Tenant's Conference Goes with a Bang!

Published by Esme Trelease for Endeavour Housing Association in Housing and also in Communities

Tenants of Endeavour and Teesdale Housing Associations, who share a parent company in North Star Housing Group, enjoyed a fabulous Tenant’s Conference at Redworth Hall on Friday.

The event, which is held jointly every other year was well attended, with around 100 tenants and members of staff joining in to make the day go with a bang. The day proved to be interesting and informative, with guest speakers covering topics including the impact of welfare reform, and an update on the Group’s innovative Community Investment programme. Delegates also had the opportunity to witness a fun and thought provoking theatre performance from the Shontal Theatre Group, which focussed on debt prevention.

A real highlight of the day came when 16 local community groups were given the opportunity to bid for funding from the USay! Grant Fund. The £5000 fund, which launched earlier this year, aims to support local community and voluntary initiatives. Groups were able to bid for up to £750.

Using an electronic voting system, the power was put firmly with the people, as tenants using their key pads to vote for the initiatives they wanted to see receive money. Although tenants were impressed with all of the funding presentations, which included those from a youth group and a local football team, in the end tenants chose eight deserving winners.

Enderwick Martial Arts from Norton, Stainsby School of Gymnastics, Teddy Edward Toddler Group from Cockfield, Targeted Youth Work based in Norton, Hartlepool Bits and Bobs, Norton based Just Dance, Belle Vue Sports and Community Centre in Hartlepool and Skinningrove Bonfire Committee all received up to £750 each to go towards their good causes for the community.

Chris Enderwick from Enderwick Matrial Arts was delighted to have received £750 from the USay! fund,

“I’m over the moon to have secured this funding. It will help the expansion of Enderwick Martial Arts into other areas and will help me work in even more communities. It’s a big help, and I’ve had a fantastic day here at the Tenant’s Conference.”     

Feedback from the day has been superb, with tenants declaring the event of overwhelming success. “The Shontal Theatre Group were fantastic, and very powerful, and the grant presentations were excellent,” said one tenant. “I have thoroughly enjoyed the day, and will very much look forward to the next conference.” 

The day was so successful that staff from Endeavour and Teesdale Housing Associations are already wondering how they top it! The planning for next conference will start soon…