Category: News

Massive economic boost

CARTREFI CONWY SITE AT NORTH WALES BUSINESS PARK, ABERGELE. Pictured is (centre) AM Darren Millar with (from left) Pam Lonie, chair of Cartrefi Conwy, Len Wilcocks of Worldspan Group (Business Park Management/Owner) and Andrew Bowden Chief Executive of Cartrefi Conwy.

The decision of a housing association to build its new HQ in Abergele has been hailed as a massive boost for the local economy.

Cartrefi Conwy will be bringing up to 100 jobs to the North Wales Business Park on the outskirts
of the town.

The plans also include creating community facilities for the benefit of our tenants and other local people.

Subject to planning permission, construction is due to start later this year and the new building should be ready for staff to move in by next summer.

The news was welcomed by Clwyd West AM Darren Millar who praised Cartrefi Conwy’s forward thinking approach.

Cartrefi Conwy was set up in 2008 and took over responsibility for 3,800 properties from Conwy County Borough Council following a vote in favour by tenants.

The organisation is now nearing completion of a £30 million housing improvement programme.

As a result, they are one of the few housing associations that are on target to bring all their properties up to the Welsh Housing Quality Standard by the end of 2012.

Mr Millar said: “I am absolutely delighted that Cartrefi Conwy is coming to Abergele.

“It is a huge boost to the local economy and it will be great to see so many new faces using the local shops.

“Cartrefi Conwy is an organisation that is on the up and there is every expectation that they will continue to expand in future years.

“Andrew Bowden, the Chief Executive, and all the team at Cartrefi Conwy are doing a great job.

“Hundreds of houses in my constituency have benefited from the investment that’s been rolled out. It’s made a huge difference to the quality of life for the tenants.

“In addition, the household bills have come down as a result of some of the energy saving improvements to their properties.

“It is wonderful to see that they are an organisation who actually do what they say they are going to do. It’s great to see them keeping their promise to invest back into the community.

Cartrefi Conwy is currently based in temporary rented accommodation in Colwyn Bay.

According to Cartrefi Conwy Chief Executive Andrew Bowden, the creation of a new headquarters marked an exciting new chapter in the history of the organisation.

As well as providing office space, the £2.5 million building will also become a hub for community activities.

Mr Bowden said: “This is something that we’ve been planning in the background, because our main focus from the outset was to deliver on our promises to improve the homes of our tenants.

“We are on course to bring all the properties up to the Welsh Housing Quality Standard and we felt we needed to put our roots down in the county of Conwy.

“This marks the next phase in the history of Cartrefi Conwy and this is about building firm foundations for the future because we want to build and sustain our company for the benefit of our tenants.

“Our intention is to actually enable the new building to be a community hub for our tenants and the communities they live in.

“Among the facilities here will be an open learning centre as well as rooms that will be available to support our tenant’s activities.

“We want everybody – the community, our tenants and staff to be very proud of this building.”

It was a sentiment echoed by Pam Lonie, the Chair of the Cartrefi Conwy Board.

She said: “When we came into being, we knew that strategically our number one priority was to embark on the massive housing improvement programme which we are on schedule to complete ahead of time.

“We also knew that we had to make plans to have a suitable headquarters for our staff to facilitate the provision of the best possible service to our tenants.

“This new headquarters will also be a hub for our tenants.”

Len Wilcock, the co-owner of the North Wales Business Park and Proprietor of the Worldspan Group who are based there, is thrilled about the impending arrival of Cartrefi Conwy.

He said: “It’s great that they have chosen to come here, I think they have recognised the quality of what we have on the site. It’s a quality business park and a lot of thought and effort has gone into making it as good as it is.”

Tuesday June 12th, 2012

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Caring Robin looks to future thanks to pioneering Coleg Harlech scheme

Coleg Harlech ILM placement at Tyddyn Môn, Brynrefail Robin Hughes with Linda Walne, the manager.

After a lifetime in industry a special job programme for the long term unemployed has opened Robin Hughes’ eyes to a new career in caring for others.

The 54-year-old father-of-two has not worked full-time since 2008 after illness cost him his job at Anglesey Aluminium.

Job applications which never even got a response disheartened him, but then he was introduced to Intermediate Labour Market (ILM) scheme run by Coleg Harlech WEA.

The scheme pays wages to long term unemployed people on specially created temporary jobs.

Robin has spent  three months working at the Tyddyn Môn farm visitor centre at Brynrefail, Dulas, near Amlwch.

It is  run by people with learning difficulties and the experience has persuaded him that a life in the care industry could be more rewarding in every sense.

Robin, of Penycefn, Amlwch, said: “Tyddyn Môn caters for men and women of all ages wit different handicaps and mental issues and gives value to their lives by getting them into work. It’s very difficult for people like this to get work, especially in tight financial times, because often it needs another worker to look after them while they do the job.

“At Tyddyn Môn we do gardening, look after animals, carry out recycling, collecting and recycling clothes and shoes perhaps for re-selling or sending out to Africa. They improve compost so that it can be sold as soil enhancers.

