We are committed to involving you in decisions that are made about you and where you live.The success of the strategy depends largely on those involved - residents, staff and those in the wider community to ensure that the challenge of partnership works for the community as well as us. Below is the commitment we make to encouraging involvement and what is expected from recognised resident groups.

Developing appropriate platforms for partnership across all our estates and smaller communities

Through the appointment of a dedicated community development officer we will pro-actively work with individuals and groups on all our estates to support them in establishing residents groups, neighbourhood watch schemes, social groups, estate management groups and other groups determined by residents, that result in collective engagement and involvement.
We will actively support ways of ensuring that groups can engage with each other and groups from other organisations by providing information, support and resources to enable networking.

All groups that wish to be recognised as formal residents groups will receive advice, information and support from us through training, information and resources to function and develop.

Providing mechanisms for residents to participate in the way they want to, to help define policies and services

We will ensure that the appropriate methods are adopted to encourage and enable the maximum level of involvement, including resident involvement in establishing the priorities for the service improvement programme.

We will do this through surveys, questionnaires, focus groups, working groups, and community events as well as through our formal committee, resident group and Federation structures, newsletters and presentations.

We will ensure that a diverse range of residents have the opportunity to participate by targeting individuals that have not had the opportunity to be involved and encouraging involvement from under represented groups and individuals.

Training and encouraging staff to develop resident participation as a central feature of their work

Involvement is seen as a key component of the way we operate. Support and training will be available to staff who ordinarily do not work with groups or conduct consultation exercises.

Making training opportunities and information available

We will train and give information to residents individually and in groups, including groups who may want to be formally recognised.

We will provide training, information and support to all new and emerging groups to enable them to function effectively. We will support new and existing groups in identifying their training needs and provide information and proposals on how their needs can be met by either;

• providing it directly by staff
• encouraging Peer training from more experienced groups
• source external training opportunities
• develop training for a number of groups
• encourage groups to develop partnerships outside of us

Developing our accountability to residents

We will use the platform and mechanisms developed above for consultation with residents on policy matters as opportunities to influence outcomes.

We will identify those residents affected by policy change and ensure their views are taken into account before a change takes place. This could be through a public meeting, information leaflets with the opportunity to feedback views within a realistic timeframe, consultation exercise, focus and/or working group or survey.

Seeking your views on a range of services

We will conduct stock- wide surveys every three years to seek your views across a wide spectrum. We will also conduct surveys, and encourage residents groups to conduct surveys, from time to time, to determine satisfaction levels at a very local level on a specific issues or topic.

Information

We will regularly provide information through individual letters, distribution of flyers and newsletters and the insertion of articles in estate based newsletters and, when appropriate, through public meetings and presentations. We will also encourage and support accountability from other organisations that provide services.

Regular performance reports

We will provide annual performance reports through our annual report in line with Housing Corporation Regulations. The report will hold all of the performance information required along with contributions from resident/community groups and general reports on our activities.

Regular performance reports will be given to the JRHT Board these reports will be fed back to residents through the resident membership of our committees.

Encouraging and promoting you to become involved in wider community issues; in the local neighbourhood and in fostering links with other residents` groups

As part of our ongoing activity and support on estates we will encourage residents to increase wider community involvement through social events, environmental projects and events for underrepresented groups and individuals including children and young people.

Providing and encouraging accountability of resident groups to their members.

We will provide support, including secretarial support if necessary, for groups to produce regular information for their members through bulletins, minutes of meetings, Newsletters and open meetings. We will also support residents involved in estate maintenance groups to seek the views on priorities from all residents.

Ensuring that resident partnership activities take account of diversity and equal opportunities.

All groups that wish to be recognised by us and secure funding, need to adopt our equal opportunities policy and demonstrate commitment to it by undergoing training and awareness raising in relation to diversity issues. Groups need to ensure that under represented groups and individuals' views are taken into account and that their membership reflects the local community it serves. All groups need to set targets for membership and develop ways of ensuring information is accessible.

Support for residents groups

We will provide resources to support the establishment and development of groups representing residents. These groups will be provided with a start -up grant and annual budget to cover their operating costs, including visits to other groups and organisations. All training costs, transport, crèche, translation and administration costs will be met by us

We will provide support and help to residents to set up new groups and structures, which encourage partnerships and involvement.

Practical help will include:

• providing information packs for new groups to enable recognition / registration and access to start - up grants
• access to premises and services for enabling initial resident meetings
• providing information, leaflets and booklets on good practice for resident involvement including copies of the JRF/CIH publication Encouraging Participation
• preparing and / or printing newsletters, notices, leaflets, minutes of meetings.
• sponsoring training and attendance at conferences
• support for youth groups: providing start - up grants for recognised groups

Monitoring and evaluation

The effectiveness of this policy will be monitored through regular reports to committee, from periodic review, and through seeking the views of the Residents Federation. All groups will be provided with a copy of the policy.