UKHA 2009: Delivering better accountability and resident involvement
Winner : Bron Afon Community Housing
When a council transfers its homes to a housing association, it makes many promises to residents. But making them is one thing - keeping them is the tricky part.
When Torfaen Council in Wales began consulting on stock transfer in 2005, it was determined not to let its tenants down. By the time tenants voted in 2007 to transfer their homes to Bron Afon Community Housing, they had experienced the largest consultation and involvement exercise the council had ever undertaken.
This was not just stock transfer; it was community development on a major scale.
The two-year consultation process gave tenants a real chance to shape their future landlord. And the community housing model they chose means residents continue to mould the services they receive.
Bron Afon is community-owned and democratically run. Its 1,290 members are tenants and Torfaen residents; two-thirds of the board are elected by local people; five are tenants, elected by tenants.
And there are countless ways for residents and local people alike to get involved in the 8,050-home association. For example, its quality design forum is a trained group of Bron Afon members and staff who ensure that repairs and maintenance are carried out to a high standard, and at good value.
The leaseholder forum provides an arena for leaseholders to discuss their issues and concerns. And there are always openings for community monitors, who keep an eye on communal areas and report any shortcomings to the landlord.
Independent consultants say Bron Afon’s tenant satisfaction scores have the ‘wow factor’. Our judges were as impressed. ‘This is about making promises and keeping promises,’ concluded one.
Award sponsored by PH Jones
Finalists
Northern Ireland Housing Executive - Intercommunity Network
The Northern Ireland Housing Executive’s intercommunity network has brought together people from all parts of the Northern Irish community.
The network’s initiatives include a good practice guide to divisive flags and symbols, a shared race relations charter and anti-racism training for residents. There’s been a huge reduction in sectarian emblems and flag-flying across affected housing estates.
Selwood Housing - Make a difference campaign
This 18-month-old campaign from Trowbridge-based association Selwood Housing is about letting tenants know it wants them to shape services. Existing involvement structures, such as residents’ associations, still exist, but now tenants can also have their say about services via text and online polls, at open days and in seven focus groups.
Stockport Homes - Empowering vulnerable customers to improve services
The usual involvement methods were failing to reach this arm’s-length management organisation’s most vulnerable customers. So staff set up two groups: one targets temporary accommodation, the other resettlement service users. Both have found new ways to involve users in shaping services, including a board game to guide people through the moving-on process.
Stonham (part of Home Group) - Seaford Court
When Stonham took over a shared accommodation facility for young people in Wokingham in April, it found residents who felt demotivated and abandoned. So Stonham staff invited employees from a locally based multinational to spend a day redecorating communal areas. The event helped build a sense of pride among Seaford Court’s young residents.
St Mungo’s - Outside In
Outside In is a client representative group which has a real influence on the running of London homelessness organisation, St Mungo’s. Its 10 to 15 members are in complete control of meetings - creating trust that the group is more than a token gesture.
Achievements include successfully encouraging St Mungo’s to employ more ex-homeless people - 12 former Outside In members are now in full-time work.
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Readers' comments (1)
kass | 22/11/2009 6:58 pm
"... Bron Afon is community-owned and democratically run. Its 1,290 members are tenants and Torfaen residents; two-thirds of the board are elected by local people; five are tenants, elected by tenants.
And there are countless ways for residents and local people alike to get involved in the 8,050-home association. For example, its quality design forum is a trained group of Bron Afon members and staff who ensure that repairs and maintenance are carried out to a high standard, and at good value.... "
this model should be applied to all or most Housing Associations. Only then social landlords' abuse of tenants will be defeated.
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