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From the frontline - Mark Pae
Mark Pae, activities co-ordinator at Karbon Homes, on getting to know residents and making the government carry out volunteer work
Tell us about your job.
I work at The Manors extra care scheme in Prudhoe, Northumberland. Extra care is about promoting independent living while providing a safe environment for our residents. My role involves working with the scheme manager on the management of the building – we have 46 flats here.
I also deliver a full programme of activities for our residents and the local community – that can be a summer fair, a visit from our local primary school, a singer or a band performing, or sporty things like indoor golf and bowls.
How did you get into housing?
I worked alongside housing associations in my previous job, which allowed me to see the impact they have in building homes and communities. I was really pleased to move full-time into the sector when the opportunity came around.
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What is the best part of your job?
Working with people. I have always enjoyed working with others, and building a rapport with residents is extremely important when you see them all the time. It’s a privilege to be part of their lives and we aim to put a smile on their faces every day.
What’s the worst part?
The worst part of the role is seeing residents having problems with their health, the impact this has on their quality of life and the effect that has on their families. As you see them every day, you get to know them really well so when their quality of life is affected that’s the downside of the job.
What would you change about the housing sector?
Funding to allow more affordable homes to be built and to make them accessible to all.
If you could be prime minister for the day, what would you do?
I would make sure the whole cabinet had to volunteer in one of the country’s poorest and hardest-to-reach communities for a day and see how people live, what pressure they are under and the impact the decisions made by the government have on individuals, families and communities.
What advice would you be willing to give to your colleagues?
Be open, honest and transparent, ask for and listen to advice, don’t be afraid to say you don’t know the answer and seek answers from more experienced members of staff. I have found the sector extremely friendly to work in, with associations working towards the same outcomes, trying to help their communities – I would thoroughly recommend it.
