Monday 28 April 2014

Instagram that breeze block!

I’ve been having fun with Cadwyn’s newest development, a regeneration project for the local shopping parade in Pentrebane, a close knit residential area in the west of Cardiff. As well as setting up the targeted recruitment and training for the site, I’ve been experimenting with using social media and a blog to bring the development to life for local people.

I had the idea for this after my kids were fortunate enough to have a brand new school built for them last year. They were pretty excited about this, but apart from one site visit and the obligatory Ivor Goodsite poster homework assignment, they ended up not really feeling involved in the project at all. This didn’t stop them bombarding me with questions every time we walked past - questions about what was happening with that machine, and why, and how would they get the roof on, and how many bricks did I think would be needed all together, and did the person driving the digger need a special licence, and on, and on, and on….Some of these questions I could (sort of) answer, but for most of them I did what any self respecting parent does these days and relied on Google, and the site project’s occasional twitter feed.

This got me thinking that while there are obvious limitations to opening up actual building sites – health and safety, time, logistics, to name just a few – the internet and social media offers a big opportunity to do the next best thing by acting as a window onto the development. What I didn’t realise then was that I’d have the chance to put my money where my mouth is a year or so later…so, based on my modus operandi of assuming that anything is allowed unless someone specifically tells me it’s not, I’ve been busy getting Beechley Drive a social media identity!

This is what I’ve done so far…

Beechley Drive Blog - the development brief from Cardiff Council included a requirement to set up a website to keep the local community informed of site developments. I really wanted this to be more than a static website with a one way flow of information that nobody would ever return to a second time, so I’ve worked with Cadwyn’s Web Officer to set up a simple WordPress site, which has the required corporate boxes ticked (logos of funding partners, project timeline) but which also offers a more friendly voice to the development, with blog posts written in a (hopefully) chatty and informative tone. I’ve left comments enabled throughout the site in the hope that folk will interact with the site and suggest/contribute further content, and I’m also talking to the local schools about the children taking over parts of the blog, perhaps posting interviews with longtime residents, or other class projects related to the site.

Beechley Drive Facebook Page - the Pentrebane community already makes good use of Facebook with various groups set up for local residents, school parents, Communities First projects and so forth, so I am hoping that a FB page will offer a quick and easy window onto the development, but also of course be a forum for local residents to ask questions, raise concerns, and make suggestions. It’s also an easy way of sharing blog posts and project photos, and driving engagement to the website itself.

Beechley Drive Twitter Feed - I’m envisaging that most of the interaction with local residents will be via Facebook, because of the strong groups that already exist there. However, using Twitter gives us an opportunity to talk with people who don’t use Facebook – and also I think a more effective way of sharing what we’re doing with stakeholders and organisations who are not necessarily local.

Beechley Drive Instagram Feed - the Instagram feed itself does not have much traction; however, I’m using it primarily in conjunction with Facebook and Twitter to share photos and comments as the site progresses. The Instagram feed is also linked to the website, which means that even if there is a quiet week as far as the blog goes, there’ll be new content on the site to draw people back.






It’s early days for all of the above, and now the big challenge becomes keeping the website and social media channels feeling fresh and worth following; and of course to promote and encourage interaction so that this does not just become a one way stream of information blasted meaninglessly into the ether. This will be very much a learning process, and I’m sure there’ll be stuff that goes wrong. I would welcome advice and pointers from anyone who’s done anything similar!

I’ll be blogging progress and lessons learnt (and more than likely the occasional mistake) along the way, so please feel free to join me on the journey!

Michelle Davis
Targeted Recruitment and Training, Cadwyn HA

Thursday 17 April 2014

Your Big Book of Benefits

It was with mounting trepidation that I approached Llandrindod for the launch of Your Big Book of Benefits on 9 April. It was great to have the chance to explain myself and the book at CHC’s Welfare Reform Strategic Day and to witness Paul Langley’s shameless sales techniques, but thought I would explain a bit more about the book in this blog post.

Your Benefits are Changing is a way of acting together and I was delighted to join with the campaign to do something practical. The YBAC team liked our Big Book of Benefits and Mental Health for its practical toolkit content and friendly informal approach to give people the tools and knowledge to make a difference.

