Getting tenants involved
Emily Law from the Neighbourhoods team shares how Connect and residents have been working together to uncover the barriers that keep tenants from getting involved.
At Connect, we love working together with tenants through things like residents’ groups, but we know there are barriers that can stop people from getting involved.
Emily Law, Communities Officer
During a Customer Voice Group (CVG) meeting last year, it was decided by residents and staff that we should investigate this further.
First, we sent out a survey to over 600 residents who didn’t seem well represented in our groups of engaged tenants, to find out what some of their barriers to engagement were.
Then, in November, we brought residents to our Scrutiny Bootcamp event in our Dewsbury office. The bootcamp was broken down into two sections, with the morning focusing on ‘what great engagement looks like’. Residents discussed all ideas – no matter how big or small – on what Connect could do to hear from seldom heard customers.
After lunch, there was a ‘creativity session’ to really discuss the impact and values of the ideas from the morning and narrow down recommendations that the Scrutiny Group wanted to put forward.
In the end, the agreed recommendations were:
- Increase effort with new tenants, so they know what’s happening.
- Improve the engagement area of the website.
- Get out there! Do a listening campaign or roadshow to find out more, directly from the people affected.
- Be clearer about the benefits for people getting involved.
- Trial more digital and tech solutions.
Connect’s Board has agreed the recommendations and work is already underway on making them happen, such as new information documents for residents which are given out at sign up, renovations to our webpage, and plans for a listening campaign and visits!
Our scrutiny projects are open for all residents to get involved with. If it sounds like something you’re interested in, contact us for more information! Call 0300 5000 600 or email gettinginvolved@connecthousing.org.uk
