Grapevine Autumn 2014
Transcription
Grapevine Autumn 2014
Grapev ne Tenant Newsletter / Autumn 2014 Tenants go digital page 4 and 5 From the Executive Director Linc Homes Welcome Contents in this issue we cover.... Page 2 | Grapevine Autumn From Trevor Saunders, Executive Director Linc Homes: Welcome to the Autumn issue of the Grapevine. Many thanks to those of you who have commented on the Grapevine about how much you enjoy reading it. Don’t forget, if you’d like to contribute an article, we’d love to hear from you. Our work with tenants to get them online is very exciting. Some of you have commented that it is ‘life changing’ and has opened up a whole new world, or as one tenant put it – ‘wow!’ An area we are becoming increasingly active in is food co-ops. These help local families to buy fruit and veg at reasonable prices, saving them money and eating healthily. If you are interested in taking part in your area, get in touch and we’ll see if we can help. Don’t forget, we are here to help – if there’s something you’d like to discuss, or if you need advice, get in touch on 0800 072 0966. Please send in your suggestions and photos for the next edition of Grapevine, and remember you can read this newsletter and previous editions online at www.linc-cymru.co.uk/grapevine Best wishes, Trevor Saunders, Executive Director Linc Homes Contact us Linc-Cymru Housing Association, 387 Newport Road, Cardiff CF24 1GG Freephone: 0800 072 0966 Email: contactcentre@linc-cymru.co.uk Website: www.linc-cymru.co.uk Approved by Grapevine Reading Group Reading G vine ro pe Gr a up 2 Welcome 3 A message from The Tenant Panel 3 Summer fun in St Mellons 4 - 5 Tenants go digital 6 Escaping the bedroom tax 6 Easy & fun Halloween games 7 Get help with your energy bills this winter 7 Save money on your water bill 8 - 9 Sunshine & gardening in extra care 10 Do you struggle to get to sleep? 11 Seasonal flu-jab - free for all carers 11 Shingles vaccine for 70, 78 & 79 years olds 12 Linc's Contractor Review Panel 12 Adapting your home to meet your needs 13 Keeping good relationships with your neighbours 14 Ways to pay your rent 15 Top tips from tenants 16 Want to join our tenant services testers 16 Oxygen Cylinders 17 Energy Advice Project 17 How to register to vote has changed 18 Estate Inspections 19 Useful contacts 20 Newport Residents Festival The Grapevine Reading Group has read and approved the content of this newsletter. The Group is made up of tenants from Linc's 134 Club. For information on the 134 Club or to find details on joining see page 5 or visit www.linc-cymru.co.uk/134-club From The Tenant Panel A message from The Tenant Panel Hello all, Welcome to our Autumn update. Following our Tenant Panel Meeting in June, we met again to discuss value for money. What an interactive session it was! We all had a chance to share our thoughts which will now be reported back to Linc to help develop their approach to achieving value for money. I think we all agreed that value for money is not just about the cost. It is about ensuring quality, delivering benefits and doing things better. Summer fun at a Community Day in St Mellons, Cardiff As a Panel, our representatives continue to attend Contractor Review Meetings where they help to keep track of progress or any difficulties facing tenants. They also offer suggestions on how to report your feedback. Whilst they are always suggesting improvements it really helps for you to let Linc know how well the contractors are doing. After a repair is completed, Linc will send you a 'Tenant Satisfaction Form' to complete. Linc also phone tenants to get their feedback. It really is important that these forms are completed and returned to Linc so that changes can be made to improve services. You may not think these forms matter – but whether the service is good or bad, Linc want to hear. There are a couple of training events coming up so if you are a member of a Tenants Association, a local group, the 134 Club or think you would like to attend, please get in touch with us and we may be able to help. Contact Karen Jeffreys, Tenant Participation Officer on 029 2047 4023 or email karen.jeffreys@linc-cymru.co.uk Places are limited so hurry! The Tenant Panel Grapevine Autumn | Page 3 Tenant News Tenants go digital Community 2.0 & Linc work together to offer computer training to tenants Written by Fiona Gardner, Linc Homes Digital Champion who delivered the computer training sessions 2.0 is a digital inclusion project in "Communities Wales which offers free training and support to help people to use a computer and get online. In partnership with Communities 2.0, we recently held computer sessions at our sheltered housing scheme Cwrt Gwalia in Bridgend. Once a week during July, tenants spent two hours learning how to get the most out of using a computer. When the group met for the first session, there were laptops, notebooks, a kindle, iPad and iPhone available to get to grips with. The tenants were very enthusiastic and keen to learn as much as they could. We had fun playing games on the computer which helped them to get used to the actions of the mouse. The sessions covered: 1. Using a computer: Switching on your computer. Using a mouse and keyboard. Desktop and icons. 