Haven Housing Residents Urged to Think Inside the Box

Residents at NPT Homes’ Haven Housing schemes are having their say on the future of their residences by submitting ideas to the organisation via a series of brand new suggestion boxes.

The boxes have been popping up at the Haven Housing Schemes in the Neath and Dulais Valleys and are designed for residents to have their say on a range of issues that affect their homes and communities.

Tenants will be invited to suggest activities that might be of interest to fellow residents and to identify priority areas at the schemes. In addition, the boxes will act as an opportunity to raise issues or concerns that may arise as well identifying the needs and requirements of tenants and the surrounding community. The whole project is designed to ensure all tenants can have the opportunity to communicate with NPT Homes and to have their say on where they live

The boxes have been made by one of the scheme’s own residents, Peter Jenkins whilst they have been decorated by fellow tenants. They will appear in five locations in total – Cysgodfa in Tonna, Ty Maes Marchog in Banwen, Llwynon in Crynant, Godrecoed in Cadoxton and Maeshir in Glyneath.

Speaking about the new boxes, Dorris Hales, a resident at Tŷ Maes Marchog said:

“All the boxes have been individually decorated to make them stand out. I’m particularly pleased with the one we have here at my scheme as it has been done by some of our volunteer visitors, Beth Reynolds and her mother Val Pearce, a former art teacher.

I’m particularly pleased with the one we have here at our scheme as it has been done by Beth Reynolds and her mother Val Pearce, a former art teacher, who are tutors in the craft class held in Ty Maes Marchog every Tuesday evening.

It’s really important that residents can have a say in how their homes are run and we were delighted to see these new suggestion boxes appear in our communal lounge. I can’t wait to make a few suggestions of my own”

Lynda Morgan, NPT Homes’ Accommodation Assistant said:

“It’s really important to us that we have regular and constructive communication with the tenants in our Haven Housing schemes. We already have monthly meetings between tenants and staff and now these boxes will be used alongside them in order to ensure that we continue to work together.”

If successful, the suggestion boxes could be rolled out to other Haven Housing Schemes throughout Neath Port Talbot.