Tenant Talks Spring 2022

A lot has changed since our last set of Tenant Talks events. We have increased the number of staff at the organisation who help tenants in both north and south Wales whilst also challenging ourselves to deliver more information and resources on the environment, energy, money and Health and Wellbeing.

Climate change & decarbonisation

FCHA has had a lot of work done to the organisation as a whole when it comes to decarbonisation. 2 of our staff received carbon literacy training which we passed onto Tenants during these tenant talks.

Lots of aspects were covered including:

1. What is the greenhouse effect?

2. Greenhouse gases and what the sources are

3. What is a carbon footprint?

4. What does zero carbon mean?

5. What FCHA are doing to reduce their carbon footprint?

By informing tenants on the above, we can help them understand what in their household produces greenhouse gases and it gave them a foundation for the next part of the Tenants Talk, which was energy saving tips.

Money & energy saving tips

Energy prices are on the rise so FCHA thought it was appropriate to provide tenants with some energy saving advice. This information was already provided in the Newsletter that was delivered to all tenants and is also available on our website as a blog, just click here.

The energy tips given were a success! Some tenants already practised some of the tips provided in the session, such as having energy saving bulbs and only boiling the water you need in the kettle.

But they said that the other tips provided were very easy to implement and will start doing these more often.

Raffle

In North Wales as part of a Healthy Eating drive, our Housing Manager Maureen created 3 fruit baskets that went down a treat! In the South, Chocolates were handed out as prizes and the whole raffle was a success.

National Trust and future events

As part of our Health and Wellbeing drive in 2022 the National Trust provided us with a special pass allowing First Choice Tenants to visit any National Trust site in Wales free of charge. This pass allows up to 50 people to attend any National Trust site for a number of activities until November 2022. You can read more about it by clicking here.

Tenants were very excited to be provided with an opportunity like this and there are plans for some visits this year already!

Renting Homes Act

A new act to be implemented in July 2022 will change every tenants’ Tenancy Agreement to an Occupancy Contract. We provided tenants with information about what that will mean for them going forward after July and ensured that all Tenants will have to sign and return the new contracts to FCHA in the post.

More information will be provided closer to the date as well as a blog which will be linked here.

Community Involvement Grant

FCHA's community involvement grant is to benefit tenants and the communities that they live in. Tenants were given information as to how to apply for a community involvement grant which is a fund that FCHA can provide for more equipment, helping with partnerships or to help fund local community volunteer groups that tenants are a part of.

Tenants Voice newsletter

Finally, we talked about our Tenants’ Voice newsletter and spoke to tenants about how they can get involved in contributing stories, hobbies and recipes to share with other First Choice tenants.

These newsletters are given to every property at FCHA so we provided information about how to send us a story and mentioned that there is a prize for the best story in every newsletter!

The next Newsletter is due in July so keep your eyes peeled for the stories from tenants at this season's Tenant Talks.

Gig Buddies

A special guest was at our Tenants Talk in north Wales. Gig Buddies Cymru made an appearance with their stall to provide information about their project and to provide opportunities for FCHA Tenants in North Wales to meet a Gig Buddy and go to events with a new friend!

A Gig Buddy is a volunteer who shares the same interests in music and hobbies as you. They can go to gigs and events with you that are sometimes hard to get to.

Veteran Spring Social 2022

2022 is a big year for First Choice Housing Association, with an important drive to improve health and wellbeing for all Tenants and staff. With this in mind, we hosted a wellbeing event for ex-Armed Forces Tenants in North Wales, plus their family and friends.

The 'Ty Ryan Spring Social' was an opportunity to bring those living at the scheme together with support networks and local services for an afternoon of socialising, pizza eating, and free haircuts. We hoped that the afternoon would support a community feel at the scheme and promote an increased sense of belonging for all.

The 'Ty Ryan Spring Social' was jointly funded by The Armed Forces Covenant and our own Community Involvement Grant. We met the following objectives of The Armed Forces Covenant Grant:

• To support members of the Armed Forces Community (AFC); • To support community integration for members of the AFC; • To improve/support health and wellbeing of the AFC; • To reduce isolation for members of the AFC; • To support any local initiatives for the AFC.

