Awards for Excellence logo 2010

Rhondda Housing Association - Together We Can

Regional Award

Rhondda Housing Association is a community based housing association managing 1500 homes. Faced with escalating levels of deprivation in the communities where it works the Association took a strategic decision to proactively engage in community regeneration by accessing external grants, providing staff resources and high level leadership to support this activity.
give debt advice and reduce isolation amongst older residents.

Processes

There are four priorities to its community work: Youth Engagement, Training and Employment, Community Engagement and Anti-Poverty.  RHA’s focus on these improves the quality of life for local communities, reduces empty properties, addresses anti-social behaviour, reduces mistrust of young people and increases customer satisfaction. 
RHA supports local people in meeting local needs such as facilitating food co-operatives, developing a multi-use games area, supporting holiday play-schemes.  They work with young people to increase their confidence, self esteem and skills levels. 

They give debt advice and reduce isolation amongst older residents. Key benefits for RHA are reduced tenancy turnover, reduced rent arrears and less anti-social behaviour.  Key benefits for society are improved social cohesion and community regeneration.

Impact

  • In recognition of their commitment to regeneration RHA received the UK Outstanding Achievement Award in Wales 2009 from the Chartered Institute of Housing.
  • The Youth Forum has grown in numbers with an additional cohort of 12 being trained. Targeted work with young people most at risk has resulted in 17 enrolling on the Duke of Edinburgh Award.
  • In 2007/08 RHA created nine apprenticeships, worked alongside 180 residents, engaged with 2,216 and trained 424. In 2009 RHA supported a further 10 ‘Future Jobs’ candidates and 4 apprentices with work opportunities.
  • RHA’s volunteer base has grown with 35 new people volunteering within their community and RHA.
  • Debts among tenants supported by the Financial Inclusion Officer including rent arrears decreased by 26% on average.
  • Work on fuel poverty reached 90 tenants with a saving to households of on average £200 per annum.
  • 123 people were supported with financial literacy, debt management and encouraged to join the Credit Union and open bank accounts.
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