“There are playgrounds for children who visit, walks, ponds, nice areas for visitors to picnic and a cafe,” said Robin who is soon to become a grandfather for the third time.

Born in Bangor and having lived most of his life in Amlwch, Robin left the Sir Thomas Jones school and worked on construction sites before securing a job with a local stone mason.

From there he went to work for the petro-chemical company Associated Octel at Amlwch until it was bought out and closed down. “I worked there for 25 years,” said Robin.

After a year with the ambulance service he moved to Anglesey Aluminium but because he was kept as a contract worker for four years when he fell seriously ill and could not fulfil his contract,
he lost his job.

In fact, Robin almost died. “I had a dodgy tummy the night after a kebab and put it down to th kebab. But when the pain got worse I went to the doctor and he sent me to hospital at Bangor and they decided to open me up to see what was wrong.

“My appendix had dissolved and was causing my intestines to deflate. Another day and I could have been dead. I was four days in intensive care,” he said.

With 30 stitches in his stomach, Robin recovered and managed to get back into temporary work at a plastics company, but that proved less than stable.

“I hate being on the dole, it really bugs me when I’m asked ‘have you been actively seeking work’. A lady at the Jobcentre told me about the ILM course at Coleg Harlech and I said I would be interested. It’s a couple of days at college and a few days work, hopefully leading to a full-time job.”

The Intermediate Labour Market (ILM) is a scheme funded by the Welsh Assembly Government and European Structural Funds (European Social Fund), and managed by Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA), the umbrella body for the third sector in Wales.

Coleg Harlech takes people who are unemployed and and pays them while they learn skills that they can use in rural Wales, particularly in land management, recycling, waste management and agriculture, and encouraging self-employment.

Robin’s first aid certificate from the ambulance service made him a more attractive proposition for Tyddyn Môn.

“The good thing about the course is that it opens your eyes to other possibilities and gives you an

insight. I’ve seen how rewarding the care sector can be.

“I would love to work as a care support worker, something that was beneficial and helps change someone’s life,” he said.

Married to Nancy, a school cleaner, for more than 30 years, Robin is convinced his ILM course may have set him up for a brighter future.

Ceri Lewis, ILM project manager said: “For Robin, working at Tyddyn Mon has opened up to him the possibility of a total career change which I really think he is going to excel at.

“For the past 12 weeks, the group have been studying for two days a week at Coleg Harlech WEA towards an Employability Certificate and for the other three days each member of the group has been working in placements across Anglesey and Gwynedd, specifically arranged to suit the skills of each individual within the group.

Already two of the group have started in new jobs, and five others are planning to enrol on different courses, as well as thinking about volunteering.

“It has been really fun working with each of the group and seeing everyone get their confidence back and discover and develop skills they never knew they had.”

Tyddyn Mon manager Lina Walne (corr) said: “He got on so well with all our service users. He did everything we asked of him and I think it really boosted his confidence.”

Tuesday June 12th, 2012

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Queen Joanne is crowned

Queen's Jubilee events at Pendine Park Care Homes. The Queen for a Day at Penybryn, Joanne Davies is crowned by Mario and Gill Kreft

A care organisation has a new Queen.

Mum of two Joanne Davies was crowned during the Diamond Jubilee festivities at Pendine Park, in Wrexham.

Joanne, 42, has been a resident of Penybryn, the brain injuriies unit, for a  little over six months.

She  was thrilled when Pendine Park proprietor Mario Kreft MBE conducted the coronation, accompanied by his wife Gill.

There to watch their daughter’s big day were Bob and Carole Duggan who explained that Joanne had been struck down by a virus which has left her needing constant care.

Bob said: “Joanne has two children Ryan who is 12 and a daughter Ashley who is 15. It has obviously been very hard since Joanne was hit by this terrible virus that has, in many ways, destroyed her life.

“However, days like today are something we can enjoy. Joanne was thrilled to be named as queen and was very nervous. She really enjoyed the crowning ceremony and the parade which followed around the grounds.

“Clearly, we would prefer Joanne to be at home with her family but as this isn’t possible we are pleased she is settling into life here at Penybryn where the standard of care and nursing is exceptional.

Penybryn Manager Tracy Cuthill said: “What a lovely occasion! To see all the bunting and balloons is really inspiring and I have to pay tribute to our staff who have worked so hard to ensure all those residents who wanted to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee could do so.

“I think the lead-up to the celebrations have been particularly exciting with so much going on. I particularly like the effort that has gone into our Jubilee Memory trees.

“Each resident has left a message for the Queen, or shared a memory, which has been put on a post card and attached to a tree. I know many of our residents have found this a particularly stimulating experience.”

Crown bearer for the day was Sarah Behre, 22, who hails from Ethiopia, who handed Joanne’s crown to Mario Kreft so he could perform the ceremony.

Activities Coordinator Gerry Humphreys said everyone had been excited as preparations for the big day got underway.

She said: “We have so much going on and following Joanne’s crowning we enjoyed a parade around the grounds. Following that the residents sat down to a ‘Lunch Fit for a Queen’ which included canapés, crown of lamb and queen of hearts pudding.

