This section tells you about our commitment to promote greater resident involvement both in the delivery of our services and in the wider neighbourhood.
See below 12 ways how to get involved. Please contact our Resident Involvement Manager on 020 7704 7349 for more details.
We aim to provide a locally-based and efficient housing management service to our residents across four London Boroughs. To ensure this is done ISHA actively promotes the involvement of residents as part of its Resident Involvement Strategy.
We are always looking for different ways of involving resident in the way ISHA works and also in the wider community and neighbourhood. We know that some people are not interested in turning up to regular meetings but may have particular interests or might like to come to occasional events to discuss particular issues.
ISHA actively promotes the involvement of residents as part of its Resident Involvement Strategy. The community we serve is varied and we aim to make sure we do not exclude any residents from our work on consultation and involvement.
For example, we will provide translations of materials and arrange for interpreters to go to meetings when necessary as well as pay all reasonable travel and child care costs when we ask you to come to a meeting.
We update residents regularly with information about our activities and consult them on how we develop our services.
We provide relevant information to residents through meetings publications and electronic communications systems and our Electronic notice board outside the entrance of our office at 102 Blackstock Road.
In addition all our estates have a number of notice boards, which we and residents update regularly. You will find information there we need to share with you, as well as information from local residents and other groups. We also provide high quality information in our reception area.
Customer consultation, including consultation with residents, is a continuous programme in which we review our main policies, procedures and strategies, giving feedback to our customers as part of this process.
Click here to see the 12 methods we use to consult and communicate with our residents.
The 12 methods outlined are all on-going. We also occasionally hold residents’ focus groups to consider specific issues. When we do so, they will be well publicised through the newsletter.
Have your say on standards for all social housing landlords
The second phase of the Tenant Services Authority's National Conversation starts on 9 June and will run until 8 September 2009. This is your chance to help the TSA fine-tune the standards it has drawn up for social housing landlords. These draft standards are based on what you told the TSA earlier this year about the things that matter most to you.
There are many ways you can take part. The TSA will be at a number of events this summer, where they will be talking to tenants and landlords. Details of where they will be and when – and how you can join them – are available online at:
www.nationalconversation.co.uk
You can also get involved in the National Conversation using their website. You’ll find a short questionnaire you can fill in, or you can have your say on one of the forums or by uploading a video of yourself. You can also take part by texting short answers to questions on the website.
There’s a document with more questions that you can download too, if you want to.
You can hold your own local events as well. The TSA has called these 'Local Conversations'. They don't have to be very formal – they could be a group of you getting together in somebody's home or they could be part of another meeting that's already been planned. To help you, the TSA has put together a resource pack you can download, which contains some important questions, information notes, a leaflet, a form to fill in and a prepaid envelope to send the form back in (you do not need a stamp).
Click here to view the Tenant Services Authority logo
ISHA is committed to helping residents play an active role in their communities. The work we do includes:
In the first instance, if you are interested in any of the above options (or have other ideas) for resident involvement or community development, please get in touch with ISHA on 020 7226 3753 or email us on Isha@Isha.co.uk. A face-to-face meeting could be arranged to discuss your ideas.
There are also a number of local and national agencies that are a useful source of information and advice:
TPAS. The Tenant Participation Advisory Service is a national organisation, providing advice, information, training, conferences and seminars in all aspects of involving tenants in their housing management.
Address: 5th Floor Trafford House, Chester Road, Manchester, M32 0RS
Tel: 0161 868 3500
Free help line: 0500 844 111
Website: www.tpas.org.uk
National Tenant Resource Centre : This is a national charity offering training and support to everyone living and working in low-income communities across the UK to deal with problems such as crime and anti-social behaviour, poor quality housing and lack of services.
Address: Ince Lane, Wimbolds, Trafford, Nr Chester, CH2 4JP
Tel: 01244 300 246
Website: www.traffordhall.com
VAI: Voluntary Action Islington (previously known as Islington Voluntary Action Council or IVAC). Works with voluntary groups, including tenant groups, providing support, training, representation, financial services and information.
Address: 200 Pentonville Road, London N1 9JP
Tel: 020 7832 5800
Website: www.vai.org.uk
HCVS: Hackney Council for Voluntary Services provides support, training, advice and information to voluntary groups in Hackney.
Address: 84 Springfield House, 5 Tyssen Street, London, E8 2LY
Tel: 020 7923 1962
Website: www.hcvs.org
VAC: Voluntary Action Camden is an independent, grant-aided voluntary organisation that exists to support, encourage, defend and develop voluntary and community action in the London Borough of Camden.
Address: 293-299 Kentish Town Road, London NW5 2TJ
Tel: 020 7284 6550
Website: www.vac.org.uk
Voluntary Action Waltham Forest works to strengthen and support voluntary and community groups.
Address: Unit 21, Alpha Business Centre, South Grove, Walthamstow, London E17 7NX
Tel: 020 8521 0377
Website: www.frontlineonline.org.uk
