communicate well with all of our
residents, and the Big Word ensures that we can do this regardless of
what language they speak.”