You’re never too old!

Newydd’s Community Partnership Officer Worked for Newydd for 17 years – yikes! Previously a Housing Officer & Lettings

Officer Newydd’s Community Partnership Team

won the national TPAS award for tenant participation this year!

To give an overview of :

SASH (Supporting All Sheltered Housing) – one of Newydd’s tenant groups

Newydd’s involvement in the Visibly Better Project – a partnership project where tenants were trained to become Scheme Assessors with a view to making life easier for tenants with visual impairments in sheltered housing

SASH was originally formed in 2009 following Newydd’s restructure of tenant involvement

The group meets quarterly on rotation at each of our 5 sheltered schemes

Tenants have an input into what they want on their agenda & meetings are fun and informal

Tenants are consulted on and advised of issues that might affect them – raises awareness and empowers through knowledge

Tenants were involved in a major review of Newydd’s sheltered housing last year - directly influence the service they receive

Tenants now have an extended social network as tenants representatives attend from all schemes – helps tackle social isolation

Staff provide service updates & advise of upcoming social events – two way communication enhances relationship between landlord & tenant

Guest speakers are invited along to raise awareness e.g. RNIB, RNID, Fire Brigade, Barry Lions, VCVS, Age Concern etc. – partnership working opportunities increased

This year, in partnership with TPAS, outcome based action plans and defined remits were developed for all Newydd’s tenant groups

To advise Newydd about ways to shape and

improve services; monitor performance; provide

social interaction and information and to raise

awareness and understanding about issues

related to sheltered housing

Better value for money from services

Tenants have a better quality of life & feel safe

People know how to access information, services & support

Tenants’ views inform service improvement

Reduced social isolation

Tenants learn new skills

Tenants are more independent with more self esteem & confidence

Continue to involve tenants in the procurement of services, reviews, policy & standard setting

Develop new links with partners & agencies Improve individual tenant service plans Continue tenant profiling – know our

customers Improve 2 way communication Arrange social activities & events Offer training to develop new skills

Cath – SASH member & Tenant Scheme Assessor

'Volunteering is very rewarding and can be challenging, it also offers opportunities for

self improvement.'

John Phillips (70 years young)

(Chair of the Community Panel, Tenant Scheme Assessor, member of NEADS

(Newydd’s Equality & Diversity Subgroup), the ASB sub group, the ASB Tenant Support

Group, maintenance sub group & tenant powered performance group!)

Newydd worked in partnership with:

Visually impaired tenants were trained to become Scheme Assessors

The project was funded by a Tenant Empowerment Grant

To develop tenant skills and knowledge to enable them to carry out, analyse and feed back results of their assessments to their landlords & contribute to the continuous improvement of a range of housing services

To evidence that tenant participation is directly producing outcomes (making a difference) in service delivery in line key requirements of the National Tenant Participation Strategy (NTPS)

Our Tenant Scheme Assessors (TSAs) have already undertaken two annual audits of all 5 sheltered housing schemes

The TSAs have met with maintenance staff to discuss their recommendations which are factored into future planned programmes

Some of the TSAs have even undertaken small scale recommended improvements in one scheme & painted around light switches and sockets to make them more visible

Joint scheme audits were undertaken with RNIB staff & Newydd staff

Any questions?