There are various steps on the ladder of involvement that you
can take which will contribute to improving your housing and your
community.
We can usually assist with transport for attendance at meetings and
can also help in other ways. Please contact us for further details
on 0208 451 8085 or e-mail residentinvolvement@pcha.org.uk
Step 1. Receiving information
Just let us know that you would like to be added to our mailing
list, and we will keep you informed of matters that might be of
interest you. We can also send you a short DVD film about Resident
Involvement at PCHA.
This will take up around 10-20 minutes of your time per month on
average.
Step 2. Taking part in
surveys
At PCHA, we greatly appreciate your suggestions and views as to how
we can improve our service. Surveys are an important way for us to
find out and address things you might be concerned about. We carry
out surveys by post, phone call, e-mail or personal contact. We
often have prize draws for those residents that participate in the
surveys.
This will take up around 15-30 minutes of your time per month on
average.
Step 3. Focus Groups
We often run focus groups on various aspects of our service. The
focus groups usually consist of a maximum of twelve people and a
particular part of the service is covered in detail in order to
discover any shortcomings and suggest improvements. In the past we
have had focus groups on service charges, supported housing, and
the tenant's quality promise.
This will take up around 1 hour of your time per month on
average.
Step 4. Residents'
associations
If you are part of a residents' association, your association
can speak with one voice to address any problems or concerns.
Our staff will often attend your meetings and grant funding is
available. Social activities are often arranged, and it is a good
opportunity to meet new people. Get in touch with our Resident
Involvement team if you would like more information on this.
This can take from around 2hours to 10 hours of your time per month
according to how active your association is.
Step 5. Newsletter editorial
group
The editorial group is made up of PCHA staff and residents. They
meet three times a year to discuss the articles which will go
into our residents' newsletter, What's Happening, and assist with
editing the newsletter. The newsletter is produced three times a
year.
This will take up around 3 hours of your time for each edition
of the newsletter.
Step 6. Estates Services
Panel
The Estates Services Panel consists of senior PCHA staff and
residents and looks at a wide range of estate issues such as
cleaning, caretaking, parking, lettings etc. The panel meets
once every three months and will also arrange estate inspections
with residents.
This will take up around 3 hours of your time every three
months.
Step 7. Maintenance Action Group
As a member of the Maintenance Action Group, you can help monitor
the performance of our repair contractors and be involved in
looking at policy and procedures relating to maintenance and
repairs. We will provide you with some background reading material
prior to each meeting.
This will take up around 4 hours of your time per month on
average.
Step 8. The Special Minor Improvements
Budget Panel
In this forum, you can get your hands on some of our money,
by deciding which neighbourhood improvements should be funded. You
will need to base your decision on presentations made by Housing
Services officers.
This will take up around 2 days per year of your time.
Step 9. Tenants Consultative Forum
This Forum consists of our Managing Director and other senior
staff, working alongside residents in order to review policy and
procedures and make recommendations to our board. The Forum meets
once every two months in the evening. There is a fair amount of
background reading to do.
This will take around 10 hours of your time every two months on
average.
Step 10. Board members
You can stand for election to be a PCHA board member. Board
members consider the "big issues" at PCHA, including financial and
legal aspects. They also have responsibility for the policy and
procedures of the organisation. We have four resident board members
and they receive an annual allowance for their contribution.
This could take up to twenty hours per month of your time.
Contact us today to get involved and make a difference! Call our
Resident Involvement team on 0208 451 8085 or e-mail residentinvolvement@pcha.org.uk