2. Using the internet: What is the internet? Searching the internet. Staying safe online. 3. Using email: Sending and receiving email. 4. Further help for beginners: Jargon Buster – a glossary of useful terms. Know the basics? What to learn more? More places to get help. Using a computer for the first time and getting used to how it can assist you in your daily life is an extraordinary thing, although for some, it comes as second nature. However, if you are one of the large number of people who have not yet had the opportunity to see exactly how it can change your life – it can be daunting and a little overwhelming. Page 4 | Grapevine Autumn Most tenants wanted to learn how to send and receive emails, open and send attachments such as photographs, research things on the internet, shop and make contact with family and friends. There are also lots of free games online such as crosswords, jigsaws and sudoku that can keep your mind active Tenant News Quotes from the tenants who took part in the computer sessions at Cwrt Gwalia: “I sent my son an email with my photograph (wow), I will now take a lot more photos” “This course has given me a lot more than I expected. I’ve learnt my way around the computer, without being afraid” For many tenants, it really opened their eyes to the wonders of what can be done online. For example, shopping, looking up new recipes, banking and paying bills, researching your family tree, looking up the weather forecast - the list is endless. And if unsure of anything, just type a question into the address bar and you will be amazed at the answers you get. “These sessions have opened my eyes to lots of ways to access lessons, to learn computer skills and it has motivated me to get going” Linc's website (www.linc-cymru.co.uk) is great to visit as you can find out more about where you live, look for events in your area, understand what you can expect from Linc and the services available, and of course read previous editions of the Grapevine. The site is continually updated so keep visiting it. “I have really enjoyed this course and am more confident about sending emails” Linc with the help of Communities 2.0, is rolling out an IT programme in two of our extra care schemes in Newport between September and November 2014. The IT programme is a result of a series of successful computer sessions which took place at the Lysaght Institute during the spring. The new sessions will take place at Wellwood House in Ringland on Saturday mornings and at Capel Court in Pill on Wednesday evenings. They will provide an excellent opportunity for you to become a little more confident using computers and a chance to understand the benefits that they can bring. If you would like to join in contact Karen Jeffreys, Tenant Participation Officer on 029 2047 4023 or email karen.jeffreys@linc-cymru.co.uk " “Thanks for taking the time to teach older people to deal with the future” “I know how to make folders so that I can keep my emails safely and can keep my inbox tidy” Pictured here are the tenants at Cwrt Gwalia with their certificates for completing the computer course. Grapevine Autumn | Page 5 Money Advice Escaping the Bedroom Tax One tenant told us: “I never went in to my spare bedroom. I was paying money for a room I never even walked into. I would definitely advise someone who is paying the Bedroom Tax to move.” The Under Occupancy Charge, also known as the “Bedroom Tax” was introduced in April 2013. This new legislation reduces the housing benefit of those considered to have one spare bedroom by 14%, and those that have two or more spare bedrooms by 25%. Currently, 343 Linc households are affected by the Bedroom Tax (figures recorded in April 2014). One way of avoiding the charge is to move to a smaller property. As well as saving the weekly shortfall, you will also save on household bills. Smaller properties generally cost less to heat, require less electricity and have lower water charges. Linc can help you with the move.Your Housing Officer can advise you how to find a smaller property in your preferred areas, and your