What's On Helpwise

Helpline for housing tenants extended

RCT Homes is to increase the opening hours of its customer service centre to enable tenants to contact its repairs service outside normal office opening.
RCT Homes owns and manages more than 10,000 homes in Rhondda Cynon Taff and its switchboard is one of the busiest in the borough.
Its customer service centre handles more than 150,000 telephone calls a year of which nearly a third are regarding repairs.
From now on, RCT Homes tenants will be able to make enquiries about repairs from 8.30am through to 6pm.
"Tenants have always been able to report the need for emergency repairs - where there is a danger to health and safety or a threat of serious damage - out-of-hours," said customer services manager Trudy Evans.
"But we realise that some tenants may find it a bit awkward to contact us during office hours."

Funding for mature workers

A £4.3m funding package to help people over the age of 50 in Wales return to training and work has been announced as new figures reveal that more older workers are suffering long-term unemployment.
The number of jobless older workers in the UK has increased by more than 50% in a year to the highest figure in a decade. A total of 170,000 job-seekers over 50 have been out of work for at least 12 months, according to research for the charity Age UK.
For funding details call 01686 611700.


School nurse for all comps

EVERY secondary school in South Wales will have its own qualified nurse, under plans launched by Health Minister Edwina Hart in Mountain Ash earlier this week.
Ms Hart launched the ambition to create the posts at all schools by next May on a visit to Mountain Ash Comprehensive School.
She said the nurse's role would be to help address the health, emotional and social needs of children and young people and promote healthy behaviour and well-being.
Nurses' union leaders welcomed the move describing it as a "commitment to the health of the nation's children".

Ms Hart said: "The provision of a school nurse for every secondary school will lead to greater consistency of the service across Wales to improve the health of children and young people.
"The nurses will have a mix of kills and expertise, covering public health, health surveillance, health promotion, health protection, safeguarding, supporting children and young people with medical, special and complex health needs.
"This will increase opportunities to work together with others, such as teachers, classroom assistants, school counsellors, youth workers, parents and students."
She said that the nurses would run services outside of normal school hours and during school holidays where required.
To meet the shortfall in school nurses, the Assembly Government is providing additional funding to health boards for 12 months to enable them to employ specialist community public health school nurses and registered nurses.
After the year-long initial period, health boards will be expected to sustain the newly-created posts.
Tina Donnelly, director of the Royal College of Nursing in Wales, said: "We welcome the commitment of the Welsh Assembly Government to improve the health of our nation's children and to increasing the number of school nurses working in Wales.
"Children need access to a healthcare professional to support them during their most vulnerable years - when they may be at risk of physical, emotional or substance abuse.
"Knowing there is a caring nurse that they can turn to within school time and outside of school hours is vital for their health and emotional well-being."
Chief nursing officer Rosemary Kennedy, based in Cardiff Bay, said: "The needs of children and young people, particularly those who are vulnerable, do not stop once they walk out of the school gates."

Some useful Links,

http://www.frixo.com
Frixo is a road / motorway traffic reporting site that gives users up to date information as the site gets updated every 3 minutes via feeds from various sources including the government's official Highways Agency site.

http://www.jobrapido.co.uk
A job search site

http://www.business-support-wales.gov.uk
A support site for local businesses

NHS Direct Wales is a 24 hour, nurse-led confidential helpline, providing advice and information on what to do if you're feeling ill, family health concerns, local health services and self-help and support organisations. There is also a confidential translation service for those who do not speak English or Welsh. Calls charged at local rate.
Tel 0845 46 47.

The hotline number for reporting fly-tipping and illegal dumping of rubbish is 0800 807060.

Contact the Elderly Wales is looking for volunteers to help organise local events. The charity provides social outings for elderly, housebound and lonely people. If you want to find out more, contact Michelle Fitzsimmons on 029 2051 4996.

Are you a disabled person needing help with planning a journey? If so, then perhaps Tripscope can help. Call 0845 7585641 for the price of a local call and get advice and assistance with all aspects of travelling. You can also email on tripscope@cableinet.co.uk

Chequers, Canon Street, Aberdare, offers support and advice to young people in an informal, social atmosphere. Open from 10 am to 3 pm and 6.30 pm to 9 .30 pm or telephone 01685 872678.

Is alcohol a problem for you or a relative? Contact the local Alcoholics Anonymous on 01685 875070.

Rhondda Cynon Taf Housing Association is on 01443 485515.