Your views make a big difference, that’s why we offer a number of ways for you to get involved to improve the services you receive from us.
We aim to be inclusive and accessible, by offering training and support to make it as easy as possible for you to do that in a way that meets your needs and we can also offer financial support to cover some of the costs of getting involved such as transport and childcare.
You’ll receive ongoing guidance from our dedicated team and gain access to relevant training, helping you to develop your knowledge of BCH services as well as keeping up to date with local and national changes affecting the housing sector.
If you’re interested in finding out about how we deliver services to you or having a say in decisions about how we operate services such as Repairs or Anti Social Behaviour, why not join TOWER customer scrutiny group?
TOWER carry out assessments of services, they look at a range of information (policies, data etc.) and speak to customers, staff and contractors and then put forward recommendations for improvement. They report directly to Board.
The group meet 2-3 times a month.
As a member of TOWER you will receive 1-1 support from a dedicated BCH officer and have access to a wide range of training options to help you carry out the role.
If you're interested in joining or would like to find out more, please contact us!
If you are concerned about the upkeep of green areas where you live, as a Green Warden you can help to monitor the grounds maintenance contract and assess how well we maintain green spaces around your home.
Green Wardens complete monthly surveys based on their local green spaces, these can be completed online or by post.
If you're interested in joining or would like to find out more, please contact us!
If you live in a block of flats you may be interested in being a Clean Warden and helping to monitor the standard of cleanliness in communal areas.
Clean Wardens complete monthly surveys throughout the year.
If you're interested in joining or would like to find out more, please contact us!
Customers help to make our communications easy to read and clear to understand.
Panel members provide feedback on a range of content from the Annual Report to new policies and procedures.
If you're interested in joining or would like to find out more, please contact us!
As a member of our Complaints Appeal Panel you and a BCH director will jointly hear and assess customer complaints that we have been unable to resolve at an earlier stage. Following investigation you will provide a final response to the customer detailing your findings and putting forward suggestions for resolution.
Full training is provided.
Members will also be required to attend quarterly meetings where you will be asked for your feedback, have the opportunity to highlight issues and help to create ways to improve service delivery by learning from previous complaint cases. Members will assist in ensuring BCH meets the requirements of the Housing Ombudsman’s Complaints Handling Code by reviewing and completing a self-assessment as and when required.
If you're interested in joining or would like to find out more, please contact us!
The TPF is a grant making programme which offers funding of up to £10,000 to projects which benefit BCH residents and the communities in which they live.
As a Grant Assessor you will get to review funding applications and decide whether a project meets the aims of the fund.
Full training is provided.
If you're interested in joining or would like to find out more, please contact us!
Volunteers assess the ease of access and quality of our frontline services. A mystery shopping exercise can help us identify the strengths and weaknesses of services and make improvements.
As a local authority tenant, you have a Right to Manage.
This means you have the choice to take over responsibility for managing housing services from your landlord by grouping together with other tenants to form a Tenant Management Organisation and following the established Right to Manage procedures.
Additionally, if you are a local authority or housing association tenant, you can ask your landlord to enter into a voluntary agreement about the management of housing services through a local management agreement.
Is this a legal right?
Yes. Under the terms of the Housing Act 1994, local authority tenants can exercise their Right to Manage. There is no legal right for local authority or housing association tenants to enter into a voluntary management agreement with their landlord.
When am I not able to make a choice?
You will need to work with other tenants in your area to decide the housing services that you wish to manage, and the homes covered as part of the Right to Manage. You will also need to engage with other residents to secure support for your plans, and demonstrate that you are competent to manage housing services.
Who is responsible for offering me this choice?
The Right to Manage is a statutory right. The landlord’s consent is not required, nor is any order of court. Social housing tenants can enter into a voluntary management agreement with the consent of the landlord.
Where can I get information and support to help me choose?
The National Federation of Tenant Management Organisations offers information and advice aboutthe Right to Manage and voluntary management agreements: http://www.nftmo.com/
You can also email tenantempowerment@communities.gsi.gov.uk
BCH has a long, established commitment to engaging with, and involving, customers in the issues that affect or interest them and we know the importance of this to improving service delivery and inspiring people to build sustainable communities. We believe that when we work together with our customers to improve services, we can save money and bring lasting change to communities. Being a member of Tpas allows us to access their expertise and support to help achieve this.
As a Tpas member it also means that tenants can access a range of services to help them become more involved in shaping the services we offer, including:
- Receiving invites to Tpas virtual and in-person roundtables, focus groups and workshops
- Participating in live free webinars and access pre-recorded member webinars
- Opportunities and routes to influence national policy
- Access to Tpas exclusive member Resource hubexternal link for all your engagement needs
- Newsletter to keep up to date with engagement news
- Advice on engagement issues via their enquiry service
- Attending free virtual and in person member only events throughout the year
- Access to Tpas tenant only online networking group to create engagement conversations across England
- Opportunities to share your experiences and opinions
- The chance to gain recognition and share what you are doing
You have the passion and the experience. Let us and Tpas help with the networks and the skills. Be part of a movement with tenants across England standing up for involvement and community engagement to champion for social housing and community empowerment.
Visit: www.tpas.org.uk to join our group and register your profile today!
Contact the Involvement and Communications Team if you're interested in finding out more or getting involved:
T: 01253 477900 (option 4 then 3)