Community Housing Cymru - Board Member Conference 29 Feb/1 March

It was a real pleasure to meet with David Wilcox this afternoon. David is supporting Community Housing Cymru to strengthen its Board Member Network - in particular by embracing new online networking opportunities. The annual conference for Board Members and Chairs of Housing Associations in Wales takes place 29 Feb/1 March near Newport. This will be an opportunity for conference delegates to network, learn and get renergised. This year CHC will be supporting the development of an online network to enable board members to say in touch, share best practice and get answers to tough questions during and after the conference. A conference blog will be launched later this week. CHC will be contacting associations and board members accross Wales to get example of their organisations work that they are most proud about. These samples will be posted on the blog to encourage more to do the same. At the conference David and CHC staff will be providing practical help to delegates to take a look at the blog,get familiar with the basic tools needed to take part, create content and post it there and then - and provide ongloing support to keep the network going.

This is going to be an excellent learning opportunity - visit the CHC site for more details.

Launch of Fuel Factory

I am delighted to be part of Fuel Factory - a community business jointly owned by Arts Factory and Bryncynon Strategy. On 21 January the business takes ownership of a biodiesel pump and we will soon start supplying residents and local companies of Rhondda-Cynon-Taff with high-quality, environmentally friendly biodiesel fuel for use in diesel cars. Any profits made by Fuel Factory are either used to develop and expand the business, or are donated to local charities whose aims are similar to those of Fuel Factory.

Fuel Factory is a membership group of like minded people who are interested in cutting their polluting emissions by using biodiesel in their vehicles.

To keep posted on developments keep an eye on the fuel factory blog.

NHS 60 Today

The National Health Service is 60 today. Quite a milestone. I have been working with my friend Gareth Kiddie to support Tredgar Development Trust with their plans to bring a school site in the area into community use. Our project team meetings have been held in their building where the NHS model was born. This modest plaque records the mutual society (1890) was formed by miners and ironworkers of the Tredegar Iron and Coal Co. 'Through modest weekly contributions they were able to employ doctors, a surgeon and run a hospital.'

It is one of those cliches - 'feeling the weight of history on your shoulders' - but it does ring true here.