A new housing · share on social networking sites and blog posts from CHC, CIH Cymru and Monmouthshire Housing. We’ve always said that housing associations provide far more than

PUBLISHED BY THE COMMUNITY HOUSING CYMRU GROUP

October | November 2014

www.chcymru.org.uk

FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE

Universal Credit –an update

Welcome to Wales,Stuart!

A year in the life ofBuilding Enterprise

Leading the learning

–– p7–– p5 –– p6–– p2

WELFARE REFORM BUILDING ENTERPRISE EMPLOYMENT AND SKILLS

A new housing minister p3

2 October | November edition

Produced by:

Community Housing

Cymru Group

2 Ocean Way

Cardiff

CF24 5TG

029 2067 4800

Designed by Arts Factory

Editor:

Bethan Davies, CHC Group

tMr rr@Beth_CHC

Sub Editor:

Edwina O’Hart, CHC Group

tMr rr@EdwinaOHart

Contributors:

Sarah Harris, CHC Group

Amanda Oliver, CHC Group

Stuart Ropke, CHC Group

Anthony Hearn, Building

Enterprise

Michelle Davis, Cadwyn HA

Chris Jones, Care & Repair

Cymru

Lesley Griffiths AM,

Minister for Communities

and Tackling Poverty

Welsh Government

CommunityHousing Cymru

Group

CHCymru

CHCEvents

I absolutely believe that the provision of

truly affordable, good quality housing is at

the heart of a sustainable economy and a

fair society. As the constitutional tremors are

felt in the wake of Scotland’s referendum,

we need to shout louder still for not-for-

profit housing and care providers in Wales

and our vital role in the Wales of the future.

The integration of health, care and other

public services with housing as the keystone

provide many of the answers to the social

and fiscal challenges we may face in a

‘devo-max’ world. If ever there was a time

to be ambitious in our vision for the future,

it is now.

When former Welsh Secretary Ron Davies

said in 1999, ‘Devolution is a process, not

an event’, he clearly had not factored in

the impact of a narrow ‘No’ in a Scottish

Independence vote. As the English regions

wake up to the opportunities of devolution

and increased fiscal powers, Wales cannot

opt out of this debate. It’s not just the

politicians who must play a role. The

whole of civil society and communities

across the country have a part to play and

CHC has a vital role to ensure that your

voice is heard loud and clear.

While there is much change ahead, I am

joining an organisation with solid

foundations. I’d like to pay tribute to both

my predecessor, Nick Bennett, and to

Sioned Hughes who has been Interim

Chief Executive for the last three months.

Alongside a committed team, they’ve

delivered concrete benefits and change for

members in crucial areas such as regulation,

investment, regeneration and welfare

reform. That work will continue.

I want to lead an organisation that is open,

transparent and accessible to its members.

An organisation which understands the

sector it represents because it has listened

to what they have to say. But also, an

organisation that is not scared to lead and

challenge when required. I look forward to

meeting as many of you as possible in the

coming months and hearing more about

your priorities and ambitions.

Stuart Ropke Mrr@Stuart_CHC

CHC Group Chief Executive

Welcometo Wales,Stuart!

FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE

It’s been a long three months since my appointment as Group

Chief Executive of Community Housing Cymru and I can’t wait to

get started. The opportunity to return to Wales and make the

case for not-for-profit housing, care and regeneration and, just as

importantly, champion the communities you serve was too

important and exciting to pass by.

3

Housing is, and always has been, at the heart of

our Programme for Government. It is also at the

heart of my commitment to my new portfolio as

Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty.

POLITICS

A new housingminister

My responsibilities are wide ranging but with a very clear

focus on the most disadvantaged communities and

making a difference for the people who live in them.

I know some have questioned why ‘housing’ isn’t stated

in my title. However, I believe that my new portfolio

should be judged by our ambitions and achievements,

rather than simply by its name.

My predecessor, Carl Sargeant, made a big difference

during his time as Minister, particularly in relation to

bringing in new legislation, touching many areas of

housing policy. I will continue the theme by introducing

the Renting Homes (Wales) Bill. This is a significant piece

of legislation that will simplify outdated property law and

help to address issues such as tackling anti-social

behaviour and domestic violence.

However, my delivery agenda is about much more than

legislation. I am determined to maximise the economic

and social benefits associated with building more homes.

Housing supply is a big issue. I want to ensure that we

deliver our target of building 10,000 affordable homes

during this Government’s term of office.

Also important is my commitment to tenants in the

existing housing stock. There will be no slacking as we

move towards our 2020 target for implementing the

Welsh Housing Quality Standard.

I am aware of the pressures arising from the squeeze on

budgets – not just in housing, but right across my portfolio.

I remain very concerned about the impacts of welfare

reform on our poorest and most vulnerable communities

across Wales. Housing associations add value through

employment support, providing opportunities, helping the

financially excluded and supporting their most vulnerable

tenants. I am confident that we will work well together as

we try to overcome these and other challenges.

I am also aware of the concerns about our programme of

Local Government reform. I understand those concerns

and want to discuss these changes with housing

associations. I know you will have a lot to say about how

services can best be delivered on the ground through

well-governed and well-run associations.

I very much look forward to working with you to deliver

for our communities in this essential element of our

Programme for Government.

Lesley Griffiths AM Mrr@WelshGovernment

Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty

I want to ensure that we

deliver our target of building

10,000 affordable homes

during this Government’s

term of office.

“

“

CAMPAIGNING


Support your high street

As part of the campaign, High Street Week saw shops and

businesses all over Wales put our nation’s high streets in

the spotlight with multiple activities.

Running from 20-27 September, it was supported by

partners across Wales including retailers, local authorities,

housing associations, the Federation of Small Businesses

and Welsh Retail Consortium.

It encouraged people to visit their high street and enjoy

and explore the vast range of services on their doorstep

through events including a family day at Pontypool Indoor

Market, food festivals in Neath and Mold and a treasure

hunt in Lampeter.

A Facebook and Twitter campaign saw social media users

share a supporting 'Thunderclap' message on day one of

High Street Week. The message, which went out across

Twitter and Facebook at 11am on 20 September, was seen

simultaneously by more than 274,000 people.

During the week, the Minister for Communities and

Tackling Poverty, Lesley Griffiths, who has responsibility

for housing and regeneration, visited local businesses in

Blaenavon. She also met children from Blaenavon

Heritage Voluntary Controlled School who had taken part

in a competition to design a poster for High Street Week,

including the overall competition winner, India Smith.

The Minister said: “It was good to see so many retailers

supporting High Street Week. The events on offer across

Wales really showcased the huge range of services

offered on Welsh high streets and the amazing

communities they serve.”

The Support Your High Street campaign complements the

work Welsh Government is doing with local authorities

and their partners, including housing associations, to

increase the supply of housing.

Housing associations were heavily involved during the week

and worked in partnership to run high street events as well

as supporting the campaign on social networking sites.

A number of projects funded by the Welsh Government’s

Vibrant and Viable Places Tackling Poverty Fund are

helping to increase the number of homes available by

bringing unused space above shops back into use as

homes in high streets and town centres. Not only does

this boost the number of people living in town centres, it

also encourages and develops a lively night time economy.

The Welsh Government will continue to work with

housing associations, local authorities and businesses to

sustain and develop Welsh high streets and the unique

range of services they offer.

Welsh Government Mrr@WelshGovernment

This summer, the Welsh Government launched its Support Your High Street campaign.

A key action in its Vibrant and Viable Places regeneration framework, the campaign

celebrated the valuable contribution our busy high streets make to the Welsh economy,

as well as the vital role they play in community life.

5

EMPLOYMENT AND SKILLS

Leading the learning in Wales

CHC ran its first ever

Employment and Skills

Week in conjunction with

CIH Cymru and NIACE

Cymru last month.

Our main aim was to demonstrate that the social housing

sector is leading the learning and helping Welsh tenants

to gain valuable skills, learning and apprenticeship

opportunities right across Wales. It was also an opportunity

to shout about the sector as a great place to work. ‘Think

career – think housing!’

We produced an information pack for the week as well as

a jam-packed good practice guide, relevant statistics to

share on social networking sites and blog posts from CHC,

CIH Cymru and Monmouthshire Housing.

We’ve always said that housing associations provide far

more than bricks and mortar, and Employment and Skills

Week proved this yet again.

We had 5 key messages for the week:

• The housing sector is a partner of choice

• We are a sector that can deliver

• We provide more than bricks and mortar

• Our sector is a key lever for employment and

regeneration/enterprise

• Our people are innovative and have a ‘can do’ attitude

We asked the sector for examples of how they’re

contributing to the employment and skills agenda in

Wales and had a phenomenal response. From

apprenticeships to job swaps to digital inclusion initiatives

to employment fayres, the sector is proving that its remit

extends way beyond housing.

Our promotional material for Employment and Skills

Week embodied everything we wanted to achieve during

the week thanks to input from members:

We want to make affordable housing a key lever

for employmentInvesting in housing has the dual impact of improving

people’s lives and stimulating economic recovery. For

every full time person employed in the sector, two other

jobs are supported within the Welsh economy.

