Starting a Group

Free stuff in the UK - search freebies blog	< main > < articles > < links > < news > < search > < add url > < jobs > < books > < contact > < right to buy >
	World Tenant Social Housing site is sponsored by Buy Ferry Tickets

Starting up a tenants or community group

Find out what support can your housing management offer? (training, grants, photocopying?)

Suggested Plan of Action:

(1) Create a survey form and survey your entire estate.

(2) Make the results known publicly to the residents and housing, police etc etc

(3) make contact with your local councillors - they're often very useful people to help you resolve urgent issues.

(4) Make sure your committee works as a committee and not a one man show. Offer training to all, make sure that people CAN get involved (offer a creche if thats whats needed, program videoing, babysitting for older kids/people etc etc. language assistance/translators, possibly women only meetings, meetings at sensible times. the group should act on behalf of the people it serves, to resolve and assist the peope who have elected it.

(5) make sure your group is open and available to people. Equal Ops must be seen in action, not just lipsay.

(6) Find out what sort of information people want - whether you want an email list, a website (beware not everyone is as techno friendly as you'd like), regular newsletters, find places for public notices, make sure they are adequate by follow up surveys.

(7) After a set period of time re-survey everyone to see how you've got on.

Groups & Organisations to find out about.
In Manchester we have police consultative groups which meet monthly around the area. The local councillors will be able to locate regeneration organisations for you. Grant funding is a bit more tricky, but there are other articles on this site about that.

Remember:
Be honest with people. You can't promise them miracles. You can promise them that the group will do its best.

Minor Points:
Make sure all your meetings are minuted, and that the minutes are agreed at the next meeting. Keep copies on file (this goes for EVERY meeting your group goes to) and make these accessible (maybe at your local management office or by request)
Avoid confrontation. There will always be people who will moan and disagree with the idea of tenants group. Concentrate on making the area better and meeting the needs of people and you'll be ok.

Suggestions for Survey Questions

What do you like about living in this area?
What is the best thing about living here? (suggestions: good neighbours, good schools,
Are the following a problem? Repairs? Refuse Collection? Crime? Fear of Crime? Lack of Parking?Lack of amenities? Lack of safe areas for children? Noise?
What do you think is the biggest problem?
What one single thing would make the biggest improvement on your life?
What do you think should be the tenants groups biggest priority?
What do you think the landlords biggest priority should be?

Also consider asking the children of the estate similar questions.

US Free stuff and offers // Free diet patch // Buy plane ticket // Buy Ferry Ticket // Buy train ticket