August 2007 |
Wellness At Work Walking For A Safer Summer
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Committed staff members and friends of Cardiff Community Housing Association and Care & Repair Cardiff walked up and down Pen-y-Fan on Saturday 9th June 2007 as part of the Association’s Wellness at Work campaign and to raise money for the Agency’s Safe & Sound this Summer campaign. |
Cardiff Community Housing Association workers did the journey up South Wales’ highest mountain as part of the Association’s proactive approach to managing the health and wellbeing of employees, by encouraging and helping them to feel fitter and better.
Other popular initiatives undertaken to improve staff health and wellbeing include the weekly provision of fresh fruit, free pedometers, usage of blood pressure monitors, stress awareness training, health awareness promotion linked to national events, free complementary therapy sessions, free Easter Eggs (dark chocolate with all its health benefits, of course!) and much more.
Louise Sulley, Human Resources Manager for Cardiff Community Housing Association, said, “There has been a shift in how health at work is tackled with the focus now on prevention rather than cure. CCHA has taken a more holistic approach, introducing programmes that focus on improving the overall health and fitness of our staff, not just as a “nice to have” but as a strategic investment.
"Wellbeing initiatives don’t have to be expensive; we have a limited budget but have been able to deliver by thinking laterally and tapping in to resources at little or no cost. Picking up on staff ideas for wellbeing workshops and events is a good way of boosting morale. Keeping the momentum going has been achieved through a “Wellbeing Project Group” approach rather than it sitting within the HR department to deliver and communication has been the key. Feedback from staff has been very positive and the ideas still keep on coming forward 12 months into the initiative”.
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Staff members and friends of Cardiff Community Housing Association and Care & Repair Cardiff who undertook the walk also raised monies for the Care & Repair’s Safe & Sound this Summer campaign. The money raised will be used to provide free emergency assistance to older people at risk of potential heat-related illnesses and death in Cardiff. |
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That includes addressing any issues with south facing windows (e.g. putting up blinds/curtains), checking ventilation sources within properties and supplying fans where needed.
Richard Thomas, Manager of Care & Repair Cardiff, said, “Care & Repair Cardiff provide a range of services to older people to enable them to repair and improve their homes and thereby enabling them to live at home with increased safety and comfort.
"Periods of very hot weather can have severe implications, particularly for older, vulnerable people’s health. For example, during the 2003 heatwave there were more than 2,000 directly attributed excess heat deaths in the UK and over 20,000 in France!
"Very warm nights prevent the body from recuperating from very hot days. Also, people who suffer with breathing difficulties are likely to find their symptoms heightened. As such, the Agency is looking to implement a ‘Safe & Sound this Summer’ campaign to raise awareness of how clients can protect themselves in hot weather as well as provide practical measures and quick solutions through utilising the Agency’s Hardship Fund.
To donate money to the Safe & Sound this Summer fund or to request help from Care & Repair Cardiff, please contact: 029 20 473337.
“Hope For Trowbridge”
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So ran the headline in a recent edition of the South Wales Echo concerning our partnership development with Cardiff County Council at the ‘Trowbridge shops’ scheme in Caernarvon Way, Cardiff. The £6 million scheme is now starting to take shape, with the steel structure for the new shops already out of the ground. |
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Local Councillor and resident, Ralph Cook, a long-term advocate of the scheme said in the Echo, “It has been an eight-year struggle, starting in 1989 when I did a survey anf found that 75% of residents in Trowbridge wanted the shopping centre dealt with. "From that day forward it has been one of my top priorities.” |
Originally built in the 1960’s, the complex of shops and maisonettes has been in decline for sometime – crime, vandalism and anti-social behaviour have blighted the area and the lives of the local community.
The new development - a joint venture between CCHA and Cardiff County Council, the planning of which involved consultation with the community and is supported by them, will deliver:
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A parade of five new shops
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A brand-new purpose-built community centre
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45 new homes to be built by CCHA (30 houses and 15 flats) to be let to those on the Council’s waiting list
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The shops and community centre will be built first with work on the houses starting in 2008. We’re delighted to be part of this superb scheme, which will breathe new life into this area of Cardiff. The attractive shops, community centre and homes will be a major boost to the community. One local resident said “It is fantastic news. Everyone in Trowbridge has suffered while we have been waiting for the work start.” |
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To see more on our ongoing developments Click Here.