We want to move more people into work by

addressing low skills levelsOur members are working with a range of partners

including Welsh Government’s LIFT programme, The

Coalfield Regeneration’s Family Employment Initiative,

Jobs Growth Wales and many more to address this issue.

We need to ensure that tenants are able to find

and remain in employment by improving access to

digital services and adviceDigital exclusion is often a barrier to entry into work. With

the introduction of Universal Credit, there is a real

urgency to ensure that tenants are able to access the

online system and are able to search for jobs online.

We want more recognition of the resilience,

expertise and talent of our housing professionalsThe CIH Frontline Futures report demonstrates the diverse

range of jobs and career opportunities that housing offers

its professionals. According to CHC’s recent HR

benchmarking survey, the average spend per employee

was £676 compared to the CIPD average of £303.

The sector provides a key lever for employment and is a

partner of choice. Most importantly, we’re making a real

difference to the tenants and communities we serve.

Bethan Davies twtwMrr@Beth_CHC

Communications Officer

BUILDING ENTERPRISE


A year in the life ofBuilding EnterpriseIt’s been just over a year since we launched the Building Enterprise project at theNational Eisteddfod. Building Enterprise is a 2 year project led by CHC and funded byWEFO. The project supports social enterprises and RSLs to partner and encourage newbusiness models that will create and anchor wealth in disadvantaged communities, as wellas locking the Welsh pound into Welsh communities. The team has had a busy year…

First package of support approved,

providing professional advice to both

an established social enterprise and

an RSL, to enable them to explore

further joint working including the

creation of a new social enterprise.

Six new organisations requesting

support assessed and plans

developed for them to access the

Framework Providers.

Building Enterprise has identified

some common themes or issues that

social enterprises and RSLs face in

working better together such as social

clauses in procurement and community

engagement, and are working on

ways to address these.

CMI International has been

commissioned to carry out a series of

interviews and events to capture,

learn and disseminate the

experiences and practices of

organisations participating in the

programme.

A further six organisations have

support applications processed, and

planning is underway for events to

address common issues. The project

also received a successful full audit

from WEFO.

Building Enterprise sponsored

‘fesTYval’, aimed at practitioners,

community members and decision

makers. In partnership with Bangor

University and CHC, we explored a

range of issues related to regeneration

and community engagement.

First meetings for the learning

programme took place and four more

organisations received support from

Framework providers.

First new social enterprise created as

a result of Building Enterprise

support. The exciting new venture

will provide the opportunity to create

several jobs and provide a template

for other organisations to follow.

Building Enterprise supports national

Social Saturday event which

encourages people to support local

social enterprises. Tender is launched

for mid and final term review of the

project.

Project is meeting all planned targets

and scheduled to meet with new

organisations seeking support. Work

will commence on mid-term

evaluation of project.

Networking event planned for North

Wales to address common issues

arising through the project, and to

provide an opportunity for those

receiving support to share their

experiences.

In the build up to Christmas we will

be ensuring that the project is on

track to meet its targets and planning

the final phase of the programme in

the New Year. We will also have the

official launch of a large new social

enterprise.

January February March

April May June

July August September

October November December

Anthony Hearn twtMrr@AdeiladuMenter

Project Commissioner and Coordinator

7

WELFARE REFORM

Acceleratedrollout ofUniversal Credit

This marks a significant acceleration in one of the UK

Government’s biggest reforms. The expansion will be for

new claims from single jobseekers.

Further information can be found on the DWP’s website:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/plans-

announced-for-accelerated-rollout-of-universal-credit-

after-success-in-north-west

ConsultationsThe DWP has been consulting on two important proposals

surrounding Universal Credit. CHC has responded to both

and has encouraged members to do so too.

Universal Credit ‘Waiting Days’The change would mean that claimants who are expected

to be looking for full time work would have to wait seven

days before they become entitled to Universal Credit. This

is in addition to the month and seven days that claimants

currently wait between making a Universal Credit claim

and receiving their first payment.

The policy will apply to claims for Job Seeker’s Allowance

and Employment and Support Allowance from the end of

October. However, the impact is greater for Universal

Credit claimants as it will apply to their whole award,

including the housing and child elements. It is proposed

that the changes will come into force in April 2015. The

proposal includes exemptions for various groups such as

those who are terminally ill, care leavers, or recent

victims of domestic violence, to name a few.

Full details of the consultation are available on the UK

Government’s website: http://bit.ly/1ysAkzV

Universal Credit and data sharingThe DWP is also consulting on changes that will allow

information to be shared with social landlords about

Universal Credit claims. The proposals would mean that

landlords would find out when their tenants are moving

onto Universal Credit.

The lack of data sharing arrangements within Universal

Credit has been a real concern for housing associations so

this is a positive step. We have been working alongside

associations and the National Housing Federation to

engage with the DWP on this issue and push for changes.

The proposals outlined in the consultation document

would allow the DWP to share information with social

landlords to identify any tenant who has made a claim for

Universal Credit which includes housing costs or who is

already a Universal Credit recipient with housing costs.

Information would be shared for the purpose of allowing

social landlords to assess and provide the appropriate

advice and support in relation to managing personal

finances. The information shared would be limited and

would likely include the claimant’s name, address and

date of Universal Credit claim.

The full consultation document, including the draft

regulations, can be found on the UK Government’s

website: http://bit.ly/XuwVPK

For further information please contact Paul Langley,

Senior Money Advisor.

Mrr@paul_chc

Last month, the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) announced that Universal

Credit will be rolled out to all Job Centres and local authorities across the country from

early next year.


NEWS

Draft Budget Announced

This phase of the Your Benefits are Changing campaign,

which was funded by the Oak Foundation and CHC, is now

coming to an end. The year-long campaign included a

television advert for ‘Don’t get bitten by loan sharks’, an

advertising campaign including newspaper, radio, bus and

social media advertising, a Big Book of Benefits launch, a

video on Universal Credit and a Budget Bus tour.

Almost forty additional organisations have signed up to

support the campaign over the last year, bringing the

total number to 102.

The website has had an average of 6,500 visits per month

with a quarter of all traffic coming from social media

channels (YouTube, Facebook and Twitter). 1,412 advice

cases have been opened via the advice line with a further

589 opened as a result of the Budget Bus tour.

Those advised are collectively over £400,000 better off as

a result of the advice they’ve been given, and 70% claim

to be online.

YBAC also partnered with Bacs Payment Schemes Limited

to encourage tenants to sign up to pay their rent via

Direct Debit. 18 associations have signed up to promote

this initiative to their tenants, one of whom will win

£2,000 in love2shop vouchers before Christmas.

CHC’s PR Network is working on campaign messages for

the next phase following the news that Universal Credit

rollout is to be accelerated.

An update on the YBAC campaign

Welsh Government recently announced its draft budget for the financial year 2015/16.

While housing related lines within the Welsh budget represent less than 5% of the

overall budget, housing is to receive £32m of the additional £100m capital funding

investment for 2015/16 – almost a third.

Key headlines:

Social Housing Grant:£62m for 2015/16 plus £10m to extend

the Affordable Housing Land Scheme.

Additional Capital allocations

amounting to £32 in 2015/16 mean

that investment in housing from this

budget is £94m.

Other capital investment includes:£5m to support the Town Centre

Loans Scheme

£5m funding for the Home

Improvement Loan scheme

£10m for Houses into Homes

£2m for Gypsy and Traveller Sites

Programme

Supporting People:The Supporting People Programme has

received a 4.3% cut which sees the

budget fall to £124.4m in 2015/16.

Care & Repair:Revenue budget has been cut by 2.9%

from £4,623,000 in 2014/15 to

£4,488,000 in 2015/16.

RRAP (Rapid Response Adaptation

Programme) Capital has remained

untouched at £1,641,000 for 2015/16.

To read the CHC Group response, please visit:

http://chcymru.org.uk/en/view-news/welsh-

government-announce-draft-budget

9

NEWS IN BRIEF

Welsh housingassociations committo good governance

Nia takes up postNia Griffiths has taken up her post

as the Director of CREW

Regeneration Wales. Nia, who was

Head of the LEADER

Implementation 2014-2020

programme (an EU Rural

Development Community

Regeneration programme with

Welsh Government), has taken up

the appointment on a secondment basis for 18 months.

We’ll hear more from Nia in the next edition of Cartref.

Tenant Satisfaction SurveyStrategic Marketing is currently analysing data gathered

from CHC and Welsh Government’s Wales-wide tenant

satisfaction survey. A draft report is expected at the end

of October.

House Warming Party for Housing Act 2014

The Housing (Wales) Bill

received Royal Assent

on 17 September and

formally became the

Housing (Wales) Act

2014. To celebrate the

occasion, Housing

Ministers past and

present and various

housing stakeholders

gathered at a ‘house

party’ in Cardiff Bay.

The event was hosted

by Sandy Mewies AM,

Chair of the Cross Party

Housing Group.

