Welsh Housing Awards winner 2023

Positive placemaking

RHA (Wales) is a Housing Association based in Rhondda Cynon Taff. We own and manage more than 2100 homes and properties and provide a range of services for over 3,000 people living in our communities.

We questioned ourselves around how we could help lead on regenerating the town of Tonypandy and support the community to build a strong sense of place and belonging. Previously described as ‘Britain's Worst High Street’ we’ve always had a presence in the town, with our office located just off the high street, we’re connected to the community and knew we had to play our part in shaping its future, and work with the local community to build back what was once a thriving market town.

Despite negative press, there is positivity to be seen, with new businesses opening and footfall increasing following de-pedestrianisation on the high street. We already play a key role in leading this progress as we chair Tonypandy Chamber of Trade and provide sponsorship for community events.

We’ve such belief and commitment in the town that we’re embarking on a £20m capital spend there. But we know through our commitment to the Design Commission for Wales Placemaking Charter that we can’t only focus on capital activity, so we’ve opted for a 360 approach to ensure our placemaking plans tackle social, economic, and environmental. Our plans see the largest investment in the town for decades, with aspiration to be a catalyst in unlocking the potential of Tonypandy - creating a place that future generations will be proud of.

Alongside our capital projects, we’re working with residents and businesses to ensure we offer spaces that our community needs, for social connection, training, upskilling and a range of other services to tackle social isolation, food poverty and help signpost our tenants and community members to a wider support network.

‘The Little Shed’ sits directly on the high street, we’ve worked with partners to repurpose a former vacant office and utilised community benefit clauses in contracts to refurbish the space creating a vibrant, accessible community space with a focus on building a sense of place and belonging.

A key driver when delivering this project was ensuring training and upskilling was embedded in delivery, to achieve this we worked with Black Sheep (part of ARC Training Group) to offer these opportunities. The Black Sheep project supports young people to learn skills for work in construction. They’ve put their learning to good use through this renovation, repurposing materials within the space, including creating their own feature wall.

We have provided more than a ‘building’, creating a place for people in our communities, with people from our local community, that’s the difference with our approach, it’s the engagement and involvement that sits above any capital project or works.

We’ve involved tenants and the community in creating the space, and now many are involved in running The Little Shed through volunteering work! To us, that is testament to our commitment to placemaking in its truest sense. It's easy to see when walking through the town, that the space has grown into a busy community hub that’s contributing massively to regeneration in Tonypandy, as well as supporting community wellbeing. We’re proud that we’ve created a space where everyone is welcome, a place with heart and connection with the community.

Black Sheep project manager

“The young people involved were all close to being expelled, some have autism, some ADHD and all were ‘labelled’ and felt they couldn’t offer society anything. By tapping into their interests and working with them on their level then they flourished in creating this space and learnt skills for future careers. They felt proud and saw their own personal value in creating the Little Shed with RHA – we can’t thank them enough.”

38 young people gained construction skills, completed qualifications, reengaged with their education, and moved on to employment and further education.

Warm space sessions, established in response to winter cost-of-living concerns, progressing from small coffee mornings of five people to crafty coffee mornings - supported by three volunteers, regularly attended by circa 30 people weekly and continuing to grow.

Since May 2023 we’ve welcomed almost 800 people which really demonstrates that Little Shed is a valued place within the community. We estimate since opening we’ve had double that number of visitors and improved their wellbeing and overall health as well as contributing to the wider regeneration of the town.

Other outcomes:

• Food parcel project Grub Hub, in partnership with supermarkets alleviating pressure on our foodbanks
• Community Fridges in partnership with Hubbub and Coop – reducing food waste going to landfill
• Period poverty support in partnership with RCTCBC
• Digital skills sessions with Generation Rhondda
• Repair café sessions
• Youth drop-ins
• Mental health support groups
• Weekly warm space and craft sessions
• Yoga classes
• Hot Flash Cafés
• Training and resource hub for tenants on carbon literacy
• Recycle station for a community interest company who reuse plastics to fund arts activities.
• Free water refill station
• Homegrown cooking session.