Your Big Book of Benefits is a broader, more comprehensive and more generic version of that same approach. Beneath its friendly cover – alternative suggestions included ‘Don’t Panic’ – there lurks 400 pages. BUT be not afraid – this is most definitely not a tome for the expert only.

Within it you will find full but simple explanations, practical page by page advice for filling in some of the trickier forms, sample completed forms, what to do next, Ten Top Tips, Benefits family trees (and I mean actual trees… well, pictures anyway) and case studies of a slightly mystical bent – Gandalf, Merlin and Hagrid all feature.

At the beginning you will find a useful overview of the system and the changes and a simple three step suggestion – with examples – as to how to navigate the complexities of an ever changing landscape of some 50 benefits.

This book is for the non expert with no prior knowledge assumed. It’s for housing officers and support workers, and tenants themselves. Of course, in this its first year, there may be the odd rough edge or something you feel could be better explained. If you have a comment, suggestion, spot an error, want to say what could be dropped or ought to be included, please let us know. There’s a feedback form in the back to make Your Big Book of Benefits truly yours.

And it’s not just a book! Dates will shortly be announced for a summer run of training days linked to (and using) Your Big Book. If you’ve read the book, why not see it live?

It’s been heavy going at times, with much cursing of Windows and Publisher 2013 in the wee small hours as .pdfs didn’t quite do their thing. However, though full of the ‘if only I had time to do this’ or ‘tweak that’ doubts of an anxious new parent, I allow myself some pleasure and small pride that it has got here.

I hope you and Your Big Book will be very happy together and that you can make a real difference in troubled times.

You can order your copy here

So long and good luck!


Tom Messere
Author of Your Big Book of Benefits

Monday 14 April 2014

Welcome, Tomos!



I started at CHC in March 2014 as Energy and Sustainability Officer whilst Shea Jones is on sabbatical leave for six months. 

One of my primary aims over the next few months is to work with CHC's members to develop our EU Energy Funding bid and new partnerships. 

As part of my role, I oversee the Technical Services Forum, Social Housing Fire Safety Strategy Group and Energy Group. Over the course of the next six months, I will keep CHC members up to date with developments on the Future Generations and Housing Bills, as well as every changing policy development within energy, sustainability and fire safety. 

The most challenging aspect of my role will be to develop our EU Energy Funding bid proposal whilst also keeping myself and members informed of UK, Welsh Government and European energy and sustainability policies and developments. What I hope to enjoy most in the next few months is being re-acquainted with staff working in HAs across Wales, learning new skills and experiences. 


Tomos Davies
Energy and Sustainability Officer

Wednesday 2 April 2014

Cycle4Nik – A Life Changing Weekend

The statistics below can be used to describe our cycle4Nik experience from North to South Wales over St David’s Day 2014 weekend:
  • 14 hours cycled
  • 3 days 
  • 182 miles
  • 2.6 miles climbed 
  • 12,070 calories burnt 
  • 15 full cyclists 
  • 26 individual stage cyclists 
  • £12,000 raised.





Pictures also tell their own story. 


However, I hope my few words will also add a different dimension to the ones above.

It was an epic weekend full of amazing memories, stunning scenery, challenging climbs and loads of laughs.

It had taken 4 months to plan and was Gareth Cole's idea, who works at the Seren Group. He suggested cycling from North to South Wales to raise funds for a former member of staff who has a rare form of cancer... and it snowballed from there. A frantic couple of months then ensued which saw budgets sorted, route agreed, accommodation and transport booked, a race night organised to generate more funds and lots of marketing and promoting of the ride. The support from the sector was immense. Lots of people were up for the ride and HAs also wanted to support us through sponsoring or helping out with refreshments en route. We couldn’t have done this without their support.

So we had a team, we had a route (which proved one of the most hardest things to sort) – and now we had to train. 30 December saw our first group ride and we experienced gales, driving rain and a massive ascent up Lyngynidor mountain to finish us off. I can remember the look on everyone’s faces as we all clambered back into our cars. They were not happy faces.