Key elements of the Act include introducing a compulsory

registration and licensing scheme for private rented

sector landlords and letting and management agents,

reform of homelessness law, including placing a stronger

duty on local authorities to prevent homelessness and

allowing them to use suitable accommodation in the

private sector, and reform of the Housing Revenue

Accounts Subsidy system to name a few. Full details about

the Act can be found on Welsh Government’s website:

http://wales.gov.uk/topics/housing-and-

regeneration/legislation/housingbill/?lang=en

As housing associations face up to the challenges of

austerity and socio-demographic change, it is not

surprising that governance across the sector has come

increasingly under the spotlight.

A recent review by Welsh Government highlights the

significant progress that the sector has made on its

governance arrangements over the last few years. Some

associations are now regarded as ‘beacons of excellence’,

living and breathing a culture which supports good

governance, and others have made changes which reflect

their commitment to achieving better governance.

However, the report also stressed that complacency was

not an option and for some associations, meeting the

challenges ahead will require a step change.

With this in mind, the sector has committed to having a

Code of Governance supported by a governance

improvement agenda. The aim of the Code is to

encourage all associations to strive for the highest

standards of governance and to set out the standards and

practices that boards and their members must adhere to

in order to ensure that good quality governance is the

norm in all CHC member organisations.

There was a 10 week consultation on the content of the

Code and a total of 33 responses have been received

from CHC members, private sector organisations and

other stakeholders.

Overall there is widespread support for the principles of

the Code and the final version will be launched in

February 2015 at CHC’s Governance Conference.

Welsh LanguageSurvey commissionedIn preparation for the anticipated formal consultation by

the Welsh Language Commissioner on the adoption of

standards in the sector in the summer of 2015, CHC has

commissioned a study of its members’ Welsh Language

Schemes. Initial findings from this exercise will be discussed

at CHC’s Chief Executives’ Network on 14 October.

A MEMBER’S PERSPECTIVE


In order to remove as many barriers as possible, there

were no minimum requirements to apply for a place.

Instead, applicants were invited to an interactive selection

day based around team building and communication

exercises. All food and travel was provided throughout

the duration of the course, and arrangements were made

with JCP to continue paying benefits and not to sanction for

rearranged appointments. In addition, each young person

was issued with helmet, hi-vis and steel boots to keep.

The first two weeks were classroom-based, covering

general employability skills, Emergency and Basic First Aid,

Healthy Living for construction workers, training for and

passing the CITB Apprenticeship Test, as well as sessions

from industry experts.

Along with this intensive timetable, the young people

were busy planning for the final week of the project –

making and repairing play equipment for a local school.

This was an in depth exercise which involved sourcing

materials, working to a tight budget and ensuring that

designs adhered to safety standards. This was a huge task,

and one that all the young people contributed to with

enthusiasm and commitment.

When work started on the playground, it was under site

conditions with an experienced Site Manager demanding

the same high standards from the young people as would

be expected on any Jehu build. The results were fantastic,

with Pentrebane Primary School benefiting from an

amazing new play area. However, the best part by far was

seeing the growing confidence that the young people

showed in themselves and their abilities.

Fourteen out of the original sixteen completed the course

and were interviewed. The standard was so high that Jehu

not only employed five apprentices, but created two

additional six-month training positions – a fantastic

opportunity for seven young people! The others in the

group continue to be supported by Cadwyn and The Prince’s

Trust to find careers within the construction industry.

Michelle Davis, Targeted Recruitment and Training Officer

Cadwyn Housing Association

Mrr@Michelle_Cadwyn Mrr@CadwynHA

On 21 July this year, a group of 16 young people arrived at Pentrebane Community

Centre for the first day of a three week construction course run by Cadwyn, Jehu and

The Prince’s Trust. The course, created by Cadwyn, was designed to be a comprehensive

introduction to the construction industry. In addition, five apprenticeships were on offer

at the end, with guaranteed interviews for all young people with 100% attendance rates.

Get into Construction with Cadwyn,Jehu and The Prince’s Trust

11

CARE & REPAIR CYMRU UPDATE

All About People

At our recent Annual Conference, delegates

were reminded of some shocking statistics:

So, while it’s true that we have put huge emphasis, time

and resources into mergers and organisational change

over the past year or so, we are determined to remember

that this is just a means to an end. We are doing it to be

more efficient and to protect frontline services from the

impact of budget cuts announced in the recent draft

budget by Welsh Government.

We are also doing it because we want to get better at

thinking outside the box, being more innovative and

developing different approaches. For example, developing

loans and equity release schemes to provide funding

options for older people living in unfit properties. Also,

we need to take greater advantage of schemes such as

ECO and the Intermediate Care Fund, as well as generating

more income from non-grant sources such as trading arm

social enterprises and charitable fundraising.

Simply, in the long term, we need to become more

resilient, creative, agile and collaborative so that we can

maximise what we deliver at the front line. All of this will

help us to do what we are here to do – to help as many

older people as we can to stay safe, warm and independent

in their own homes and communities, and to do so over

many years to come.

We were delighted to welcome Lesley Griffiths AM to our

conference, the new Minister for Communities and

Tackling Poverty. It was clear that our “all about people”

message was well understood by the Minister, who

offered delegates warm and supportive comments and

recognition of the impact of Care & Repair on more than

30,000 older people’s lives every year. I look forward to

meeting with the new Minister soon to discuss the

challenges faced by older people, and the challenges we

face as a movement.

The challenge of change will remain. It is important that we

tackle this head on so that we can sustain Care & Repair

services over the long term, because what we do makes a

difference to so many older people. And at the end of the

day, it’s all about people.

Chris Jones twtwChief Executive, Care & Repair Cymru

MrrChris_CRCymru MrrCRCymru

140,000 older people in Wales

in fuel poverty

50% aged over 80 will fall

in their home this year

1,900 more deaths in Winter than other

months, 70% of these aged over 75

£67m cost to NHS from falls

25% over 80s live in

damp homes

Care & Repair is all about people. In the melee of public sector spending cuts, mergers,

and organisational change, it would be easy to take our eye off the ball and forget that

the reason we are here is to deliver quality services to older people living in poor

housing who need our help. And without question, they still need our help.

Conferences:

Training Courses:


EVENTS

For further information about our training courses,

please contact: [email protected].

For further information about our conferences,

please contact: [email protected]

Follow us on @CHCymru and @CHCEvents

In June, we launched our fundraising

campaign to send a male and female team

from Street Football Wales (SFW) to the

Homeless World Cup in Chile this October.

To date, 75% of members have backed our campaign.

Nearly £9,000 has been received in donations alone, with

many other HA contributions coming in through their

own fundraising efforts such as wearing football shirts to

work, holding raffles, World Cup sweepstakes and taking

part in a fantastic summer football tournament organised

by Wales & West Housing. Fifteen members of CHC

Group staff, including Stuart Ropke (our new Chief

Executive) ran the Cardiff 10k and raised more than £700

for SFW. In total, we’ve raised £11,000 for the teams and

are still hoping to generate more before the team departs

in October. We welcome any further donations and wish

to express a massive thank you to the sector for your

support. With your help, Wales can now have not one,

but two teams playing in a World Cup!

OCTOBER 2014

21 Coaching at the Frontline (day 1) CARDIFF

23 Your Big Book of Benefits – Personal Independence

Payments (PIP) CARDIFF

OCTOBER 2014

22/23CREW Fringe and

Regeneration Summit

Liberty Stadium

SWANSEA

Street Football Walesis off to Chile!

NOVEMBER 2014

04 Coaching at the Frontline (day 2) CARDIFF

10 Your Big Book of Benefits – Personal Independence

Payments NORTH WALES

11 Your Big Book of Benefits – Paying for Housing NORTH

WALES

11 Developing Financial Literacy CARDIFF

14 Repairs for Non Technical Staff CARDIFF

17 Welfare Reform for Board Members (1/2 day) NORTH

WALES

17 Welfare Reform for Organisations (1/2 day) NORTH

WALES

18 Coaching at the Frontline for Customer Service Staff

CARDIFF

18 Your Big Book of Benefits – For those starting out

NORTH WALES

19 An Introduction to Service Charges CARDIFF

20 Your Big Book of Benefits – Paying for Housing

CARDIFF

26 Social Media – Friend or Foe? CARDIFF

27 Welfare Reform for Board Members (1/2 day) CARDIFF

27 Welfare Reform for Organisations (1/2 day) CARDIFF

28 Service Charges: Practicalities, Problems & Solutions

CARDIFF

NOVEMBER 2014

19Leading the Learning

Pierhead Building

CARDIFF

DECEMBER 2014

3/4 Communications

Conference

Metropole Hotel

LLANDRINDOD WELLS

NOVEMBER 2014

6/7 Annual Conference

Hilton Hotel

CARDIFF

Hydref | Tachwedd 2014

www.chcymru.org.uk

GAN Y PRIF WEITHREDYDD

Credyd Cynhwysol –diweddariad

Croeso i Gymru,Stuart!

