LHT Tenants Get ‘DI WISE’

Published by Chenoa Parr for Symphony Housing Group in Housing and also in Communities

Tenants have been learning how to get ‘DI Wise’ thanks to a partnership project run by Liverpool Housing Trust (LHT) and professional tradespeople.

Joiners, electricians and plumbers shared their tricks of the trade with eager-to-learn tenants at a series of DIY workshops in Runcorn.

Participants learned how to rewire a plug, bleed radiators, put flat pack furniture together and use a power drill safely with help from eight of LHT’s contractors including DJ Taylor, Liberty Gas and McCormick’s.

Time-served tradespeople ran hour-long workshops, at Murdishaw community centre, on plumbing, heating, electrics and joinery with tenants practising basic DIY skills.

One of those who took part was Pauline Wooldridge who’s been an LHT tenant for 10 years.

She said: “I really enjoyed the workshops. I had never used a drill before and I was quite impressed with how I got on with one! It’s brilliant that LHT put this course on - I’m really grateful that I had the chance to come along.”

Joiner Chris Williams, from DJ Taylor, was one of the instructors and a familiar face to many tenants having maintained LHT homes for more than a decade.

He said: “I showed tenants basic skills like how to sand and prepare wood and how to drill into brickwork. They were all really made up with what they’d learned and it was nice to see them enjoying themselves while they learned.”

Each of the 15 tenants that took part received their AQA certificate in basic household DIY after completing the training.

To help them with future DIY jobs LHT provided each tenant with a toolbox worth £40 and a handy hints booklet.

Stephanie Hodgson, LHT regeneration officer, said: “We’re very grateful to our contractors who volunteered their staff’s time so they could share their decades of experience with our tenants.

“The workshops were a lot of fun but they were also incredibly useful because the skills learned will help our tenants carry out small jobs, like changing a plug, for themselves.

“The feedback we received following the training was excellent. And we hope to run similar workshops with our tenants in the future.”

LHT, part of Symphony Housing Group, has run ‘DI Wise’ projects in other areas of Merseyside including Walton, Windmill Hill, Speke and Garston.