Ways to get involved
It is our aim to provide high quality services, suited to your needs and which are value for money. We can only do this by talking and working together in partnership with you.
We have a range of ways in which you can get involved and have a say in how services are delivered and to influence how the quality of our services is improved. You can invest as little or as much time as you like depending on the method.
If you have special needs (for example if you have trouble leaving your home or need an interpreter), we can adapt our options for you.
Getting involved brings lots of rewards in that you can meet new people, learn new skills and directly change how services are provided and improve homes and communities.
Residents’ Associations
Residents’ associations are formed at the local or estate level and address issues that directly concern them. Often the focus will be on general improvements although sometimes it can be more specific – for example, focusing on the needs of young people. Residents’ groups receive support and training from our Resident Involvement teams and funding is also available for ‘formal’ residents’ groups. These groups are required to have a constitution and hold a minimum number of meetings per year, including an Annual General Meeting (AGM) and an open meeting.
Open meetings
Open meetings give residents the chance to get together and discuss an area of our work, but on an informal basis. Attendance is flexible and residents can meet our staff to raise concerns and discuss issues. Meetings are held quarterly.
Regional Residents Panels
The Regional Residents Panel is for residents who want to have a direct input into decision making, through planning and monitoring services at a regional level. Residents are required to attend regular meetings. Please contact the Resident Involvement team on 020 7501 2236 for more details on how to get involved and more information about the next meeting.
Community events
Our Community Investment team works with residents to improve their quality of life and get them involved in a range of activities including sport, health and wellbeing, work, social inclusion and activities for young people. Residents can attend events, sign up for activities or get involved and help run some of these sessions. For more information, contact our Community Investment team on 020 8976 1000.
Surveys
We carry out a yearly survey on our resident involvement activities to find out what residents think about the ways in which they can get involved, how satisfied they are with resident involvement and what the areas of priority are for them. The see the results for the 2009 MHT London resident involvement survey please click on the report below.
2009 Resident Involvement Survey
Board members
MHT London have four resident board members on the London Board, who help decide run the organisation and set our priorities. We have recently recruited for the new Board, but if you would like to know more, please contact the Resident Involvement team for future opportunities.
Conferences
MHP hold a conference for residents every year which is organised with members of the National Residents Group (NRG). The last conference was held in March 2009.
Residents have a chance to speak to members of our senior management team (including Bill Payne, MHP Chief Executive), meet the London Board and raise any issues of concern. For more information on the Resident Involvement Conference, please contact Francis Brazil, our Resident Involvement Manager on 020 8976 1088.
Metropolitan Communications Panel
When we relaunch as Metropolitan in April, we will be recruiting for residents and leaseholders to join our newly formed Communication’s Panel. The Panel will give residents the chance to have their say about the articles we plan on publishing in our newsletters before they go to print, and to give their input on other material including our websites, posters and other resident communications. The panel is not just an opportunity to voice your opinion, but also to get involved – you could write your own article, or even become a regular roving reporter.
Focus groups
Focus groups are small groups of usually 8–10 people who we consult when we want to gain residents’ views on very specific issues. They usually last for about two hours and are run by a member of MHT London staff.
Estate inspections
Estate inspections are carried out quarterly by your Neighbourhood Officer, caretaker and surveyor. Residents and leaseholders are encouraged to attend to share any concerns, or ideas on how we could improve the estate. Issues identified during an estate inspection are likely to be resolved more quickly, as we may be able to take action immediately.
Want to get involved?
If you would like to get involved, but don’t have the time to spare, why not join our email consultation list. All you have to do is email us at residents@mht.co.uk to register and you will receive regular communications about meetings and events, new opportunities for involvement and get to feedback on policy documents before they are finalised.
For a complete list of opportunities for involvement pick up a copy of our ‘Residents getting involved with Metropolitan and its Member Organisations” leaflet available in all our office reception areas or on our website. Alternatively, call Michele Naclerio, Resident Involvement Officer, on 020 7501 2236 or email michele.naclerio@mht.co.uk for more information.
You can also get involved in Metropolitan Housing Partnership groups and initiatives.
Resident auditors and resident inspectors
Resident auditors and inspectors ‘inspect’ the housing services we provide from a customer’s perspective to see what we do well and what we could do better. Activities include:
- checking that empty properties are up to standard
- asking other residents about their experience of the repairs service
- inspecting an estate to identify potential improvements.
- reviewing the quality of our Customer Services and communications.
Full and thorough training is provided, with the possibility of formal qualifications in some cases.
Mystery shopping
Mystery shoppers telephone our offices posing as customers and rate the level of customer service they receive. A full day of training is provided and shopping vouchers are offered as a thank you.
Readers’ Panel
The Readers’ Panel checks that our written publications are clear and useful suggesting where changes might be needed.
Want to get involved?
If you are interested in becoming an auditor, inspector or mystery shopper please contact Pat Goldfeather on 0115 988 7314 or email
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Metropolitan Housing Trust is a part of Metropolitan Housing Partnership, a unique network of locally focused member organisations working together to provide housing, regeneration, community, care and support services.
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