Blwyddyn ymmywyd AdeiladuMenter

Arwain y Dysgu

–– t7–– t5 –– t6–– t2

DIWYGIO LLES ADEILADU MENTER CYFLOGAETH A SGILIAU

Gweinidog tai newydd t3

CYHOEDDWYD GAN GRŴP CARTREFI CYMUNEDOL CYMRU

2 Rhifyn Hydref | Tachwedd

CommunityHousing Cymru

Group

CHCymru

CHCEvents

Rwy’n credu’n llwyr fod darparu taiansawdd uchel a gwirioneddol fforddiadwyyn greiddiol i economi cynaliadwy achymdeithas deg. Wrth i’r cryniadaucyfansoddiadol gael eu teimlo yn dilynrefferendwm yr Alban, mae angen i niweiddi’n uwch byth dros ddarparwyr tai agofal dielw yng Nghymru a’n rôl hollbwysigyng Nghymru yn y dyfodol. Mae integreiddioiechyd, gofal a gwasanaethau cyhoedduseraill gyda thai yn gonglfaen yn rhoi llawero’r atebion i’r heriau cymdeithasol achyllidol a all ein hwynebu mewn byd‘devo-max’. Os oedd erioed amser i fod ynuchelgeisiol yn ein gweledigaeth ar gyfer ydyfodol, nawr yw hynny.

Pan ddywedodd Ron Davies, cynYsgrifennydd Cymru yn 1999 mai proses acnid digwyddiad yw datganoli, mae’namlwg nad oedd wedi meddwl am effaithpleidlais ‘Na’ gul mewn refferendwm arAnnibyniaeth yn yr Alban. Wrth iranbarthau Lloegr ddeffro i gyfleoedddatganoli a mwy o bwerau ariannol, ni allCymru osgoi’r drafodaeth. Nid dim ond ygwleidyddion ddylai fod â rôl. Mae gangymdeithas sifil gyfan a chymunedau ymmhob rhan o’r wlad ran i’w chwarae acmae gan CHC rôl hollbwysig i sicrhau ycaiff eich llais ei glywed yn uchel ac yn glir.

Er bod llawer o newid i ddod, rwy’nymuno â sefydliad gyda sylfeini cadarn.Hoffwn dalu teyrnged i fy rhagflaenydd,Nick Bennett, ac i Sioned Hughes a fu’nBrif Weithredydd Dros Dro am y tri misdiwethaf. Ynghyd â thîm ymroddedig,maent wedi sicrhau buddion cadarn anewid ar gyfer aelodau mewn meysyddhollbwysig megis rheoleiddio, buddsoddiad,adfywio a diwygio lles. Bydd y gwaithhwnnw’n parhau.

Rwyf eisiau arwain sefydliad sy’n agored,tryloyw a hygyrch i’w aelodau. Sefydliadsy’n deall y sector y mae’n ei gynrychiolioherwydd ei fod wedi gwrando ar yr hynsydd ganddo i ddweud. Ond hefydsefydliad nad yw’n ofni arwain a herio panfo angen. Edrychaf ymlaen at gwrdd âchynifer ohonoch ag sydd modd yn ymisoedd nesaf a chlywed mwy am eichblaenoriaethau a’ch uchelgais.

Stuart Ropke Mrr@Stuart_CHC

Prif Weithredydd Grŵp CHC

Croeso iGymru,Stuart!

GAN Y PRIF WEITHREDYDD

Bu’n dri mis hir ers i mi gael fy mhenodi’n Brif Weithredydd GrŵpCartrefi Cymunedol Cymru a fedra i ddim aros i ddechrau ar ygwaith. Roedd y cyfle i ddod yn ôl i Gymru a chyflwyno’r achosdros dai dielw, gofal ac adfywio, ac yr un mor arwyddocaol, hybu’rcymunedau a wasanaethir yn rhy bwysig a chyffrous i’w golli.

Cynhyrchwyd gan:

Grŵp Cartrefi Cymunedol Cymru2 Ocean WayCaerdyddCF24 5TG

029 2067 4800

Dyluniwyd gan Arts Factory

Golygydd:

Bethan Davies, Grŵp CHC

tMr rr@Beth_CHC

Is-olygydd:

Edwina O’Hart, Grŵp CHC

tMr rr@EdwinaOHart

Cyfranwyr:

Sarah Harris, Grŵp CHC

Amanda Oliver, Grŵp CHC

Stuart Ropke, Grŵp CHC

Anthony Hearn, Adeiladu

Menter

Michelle Davis, Cymdeithas

Tai Cadwyn

Chris Jones, Care & Repair

Cymru

Lesley Griffiths AC,

Gweinidog Cymunedau a

Threchu Tlodi

Llywodraeth Cymru

3

Mae tai yn greiddiol i’n Rhaglen Lywodraethu,a bu felly bob amser. Mae hefyd yn greiddiol ify ymrwymiad i fy mhortffolio newydd felGweinidog Cymunedau a Threchu Tlodi.

GWLEIDYDDIAETH

GweinidogTai newydd

Rwyf eisiau sicrhau ein bodyn cyflawni ein targed oadeiladu 10,000 o gartrefifforddiadwy yn ystod cyfnody Llywodraeth yma.

“

“Mae fy nghyfrifoldebau yn eang ond gyda ffocws clir iawnar y cymunedau mwyaf amddifadus a gwneud gwahaniaethi’r bobl sy’n byw ynddynt.

Rwy’n gwybod y gofynnodd rhai pam nad yw ‘tai’ yn fynheitl. Fodd bynnag, rwy’n credu y dylai fy mhortffolionewydd gael ei farnu gan ein huchelgais a’r hyn agyflawnwn, yn hytrach na dim ond gan ei enw.

Gwnaeth Carl Sargeant, fy rhagflaenydd, wahaniaethmawr yn ystod ei gyfnod fel Gweinidog, yn arbennig yngnghyswllt cyflwyno deddfwriaeth newydd, gan gyffwrdd âllawer maes o bolisi tai. Byddaf yn parhau’r thema drwygyflwyno Bil Rhentu Cartrefi (Cymru). Mae hwn yn ddarnsylweddol o ddeddfwriaeth fydd yn symleiddio cyfraitheiddo ar ôl yr oes a helpu i fynd i’r afael â materion megistaclo ymddygiad gwrthgymdeithasol a thrais domestig.

Fodd bynnag, mae fy agenda cyflenwi am lawer mwy nadeddfwriaeth yn unig. Rwy’n benderfynol i gynyddu i’reithaf y buddion economaidd a chymdeithasol sy’ngysylltiedig ag adeiladu mwy o gartrefi.

Mae cyflenwad tai yn fater mawr. Rwyf eisiau sicrhau einbod yn cyflawni ein targed o adeiladu 10,000 o gartrefifforddiadwy yn ystod cyfnod y Llywodraeth yma.Hefyd yn bwysig yw fy ymrwymiad i denantiaid yn y stoctai presennol. Ni fydd unrhyw laesu dwylo wrth i ni symudtuag at ein targed o 2020 ar gyfer gweithredu SafonAnsawdd Tai Cymru.

Rwy’n ymwybodol o’r pwysau sy’n deillio o’r wasgfa argyllidebau - ar draws fy mhortffolio ac nid dim ond mewntai. Rwy’n parhau i fod yn bryderus iawn am effeithiaudiwygio lles ar ein cymunedau tlotaf a mwyaf bregus ardraws Cymru. Mae cymdeithasau tai yn ychwanegugwerth drwy gefnogi cyflogaeth, darparu cyfleoedd,helpu’r rhai sydd wedi eu hallgau’n ariannol a chefnogi eutenantiaid mwyaf bregus. Rwy’n hyderus y byddwn yngweithio’n dda gyda’n gilydd wrth i ni geisio goresgyn yrheriau hyn a sialensiau eraill.

Rwyf hefyd yn ymwybodol o’r pryderon am ein rhaglen oad-drefnu llywodraeth leol. Rwy’n deall y pryderon hynnyac eisiau trafod y newidiadau yma gyda chymdeithasau tai.Rwy’n gwybod y bydd gennych lawer i’w ddweud am yffordd orau o gyflwyno gwasanaethau ar lawr gwlad drwygymdeithasau a gaiff eu llywodraethu a’u rhedeg yn dda.

Rwy’n edrych ymlaen yn fawr at weithio gyda chi igyflawni ar gyfer ein cymunedau yn yr elfen hanfodol ymao’n Rhaglen Lywodraethu.

Lesley Griffiths AM Mrr@LlywodraethCym

Gweinidog Cymunedau a Threchu Tlodi

YMGYRCHU


Cefnogwch eich stryd fawr

Fel rhan o’r ymgyrch, fel rhan o’r Wythnos Stryd Fawr busiopau a busnesau ym mhob rhan o’r wlad yn rhoi sylw istrydoedd mawr Cymru gan gynnal llu o weithgareddau.

Cynhaliwyd yr wythnos rhwng 20-27 Medi gyda chefnogaethpartneriaid ar draws Cymru yn cynnwys manwerthwyr,awdurdodau lleol, cymdeithasau tai, FfederasiwnBusnesau Bach a Chonsortiwm Manwerthu Cymru.

Roedd yr ymgyrch yn annog pobl i ymweld â’u stryd fawra mwynhau ac ymchwilio’r dewis enfawr o wasanaethausydd ar gael ar garreg eu drws yn cynnwys diwrnod i’rteulu ym Marchnad Dan Do Pont-y-pŵl, gwyliau bwyd yngNghastell Nedd a’r Wyddgrug a helfa drysor yn LlanbedrPont Steffan.

