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From the frontline – community development officer Beth Blenkinship

Beth Blenkinship, community development officer at Warrington Housing Association, on hearing positive stories from customers, challenges presented by funding cuts, and how she’d swap the office for the stage

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From the frontline – community development officer Beth Blenkinship #ukhousing

Community development officer Beth Blenkinship on hearing positive stories from customers and challenges presented by funding cuts #ukhousing

Tell us about your job.

My job is very varied. I facilitate the scrutiny panel, assisting them to research and scrutinise the different services provided by the association. I also work closely with a number of resident groups, supporting them with events and activities. I’m an active member of our communications team, too. Through this, I’m involved in the newsletter, website and social media activity.

How did you get into housing?

I was working as a community development officer at a small charity and I was based in community centres on large social housing estates. My post was partly funded by the housing provider, so indirectly through work with them I became interested in how housing associations are not just about ‘bricks and mortar’ but have an interest in improving customers’ lives.

When my current role at Warrington Housing Association arose, it seemed like a natural step to move into the housing sector while still doing a job I love.

What is the best part of your job?

I often get to be the person that will engage with the customer if they have a positive story to tell.

Whether it’s about the work a contractor has done in their home or how our customer service team helped them to resolve an issue, hearing these stories and being able to feed that back is a great part of my job.


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What’s the worst part?

Unfortunately, I have seen some community and residents’ groups struggle, sometimes even close, due to cuts in funding and changes within the sector.

What would your superpower be?

It would definitely be the ability to split myself into two, three or even four people so that I can try and be everywhere at once and not miss anything.

What would you change about the housing sector?

A person should be proud to be a housing association tenant, so I think more work needs to be done nationally to change the negative stigma.

If you could be prime minister for the day, what would you do?

I would provide more funding to councils and grassroots organisations to ensure important services are able to make positive differences in people’s lives.

What’s the most private thing you’d be willing to admit to your colleagues?

I am a musical theatre geek. If I could come back in another life, I would want to be able to sing and be on stage in the West End or on Broadway.

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