Hi, Tracy here, After nearly 30 years at Newydd, I decided to take voluntary severance and left Newydd at the end of November. I have absolutely loved my time at Newydd and have worked with some amazing tenants, staff and partners along the way so a big thank you to you all! My wonderful colleague Laetitia will now continue the Group’s exciting tenant involvement journey. I wish you all the very best for the future and thanks once again for your valued involvement and support over the years!
Hi I’m Laeti, the Tenant Involvement and Community Engagement Officer for the Cadarn Group. Welcome to your December newsletter. This month we are sharing the results of this year’s rent survey; giving you an update on the Cadarn Scrutiny Team (Straight Talking and TPAS conference); telling you about our new digital pop ups; and updating on upcoming changes as a result of the housing services review. Happy Reading!
We are delighted to announce that Amanda Lawrence, one of our dedicated Scrutiny Team members, has been appointed as the new Chair of TPAS Cymru - the leading tenant participation advisory service in Wales!
Amanda has always been passionate about tenant engagement and improving housing services. Her commitment and leadership within our scrutiny team have made a real difference, and now she will bring that same energy to TPAS Cymru, helping shape tenant participation across Wales. Her appointment as Chair is a testament to her hard work and unwavering advocacy.
Please join us in congratulating Amanda on this fantastic achievement! We are proud to see her representing tenants at the highest level and look forward to the positive impact she will make.
Fantastic news! On 27 November, Cadwyn and Newydd won the Chartered Institute of Housing’s Working in Partnership Award for our WHQS animated videos, created in partnership with 9 Housing Associations.
The project brought together tenants from nine different landlords in a dedicated workshop, where they shared their ideas and priorities for the videos. Their input helped turn complex information into clear, engaging guides that explain what the Welsh Housing Quality Standard (WHQS) means and how it benefits tenants.
A huge thank you to all the tenants who contributed to making this award-winning collaboration possible! If you would like to watch the videos again, click here.
In October, the Cadarn Scrutiny Team met with managers to discuss this year’s rent survey results and performance measures for tenant involvement. They met again in December and talked about business transformation and the housing services review.
Thank you to everyone who took part in our annual rent survey. Last year, 428 Newydd and Cadwyn tenants shared their views. This year, 334 tenants responded – and here is what you told us:
We are listening. Your feedback helps us improve services and support where it matters most. If you are worried about paying rent or want budgeting advice, please get in touch - we are here to help.
In October, the Cadarn Scrutiny Team met with managers to discuss this year’s rent survey results and performance measures for tenant involvement. They met again in December and talked about business transformation and the housing services review.
AND THE WINNERS ARE:
Congratulations to Jennie, Eugenia, Rachel, Laura, Stefan for winning £50 supermarket gift e-vouchers after completing our rent survey!
We are excited to announce that we launched our first digital community pop-ups in Church Village, Nant Garw, Llantwit Fardre and Tonteg - making it easier than ever to stay connected, share your views, and get support.
Instead of waiting for in-person events, we are reaching out to tenants in each scheme and estate by email or phone to check in, listen to your concerns, and follow up on any issues you raise. These pop-ups are designed to make it easier for you to share feedback and get support without leaving home.
As part of this, we are also asking for your up-to-date equalities information and communication preferences. This helps us keep our records accurate and tailor our services to meet your needs.
Thank you to everyone who took part - your input is invaluable in shaping how we work with you. Thanks to you, our teams are now following up:
✔ 2 repairs
✔ 1 grounds maintenance issue
✔ 1 anti-social behaviour (ASB) issue
✔ 1 adaptation
This is just the beginning! We will continue to use digital pop-ups alongside traditional engagement methods to make sure every voice is heard.
Some of our tenants joined housing professionals at the 2-day November TPAS Cymru Annual Tenant Engagement Conference to discuss the most important issues in housing right now. Here is what was covered:
✔ WHQS & Retrofit - Updates on improving homes and making them more energy-efficient
✔ Social Housing Rents - Welsh Government review to keep rents fair and affordable
✔ Complaints & Repairs - Making processes easier and faster with better communication
✔ Tenant Engagement - New ways to ensure your voice shapes decisions
✔ Technology in Housing - How AI could improve services in the future
✔ Meet the Regulator - How Welsh Government protects tenants and housing investment
✔ Meet the Ombudsman - Their role in handling complaints and resolving issues fairly
✔ Energy Bills - Practical tips to understand your bill and reduce costs
Here is what some of our tenants said:
‘Thank you very much for this opportunity. I learned a lot, and the three days were truly refreshing for me. I learned about the challenges especially young people face and different ways to keep them engaged. For repairs, I noticed communication issues, high material costs and repeated repairs. I asked why leaks keep recurring and suggested keeping proper records and following up for feedback. Thank you again for everything.’
As a first time at the Tpas Conference I was pleasantly surprised and very impressed with what I saw and heard. I did every workshop I wanted to and learnt an awful lot, and I even asked questions. Amanda and I even chatted to a member of the Senedd!
I loved attending the TPAS Cymru conference in November. Where else does a tenant get the chance to meet fellow tenants, landlords, and government officials from across Wales? I got to talk to Head of Housing Standards for the Welsh government and heard tenants ask him hard questions during his session.
We are all passionate about housing, and our voices make sure that we, the tenants, are seen by the landlords. That there are real people living in homes, not statistics living in properties.
Nothing is perfect, Housing needs to change, to adapt and improve. But housing in Wales is trying. And the best way to achieve this is to make sure that tenants are involved from the beginning. It will always be “Nothing about us without us”.
The conference opened warmly and welcoming. The big hall was filled to capacity - 200 delegates, officials, sponsors, and many from the housing fraternity. I attended 3 workshops: • What’s Next for Social Housing – Rents in Wales • Demystifying Heat Pumps and Solar Panels in Social Housing • From Lessons to Lived Experiences - Strengthening Tenant Voice in the Net Zero Transition.
I am so grateful to Newydd, Tracy and team for all the co-ordination and arrangement - Bless you!