Bu ymgyrch ar Facebook a Twitter gyda defnyddwyrcyfryngau cymdeithasol yn cefnogi neges ‘Thunderclap’ arddiwrnod cyntaf Wythnos y Stryd Fawr. Cafodd y neges, aanfonwyd ar draws Twitter a Facebook ar 11am ar 20Medi, ei gweld gan 274,000 o bobl ar yr un pryd.

Yn ystod yr wythnos, ymwelodd Lesley Griffiths,Gweinidog Cymunedau a threchu Tlodi sydd âchyfrifoldeb am dai ac adfywio, â busnesau lleol ymMlaenafon. Cyfarfu â phlant o Ysgol Wirfoddol a ReolirTreftadaeth Blaenafon a gymerodd ran mewn cystadleuaethi gynllunio poster ar gyfer Wythnos y Stryd Fawr, yncynnwys prif enillydd y gystadleuaeth, India Smith.

Dywedodd y Gweinidog: “Roedd yn dda gweld cynifer ofanwerthwyr yn cefnogi Wythnos y Stryd Fawr. Roedd ydigwyddiadau a gynhaliwyd ar draws Cymru yn dangos ydewis enfawr o wasanaethau sydd ar gael ar y stryd fawryng Nghymru a’r cymunedau rhyfeddol y maent yn eugwasanaethu.”

Mae ymgyrch Cefnogwch eich Stryd Fawr yn ategu gwaithLlywodraeth Cymru gydag awdurdodau lleol a’u partneriaid,yn cynnwys cymdeithasau tai, i gynyddu cyflenwad tai.

Bu gan gymdeithasau tai ran amlwg yn ystod yr wythnosgan weithio mewn partneriaeth i gynnal digwyddiadau ary stryd fawr yn ogystal â chefnogi’r ymgyrch ar safleoeddrhwydweithio cymdeithasol.

Mae nifer o brosiectau a ariannir gan Gronfa Trechu TlodiLleoedd Llewyrchus a Llawn Addewid Llywodraeth Cymruyn helpu i gynyddu’r nifer o gartrefi sydd ar gael drwy ddodâ gofod segur uwchben siopau yn ôl i gael ei ddefnyddiofel cartrefi ar y stryd fawr ac yng nghanol trefi. Yn ogystalâ hybu nifer y bobl sy’n byw yng nghanol trefi, mae hynhefyd yn annog ac yn datblygu economi nos egnïol.

Bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn parhau i weithio gydachymdeithasau tai, awdurdodau lleol a busnesau i gynnala datblygu’r stryd fawr yng Nghymru a’r ystod unigryw owasanaethau a gynigiant.

Llywodraeth Cymru Mrr@LlywodraethCym

Yn yr haf eleni lansiodd Llywodraeth Cymru ei hymgyrch Cefnogwch eich Stryd Fawr. Ynrhan allweddol o fframwaith adfywio Lleoedd Llewyrchus Llawn Addewid, dathlodd yrymgyrch gyfraniad gwerthfawr ein strydoedd mawr prysur i economi Cymru yn ogystalâ’u rôl hanfodol ym mywyd y gymuned

5

CYFLOGAETH A DYSGU

Arwain y dysgu yng Nghymru

Cynhaliodd CHC einHwythnos Cyflogaeth aSgiliau gyntaf erioed mewncysylltiad â CIH Cymru aNIACE Cymru fis diwethaf.

Ein prif nod oedd dangos fod y sector tai cymdeithasol ynarwain y dysgu ac yn helpu tenantiaid Cymru i sicrhaucyfleoedd sgiliau, dysgu a phrentisiaethau gwerthfawr ardraws Cymru. Roedd hefyd yn gyfle i weiddi am y sector fellle gwych i weithio ynddo. ‘Meddwl am yrfa – meddwl am dai!’

Fe wnaethom gynhyrchu pecyn gwybodaeth ar gyfer yrwythnos, yn ogystal â chanllaw llawn dop o arfer da,ystadegau perthnasol i’w rhannu ar safleoedd rhwydweithiocymdeithasol a negeseuon blog gan CHC, CIH Cymru a TaiSir Fynwy.

Rydym bob amser wedi dweud fod cymdeithasau tai yndarparu llawer mwy na dim ond brics a morter, a phrofoddyr Wythnos Cyflogaeth a Sgiliau hynny unwaith eto.

Roedd gennym 5 neges allweddol ar gyfer yr

wythnos: • Mae’r sector tai yn bartner o ddewis• Rydym yn sector a all gyflawni• Rydym yn darparu mwy na brics a morter• Mae ein sector yn ysgogydd allweddol ar gyfer

cyflogaeth ac adfywio/menter• Mae ein pobl yn flaengar gydag agwedd ‘gallu gwneud’

Gofynnwyd i’r sectorau am enghreifftiau o sut maent yncyfrannu at yr agenda cyflogaeth a sgiliau yng Nghymru achawsom ymateb anhygoel. O brentisiaethau i ffeirioswyddi i gynlluniau cynhwysiant digidol i ffeiriaucyflogaeth, mae’r sector yn profi fod ei gylch gorchwyl ynymestyn ymhell tu hwnt i dai.

Roedd ein deunydd hyrwyddo ar gyfer yr Wythnos Sgiliaua Chyflogaeth yn cynnwys popeth y dymunem ei gyflawniyn ystod yr wythnos diolch i fewnbwn gan aelodau:

Rydym eisiau gwneud tai fforddiadwy yn

ysgogydd allweddol ar gyfer cyflogaethMae gan fuddsoddiad mewn tai effaith ddeuol o wellabywydau pobl ac ysgogi adferiad economaidd. Am bobperson a gyflogir yn llawn-amser yn y sector, caiff dwyswydd arall eu cefnogi o fewn economi Cymru.

Rydym eisiau symud mwy o bobl i waith drwy

fynd i’r afael â lefelau sgiliau iselMae ein haelodau’n gweithio gydag ystod o bartneriaid yncynnwys rhaglen LIFT Llywodraeth Cymru, CynllunCyflogaeth Teulu Ymddiriedolaeth Adfywio’r Meysydd GloTwf Swyddi Cymru a llawer mwy i fynd i’r afael â’r mater.

Rydym eisiau sicrhau y gall tenantiaid ganfod a

pharhau mewn cyflogaeth drwy wella mynediad i

wasanaethau a chyngor digidolMae allgau digidol yn aml yn rhwystr i fynediad i waith.Gyda chyflwyno Credyd Cynhwysol, mae brys go iawn isicrhau y gall tenantiaid gael mynediad i’r system ar-lein achwilio am swyddi ar-lein.

Rydym eisiau mwy o gydnabyddiaeth i ddycnwch,

arbenigedd a thalent swyddogion taiDengys adroddiad Dyfodol Rheng-flaen y CIH yr ystodamrywiol o swyddi a chyfleoedd gyrfa y mae tai yn eigynnig. Yn ôl arolwg diweddar CHC ar feincnodi adnoddaudynol, roedd gwariant cyfartalog ar hyfforddiant fesul aelodo staff yn £676 o gymharu â chyfartaledd CIPD o £303.

Mae’r sector yn ysgogiad allweddol ar gyfer cyflogaeth acyn bartner o ddewis. Yn bwysicaf oll, rydym yn gwneudgwahaniaeth go iawn i’r tenantiaid a’r cymunedau awasanaethwn.

Bethan Davies twtwMrr@Beth_CHC

Swyddog Cyfathrebu

ADEILADU MENTER


Blwyddyn ymmywyd AdeiladuMenterAeth ychydig dros ddwy flynedd heibio ers i ni lansio prosiect Adeiladu Menter yn yr Eisteddfod

Genedlaethol. Mae Adeiladu Menter yn brosiect 2 flynedd a gaiff ei arwain gan CHC a’i ariannu gan

WEFO. Mae’r prosiect yn cefnogi mentrau cymdeithasol a landlordiaid cymdeithasol cofrestredig i

gydweithio ac annog modelau busnes newydd fydd yn creu ac angori cyfoeth mewn cymunedau

amddifadus, yn ogystal â chloi’r bunt Gymreig yng nghymunedau Cymru. Cafodd y tîm flwyddyn brysur...

Cymeradwywyd y pecyn cyntaf ogefnogaeth yn darparu cyngorproffesiynol i fenter gymdeithasolsefydledig a hefyd LCC i’w galluogi iymchwilio mwy o gydweithio yncynnwys creu menter gymdeithasolnewydd.

Aseswyd chwe corff newydd awnaeth gais am gefnogaeth adatblygwyd cynlluniau ar eu cyfer igael mynediad i’r DarparwyrFframwaith.

Mae Adeiladu Menter wedi dynodirhai themâu neu faterion cyffredinsy’n wynebu mentrau cymdeithasol aLCC drwy gydweithio’n well megiscymalau cymdeithasol mewncaffaeliad ac ymgysylltu cymunedol,ac yn gweithio ar ffyrdd i drin hyn.

