Tenant empowerment – supporting innovation
Michelle Glavin reports on a project to encourage involvement by under-represented tenants
CYNON TAF COMMUNITY Housing Group and its Tenants Forum decided to approach Rowan Associations to make a bid for a Tenant Empowerment Grant (TEG) back in October 2012 and finished in September 2013.
The forum wants tenant involvement in the association to reflect the tenants profile so that all tenants’ views are represented. As the association was in the process of carrying out an analysis of its tenant profile, the forum took the opportunity to apply for a TEG to widen participation among under-represented tenants.
It formed a working group of nine members, with support from Ann Costanza, service improvement co-ordinator, Beki Lee, PR and communications assistant, and Monica Keeble of Rowan associates.
The aim of the project was to:
• compare the association’s tenant profile with the profile of tenants currently involved in tenant participation activities
• identify any sections of the tenant profile which are under-represented
• consult under-represented tenants
• develop opportunities for tenant involvement in line with under-represented tenants’ preference
• develop an action plan for future involvement of under-represented tenants.
They identified the following:
• 10 per cent of tenants were already involved
• High percentage of involvement came from tenant over 60
• Low percentage of involvement with those aged between 18-35 years
• A lower percentage involved in the Taf valley area.
It was agreed that the group would start with encouraging the 18-35 group to become more involved. The group decided it would carry out two study visits to other associations that were already successful involving working age tenants. Key messages received from Bron Afon were:
• It is important to take time to build relationships with under represented tenants and to keep in regular contact, rather than expecting them to become involved straight away
• We need to ask tenants how they would like to be involved and in what areas.
And from Cadwyn the message came back:
• To encourage working age tenants to get involved, we need to organise child centred activities
• We should consider using social media specifically aimed at tenants, for example a tenant website and chatroom, to consult and involve working age tenants.
A trip to Jump for the children was organised to consult the tenants by using an ideas tree. These were put up in Jump and worked well. Adults and children struck their ideas to the trees.
Most of the comments were about the community were people lived rather than about their homes. There were lots of positive comments including how they valued their neighbours. However, anti-social behaviour was amongst some of the more concerned comments.
A summary of these issues was considered in their action plan. It was identified that this was only a first step towards involving tenants of working age in Cynon Taf.
The TEG project was very successful, and has identified 48 tenants of working age who are interested in becoming involved in a range of ways in future consultation in Cynon Taf. The challenge is maintaining their interest through regular and co-ordinated consultation in ways that suit tenants’ preferences as identified in the project.
The forum is pleased to have worked hard to deliver the TEG project and to have provided the first step towards ensuring that under-represented tenants are able to give their views more effectively within the organisation. Members want to work in partnership with Cynon Taf to make sure this continues in the future.
For further information on the full report of 209/12 Cynon Taf Forum or more on TEG contact Michelle.Glavin@cih.org or phone 02920 765 760