Press Release - Joint Statement from Community Housing Cymru and Care & Repair Cymru

30th April 2010

 Following the announcement in February that Care & Repair Cymru (CRC) and Community Housing Cymru (CHC) were consulting with their members about forming a closer collaborative working arrangement, the Management Board of CRC and the National Council of CHC have agreed to proceed with a group structure.

The final decision of the shareholders of Care & Repair Cymru will be made at a Special General Meeting on 18th May.

The group structure will see CHC as the legal parent and CRC as the subsidiary. In practical terms, the following has been agreed:

  • The group ethos will be one of a partnership that draws upon the strengths of both organisations, to provide a stronger housing campaigning voice, and more cost effective delivery of services and objectives.
  • The independence, organisational identities, mission and objects of both organisations will be preserved
  • Financing of both organisations will be ring fenced
  • The Management Board of Care and Repair Cymru will continue to retain the necessary balance of local government, health, voluntary sector, academic, independent and housing association membership, in order to effectively continue to lobby for, and deliver high quality housing services to older people across Wales
  • CHC will not take up a majority of shareholders on the board of CRC
  • Peter Cahill, Chair of the National Council said "I am delighted with the decision of National Council and the Board of CRC to go ahead with this arrangement. The partnership will strengthen both organisations, give a stronger housing voice across a broader spectrum of society, and enable more fluid working relationships on common projects"

David Lewis, Chair of Care & Repair Cymru added "This is great news for both organisations. We look forward to exciting times where the strengths of both organisations can be harnessed to provide a sum that is greater than the two parts"

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For further information on CHC, please contact:

 Edwina O'Hart, PR Officer, Community Housing Cymru

T: 029 2055 7414 M: 075 1169 4450  E: edwina-ohart@chcymru.org.uk

 Nick Bennett, Chief Executive is available for interview - Both English and Welsh.

 For further information on CRC, please contact:

Vera Brinkworth, Head of External Affairs, Care & Repair Cymru

T: 02920 576286 M: 07776 307116 E: vera.brinkworth@careandrepair.org.uk

 

Note

Community Housing Cymru is the membership body for housing associations and community mutuals, which are all not-for-profit and provide around 112,000 homes and housing services throughout Wales.

As a registered charity our objectives are to: 

  • promote the voluntary housing sector in Wales
  • promote the relief of financial hardship through the sector's provision of low cost social housing
  • provide services, education, training, information, advice and support to providers of such housing in Wales
  • encourage and facilitate the provision, construction, improvement and management of low cost social housingbyhousing associations in Wales.

Care & Repair Cymru is the national body for Care and Repair in Wales, and the Older Persons Housing Champion.

The 22 Care and Repair Agencies across Wales help older people to remain living in their own homes with increased independence and dignity. This is achieved by carrying out and facilitating adaptations, repairs and improvements for older people in their own homes.