Money Advisor can help you to apply for financial help with removal costs and paying the shortfall until you move. Since the Bedroom Tax was introduced many tenants have moved to escape the shortfall. Another tenant said: “I had been preparing myself for 6 months beforehand. I packed away and disposed of things I didn’t need and this helped get me in the right frame of mind.” This tenant also said that her food and travel costs have reduced significantly as she lives closer to local amenities now, and that her well-being has hugely improved. Both tenants received financial help with their moves, arranged by Linc staff. Moving isn’t for everyone but it was the best option for the tenants we have told you about here. If you are affected by the Bedroom Tax and want to discuss your options, call us on 0800 072 0966. Easy & fun Halloween games Dangling Donuts - Hang ring donuts with bits of string so they swing at head height. Children must eat their donut with their hands behind their back. Quickest eater wins! Make your own sweet apples - Fill a bowl with melted chocolate for children to dip their apple in, then they can decorate with sprinkles, raisins, candy laces and peanuts. Place finished apples on a plate in the fridge to set. Page 6 | Grapevine Autumn Money Advice Tips from the money advice team! Get help with your energy bill this winter The Warm Home Discount is back for its fourth winter. The big energy suppliers (British Gas, EDF, E.ON, N Power, Swalec and Scottish Power) and some of the smaller ones are taking part, each paying £140 to vulnerable households who are in or at risk of fuel poverty. If you are over 75 years old and getting the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit or are under 75 and getting the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit only (not Saving Credit) you will qualify and be identified automatically by your energy supplier. If you meet the criteria for the Broader Group (which varies from supplier to supplier) then you will need to apply. Payments will be made by 31st March 2015. If you are unsure if you qualify please contact Linc’s Money Advice Team, or your energy supplier, for more information. There is also a Warm Discount Scheme Helpline 0845 603 9439. Call the Money Advice Team today for advice over the phone or to arrange a home visit... 0800 072 0966 Save money on your water bill! If you have a water meter then you can reduce your bill by doing some of these things… 1. Fix leaking taps. A small leak can waste up to 20 gallons of water each day. 2. Use less water to wash by turning the shower off while you are soaping or shaving, and turning the tap off while you are brushing your teeth. 3. Make sure your dishwasher or washing machine is fully loaded for each use. Half load settings use almost as much water as standard settings. 4. Keep a bottle of water in the fridge. This avoids running the tap until the water is cold for a drink. 5. Fit a water saving device in your cistern and save up to three litres a flush. 6. Use a water butt to collect rain water for use in the garden and for washing the car. 7. When you replace household appliances, look for water efficient ones. If you’re interested in having a water meter fitted contact the Money Advice Team on the number above or Welsh Water (0800 052 0145). H C Grapevine Autumn | Page 7 Tenant News g n i n e d r a g & e n i h Suns ! e r a c a r t in ex Capel Court extra care, Newport News from Tricia Pringle, Service Manager Perkins (pictured below) has been living at " Percy Capel Court since it opened in 2007. Percy is a very keen gardener and looks after the hanging baskets and flower pots around the scheme with the support of other tenants. As well as flowers, Percy is growing tomatoes which are proving a great success. As the Service Manager at Capel Court, I think it’s so important to encourage tenants to remain as active and independent as possible and to support them with their interests. During the summer, tenants have really enjoyed making use of the garden. Percy does a great job. " Tenants and visitors often comment on how colourful and lovely the garden looks and how hard he works to keep the plants watered, especially in warm weather. Page 8 | Grapevine Autumn Tenant News Llys Glyncoed extra care, Ebbw Vale News from Jayne Williams, Service Manager It has been an enjoyable few months sitting in the garden enjoying our beautiful surroundings. " Llys Glyncoed extra care in Ebbw Vale, a group "Atof tenants look after the garden flower beds. We support this by buying flowers, shrubs and garden pots for the garden. The group recently got together to do the planting in the