A respected housing expert is on a mission to recruit volunteers to help run an agency that helps older people live independently.<\/p>\n
Clifton Robinson, the chair of Conwy and Denbighshire Care & Repair, has launched a search for four new management board members to join the charity that covers a vast area of north Wales, stretching from Llangollen in the east to Llanfairfechan in the west.<\/p>\n
The organisation, a subsidiary of the\u00a0 Gr\u0175p Cynefin housing association, assists older, homeowners and tenants in private sector housing aged over\u00a0 60 to live independently in comfort, safety and warmth by helping them with all kinds of improvements, adaptations and advice.<\/p>\n
It also helps householders access all\u00a0 benefits to which they\u2019re entitled, achieving a record \u00a31.5 million for clients last year.<\/p>\n
Becoming chair of Conwy and Denbighshire Care & Repair saw life come full circle for Clifton Robinson.<\/p>\n
In 1990 he was one of the founders of Colwyn Care & Repair which later merged with its sister organisation in Denbighshire 10 years ago.<\/p>\n
At the time Mr Robinson was a housing manager with the ClwydAlyn housing association, later moving to the North Wales Housing as housing director before becoming chief executive of the Housing Diversity Network, a social enterprise working across England.<\/p>\n
He also served as chair of North Wales Probation and on the board of Cartrefi Conwy housing association before joining the board of Gr\u0175p Cynefin for four years.<\/p>\n
According to Mr Robinson, he\u2019s particularly proud to have taken over as chair of Conwy and Denbighshire Care & Repair which helped a record 5,800 clients last year.<\/p>\n
Being a member of the management board was, he said, a \u201cchallenging and hugely rewarding\u201d role.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re looking to recruit at least four new members. We\u2019re looking for people who are passionate and will be committed to the kind of work that we do,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re not necessarily looking for people who have experience of being on a board \u2013 we\u2019re looking for people who have energy and are enthusiastic.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey will need to be willing to do their homework in reading reports and coming to meetings as well as engaging with the work of the officers, ask questions and critically support what we are doing.<\/p>\n
\u201cSomebody with organisational experience who is good with people would be brilliant.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor those who are interested, we could organise a taster session so they could see if it\u2019s for them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Robinson added: \u201cOur mission is to help people aged over\u00a0 60 to maintain, repair or adapt their homes by giving them practical advice and guidance, signposting them to other relevant agencies to support their needs<\/p>\n
\u201cWe also have an excellent team of\u00a0 in-house contractors who can also support clients by providing advice and support.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have an approved contractor list of first class contractors across Conwy and Denbighshire who we can refer our clients to<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are a trusted organisation so people will get in touch and ask either if we can recommend a contractor to carry out the work that they require either using our inhouse team or external contractors from our approved contractors list.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe rely heavily on Welsh Government support\u00a0 and we are part of a network of 13 similar agencies across the country.<\/p>\n
\u201cTypically, we help people to remain living in their own homes as independently as possible .<\/p>\n
\u201cAnother aspect of what we do is provide advice on adapting homes for people\u2019s changing needs as they get older, a whole range of disabilities including sensory impairment working alongside\u00a0 organisations who can help in terms of sight loss and hearing loss.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of what we do is life-changing in a really good way and clients who\u2019ve had some really excellent work done are happy to act as ambassadors for Care & Repair.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey are living, breathing examples of the value of the services we provide and the positive difference they make.\u201d<\/p>\n
More details are available on the organisation\u2019s website <\/strong>https:\/\/careandrepair.org.uk\/agencies\/care-repair-conwy-and-denbighshire\/<\/strong><\/a> and anyone wanting to know more about becoming a board member can email <\/strong>post@gofalathrwsio.com<\/strong><\/a> or ring Chief Officer Lynda Colwell for an informal chat on <\/strong>0300 111 2120<\/strong><\/a>.<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n