City West event provides a runway to empowering tenants

Published by Melanie Hughes for IPB Communications in Housing and also in Communities

CUSTOMERS from 14 housing associations came together at a conference hosted by City West Housing Trust on Monday (23^rd July) at Buile Hill Park Hall inSalford to discuss hot topics in housing and share best practice.

The event was organised by customers for customers and more than 100 people attended the meeting for a full day of discussions on issues including anti-social behaviour, youth engagement and welfare reform.

The attendees are all members of the Runway Group, the tenant arm of the Airport Group, which is made up of 14 like-minded housing associations across the North. The aim of the Runway Group is to campaign for change and hold social landlords to account.

David Cummins, Director of Communities and Neighbourhoods at City West, said: “It was great to see so many tenants come together and share ideas on the positive actions housing associations can take in partnership with their customers.

“With so many key issues affecting social housing it is vital that the Runway Group continues to ensure that tenants’ voices are heard.”

City West shared their approach to anti-social behaviour with the group and customers’ views on effective ways of working together were shared. This included measures such as City West’s Good Neighbour Agreement which residents acrossWest Salfordhave signed up to.

City West’s Youth Empowerment Panel (YEP) led a presentation on the work they have been undertaking with City West to engage young people acrossWest Salfordand get them involved in shaping the housing association’s services.

YEP’s initiatives have included the launch of Salford Youth Discussion (SYD) on Facebook and Twitter as well as swap shops, fun days and hosting an upcoming youth conference.

The event concluded with a session on Welfare Reform and the impact the new legislation will have on social housing residents. A question and answer session was held as City West, together with guest panel members Ian Bell from Twin Valley Homes, Katie Stabler from Peaks and Plains and Lauretta Rothery from Trafford Housing Trust, outlined their approach to supporting customers through the changes and asked customers how they would like to work together on this important issue.

City West customer Lynne Alderson said: “The staff and customers in the Runway Group work so well together and that made a huge difference to a great day.

“It’s great when other housing associations give us good feedback and it shows what can be achieved in such a short time, which is due to the brilliant way the staff and customers put their heart and soul into what they do.”

The Runway Group meets quarterly with meetings organised by customers and continues to provide a powerful voice for social housing tenants across the North of England.

For more information, visit the Airport Group’s website at www.theairportgroup.co.uk