Ministers urge young tenants to have their say on housing issues

Encouraging young tenants to have their say about housing issues that affect them was top of the agenda at the latest meeting between Ministers and Youth Advisers.

The advisers discussed with Communities Secretary Hazel Blears and Housing Minister Iain Wright a variety of ways to encourage young people who live in council or housing association properties to have their say – including use of social networking sites to promote discussions and meeting in locations used by young people such as parks and cafes.

In particular, young people can apply to join the National Tenant Council of The National Tenant Voice (NTV), an organisation that will provide expertise for tenants at a national level and ensure tenants can influence policy decisions.

The National Tenant Council, which is due to be launched this summer, will consist of 50 tenants and will advise the board of the NTV. Of those 50 places, almost half will be nominated by existing tenants’ organisations with the remainder recruited openly.

Recruiting young people to the board of the Council will help to reflect the diversity of social housing tenants and will ensure that all tenants’ main concerns are addressed.   The Youth Advisers especially highlighted that young people say important issues are feeling safe in their communities and crime being tackled in their area.

Hazel Blears said: “The Youth Advisers continue to keep their focus on the key issues of most interest to young people up and down the country.  Our regular meetings, and the advice they give, are invaluable both to me and to my ministerial colleagues.

“I was particularly impressed at the enthusiasm of young people to get involved and improve their local communities. The Youth Advisers have come up with some innovative and creative ways to get more young people involved the new National Tenant Council, and I hope to see many young people put themselves forward and apply to join.

“The Council, and the National Tenant Voice, will benefit considerably from the passion and drive that they have demonstrated to transform their neighbourhoods.”

Iain Wright said: "I’m delighted that the Youth Advisers have taken an interest in The National Tenant Voice. This is the first time social tenants will have a national organisation to represent them at the highest level.

"It is vital that the National Tenant Voice and its advisory council are truly representative of the people it serves, and addresses their main concerns.

“So I would especially encourage young tenants across the country to get involved in its work, and apply to take one of the 26 places on offer.”