raised beds. One tenant said, “This has been a glorious afternoon; it has brought back the fondest memories from when I had my own garden. I have really enjoyed planting.” Glorious sunshine has helped the flowers to flourish throughout the garden and a new water feature has enhanced the tranquil atmosphere. If you have any news or photographs to share with Grapevine readers, we would love to hear from you. Email: grapevine@linc-cymru.co.uk Grapevine Autumn | Page 9 Tenant News Health & wellbeing Top Tips! Do you struggle to get to sleep? Here are some tips to try... Your bedtime routine • Go to bed and wake up the same time each day. • Ensure your room isn’t too hot or cold. Consider playing relaxing music or wear ear plugs if noise bothers you. • Take a warm bath - relaxed muscles will help you to feel sleepier. • Put down your phone, iPad or other electrical devices and read a book before you sleep. This can gently help you to switch off. Eating and exercising • Avoid drinking alcohol before you go to bed. It could wake you up later in the night. • Avoid eating food just before you go to bed. • Don't drink tea or coffee during the evenings. • Stop smoking. Nicotine can disturb your sleep and you can feel withdrawal symptoms during the night. • Regular exercise can help - short bursts throughout the day can be really effective. Relaxing your mind • Don't put pressure on yourself to fall asleep. Try deep breathing exercises. • Stop worrying and thinking of things you need to do when you’re in bed. Make notes and deal with them in the morning when you will feel much fresher. If you have tried all of these suggestions, yet still struggle with your sleep, you may be suffering with a sleep problem such as insomnia. This could require professional help so please seek advice from your doctor. Page 10 | Grapevine Autumn Health News Seasonal flu-jab - free for all carers! Shingles vaccine for 70, 78 & 79 year olds With the beautiful weather we've had this summer it's hard to imagine winter is on its way. However, it's time to start protecting ourselves against Seasonal Flu. Don’t forget that all unpaid carers are entitled to receive a free flu vaccine. The flu jab protects you, your family and the person you care for. If you are employed as a carer please ask your employer where you can be vaccinated, as they are obliged to offer you this vaccine as part of their occupational health responsibility. As well as ensuring you are vaccinated it is important the person you care for also receives their vaccination. Are you or do you care for someone aged 70, 78 and 79? If so, you or the person you care for will be invited to have the Shingles vaccine by your GP. Anyone who has had chickenpox, and at least 90% of us have, can develop shingles. It can be a very unpleasant illness and the risk of having shingles increases over 50 years. 1in 4 of us will develop shingles and 20% will go on to develop complications, the most common being neuralgia (nerve pain). Nuala Mahon, Immunisation Co-ordinator for Cardiff and the Vale University Health Board says: “Flu can be a very serious illness for anyone but especially for an elderly or vulnerable person. It can result in hospitalisation and long term incapacity. If you have ever spoken to anyone who has had “flu” they will tell you how terrible they felt, and it can take you several weeks to recover. Every surgery has a Carers Champion and must maintain a Carers Register. Speak to your GP receptionist to ensure you are included on the carers register in your surgery. " Surgeries are being encouraged to invite all carers on their register for an appointment or to advise when flu clinics are being held. If you have not received your invite by midOctober contact your surgery. A number of pharmacies in Cardiff and the Vale will once again be offering flu vaccination, watch out in the local press to find out which pharmacies are participating. Last year there was a lot of confusion regarding who was entitled to be vaccinated. The national supply of the vaccine is limited and therefore it is only available to selected age groups mentioned above. When the programme is fully established it will be offered to everyone, once they have reached their 70th Birthday. For more information contact Nuala Mahon, Immunisation Co-ordinator on 02920 336207. Grapevine Autumn | Page 11 Tenant News Linc’s Contractor Review Panel We caught up with tenants Brian Thomas and Steve Waite who are on the Contractor Review Panel with other tenants and staff... Linc recognises the importance of any work that is carried out in your home. To make sure we get it right, we hold regular Contractor Review