"The Chop Box", a mobile barbering initiative, had some really positive health and wellbeing benefits for Tenants. Lots of people took the opportunity to have some 'me time' in the barbers chair. For some people, it was the first professional haircut they had had in a long time and, with The Chop Box being local to Wrexham, Tenants took away contact details so that they can make use of the service in the future.

Jordy's Pizza brought their wood fired pizza pickup to provide fresh pizzas for Tenants and their support networks. With 4 different kinds of pizza available, everyone had full stomachs at the end of the day!

We were over the moon to see so many people join in at the 'Ty Ryan Spring Social' - not even the cold and wet weather stopped us. It not only gave Tenants an opportunity to socialise with each other, but also with us as their Housing Association and other support services in the area, such as Woody's Lodge, Help for Heroes, and Wrexham Citizens Advice.

6 reasons to visit a National Trust site this year

We have been awarded a special pass from the National Trust that will allow First Choice Tenants to visit any National Trust site in Wales free of charge. You don’t even need to pay for your parking! This pass allows groups of up to 50 people to attend any National Trust site.

Here are 6 reasons why First Choice Tenants should visit a National Trust site before the offer expires in November.

First Choice have the pass available for all tenants across Wales, Shropshire and Telford, so please contact if you are interested!

Email: customerserivces@fcha.org.uk

Phone: 029 2070 3758

1. To help with your exercise or wellbeing goals.

Whether you want to get out in the fresh air more or to see how far you can push yourself on a walk, the National Trust sites are the perfect place to do that!

Walking keeps our bodies and minds healthy, giving us a breather from the stresses of daily life and the space to gather our thoughts. Exploring open countryside also brings us closer to nature, giving us time to notice what being outdoors has to offer. You can read more about the health and wellbeing benefits here.

2. Creating or joining a group for Photography or Wildlife Spotting

If you enjoy taking photographs or love to spot wildlife, the National Trust sites are definitely some of the best places to put your hobby into practice.

The scenic routes throughout Wales might inspire you to get your cameras out and take photographs. Maybe of the sun breaking through the trees, or taking a selfie in front of the rolling Welsh hills.

We know there were many Tenants who took part in the Big Garden Birdwatch event in 2021. Tenants made a note of all of the birds they spotted nibbling at their bird feeders in the Autumn. Now is the perfect opportunity to take those new bird spotting skills out into the countryside!

3. To meet friends and family outdoors.

Up to 50 people are allowed to attend the National Trust sites so why not take your family and friends? There are some lovely places for a cup of tea or a picnic.

This is a fantastic opportunity for your loved ones too! COVID-19 has stopped us all from doing the things we enjoy and seeing the people we care about. Using the National Trust pass is a good way of bringing people together.

4. To learn about the history of the site.

Some of the National Trust sites are home to some of the most beautiful buildings in the UK. There are many opportunities for you to take a guided tour to learn more about the history of the place.

Each tour doesn't take long and will help you understand what these buildings were used for many years ago. You can also walk through the gardens and beside the rivers.

5. To join in with some volunteering.

Help look after a community garden, allotment and orchard by joining the Friends of Felin volunteering group. Sessions run every second Saturday of the month and welcomes anyone from aged 14 and above. Join one of National Trusts' clean ups and help give the estate a good tidy up by collecting rubbish and checking for any damage to the signs and gates. If you’ve joined one of their active groups, take things one step further and help out on sports volunteering days, where you can help to restore the pathways to ensure they are fit or many more trainers to walk, run and jog along in the future. If you’re looking for a great way to spend your time, there are a range of regular volunteering opportunities, from welcoming visitors in the house to outdoor conservation in the garden and on the estate.

6. Because more and more sites are accessible!

Although some of the walks may be more difficult if you have issues with your mobility, a lot of parks are improving their accessibility. This means that Tenants with wheelchair requirements and other needs will have access to a number of these beautiful sites. Why not use the pass to experience what’s on offer?

If you search on the internet for a National Trust property or site, you will find their ‘Access Statement’ on their website. These Access Statements help people to understand the facilities available and help people to make their own decisions about visiting. The National Trust is developing their accessibility and making improvements. This means that more people with a disability should be able to enjoy the sites and have a more positive experience.

If you feel like some exercise, you can find a full list of the National Trust accessible walks here: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/features/our-top-accessible-walks

So which of the 6 reasons are you most interested in? Let us know!

Email: customerserivces@fcha.org.uk

Phone: 029 2070 3758