Comisiynwyd CMI International igynnal cyfres o gyfweliadau adigwyddiadau i gadw, dysgu alledaenu profiadau ac arferion cyrffsy'n cymryd rhan yn y rhaglen.

Proseswyd cais chwe chorff arall igefnogi ceisiadau, ac mae cynlluniauar y gweill ar gyfer digwyddiadau idrin materion cyffredin. Cafodd yprosiect hefyd archwiliad llawnllwyddiannus gan WEFO.

Noddodd Adeiladu Menter ddigwyddiad‘fesTYval’ ar gyfer ymarferwyr, aelodauo’r gymuned a gwneuthurwyrpenderfyniadau. Mewn partneriaethgyda Phrifysgol Bangor a CHC,ymchwiliwyd amrywiaeth o faterion ynymwneud ag adfywio ac ymgysylltuâ’r gymuned.

Cynhaliwyd y cyfarfodydd cyntaf argyfer y rhaglen ddysgu a chafoddpedwar corff arall gefnogaeth ganddarparwyr Fframwaith.

Creu’r fenter gymdeithasol newyddgyntaf fel canlyniad i gefnogaethAdeiladu Menter. Bydd y fenternewydd gyffrous yn rhoi cyfle i greunifer o swyddi a thempled i gyrff eraillei ddilyn.

Adeiladu Menter yn cefnogidigwyddiad Sadwrn Cymdeithasolcenedlaethol sy’n annog pobl igefnogi mentrau cymdeithasol lleol.Lansir tendr ar gyfer adolygiad canol adiwedd tymor o'r prosiect.

Y prosiect yn cyrraedd pob targedarfaethedig ac yn cynlluniocyfarfodydd cyrff newydd yn ceisiocefnogaeth. Bydd y gwaith yndechrau ar werthusiad canol tymoro’r prosiect.

Digwyddiad rhwydweithio ar y gweillar gyfer y Gogledd i drafod materioncyffredin sy’n codi, ac i roi cyfle i’rrhai sy’n derbyn cefnogaeth i rannueu profiadau.

Digwyddiad rhwydweithio ar y gweillar gyfer y Gogledd i drafod materioncyffredin sy’n codi, ac i roi cyfle i’rrhai sy'n derbyn cefnogaeth i rannueu profiadau.

Ionawr Chwefror Mawrth

Ebrill Mai Mehefin

Gorffennaf Awst Medi

Hydref Tachwedd Rhagfyr

Anthony Hearn twtMrr@AdeiladuMenter

Comisiynydd a Chydlynydd Prosiect

7

DIWYGIO LLES

Cyflymuymestyn CredydCynhwysol

Mae hyn yn gyflymu sylweddol ar un o ddiwygiadau mwyafLlywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig. Bydd yr ehangu ar gyferceisiadau newydd gan bobl sengl sy’n chwilio am waith.

Mae mwy o wybodaeth ar gael ar wefan DWP:https://www.gov.uk/government/news/plans-

announced-for-accelerated-rollout-of-universal-credit-

after-success-in-north-west

YmgynghoriadauBu DWP yn ymgynghori ar ddau gynnig pwysig ynymwneud â Chredyd Cynhwysol. Mae CHC wedi ymatebi’r ddau ac wedi annog aelodau i wneud hynny hefyd.

‘Dyddiau Aros’ Credyd

Cynhwysol Byddai’r newid yn golygu y byddai’n rhaid i hawlwyr ydisgwylir iddynt fod yn edrych am waith llawn-amser arossaith diwrnod cyn bod ganddynt hawl i Gredyd Cynhwysol.Mae hyn yn ychwanegol at y mis a saith diwrnod y maehawlwyr yn aros ar hyn o bryd rhwng hawlio CredydCynhwysol a derbyn eu taliad cyntaf.

Bydd y polisi yn weithredol ar gyfer hawlio Lwfans CeiswyrGwaith a Lwfans Cyflogaeth a Chymorth o ddiwedd misHydref. Fodd bynnag, mae’r effaith yn fwy ar gyfer rhaisy’n hawlio Credyd Cynhwysol gan y bydd yn weithredolar gyfer eu holl ddyfarniad, yn cynnwys yr elfennau tai aphlentyn. Bwriedir i’r newidiadau ddod i rym yn Ebrill2015. Mae’r cynnig yn cynnwys eithriadau ar gyfergwahanol grwpiau megis rhai sy’n derfynol wael, rhai sy’ngadael gofal neu a ddioddefodd yn ddiweddar o draisdomestig, ymhlith eraill.

Mae manylion llawn yr ymgynghoriad ar gael ar wefanLlywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig: http://bit.ly/1ysAkzV

Credyd Cynhwysol a rhannu data Mae DWP hefyd yn ymgynghori ar newidiadau fydd yncaniatáu rhannu gwybodaeth am hawliadau CredydCynhwysol gyda landlordiaid cymdeithasol. Byddai’rcynigion yn golygu y byddai landlordiaid yn canfod prydmae eu tenantiaid yn symud i Gredyd Cynhwysol.

Bu diffyg trefniadau rhannu data o fewn y CredydCynhwysol yn gonsyrn gwirioneddol i gymdeithasau taifelly mae hyn yn gam cadarnhaol. Buom yn gweithio gydachymdeithasau a’r Ffederasiwn Tai Cenedlaethol i gysylltugyda DWP ar y mater hwn a gwthio am newidiadau.

Byddai’r cynigion a amlinellir yn y ddogfen ymgynghori yngalluogi DWP i rannu gwybodaeth gyda landlordiaidcymdeithasol i ddynodi unrhyw denant sydd wedi hawlioCredyd Cynhwysol sy’n cynnwys costau tai neu syddeisoes yn derbyn Credyd Cynhwysol gyda chostau tai.

Rhennid gwybodaeth ar gyfer dibenion galluogilandlordiaid cymdeithasol i asesu a rhoi’r cyngor achefnogaeth priodol yng nghyswllt rheoli cyllid personol.Byddai’r wybodaeth a rannir yn gyfyngedig ac yn debyg ogynnwys enwau’r sawl sy’n hawlio eu cyfeiriadau adyddiadau gwneud cais am Gredyd Cynhwysol.

Mae’r ddogfen ymgynghori lawn, yn cynnwys y rheoliadaudrafft, ar gael ar wefan Llywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig:http://bit.ly/XuwVPK

I gael mwy o wybodaeth cysylltwch â Paul Langley,

Uwch Gynghorydd Arian

Mrr@paul_chc

Fis diwethaf, cyhoeddodd yr Adran Gwaith a Phensiynau (DWP) y caiff Credyd Cynhwysolei ymestyn i bob Canolfan Gwaith ac awdurdod lleol ar draws y wlad o’n gynnar yflwyddyn nesaf.


NEWYDDION

Cyhoeddi’r Ddrafft Gyllideb

Mae’r cam yma o ymgyrch Mae Budd-daliadau yn Newid,a ariannwyd gan Sefydliad Oak a CHC, yn tynnu at eiderfyn. Roedd yr ymgyrch blwyddyn o hyd yn cynnwyshysbyseb deledu ar gyfer ‘Peidiwch â chael eich brathu’,ymgyrch hysbysebu yn cynnwys hysbysebion papurnewydd, radio, bws a chyfryngau cymdeithasol, lansioLlyfr Mawr Budd-daliadau, fideo ar Credyd Cynhwysol athaith Bws Cyllideb.

Mae bron 40 o gyrff ychwanegol wedi llofnodi i gefnogi’rymgyrch dros y flwyddyn ddiwethaf, gan gynyddu’rcyfanswm i 102.

Cafodd y wefan 6,500 o ymweliadau’r mis ar gyfartaledd,gyda chwarter yr holl draffig yn dod o sianeli cyfryngaucymdeithasol (YouTube, Facebook a Twitter). Agorwyd1,412 o achosion cynghori drwy’r llinell gyngor gyda 589arall yn cael eu hagor fel canlyniad i daith y Bws Cyllideb.

Mae’r rhai a gynghorwyd wedi cael budd cyfanswm o£400,000 fel canlyniad i’r cyngor a gawsant, gyda 70% yndweud eu bod ar-lein.

Bu’r ymgyrch hefyd yn cydweithio gyda Bacs PaymentSchemes Cyf i annog tenantiaid i gofrestru i dalu eu rhentdrwy Ddebyd Uniongyrchol. Mae 18 cymdeithas wedicofrestru i hyrwyddo’r cynllun i’w tenantiaid, a bydd unohonynt yn ennill gwerth £2,000 o dalebau love2shop cyny Nadolig.

Mae Rhwydwaith Cysylltiadau Cyhoeddus CHC yngweithio ar negeseuon ymgyrch ar gyfer y cam nesaf yndilyn y newyddion y cyflymir ymestyn Credyd Cynhwysol.

Diweddariad ar ymgyrch Mae Budd-daliadau yn Newid

Cyhoeddodd Llywodraeth Cymru ei drafft gyllideb ar gyfer blwyddyn ariannol 2015/16.Er bod llinellau sy’n gysylltiedig â thai o fewn cyllideb Cymru yn llai na 5% o’r hollgyllideb, bydd tai yn derbyn £32m o’r £100m o fuddsoddiad cyllid cyfalaf ychwanegol argyfer 2015/16 – bron draean.

