A housing association has unveiled a new mobile office to reach out to rural communities across Conwy.
Until now, Cartrefi Conwy had struggled to reach tenants in villages like Llangernyw, Cerrigydrudion, Pentroefoelas, Maerdy and Groes.
That’s now changed thanks to the arrival of a specially adapted vehicle, called Catrin.
She’s based on a Ford Transit diesel minibus and now includes a table for meetings and an awning that can be pulled out to create a covered space.
The brightly coloured Catrin, sponsored by Barclays Bank, had her first outing at a meeting of Cartrefi Conwy’s Tenants’ Forum in Llanrwst.
She was a big hit with members of the Forum, including the Chair, John Roberts.
Mr Roberts said: “I think that Cartrefi Conwy has done a really good thing for rural areas because it will be easier to connect with people.
“It means that Cartrefi Conwy can go out to meet the tenants instead of the tenants having to travel to the office. It’s going to make life easier for everybody.
Community Involvement Manager Phil Jones explained: “Catrin stands for Community, Accessibility, Training, Resource, Investing in our communities and Neighbourhoods.
“There are lots of smaller communities like Llangernyw, Cerrigydrudion, Maerdy, Llangwm, Pentrefoelas that we haven’t previously reached as effectively as we would have liked.
“The arrival of Catrin means we can engage properly with our tenants in rural areas and also improve our support at community events, consultations and stage roadshows in all our neighbourhoods across the county.
“We will be able to deliver a better service to our tenants by providing information and advice.
“The fact that we have a table means it can be used as a mobile office and we can use the awning and get tables and chairs out and engage with our tenants in a relaxed atmosphere.”
Cartrefi Conwy Chief Executive Andrew Bowden was “over the moon” with Catrin.
He said: “We want to ensure that we are seen when we are in local communities and with Catrin we are going to be well and truly seen.
“The livery is so colourful and cheerful looking and features all parts of the community, with mums, dads, older people and children playing.
“It gives the right, modern and inviting image that Cartrefi Conwy wants to portray in our communities.
“Above all else, Catrin is going to give us access to rural communities in places where we haven’t got offices which has meant that in the past we haven’t been able to provide face to face services.
“Catrin will be a means of reaching our tenants for our neighbourhood co-ordinators and community workers and other partners so we can offer the same facilities as our community offices or our headquarters.
“I am very pleased and grateful that Catrin has been sponsored by Barclays who recognised the importance of providing this community facility especially in our rural areas.”
Barclays Bank Relationship Director Andy Jones added: “We are extremely happy to play our part in bringing Catrin to life.
“We wholeheartedly endorse Cartrefi Conwy’s forward-thinking approach to providing services and communicating with tenants in rural areas. We are sure that Catrin will be a popular visitor to villages across Conwy.”