Meetings. These meetings are attended by four members of the Tenant Panel who have an opportunity to talk to contractors, share your feedback and recommend improvements to any services provided. Steve said "Recently we met with R&M Williams Building Group to share ideas on how to get more feedback from you in order to help improve their services. At the meeting, we came up with lots of ideas.We have already taken one forward and created a large banner to take to community days and events to encourage you to talk to us and share your feedback." The group also learned of a new system that is now in place with some of the contractors. Hand held computers are now being used by some contractors to enable tenants to sign if a job has been completed. Adapting your home to meet your needs Tell us how we're doing! Tenants on the Contractor Review Panel need your help! When you receive a tenant satisfaction survey, please take the time to complete the form. Let us know your experience with our contractors. If you would like to submit your feedback but do not have a form, please contact us on 0800 072 0966 and we will send you one. Page 12 | Grapevine Autumn Could you benefit from a minor or major adaptation to your home? We have helped many tenants to enjoy the comforts of their own home by making adaptations such as... • Level access showers • Stairlifts • Hoists • Ramps • Disabled adapted kitchens • Handrails • Lever taps Call the Maintenance Team on 0800 072 0966 to find out if you're eligible for an adaptation and how much you would need to pay to service it. Tenant News 8 top tips Keeping good relationships with your neighbours 1. Introduce yourself to your neighbours to help establish good relationships 2. Avoid noisy chores like DIY or vacuuming early in the morning or late at night 3. Avoid placing TVs and speakers against shared walls or directly on floors and keep the noise to a reasonable level 4. Keep your pets under control and clean up after them promptly 5. Tell your neighbours if you are planning a party 6. Keep gardens and shared areas clean and clear of clutter 7. Respect one another’s differences 8. Treat others how you wish to be treated yourself If you are experiencing problems with a neighbour and need further support or advice, please contact us on 0800 072 0966 (Freephone) or speak to your Housing Officer. Grapevine Autumn | Page 13 Tenant News Ways to pay your rent Deciding what works best for you We try to make it as easy as possible for you to pay your rent, so offer various ways in which you can... Phone Freephone from a landline: 0800 072 0966 Standard rate charge from a mobile: 0300 123 1134 Call Allpay on 0844 557 8321 (rent card & tenant reference needed) Online Visit our website and click on the Pay your Rent button: www.linc-cymru.co.uk/pay-your-rent Contact us to set up over the phone (weekly, fortnightly, fourweekly or monthly) or download a form from our website. Standing Order Set this up with your bank. Details for payment are: Cheque / Postal Order Made payable to Linc-Cymru Housing Association (remember to write your name and tenancy address on the back) Acc number: 41291513 Sort Code: 40-16-18 HSBC, Churchill Way, Cardiff (please remember to give your tenant reference number) When to Pay your Rent Your rent is due in advance, whether you choose to pay weekly, fortnightly, four weekly or monthly. Check your Rent Account You can check your rent account balance at any time by logging into MyTenancy on the Linc website at www.linc-cymru.co.uk/log-into-your-linc-account. If you haven't logged on to this already, contact us on 0800 072 0966 for log in details. Money Advice Giving advice on benefits or grants you may be entitled to, help completing benefit claim forms and finding the cheapest energy tariffs are some of the things covered by our Money Advisors. We can do this over the telephone, at our Office or at your home. Please call us, we're here to help! Freephone from a landline: 0800 072 0966 or call from a mobile (standard rate charge): 0300 123 1134 Page 14 | Grapevine Autumn Tenant News Top tips from tenants! Interview skills & CV tips - from tenant Rachel Hinton of us are currently looking for work so I have put together a few helpful tips "Many on writing that all important CV and some useful information on Interview Skills! " Your Personal CV Your Interview Skills All CVs must include the following: Preparation is key: 1. Full Name 2. Date of Birth 3. Address 4. Contact Details (Phone and Email) 5. Educational History 6. Qualifications 7. Employment History 8. Hobbies/Interests 9. Other Relevant Info; Training, Driving Licence Presentation: This is very