And so it continued. Week after week, regular weekend training rides. We were all busy. We all had full time jobs, families, other priorities, but there was not one member of the team that did not take part in any group ride – such was the commitment of the team. I can recall out of 10 weeks of training that there were only two sunny days. We cycled in snow, ice, driving rain, 40 mph winds against us and hailstones – but it did make us stronger. I know that the North Wales team also made it out on a number of training rides.

We were really sorry to lose Tony Clark from Monmouthshire Housing who broke his hip ball joint on an icy training ride, and also Sean Davey (UES Energy) had to pull out in the final week due to a serious health scare (he is now thankfully OK).

After many miles of training, we were ready to set off and we left Newport with the knowledge that severe yellow weather warnings were in place for North Wales – our day 1 start. If ever we needed the weather gods to be kind to us, it was now.

We all awoke on Day 1 to find the amazing sight of no snow and glorious sun. Yes – our prayers had been answered. Final checks to our bikes and a few words of thanks and final route plans took place, and then we were off. I remember looking at Gareth as we started with 31 riders and thinking - yes, this was really happening – we both smiled knowing that after all the months of planning, we were about to start our amazing journey. It was great to ride off with the North Wales team and others from Mid Wales HA and CT Clwyd. The day was full of stunning views, one steep climb and lots of smiles. We all finished the ride with just one puncture and celebrated in the Royal Ship Inn with a pint (or two).

Day 2 saw the only day rider from Mid Wales HA join us for what was going to be one of the most challenging rides we had all faced. Our breakfast had barely had a chance to go down when we were climbing half a mile into the start of the ride. That was tough. We then faced the longest climb up a snow topped mountain. That was lung busting. And to finish us off, another three hours of big climbs and few descents on a cycle route back to Llandrindod Wells. When hardened cyclists remarked that they found that day one of the most difficult rides they had cycled, it made the aches and pains a little easier. It also made the Stella go down easier too!

Day 3 saw driving rain and harsh winds welcoming us for our last day, along with three full day riders. They were horrible conditions but it was fitting that we had trained all winter – why shouldn’t we finish off the ride in rain and gales? This was our longest day and we faced Lyngynidor mountain again before our lunch stop. We all found it hard, but again completed it and knew that it was literally downhill all the way to Newport. We were joined for the final 26 miles by a further 10 cyclists and it was an amazing feeling to see the long peloton of cyclists all focused on getting to Newport. These last 26 miles should have been the most straightforward route of the three days, but somehow we lost a few cyclists and someone also came off – maybe it was just the adrenalin and knowing that the finish was in sight. I have to mention Richard Thomas from Cardiff Care & Repair  – he got lost and I took a call from him saying “I lost you all but managed to find Bannatynes. I’m hiding behind a tree – I’ll come out when I see you coming!”. That was a funny moment.

And so we ended our journey at Bannatynes Newport at 4.30pm on 2 March where we were noisily and proudly greeted by friends and family. The sense of achievement at what we had actually achieved was so overwhelming. We had cycled from North to South Wales for Nik and raised £12,000. Her dad (Terry) was there to meet us and he moved us all to tears with his words about his daughter and what we had done for her. Truly unforgettable.

Reflecting on the journey, team members have written messages for Nik. Here are two of my favorites which encapsulate how we all feel:

Nik, without realising, you’ve changed our lives and made us better people. Thank you so much.

It was an honour to be able to ride for you from North to South Wales. Having not met you but hearing the kind words people have said about you and the impact you have had upon their lives made this challenge special. It was a pleasure to be part of the experience.

So what is the legacy of the ride? Well, over £12,000 was raised and will be handed to the Hope for Nik fund this month. This money will be used to help support Nik and her family. North Wales HA are setting up their own bike club. Mid Wales HA are also looking to do regular rides, and the South Wales team are planning more rides and social events. The Cycle4Nik journey didn’t stop on 2 March... it has simply continued.

On behalf of the Cycle4nik team, thank you everyone for your support, good wishes and generosity.


Phillipa Knowles
Director of Central Services
Community Housing Cymru Group