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Breaking News Swansea Credit Union first scheme in Wales

Swansea Council’s Housing Service and the city’s Credit Union are joining forces in a new scheme to help new Council tenants manage their money. The scheme will offer a range of accounts to support new tenants and those on low incomes in preparation for some of the major changes to benefits being introduced this year.

From April 2013, over 2000 local authority tenants in Swansea will now have their Housing Benefit reduced if they have one or more spare bedrooms. These tenants will now have to pay the shortfall.

Swansea’s Credit Union LASA (Loans and Savings Abertawe) will offer to help families manage their money and to pay their rent or bills promptly in a bid to prevent people falling into financial difficulties

David Phillips the Leader of Swansea Council is also the Cabinet Member for Anti-Poverty at Swansea Council. He said:

“We already know the changes to the Social Security system being introduced by the UK Government will have an impact on thousands of Swansea families and this is one way that we can help people manage on a reduced income.

 “As a Council we are committed to helping tackle debt, which very quickly traps people who may be experiencing financial hardship. Credit Unions are cooperatives, which means they will offer balanced financial advice and won’t charge high interest rates.”

This scheme will help tenants who are affected by the changes to prioritise their essential payments like rent. It works by providing a rent account, a savings account and a budgeting account. After the tenant has paid into these accounts the Credit Union will make direct rent payments on their behalf on the due date. A pre-paid card will then be credited with money that is left over and can be used like a debit card.

The benefits of this scheme are that there are no bank charges, along with the re-assurance that essential bills are paid. Tenants who join the scheme will also have access to all the other services provided by the Credit Union, such as savings schemes and affordable loans.

More details on the scheme are available either by contacting Swansea Credit Union LASA on 01792 643632  email: query@lasacreditunion.org.uk   www.lasacreditunion.org.uk  or  contact the Rents Team on 01792 534094

The announcement that the government is looking at Payday Loans is great news.

The OFT is giving the leading 50 payday lenders, accounting for 90 per cent of the payday market, 12 weeks to change their business practices or risk losing their licences, after it uncovered evidence of widespread irresponsible lending and failure to comply with the standards required of them.

The OFT has also today announced that, subject to consultation, it proposes to refer the payday lending market to the Competition Commission after it found evidence of deep-rooted problems in how lenders compete with each other. The action was announced in the final report on the OFT's compliance review of the £2 billion payday lending sector. The review found evidence of problems throughout the lifecycle of payday loans, from advertising to debt collection, and across the sector, including by leading lenders that are members of established trade associations.

Particular areas of non-compliance included:

• lenders failing to conduct adequate assessments of affordability before lending or before rolling over loans
• failing to explain adequately how payments will be collected
• using aggressive debt collection practices
• not treating borrowers in financial difficulty with forbearance.

The fifty leading lenders, each of which was inspected, will have to take rapid action to address the specific concerns the OFT identified with each of their businesses. They must demonstrate within 12 weeks that they are fully compliant, or risk losing their licence. Failure to cooperate with this process will trigger enforcement action. Payday lending is a top enforcement priority for the OFT. Customers often have limited alternative sources of credit and are frequently in a vulnerable financial position. Combined with this, the high rates of interest charged by many payday lenders can make the consequences of irresponsible lending particularly acute. 

The OFT has also uncovered evidence suggesting that this market is not working well in other respects and that irresponsible lending in the sector may have its roots in the way competition works. Lenders were found to compete by emphasising the speed and easy access to loans rather than the price and also to be relying too heavily on rolling over or refinancing loans. The OFT believes that both these factors distort lenders' incentives to carry out proper affordability assessments as to do so would risk losing business to competitors. Too many people are granted loans they cannot afford to repay and it would appear that payday lenders' revenues are heavily reliant on those customers who fail to repay their original loan in full on time.

Despite payday loans being described as one-off short term loans, costing an average of £25 per £100 for 30 days, up to half of payday lenders' revenue comes from loans that last longer and cost more because they are rolled over or refinanced. The OFT also found that payday lenders are not competing with each other for this large source of revenue because by this time they have a captive market. 

