This National Apprenticeship Week we’re celebrating the stories of our own amazing apprentices…

A big thank you to Mrs Davies from Corwen for her amazing feedback about our Property Maintenance team. It’s wonderful to see the positive impact the team is having on Cartrefi Conwy tenants’ homes and lives on a daily basis, and to know that this high quality, professional service generates income that enables us to create employment and training opportunities for local people. Mrs Davies said:

“Now that my garden is all on one level it’s much more manageable and easier to keep tidy. I’m especially pleased with my new bin store – everything has a place now.

The team who did the work were absolutely lovely – very pleasant lads, always happy to help. They put in a new step by my back door which makes it so much easier for me to get outside now.

I can’t wait for summer! My daughter has bought me a table and a set of chairs – I’m looking forward to being able to sit outside and enjoy my garden to the full. Here’s hoping for plenty of sunshine this summer!”

A big congratulations to Creating Enterprise’s Modular Solutions team and our colleagues from Brenig Construction, Beattie Passive and Denbighshire County Council on the news that a further four plots on the Llwyn Eirin development in Denbigh have passed their air leakage and thermal insulation tests with flying colours!

Did you know?

Funding is available of up to £1000 for a community project that benefits Cartrefi Conwy tenants and the communities they live in.

For more information, email get.involved@cartreficonwy.org or visit https://cartreficonwy.org/tenants/my-neighbourhood/funding/

A big thank you to Mrs Roberts from Llanrwst for her amazing feedback about our Property Maintenance team and Tenant Liaison Officers. It’s wonderful to see the positive impact the team is having on Cartrefi Conwy tenants’ homes and lives on a daily basis, and to know that this high quality, professional service generates income that enables us to create employment and training opportunities for local people. Mrs Roberts said:

“This wet room has honestly changed my life – I was struggling with the bath that was there before, but now I’ve got my independence back and the shower actually helps to relieve my pain.

I wasn’t used to being around people so I was really nervous before the team arrived to start work, but they knew just how to make me feel comfortable. Whenever someone new came they introduced themselves, which helped me to relax. They were lovely and they made me laugh!

My bathroom is more spacious now, which makes it easier for me to move around. It’s like a breath of fresh air and it’s made me feel like I haven’t felt in a long time. I’m beaming!”

This week, board members – including Cartrefi Conwy’s Chair, Jim Illidge (pictured) – were given an opportunity to visit the Llwyn Eirin development in Denbighshire, where the Creating Enterprise Modular Solutions team are involved in the construction of 22 new homes for Denbighshire County Council.

Board members were hugely impressed by the progress being made on the site, and were particularly pleased to hear how well the first 8 homes – which are being built and certified to the energy-efficient Passivhaus standard – performed during rigorous air and thermal imaging tests at the end of last year.

Further air tests are due to be carried out next week – watch this space!

We have THREE paid work opportunities for tenants of Cartrefi Conwy and ClwydAlyn Housing Association available now through our Employment Academy!

We are proud to be working in partnership with ClwydAlyn Housing Association and Williams Homes to offer tenants 12 months of paid work plus an excellent training package and a dedicated Mentor who will support the successful candidates to develop and progress into sustainable employment at the end of their contracts.

1.

Role: Care Practitioner
Location: Chirk, Wrexham
Hours: 21 per week
Salary: National Minimum Wage
Closing Date: 08/02/2022

2.
Role: Catering Assistant
Location: Llangefni
Hours: 16 per week
Salary: National Minimum Wage
Closing Date: 08/02/2022

3.
Role: Trainee Labourer (Williams Homes)
Location: Ruthin
Hours: 45 per week
Salary: National Minimum Wage
CSCS Card Essential

Job descriptions and application forms can be found here. Our Job Search Co-ordinators are on hand to help you to complete the application form – call us on 01492 588 980 or send an email to employmentacademy@creatingenterprise.org.uk for support to apply.

Earlier this month, 5 Cartrefi Conwy tenants attended the 2 day ‘Emerging Woman Art Journey’ course hosted by the Community Involvement team and delivered by local artist, Lisa Lochhead. Most of the tenants admitted that they were not really sure what to expect from the course in advance, but they were intrigued by its title and were open to trying something new. By the second day, the feedback coming from the group was exceptional, with the participants saying that they felt proud of what they were achieving and creating, and that the experience had left them feeling that a weight had been lifted from their shoulders. One tenant commented, “I woke up excited to come back this morning”.

Lisa Lochhead herself said, “I’m so proud of all these amazing women! Most of them have never painted or done any art before – and certainly nothing like working with me!”

The Loan IT project is playing a significant part in helping Cartrefi Conwy tenants to stay connected this Christmas, with over 20 data-enabled tablets loaned out over the past couple of weeks alone. Tenants living across Conwy County – from Llandudno to Cerrigydrudion – have benefited from the scheme, which is aiming to support participants to keep in touch with friends and family, shop for groceries and gifts, or even catch up on the soaps this Christmas.

We have been overwhelmed by the stories coming back from the tenants about how their tablets have changed their lives. However, Dave’s comment about his experience of using Google Earth stopped us in our tracks:

“Years ago I went on the holiday of a lifetime to Mauritius. Now I’ve got access to the internet I can go there any time I like.”

Find out more about the Loan IT project here.

Congratulations to our Community Rail Officer, Karen, and the team at Conwy Valley & North West Wales Coast Community Rail Partnership on winning 3rd prize for the Best Community Engagement Project at this year’s Community Rail Awards.

You can find out more about the ‘Walking For Wellbeing’ project by browsing through the extended case study below: