Party time as residents celebrate re-opening of communal lounge

Fri 16 Sep 2016

NPT Homes staff and residents open the new lounge

Residents at Llys Nant Fer, NPT Homes’ Haven Housing scheme in Gwaun Cae Gurwen are celebrating the re-opening of their communal lounge.

 

The lounge, which is a communal space for residents to meet and socialise has undergone a radical transformation to bring it up to modern standards.

 

To celebrate the re-opening, residents held a grand party with food, music and games and were joined by residents from the Pant y Fedwen Haven Housing scheme in nearby Cwmgors.

 

The work to Llys Nant Fer’s communal lounge was carried out as part of the Welsh Housing Quality Standard (WHQS) improvement programme being carried out by NPT Homes. This programme will see £220 million spent by 2017 on bringing properties up to acceptable standards.

 

As part of this programme, all Haven Housing schemes across Neath Port Talbot will see major refurbishment work carried out to both private living accommodation and communal spaces, where required. The communal lounge at Llys Nant Fer is the first communal project to be completed.

 

The lounge has had a complete facelift with new electrics, decorations and flooring. It consists of separate dining and living room areas with co-ordinating soft furnishings.”?

 

All interior design has been done to meet the RNIB’s Visibly Better standard. The standard aims to ensure that supported housing providers in Wales can help meet the needs of residents who are living with sight loss. Tenants were consulted about the colour scheme and were able to choose from four mood boards which were RNIB compliant

 

Tenant Empowerment Team Leader at NPT Homes, Siân Roach said:

“The refurbishment of the communal area at Llys Nant Fer has created a modern, inviting place for residents to meet, socialise and interact with each other. It was important that the area would be inclusive to everyone and that’s why we ensured that the work adhered to the RNIB’s Visibly Better standard.”

 

One of the residents at Llys Nant Fer, Joy Chiverton said:

“The new lounge is wonderful. It has really created a space where we enjoy spending time and has really enhanced the community feel here. It’s wonderful to be able to celebrate the re-opening with my fellow residents as well as our friends from Pant y Fedwen.”