Communities are important and a strong community can help raise peoples’ quality of life. We believe that in partnership with our tenants we can help build and support communities which will have a positive effect on our tenants’ lives. The Community Regeneration department in Rhondda Housing Association is dedicated to this aim. The Department’s priorities are:

LEARNING NEW SKILLS

“I started with First Aid, and ended up with Self Defence! It’s all changed my life completely. I used to suffer with terrible depression.”

We run a wide range of courses which can last for a couple of hours or a whole day. Courses range from ‘life skills’ such as personal development, coping with stress, cooking and first aid to skills which can help people get jobs such as play worker training, construction skills and IT skills.

We also help people gain the skills to feel comfortable running a local group such as a tenants association or tackling local problems. For people who have difficulty with debts or money management we offer confidential, one to one support. Learning can be the key not only to employment but to better family relationships as well.

YOUTH WORK

“I've really gained in confidence and tried loads of projects that I wouldn’t normally try, I've also gained accredited qualifications like an OCN in job skills which was really fun & enjoyable”

We recognise that young people are the future of their communities. Their participation and vitality can change local society for the better.

Without this the most able will inevitably move away. The work our youth workers do gives young people focus, confidence and key skills which will help them to take a full and positive role in their communities. Young people have benefited from a comprehensive  programme of activities including residentials where they can rock climb and test their strength, arts and music projects, sport, IT and media activities, confidence building and one to one support. They can also join other young people who are producing a quarterly newsletter or join the Youth Forum

TRAINING & EMPLOYMENT

We want to explore more opportunities for vocational training and work experience as this can lead to employment. We have offered traineeships within the Department as well as arranging for a whole range of classes from plumbing to hairdressing. Lately we have been looking to see how we can match what we do with offering skills to our residents. We are seeing if we can set up a social enterprise - a business which will be able to part fund future community development projects with any profits made. 

FIGHTING POVERTY

We want to see if we can reduce the consequences of poverty amongst tenants because of the adverse effect poverty has on individuals and communities. We will work in partnership with other agencies who also have responsibility to reduce the consequences of poverty. Many people living in our properties suffer from poverty in one form or another. This may be through poor health, low income or poor educational achievement. We are committed to tackling poverty as a way to reduce social exclusion and to ensure a better future for all our tenants.

VOLUNTEERING

We have an active Community Development Focus Group which is a subgroup of the Tenants Forum.

Tenants from different areas meet four times a year to discuss the work we are doing and how it could be improved. Any of our tenants are eligible to join. We also encourage all tenants to take part in our work in any way they can. If you are interested in joining the group then please contact us on 01443 424 200.

HELPING COMMUNITY GROUPS

We can help you to change something in your community for the better. You might like to see more childrens activities or want something doing to make the area where you live nicer for instance.

FIGHTING ISOLATION AND LONELINESS

We have run art based projects and social events for groups of people who would like to do something creative in a social and friendly setting.

Please see our Current News page for further details of our projects and work...

WHERE THE MONEY COMES FROM

We are a non-profit making charitable housing association. The vast majority of the money needed to carry out this work comes from external funders and partners who support our work with their staff time. Our tenants, however, are at the core; it is their vision and time which ultimately sustains everything we do. 

2009 UKHA Inside Housing Award, Outstanding Achievement in Wales 

2009 Business in The Community Award, Active Communities

2005 Leading Wales Award Voluntary & Non Profit making organisations

2001 Outstanding Achievement Award, Chartered Institute of Housing