“Then after lunch residents and staff enjoyed a disco and plenty of traditional party games. It’s been a wonderful day and I am so glad Joanne’s mum and dad were able to come along and share her big day.”

Monday June 11th, 2012

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Patriotic pooches are diamond dogs

Donna Condliffe who runs Canine and Co. Pictured With buster the British bull dog cross in one of the jubilee outfits.

Patriotic pooches can get into the swing of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee party in their very own sparkly bling.

Every canine connoisseur will want to be seen at the year’s biggest social event dressed in a sequined Union Jack hoodie designed especially to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the monarch’s reign.

Or for the more casual, how about putting one’s best paw forward in a red T-shirt complete with a Union Jack in a heart design?

And for really energetic hounds getting readyfor London 2012, you can even kit them out in Olympics inspired gear.

The celebratory outfits are the latest must-haves from a new award-winning North Wales business, Canine and Co, an online dog accessory store for people who love to spoil their pets.

It was launched last year by husband and wife team Paul and Donna Condliffe, dog lovers who turned their back on highly successful careers in finance and banking, to live the good life in Maerdy near Corwen.

Conwy Rural Business Support (CRBS) have provided “invaluable” help in establishing their successful new business.  CRBS is funded through the Rural Development Plan which is financed by the EU and the Welsh Government.

They provide free services to micro businesses, employing 10 or less people, offering advice, marketing opportunities and practical guidance on how to secure funding.

Recently, Canine and Co was named New Business of the Year at the Conwy Rural Business Awards and was a finalist in two other categories, E-commerce Business of the Year with Donna shorlisted in the Woman in Business category.

Donna, 42, said: “I was a little girl during the Silver Jubilee in 1977, but I can remember everyone pulling together, what was particularly nice was the sense of community and how people wanted to join together to celebrate the Jubilee.

“Let’s face it a Diamond Jubilee does not come around too often. Our pets are part of the family and this is one way of letting them join in the celebrations. The line is selling because people like to be patriotic and people are proud of the UK.

“I want to make sure people are happy and we put a smile of their face, and make sure the pets are comfortable. All our products are fashion with a purpose and nothing is restrictive or uncomfortable for the dogs.”

Donna is also encouraging dog owners to get their pets into the Olympic spirit with Olympic-style jackets for the pet which wants to join in the celebrations for the 2012 London Olympics.

Paul and Donna lived in Cheshire where she worked for Britannia Building Society and Paul was an area manager for Barclays Bank.

For 20 years Donna covered different branches in Cheshire, Staffordshire and North Wales and picked up a string of awards for her work in a senior managerial role.

A looming merger gave Donna the option of promotion or redundancy and to everyone’s surprise she chose redundancy.

“As luck would have it just at that time Paul was thinking of leaving the bank when they were about to close one of its investment arms and he was able to take redundancy too so it worked perfectly and seemed like this was meant to be,” said Donna.

“I worked for 20 years in finance and absolutely loved it. I was responsible for customer strategy and I loved working with people, but I have no regrets at all. It’s only when you leave the commercial sector that you realise that life is about enjoying life and not working 12 hours a day and going from meeting to meeting.

“You don’t get the pay cheque but you get a different style of life. My background was my grandparents were farmers and we had always lived a semi-rural life so coming here was a no-brainer.

“It’s really beautiful here, I have to pinch myself when I look out at he views. And the people have been wonderfully welcoming and accepted us into the village and are going to teach us some Welsh, including a few swear words!”

Now Donna and Paul have a three-quarter acre garden where some rescued ex-battery hens are also living the “good life” along with rescue dogs Chocky and Champers (the “two nicest things in life”) two cross-Collies about 10 and 11 years old.

“Coming from a business background with a degree in finance and business, I knew I wanted to work from home, I loved dogs and I did a lot of research. We tend to be about five years behind the USA and I found there that the pet industry, even during recession, was still growing.

“Pets are being treated more and more as part of the family and there are eight million dogs owners in the UK alone. People like to buy their dogs presents and you will always need dog collars, leads and beds. It’s a growth industry,” said Donna.

Living in rural Wales, however, Donna also has a focus on products for working dogs. Being an on-line business is also an advantage since on-line sales are growing and it fits in with the modern lifestyle.

“Conwy Rural Business Support has been a great support, they really have, when I was setting up last year they were invaluable. Only a couple of weeks we attended a business day in Llandudno Junction where we networked in the morning and attended seminars in the afternoon where we could hear about marketing, using social media, it was great,” she said.

Anna Openshaw, the Project Officer for Conwy Rural Business Support, is delighted at the success of Canine and Co.

She said: “We are very proud of the part we have played in helping Canine and Co to be on the front foot.

“They are proof positive that you can establish and run a successful business from rural Conwy while enjoying the benefits of the spectacular surroundings.”

For more information about the support and advice that’s available to small businesses in rural Conwy contact Anna Openshaw either by ringing 01492 643159 or emailing  to:conwyruralpartnership@conwy.gov.uk">conwyruralpartnership@conwy.gov.uk

Information on Canine and Co go to www.canineandco.co.uk or call  0843 2898098.

Monday June 11th, 2012

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