Southern Housing Group hosts South Region Residents' Conference

News Release

3 June 2008

Reigate and Crawley residents help Southern Housing Group at annual forum

Summer fun at Brighton Beach.  Southern Housing Group South Region residents and staff have a day out by the seaside. (Front l: to r: Peter and Pat Tyler of Reigate and Anna Trigwell of Crawley; back l: to r: Paul Cotton, the Group's Regional Operations Manager (Horsham);  Mark Rogers, Customer Service Centre Manager, and South Region Regional Director, Guy Collar. (5.08)  
Reigate residents who live in a Southern Housing Group scheme played an important part in the Group's recent annual residents' conference in Brighton.

The residents had their say about the quality of services they receive from Southern Housing Group and its suppliers. Peter and Pat Tyler and other residents were able to share their views with Southern Housing Group's front-line staff, representatives from the Service Centre, members of the contracts team as well as being entertained by the former Captain of Brighton and Hove Albion, Charlie Oatway. He gave a moving presentation to the residents on his rise through the ranks of the Football league and explained the scope, success and the work of the outreach football skills programme that is supported by Southern Housing Group's community-regeneration arm. Charlie also presented prizes to the raffle winners at the end of the conference.
Guy Collar, Southern Housing Group's Regional Director, says that he was delighted that Mr and Mrs Tyler came along to the conference.

"It was great for me and my team to meet local residents. I really hope that they enjoyed the day. Southern Housing Group's objective is to ensure that our housing estates and schemes are places where people want to live. Events such as this provide us with valuable feedback which we use to continuously improve our services and give customer satisfaction."
Peter Tyler, who has been a Southern Housing Group resident for more than 35 years, said: "We were really pleased with the day. It was well organised and an enlightening experience as the staff at Southern Housing Group opened our eyes to how the housing association is operated."

The contractors that were available included Axis, MHS, Connaughts and Robert Heath. Representatives from Southern Home Ownership and Southern Housing Housing Group's community regeneration arm were also on hand to answer residents' queries. -ends-

For more information please contact Karen Bermingham Communications Team on 020 7553 6479
communications@shgroup.org.uk

Notes for Editors
Southern Housing Group is one of southern Englands largest housing associations. Founded over 100 years ago, we own and manage 24,000 homes for more than 66,000 residents, employing more than 800 people and working with more than 80 local authorities.

Our activities centre on four-key areas: the development of quality-affordable housing, housing and neighbourhood management, a range of rent and home ownership and social investment.
We believe that building communities is as important as building homes. So as well as developing and managing quality, affordable housing for rent and ownership, we invest considerable resources to provide an environment where people really want to live.

Southern Housing Group Limited is a Charitable Industrial and Provident Society No. 27412R. -ends-