The OFT believes that these fundamental problems with the operation of the payday market go beyond non-compliance with the law and regulations. It believes that a full investigation by the Competition Commission is needed to identify and, if appropriate, impose lasting solutions to make this market serve its customers better. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) will regulate consumer credit from April 2014 and it will be able to use the analysis and conclusions of the Competition Commission in developing its rules and applying its powers. The FCA will have significant powers and resources beyond those available to the OFT, including powers to cap interest rates and to impose a ban or a limit on the number of rollovers lenders may offer. 
Clive Maxwell, OFT Chief Executive, said:

'We have found fundamental problems with the way the payday market works and widespread breaches of the law and regulations, causing misery and hardship for many borrowers. Payday lenders are earning up to half their revenue not from one-off loans, but from rolled over or re-financed deals where unexpected costs can rapidly mount up.

'We are proposing to refer this market to the Competition Commission, which has wider powers to get to heart of the problems in this market and to identify and impose lasting solutions that protect consumers. 

'Irresponsible lending is not confined to a few rogue payday lenders - it is a problem across the sector. If we do not see rapid, significant improvements by the 50 lenders we inspected they risk their licences being removed. Payday lending is a top enforcement priority for the OFT.'
The OFT is advising consumers to think carefully before taking out a payday loan and to be aware of their rights and where to go if they have a problem. 

Consumers struggling to repay debts can contact Citizens Advice for free, impartial advice on: 08454 040506 or at www.adviceguide.org.uk. Individual consumers with complaints should approach their lender in the first instance. If they are unhappy with the response, they can take their complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service on: 0800 023 4567.

This is very good news for people who have been lured into the payday loan trap and is an even better reason to open an account with the local Credit Union

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Swansea artist inspires murals at city school

Creative children from Swansea have been working with a top local artist to make special displays for their school.

Mary Hayman worked with pupils from Ysgol Crug Glas and Morriston special teaching facility to make three large-scale paintings as part of the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery’s offsite schools programme called ‘Glynn Vivian Away Days’.

The Swansea Council art workshops are taking place in schools across Swansea and Neath Port Talbot while the main gallery building on Alexandra Road is closed for refurbishment.

Artist educators use images from the gallery’s large collection to inspire and engage with primary and secondary school pupils.

The pupils from Ysgol Crug Glas and Morriston worked with a painting from the Gallery’s collection called ‘Hurricane Charlie’ by Swansea artist Jane Phillips (1957-2011).

The class used masking tape and brightly-coloured paint to recreate some of Jane’s dynamic and abstract works. The six-foot long murals have now been put on display for the whole school to enjoy at Ysgol Crug Glas.

Cllr Nick Bradley, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration, said: “The refurbishment of the main Glynn Vivian Art Gallery building will strengthen Swansea’s status as a leading city of culture, but it’s important we continue to make the arts accessible to people of all ages throughout its temporary closure. This is where projects like the offsite schools programme come into their own.”

Mary said: “It was great to see all the pupils get involved in the activity and their work looks hugely impressive on this scale.

“It was especially meaningful for me because Jane was a very close friend and to see the children find so much joy in her work was incredibly moving.”

The gallery’s art workshops are available to schools who are members of Swansea Council’s 4Site education programme. Information of how to join can be found at www.swansea.gov.uk/4site

Top Painting: Jane Phillips 'Hurricane Charlie, 1986. Photography by Amanda Roderick. Collection of Glynn Vivian Art Gallery & Museum.

 BottomPainting: Fishing Boats, Summer, Swansea by Mary Hayman Acrylic on wood, 39 x 60 cm Collection: Swansea Museum

Notes about Jane Phillips.

Jane Phillips was Mission Gallery's Director from 2003-2011. She sadly passed away on 6th February 2011 after a long battle with cancer. Jane dedicated her life and career to Mission Gallery and worked on a voluntary basis for over 20 years as it's Gallery Co-ordinator.

After training as a painter at Central School of Art in the late Seventies, Jane returned to Swansea where she worked from her studio in Gloucester Place, opposite Mission Gallery. Jane's most prolific period was during the early eighties, soon after she graduated, when she produced large scale canvases. These colourful, abstract paintings, serve as a fitting tribute to, and celebration of, Jane's creativity and talent.

With the support of her family, friends and colleagues, Mission Gallery has organised an exhibition and a series of events. This includes a fundraising auction and launch of the Jane Phillips Award, which will support emerging artists and craftmakers, one of Jane's great passions.

 "Jane's achievements and her success at Mission Gallery were considerable: her dedication and drive merged seamlessly with her informed artistic vision, her enthusiasm was infectious, always coloured by a warm sense of humour and her spirit, which fought for the rights of so many artists, came directly from her belief in art and her love of life".  