Y prif benawdau:

Grant Tai Cymdeithasol:£62m ar gyfer 2015/16 ynghyd â £10m

i ymestyn y Cynllun Tir Tai Fforddiadwy.Mae dyraniadau cyfalaf ychwanegol o£32m yn 2015/16 yn golygu fodbuddsoddiad mewn tai o’r gyllideb ymayn £94m

Mae buddsoddiad cyfalaf arall yn cynnwys:£5m i gefnogi Cynllun BenthyciadauCanol Tref£5m ar gyfer cynllun BenthyciadauGwella Cartrefi£10m ar gyfer Troi Tai’n Gartrefi.£2m ar gyfer y Rhaglen SafleoeddSipsiwn a Theithwyr

Cefnogi Pobl:Bu toriad o 4.3% yn y Rhaglen CefnogiPobl gyda’r gyllideb yn gostwng i£124.4m yn 2015/16.

Gofal a Thrwsio:Torrwyd y gyllideb refeniw gan 2.9% o£4,623,000 yn 2014/15 i £4,488,000 yn2015/16

Mae cyfalaf y Rhaglen Addasiadau Bryswedi aros yr un fath ar £1,641,000 argyfer 2015/16

I ddarllen ymateb Grŵp CHC, ewch i: http://chcymru.org.uk/en/view-news/welsh-

government-announce-draft-budget

9

NEWYDDION YN GRYNO

Cymdeithasau taiCymru yn ymrwymoi lywodraethiant da

Nia yn dechrau ar ei swyddMae Nia Griffiths wedi dechrauar ei swydd fel CyfarwyddyddCREW Adfywio Cymru. CafoddNia, a fu’n Bennaeth rhaglenGweithredu Leader 2014-2020(Rhaglen Adfywio CymunedolDatblygu Gwledig yr UndebEwropeaidd gyda LlywodraethCymru) y swydd ar secondiad 18mis. Byddwn yn clywed mwygan Nia yn rhifyn nesaf Cartref.

Arolwg Boddhad TenantiaidMae Strategic Marketing wrthi’n dadansoddi data o’rarolwg o fodlonrwydd tenantiaid Cymru-gyfan a gasglwydgan CHC a Llywodraeth Cymru. Disgwylir drafft adroddiadddiwedd mis Hydref.

Parti i groesawu DeddfTai 2014

Derbyniodd Bil Tai(Cymru) GydsyniadBrenhinol ar 17 Media daeth yn ffurfiol ynDdeddf Tai (Cymru)2014. I ddathlu’r achlysur,daeth Gweinidogion Taiblaenorol a phresennola gwahanol randdeiliaidyn y sector ynghyd am‘barti tŷ’ ym MaeCaerdydd. SandyMewies, AC, Cadeiryddy Grŵp Tai Ollbleidiol,oedd yn llywyddu ar ydigwyddiad.

Mae elfennau allweddol y Ddeddf yn cynnwys cynlluncofrestru a thrwyddedu gorfodol ar gyfer landlordiaidsector rhent preifat ac asiantau gosod a rheoli, diwygiocyfraith digartrefedd, yn cynnwys rhoi mwy oddyletswydd ar awdurdodau lleol i atal digartrefedd achaniatáu iddynt ddefnyddio offer addas yn y sectorpreifat, a diwygio system Cymhorthdal Cyfrifon RefeniwTai ymhlith pethau eraill. Mae manylion llawn y Ddeddf argael ar wefan Llywodraeth Cymru:

http://wales.gov.uk/topics/housing-and-

regeneration/legislation/housingbill/?lang=en

Wrth i gymdeithasau tai wynebu heriau cynildeb anewidiadau cymdeithasol-ddemograffig, nid yw’n syndodfod sylw cynyddol i lywodraethiant ar draws y sector.

Dengys adolygiad diweddar gan Lywodraeth Cymru ycynnydd sylweddol a wnaeth y sector ar ei drefniadaullywodraethiant yn ystod yr ychydig flynyddoedd diwethaf.Caiff rhai cymdeithasau eu hystyried fel ‘sefydliadaudisglair’, gan fyw ac anadlu diwylliant sy’n cefnogillywodraethiant da, a gwnaeth eraill newidiadau sy’nadlewyrchu eu hymrwymiad i sicrhau llywodraethiantgwell. Fodd bynnag, mae’r adroddiad hefyd yn tanlinellunad oedd bod yn hunanfodlon yn opsiwn a bydd angennewid sylweddol er mwyn i rai cymdeithasau wynebu’rheriau i ddod.

Gyda hyn dan sylw, mae’r sector wedi ymrwymo i gaelCod Llywodraethiant a gefnogir gan agenda gwellallywodraethiant. Nod y Cod yw annog pob cymdeithas iymdrechu am y safonau uchaf mewn llywodraethiant agosod y safonau a’r arferion y mae’n rhaid i fyrddau a’uhaelodau gydymffurfio â nhw er mwyn sicrhau fodllywodraethiant ansawdd da yn norm ar gyfer hollaelodau CHC.

Bu ymgynghoriad 10 wythnos ar gynnwys y Cod aderbyniwyd cyfanswm o 33 ymateb gan aelodau CHC,cyrff sector preifat a rhanddeiliaid eraill.

Yn gyffredinol mae cefnogaeth eang i egwyddorion yCod a lansir y fersiwn terfynol yng NghynhadleddLlywodraethiant CHC ym mis Chwefror 2015.

Comisiynu Arolwg aryr Iaith GymraegI baratoi ar gyfer yr ymgynghoriad ffurfiol a ddisgwylirgan Gomisiynydd y Gymraeg ar fabwysiadu safonau yn ysector yn haf 2015, mae CHC wedi comisiynu astudiaetho Gynlluniau Iaith Gymraeg ei aelodau. Trafodir ycanfyddiadau dechreuol o’r astudiaeth eu trafod ynRhwydwaith Prif Weithredwyr CHC ar 14 Hydref.

SAFBWYNT AELOD


Er mwyn dileu cynifer o rwystrau ag sydd modd, nid oeddlleiafswm gofynion i wneud cais am le. Yn hytrach,gwahoddwyd ymgeiswyr i ddiwrnod dethol rhyngweithiolwedi’i seilio ar adeiladu tîm ac ymarferion cyfathrebu.Darparwyd yr holl fwyd a theithio ar hyd y cwrs a gwnaedtrefniadau gyda’r Ganolfan Byd Gwaith i barhau i dalubudd-daliadau a pheidio cosbi am ad-drefnu apwyntiadau.Cafodd pob person ifanc hefyd helmed, dillad hi-vis acesgidiau blaen dur i’w cadw.

Roedd y ddwy wythnos gyntaf yn seiliedig mewn ystafellddosbarth, ac yn cynnwys sgiliau cyflogadwyeddcyffredinol, cymorth cyntaf argyfwng a sylfaenol,gwybodaeth ar fyw’n iach ar gyfer gweithwyr adeiladu,hyfforddiant ar gyfer a phasio Prawf Prentisiaeth CITB, ynogystal â sesiynau gan arbenigwyr yn y diwydiant.

Ynghyd â’r amserlen brysur yma, roedd y bobl ifanc yncynllunio ar gyfer wythnos olaf y prosiect - gwneud athrwsio offer chwarae ar gyfer ysgol leol. Roedd hyn ynwaith manwl oedd yn golygu canfod deunyddiau,gweithio i gyllideb dyn a sicrhau fod cynlluniau’ncydymffurfio â safonau diogelwch. Roedd hon yn dasgenfawr ac yn un y cyfrannodd yr holl bobl ifanc ati’nfrwdfrydig ac ymroddedig.

Pan ddechreuodd y gwaith ar y maes chwarae roeddhynny dan amodau safle gyda rheolwr safle profiadol ynmynnu’r un safonau uchel gan y bobl ifanc ag y disgwylidar unrhyw brosiect gan Jehu. Roedd y canlyniadau’n wych,gydag ardal chwarae newydd ardderchog i Ysgol GynraddPentrebane. Fodd bynnag, y rhan orau o ddigon oeddgweld hyder cynyddol y bobl ifanc ynddynt eu hunain a’ugalluoedd.

Cwblhaodd 14 o’r 16 gwreiddiol y cwrs a chawsantgyfweliadau. Roedd y safon mor uchel fel i Jehu greu dwyswydd hyfforddi chwe-mis ychwanegol yn ogystal âchyflogi pum prentis – cyfle gwych i saith o bobl ifanc!Mae’r aelodau eraill y grŵp yn dal i gael eu cefnogi ganCadwyn ac Ymddiriedolaeth y Tywysog i ganfod gyrfaoeddo fewn y diwydiant adeiladu.

