UKHA 2009: Outstanding achievement in housing in Wales
Winner : Rhondda Housing Association - Together we can
Rhondda Housing Association owns 1,500 homes in some of the most disadvantaged parts of the south Welsh valleys. It prides itself on going above and beyond the traditional housing association role. And this outstanding, now award-winning scheme proves it is not all talk.
Through Together we can, RHA staff work hard to improve the quality of life and increase opportunities for local people, with a particular focus on youth engagement, training and employment, community engagement and anti-poverty measures.
During the past two years, RHA has created nine apprenticeships, spearheaded the Welsh Assembly’s efforts to tackle deprivation, engaged 2,216 residents and trained 424.
The list goes on: 150 young people have engaged with the project, five intergenerational projects to support community cohesion are under way, 31 local community groups have been helped to secure £91,499 in external funding to support their work. The project has put 310 local people through 18 courses and assisted 107 with financial literacy.
The project’s scope is staggering - and so is the difference it makes to people’s lives. An independent report has this selection of participants’ views: ‘my social skills have developed’; ‘there’s a lot more interaction between people living here’; ‘I’m better at dealing with professionals’.
The benefits to the landlord are impressive too. Tenancy turnover in the neighbourhoods where Together we can operates is 7 per cent, compared with 11 per cent overall. One area now attracts its first ever housing waiting list and anti-social behaviour is down across the landlord’s patch.
As for RHA staff - they report boosted morale.
The impressed judges concluded that this was a project with ‘outcomes of major benefit to all the individuals concerned’.
Award sponsored by the Welsh Assembly Government
Finalists
Bron Afon Community Housing - Falls cost lives
This south Wales housing association developed a communications campaign to help older residents better understand how to reduce or prevent falls. Available to all tenants aged over 65, it includes home hazard assessments, a falls clinic and an educational DVD, Falls Cost Lives.
Cardiff Council - Landlord Accreditation Wales scheme
All 22 Welsh Councils are part of this nationwide initiative that concentrates on accrediting landlords, not properties.
LAW aims to improve private-rented sector standards and strengthen its relations with local authorities by providing private landlords with information and professional development opportunities. Since its launch in November 2008, 186 Welsh landlords and 14 managing agents have gained accreditation.
Cymdeithas Tai Hafan - Learning and work - moving on project
Moving on is an education and employment project aimed at reducing homelessness. Since 2005, more than 80 per cent of the 300 service users taking part in the scheme have gained a qualification or award, while 15 per cent have graduated into employment, voluntary work or further study.
Tai Hafan ensures the learning programme is available to as many people as possible by producing it in a range of media, including audio tapes, CD-Rom and Braille.
Melin Homes - The Melin golden thread
The ‘golden thread’ represents a truly integrated approach to regeneration. It is a practical philosophy that combines serious community engagement, job creation and investment to ensure that homes really do become part of a cohesive community. It is applied every step of the regeneration way - from dealing with local authority pre-development, to tapping local knowledge when naming a new estate.
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