 Jenni Spencer Davies
Curator, Glynn Vivian Art Gallery Swansea

Fostering. Their life in your hands

Swansea Council’s Adoption team is setting out to remind gay, lesbian and bisexual people in the city that they might be among the growing number of loving adoptive parents currently needed for local children who for a variety of reasons are unable to live with their birth families.

National LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) Adoption and Fostering Week kicks off on Monday (March 4th) and Adopt Swansea, the Council’s in-house team of professional adoption social workers want to remind people that people from all backgrounds and walks of life can potentially be adoptive parents.

Diane Chancer is the Adopt Swansea Team Manager. She said: “The legislation changed back in 2005 to allow for the fact that it wasn’t just heterosexual people in couples who could provide loving and stable adoptive homes.

“That was almost eight years ago, but we still get calls from people in same sex relationships asking us if they are ‘allowed’ to adopt. The answer is Yes!”

 

“Adoption is a way of providing a nurturing, happy and loving home to a child who, for whatever circumstances cannot live with their birth families. It is a lifelong commitment which provides the child with a stable and secure environment in which to thrive in a positive family setting. AdoptSwansea work with children of all ages who require a safe and secure family environment.”

Swansea Council would be delighted to hear from any prospective adoptive parents who will get a warm and professional service from Adopt Swansea.

If you are interested in adopting a child or children you can phone Adopt Swansea and talk in confidence to a specialised social worker on 01792 522900, or email adopt.swansea@swansea.gov.uk .

DylanThomas Literary Pub Crawl ThisThursday

Next year we'll be celebrating the centenary of Dylan Thomas's birth in Swansea.

But this Thursday at 6.30pm we'll be meeting to visit three pubs probably associated with Dylan Thomas.Come along and meet other like-minded people for some interesting facts about the man himself and Swansea as it was.

Just £6 per person and buy your own drinks. A great way to spend a couple of hours or more.

We'll be meeting every Thursday, same place, same time. Come along.

Pen and ink sketch by Jeff Phillips

Dylan Thomas is the second most quoted poet in the world and is highly regarded.He'd written 200 poems and been published whilst still in his teens. He was writing for the radio and films and was a regular broadcaster. He gave talks across America to crowded rooms and wrote books and plays. He enjoyed a drink!

Ospreys star urges children to observe Earth Hour

  

We've changed the name of our blog to SwanTV in line with our station and website. 

 If you have a story to include in this blog send to info@swantv.com.Include any photos, video and your contact details (name, address, mobile or number where we can contact you)

We'd like to hear about your events too. Give as much detail and be included here and on our website - soon to be launched.

 

THERE’S nothing Ashley Beck likes more than unwinding on a Saturday evening after a tough match by playing FIFA football online against Ospreys and Wales colleagues like Justin Tipuric.

But on Saturday March 23, the 22-year-old rugby star will be switching his PS3 off for 60 minutes from 8.30pm to take part in a worldwide event called Earth Hour.

It’s all part of the World Wildlife Fund’s annual campaign aimed at highlighting the importance of reducing energy consumption as part of the battle against climate change.

When in use, a games console like an X-Box or a PS3 uses about the same amount of power as three 60-watt light bulbs.

Welsh international Ashley said: "You’ve only got to switch on the news or pick up a newspaper to see the impact that climate change is having across the world. As a professional rugby player I’ve been lucky enough to tour some fantastic countries, including Australia where record high temperatures led to intense bushfires just a few months ago.

"Many people think extreme weather like this and the hurricane that hit New York City late last year is linked to climate change, so this is why it’s important we raise awareness of what we can all do to help.

"I’ll be switching off my PS3 for an hour from 8.30pm on March 23, and I’d urge encourage children across Swansea to do the same thing - whether it’s turning off their games consoles, laptops, computers or televisions."

Landmarks around the world like the Empire State Building, the Eiffel Tower and Sydney Harbour Bridge will be switching off their lights for an hour too. Public buildings in Swansea like the Civic Centre, Swansea Museum and the Guildhall will be doing the same.

Swansea schools across the city are being encouraged  to stage their own Earth Hours.

Cllr Sybil Crouch, Swansea Council's Cabinet Member for Sustainability, said: "Joining in with Earth Hour really is as simple as flicking a switch, whether that’s your games console, your lights, your TV or your computer. We can all do our bit and pause to think about how we can do more.

"It’s important because we all need to do our bit to protect our wonderful planet for generations to come."