important! You should always use clear headings for your sections and make them easy to read. Make sure your CV is brief and to the point. Keep your CV relevant to the job that you are applying for! There are many ideas online that will help you make the best CV that suits you! Type it up, print and get sending!! When preparing for an interview you should always keep in mind the person specification for the job and link your positive attributes to key points. You need to keep calm and think positive! Prepare yourself for likely questions, time your answers and link your experiences to questions where appropriate. Sell yourself and think before you answer! First impressions always count: Dress Smart! Stay Calm! Be on time! Smile! After your interview: Think about what went well and what could have gone better then think for the future, keep focused and stay positive! If you’re unlucky keep smiling and keep on trying!! Alternatively: Volunteering is a great opportunity to gain new skills and build experience. There are many organisations that look for people who are willing to dedicate time and commitment. Start looking today! Volunteering could be your gateway to success! It looks good on any CV! Grapevine Autumn | Page 15 Tenant News Want to join our Tenant Service Testers? We're looking for new members! You’ve probably all heard about our Tenant Service Testers and the great job they are doing at testing our Service Standards. Now’s your chance to become one. WE'RE HIRING Tenant Service Testing involves working together with a team of tenants, with support from staff to do the tests. Tests can involve anything from looking at the quality of the service being tested, right through to contacting tenants to find out whether they felt that service standards had been met in their experience. To become a Tenant Service Tester you will need to undertake a range of training sessions to get you going and to make sure Tenant Service Testing is for you. It requires a range of skills that we can support you to achieve. Amongst some of the things required... You will need to be able to work as a team and make a positive contribution, working to help improve the many services You need to be able to look at information objectively and look at the evidence before coming to a conclusion You will need to sign up to a code of conduct and confidentiality agreement You will need to be able to look at a variety of services, some of which you will have limited knowledge about at first, some of which you may have lots of experience of Tenant Service Testing can take a long time. Most tests will take between 6 - 9 months to complete. It requires a lot of time and dedication. Tenant Service Testers meet during the day time, on a monthly basis (normally at our Head Office in Cardiff, although this varies depending on the type of test being carried out). We’d like more new members to come and join us so if you want to find out more or want to come along and talk to us, please contact us on 0800 072 0966. Oxygen Cylinders - Let us know if you have any in your home! Some of you may have oxygen cylinders in your home for medical use. In the event of a fire, these can represent a danger. In order that we are able to inform emergency services that there are oxygen cylinders in the home, please inform us either by calling 0800 072 0966 or telling your Maintenance Officer or Housing Officer. We do not want to remove them, we just need to know if they are in any homes for safety reasons. Page 16 | Grapevine Autumn Tenant News Registering to vote has changed! The way you register to vote has changed. You may need to take action to join a new register, even if you were registered in the past, in order to be able to vote in future. Councils have recently written to you to let you know whether you need to re-register. If you received a letter telling you that you needed to re-register, it’s important that you do so. Council electoral registration staff have been working on the biggest change to the way people register to vote in over 100 years. The transition to Individual Electoral Registration in 2014 means that everyone will register to vote individually, rather than by household as they did before. While most people will be transferred automatically to the new register, around 10% of the electorate will need to re-register. We are focused on ensuring those people have the information they need to take action. It’s important that you respond to the letter if it asks you to take action. If you weren’t registered previously, you can register at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote or by ringing your local council. You’ll