Success for Spectrum’s residents

Published by Tina for Spectrum Housing Group in Housing and also in Communities, Education

Spectrum residents on the Isle of Wight have recently celebrated their success in achieving the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) qualifications through the Active Learning for Residents Programme.

Each member achieved a Level 2 Award in Community Action In Housing and all three residents are members of Spectrum's Community Forum on the Island. The qualification is sponsored by Spectrum through distance learning and a trained member of staff is nominated to be a ‘Recogniser’ offering mentoring support and encouragement to residents.

Ashraf Ahmed, the Resident Involvement Manager from the CIH came down fromLeicesterto present the learners with their certificates and said that such occasions were the best part of his job.

There will be further opportunities for involved residents to undertake sponsored qualifications through Spectrum's Residents’ Academy.

The Residents' Academy was launched in 2011. The aim is for residents to refresh, enhance and learn new skills, which in time could lead to improved job prospects and greater levels of involvement within communities – this is not only good for Spectrum’s residents but also for Spectrum and the communities in which Spectrum works.

Yasmin White, Resident Network Director added, "The Residents’ Academy provides fantastic personal development opportunities for individual residents and by linking the Academy to the Chartered Institute of Housing’s Active Learning for Residents programme, residents are able to gain accredited qualifications which recognise the valuable work they do in communities without them having to sit formal exams or attend classes."

Adrian Nicholas, Spectrum Resident and Community Forum Member said, “The partnered course provides real opportunity of learning about what makes a community, issues and challenges within the resident’s own community and understanding these in context of the wider housing and social local environment. The learning outcomes contribute to the residents own self-development balanced with a truly national respected educational award for employment opportunity. The chance of free Level 2 educational training should be seriously considered – given a national backdrop of threefold increase in student tution fee’s and intense competition for access to vocational and academic training at this time of national austerity.”

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