Michelle Davis, Michelle Davis, Swyddog Recriwtio aHyfforddiant a Dargedwyd

Mrr@Michelle_Cadwyn Mrr@CadwynHA

Ar 21 Gorffennaf eleni, cyrhaeddodd grŵp o 16 o bobl ifanc Ganolfan Gymunedol Pentrebane argyfer diwrnod cyntaf cwrs adeiladu tair wythnos a gynhaliwyd gan Cadwyn, Jehu acYmddiriedolaeth y Tywysog. Nod y cwrs, a grëwyd gan Cadwyn, oedd rhoi cyflwyniadcynhwysfawr i’r diwydiant adeiladu. Yn ychwanegol, cynigiwyd pum prentisiaeth ar y diwedd, gydachyfweliadau wedi’u gwarantu ar gyfer pob person ifanc oedd â chyfradd presenoldeb o 100%.

Mynd i Adeiladu gyda Cadwyn, Jehuac Ymddiriedolaeth y Tywysogt

11

DIWEDDARIAD CARE & REPAIR CYMRU

Pobl yw Popeth

Cafodd cynrychiolwyr yn ein Cynhadledd

Flynyddol ddiweddar eu hatgoffa o rai

ystadegau brawychus:

Felly er ei bod yn wir ein bod wedi rhoi llawer iawn obwyslais, amser ac adnoddau ar uno a newidiadautrefniadaeth dros y flwyddyn ddiweddaf, rydym ynbenderfynol i gofio mai dim ond ffordd o gyflawni’r dibenyw hynny. Rydym yn ei wneud yn fwy effeithiol a diogelugwasanaethau rheng-flaen rhag effaith toriadau cyllideb agyhoeddwyd gan Lywodraeth Cymru yn y ddrafft gyllidebddiweddar.

Rydym hefyd eisiau ei wneud oherwydd ein bod yn wellam feddwl tu allan i’r blwch, bod yn fwy arloesol adatblygu gwahanol ddulliau gweithredu. Er enghraifft,datblygu benthyciadau a chynlluniau rhyddhau ecwiti i roiopsiynau cyllid ar gyfer pobl hŷn sy’n byw mewn cartrefianaddas. Hefyd, mae angen i ni fanteisio’n well argynlluniau megis ECO a’r Gronfa Gofal Canolraddol, ynogystal ag ysgogi mwy o incwm o ffynonellau heblawgrant megis mentrau cymdeithasol braich fasnachu achodi arian elusennol.

Yn gryno, yn yr hirdymor mae angen i ni ddod yn fwygwydn, creadigol, ystwyth a chydweithiol fel y gallwnuchafu’r hyn a gyflwynwn yn y rheng flaen. Bydd hyn i gydyn ein helpu i wneud yr hyn rydym yma i’w wneud –helpu cynifer o bobl hŷn ag y gallwn i aros yn ddiogel,cynnes ac annibynnol yn eu cartrefi a’u cymunedau euhunain, ac i wneud felly dros flynyddoedd lawer i ddod.

Roeddem yn falch iawn i groesawu Lesley Griffiths AC,sydd newydd ei phenodi’n Weinidog Cymunedau aThrechu Tlodi, i’n cynhadledd. Roedd yn glir fod yGweinidog yn llawn ddeall ein neges mai ‘pobl ywpopeth’, a rhoddodd sylwadau cynnes a chefnogol igynrychiolwyr ynghyd â chydnabod effaith Gofal aThrwsio ar fywydau mwy na 30,000 o bobl hŷn bobblwyddyn. Edrychaf ymlaen at gwrdd gyda’r Gweinidognewydd yn fuan i drafod yr heriau sy’n wynebu pobl hŷna’r heriau a wynebwn fel mudiad.

Bydd her newid yn parhau. Mae’n bwysig ein bod ynmynd i’r afael â hyn yn gadarn fel y gallwn gynnalgwasanaethau Gofal a Thrwsio dros yr hirdymor,oherwydd bod yr hyn a wnawn yn gwneud gwahaniaeth igynifer o bobl hŷn. Ac ar ddiwedd y dydd, pobl yw popeth.

Chris Jones twtwPrif Weithredydd, Care & Repair Cymru

MrrChris_CRCymru MrrCRCymru

140,000 o bobl hŷn yngNghymru mewn tlodi tanwydd

Bydd 50% o bobl dros 80

oed yn cael codwm yn eucartref eleni

1,900 yn fwy o farwolaethau yn y Gaeafnag mewn tymhorau eraill, gyda 70%

ohonynt dros 75 oed

Codymau’n costio £67m i’rGwasanaeth Iechyd Gwladol

25% o bobl dros 80 oed ynbyw mewn cartrefi llaith

Pobl yw popeth i Gofal a Thrwsio. Ymysg yr holl doriadau mewn gwariant cyhoeddus,uno a newidiadau trefniadaeth, byddai’n rhwydd tynnu’n llygaid oddi ar y bêl acanghofio mai’r rheswm ein bod yma yw darparu gwasanaethau ansawdd da i bobl hŷnsy’n byw mewn cartrefi gwael sydd angen ein help. Ac yn ddi-gwestiwn, maent yn dal ifod angen ein help.

Cynadleddau:

Cyrsiau hyfforddiant:


DIGWYDDIADAU

Ym mis Mehefin, fe wnaethom lansio einhymgyrch codi arian i anfon tîm dynion amenywod o Pêl-droed Cymru (SFW) i GwpanByd Digartref yn Chile ym mis Hydref.

Hyd yma, mae 75% o aelodau wedi cefnogi ein hymgyrch.Derbyniwyd bron i £9,000 mewn cyfraniadau yn unig,gyda llawer o gyfraniadau eraill gan gymdeithasau tai yndod drwy eu hymdrechion codi arian eu hunain megisgwisgo crysau pêl-droed i’r gwaith, cynnal rafflau, swîp achymryd rhan mewn gêm bêl-droed wych yn ystod yr hafa drefnwyd gan Tai Wales & West. Rhedodd pymthegaelod o staff Grŵp CHC, yn cynnwys Stuart Ropke (ein PrifWeithredydd newydd) ras 10k Caerdydd a chodi mwy na£700 i SFW. Rydym wedi codi cyfanswm £11,000 ar gyfery tîm ac yn gobeithio cael mwy fyth cyn i’r timau adaelym mis Hydref. Croesawn unrhyw gyfraniadau pellach ahoffem ddiolch yn fawr iawn i’r sector am eich cefnogaeth.Gyda’ch help chi, gall Cymru’n awr gael nid un ond daudîm yn chwarae mewn Cwpan Byd!

HYDREF 2014

21 Hyfforddiant ar y rheng flaen (diwrnod 1) CARDIFF

23 Eich Llyfr Mawr Budd-daliadau – TaliadauAnnibyniaeth Personol (PIP) CARDIFF

TACHWEDD 2014

6/7 Cynhadledd Flynyddol

Gwesty HiltonCAERDYDD

RHAGFYR 2014

3/4 Cynhadledd Cyfathrebu

Gwesty MetropoleLLANDRINDOD

Pêl-droed Stryd Cymruar y Ffordd i Chile!

TACHWEDD 2014

04 Hyfforddiant ar y rheng flaen (diwrnod 2) CAERDYDD

10 Eich Llyfr Mawr Budd-daliadau – TaliadauAnnibyniaeth Personol (PIP) GOGLEDD CYMRU

11 YEich Llyfr Mawr Budd-daliadau – Talu am gartrefiGOGLEDD CYMRU

11 Datblygu llythrennedd ariannol CAERDYDD

14 Atgyweiriadau ar gyfer staff sydd ddim yn dechnegolCAERDYDD

17 Diwygio lles ar gyfer aelodau bwrdd (hanner diwrnod)GOGLEDD CYMRU

17 Diwygio lles ar gyfer sefydliadau (hanner diwrnod)GOGLEDD CYMRU

18 Hyfforddiant ar y rheng flaen ar gyfer staffgwasanaethau cwsmeriaid CAERDYDD

18 Eich Llyfr Mawr Budd-daliadau – ar gyfer y rhai sy’ndechrau arni GOGLEDD CYMRU

19 Cyflwyniad i daliadau gwasanaeth CAERDYDD

20 Eich Llyfr Mawr Budd-daliadau – Talu am gartrefiCAERDYDD

26 Cyfryngau cymdeithasol – ffrind neu gelyn? CAERDYDD

27 Diwygio lles ar gyfer aelodau bwrdd (hanner diwrnod)CAERDYDD

27 Diwygio lles ar gyfer sefydliadau (hanner diwrnod)CAERDYDD

28 Taliadau gwasanaeth – Materion ymarferol,problemau a datrysiadau CAERDYDD

I gael mwy o wybodaeth am ein cyrsiau hyfforddiant, cysylltwchâ [email protected] os gwelwch yn dda.

I gael mwy o wybodaeth am ein cynadleddau, cysylltwch â [email protected] os gwelwch yn dda.

Dilynwch ni ar @CHCymru a @CHCEvents

HYDREF 2014

22/23Uwchgynhadledd a

digwyddiad ymylol adfywio

Stadiwm LibertyABERTAWE

TACHWEDD 2014

19Arwain y Dysgu

Adeilad PierheadCAERDYDD

Documents

A new housing · share on social networking sites and blog posts from CHC, CIH Cymru and Monmouthshire Housing. We’ve always said that housing associations provide far more than