need to provide your date of birth and have your National Insurance number to hand. If you want to register online but need help, please visit your local library and staff will be able to help you. For further information, please see your local council's website. Grapevine Autumn | Page 17 Tenant Information Estate Inspection Dates 2014/15 Address / Estate Bridgend C.B.C Lewistown Llangeinor Brackla Kenfig Hill Date 12.12.14 12.12.14 29.10.14 12.12.14 Neath Port Talbot C.B.C Melyn Fach 27.02.15 Danygraig 27.02.15 Llys Morfa 27.02.15 Abbots Mews 27.02.15 Llys Groeswen 27.02.15 Morrison Court 27.02.15 Caerphilly C.B.C. Hillside Ave Glebe Road Oak Tree Drive Old School Grange Parc Derwen Cwrt Llanfabon Pontypandy Borfa Place Pen-Y-Graig Cwrt Golwy Y Sianel Clos Tir Y Pwll Hilary Court 11.03.15 11.03.15 11.03.15 11.03.15 11.03.15 11.03.15 18.03.15 23.10.14 23.10.14 23.10.14 23.10.14 23.10.14 Torfaen C.B.C. Jerusalem Close Llandegfedd Way 08.10.14 08.10.14 Address / Estate Newport C.B.C. Commercial Road Albion Close Ringwood Place Constables Close Lysaghts Date 09.10.14 09.10.14 09.10.14 09.10.14 09.10.14 Blaenau Gwent C.B.C. Plantation Row 14.10.14 Pen-Y-Parc 14.10.14 Queen Street 14.10.14 Cwrt Bracty 14.10.14 Cwrt Alexandra 14.10.14 Caer Odyn 14.10.14 Ty Heulwen 14.10.14 Sirhowy 14.10.14 Cardiff Pontprennau Thornhill Penylan Pentwyn St Mellons Grangetown Trowbridge Green Ffordd James Mcghan Barrack Lane Cwrt Pen Y Bryn 13.10.14 13.10.14 13.10.14 13.10.14 09.10.14 10.10.14 10.10.14 17.10.14 17.10.14 17.10.14 Check out our website for up-to-date inspection dates in your area. Visit www.linc-cymru.co.uk/ inspections-estate Join our housing and maintenance staff on estate inspections and help us to make improvements! Issues that have been reported on previous estate inspections include... • • • • • • • Fencing & gate repairs Guttering repairs Roofing repairs Removal of rubbish Fly infestation Garden maintenance Carrying out disabled adaptation installations • Fixing solar panels • And much more! We look forward to seeing you - your help is very much appreciated! Compliments & Complaints: Customer feedback whether positive or negative helps us to continually improve our services. We value your comments and will always do our best to respond to you as quickly as possible. If you would like to make a compliment or complaint, you can contact us on 0800 072 0966 or submit your comments at www.linc-cymru.co.uk/compliments-complaints Page 18 | Grapevine Autumn Tenant Information Useful contacts Linc-Cymru Housing Association 387 Newport Road Cardiff CF24 1GG How to report a repair, pay your rent or make an enquiry If you can smell Gas: Please call the National Emergency Gas Service on 0800 111 999 (24 hour freephone) Other Useful Numbers: Citizens Advice Bureau (Wales) 0844 477 2020 National Debtline 0808 808 4000 Moneyline Cymru (a local service providing loans, savings, basic bank accounts and advice) Cardiff: 029 2034 4460 Newport: 01633 258 233 Cwmbran: 01633 877123 Pontypridd: 01443 493009 Bridgend: 01656 655592 Money Made Clear (a helpline for enquiries about financial products and services) 0300 500 5000 Electricity, Gas and Water Supply Heating or Plumbing Repairs: (Liberty Gas - 24hr) 0808 208 2432 (low cost from a landline) 0330 123 9622 (low cost from a mobile) All Other Enquiries: Customer Contact Team (office hours: Monday-Friday 8:30am-5:00pm): 0800 072 0966 (free if you are calling from a landline) 0300 123 1134 (if you use this number when you are calling from a mobile phone, you will be charged the cost of a normal phone call) Email: contact.centre@linc-cymru.co.uk Website: www.linc-cymru.co.uk Out of Hours: Emergency Repairs 0800 072 0966 (after 5pm and on To find out who your electricity supplier is please contact 0845 601 5972 weekends) To find out who your gas supplier is please contact: 0870 608 1524 Allpay To contact Welsh Water please contact: 0800 052 0145 0844 557 8321 (to pay your rent with a credit or debit card) www.linc-cymru.co.uk/pay-your-rent Grapevine Autumn | Page 19 u Are InvIted Yo Freebie for Feedback ’ s t n e d i s e R Festival 2014 s Activitliethe for al ily fam At: Newport Leisure CeNtre on: sAturDAY 11 oCtoBer, 11am-3pm Residents’ Festival 2014 Please bring me to the festival and hand me into registration to be entered into the prize draw. name: __________________________________________________ Address: ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ _______________________ ____________________________ ______________________________________________________ Who is your landlord? _____________________________________ In partnership with www.linc-cymru.co.uk