A tenant group is a collective of local people from a community who come together voluntarily to promote and encourage changes to their surrounding areas.

The tenant who inspired the group attended a community council meeting. From this our Tenant Participation Officer became involved and went on to support the tenant to form the group. To gauge interest across the whole of the development, a ballot was sent to all.

Once we knew who was interested, a meeting was arranged at a local venue so the group could meet each other and staff to discuss what the group want to achieve and how the Association would support them.

The tenants have decided on some initial aims which include:

• Tackling anti-social behaviour
• Dealing with on-going car park issues
• Improve security of the development
• Have a say in decisions about the management of the development
• Support each other to be part of group activities and creation of a safe space where they can have a voice

The first meeting took place in July with the next one planned for October. The group will continue to meet each other and staff every three months. In early August the group completed a follow up neighbourhood walkabout.

Next steps are to meet the new housing officer and to continue to work on issues raised during the meeting and subsequent walkabout.

Contact Samantha, our Tenant Participation Officer on either 01224 423120 or email samantha.hough@langstane-ha.co.uk

When tenants and staff meet at an arranged date and time to walk about their neighbourhood discussing issues that we need to take action on. This is a form of direct tenant scrutiny where the Association involves tenants in decision making processes and reviewing landlord performance within their own neighbourhoods.

In 2023 the Association received a request from a tenant asking for help to tackle a number of on-going issues. These included: overflowing communal bins, untidy garden and car park, littering and dog fouling.

An action plan was created from the first walkabout. This action plan is updated after each walkabout and published on our website, highlighting what action the Association is taking to tackle the issues. Some examples include:

• Removal of abandoned vehicles
• Repairs such as guttering and hanging tv aerials
• Erecting CCTV to help tackle anti-social behaviour and misuse of bin area
• Removing large areas of scrub bushes to provide an improvement in the landscaping
• Fixing clothes driers and stopping these areas being used for dog walking

Works continue to make this neighbourhood a nicer place for the residents to live. This is extremely important to the Association as we recognise this a collective group of neighbours who all want their environment somewhere they can feel proud to call home. Plans for future works include:

• Continue to complete walkabout visits until the tenants are happy that we have achieved our aim to improve their environment
• Removal of moss on roofs across the development
• White washing or power washing buildings to improve their appearance
• Completing a landscaping assessment in partnership with our gardening contractors to improve the development appearance
• Install bins to try and reduce littering and dog fouling

I have lived in my neighbourhood for 43 years.

Being a good neighbour means more to me than simply exchanging pleasantries such as a hello when you pass in the hall. For me it is about playing an active and supportive role in the lives of those in my community.

I like to feel that my immediate neighbours can come to me when they need help or support which can range from a shoulder to cry on, help getting to a medical appointment or buying food as they cannot get to the shop.

Just by looking out for those around you and simply being there so you can help is key to what I would call a ‘good neighbour’

I suppose from the point of view of wellbeing I would say it is about knowing that you have done all you can for your fellow neighbour. Knowing that life can be challenging and with most of us living alone it is good to have each other for support and at times simply reassurance.

Being a good neighbour to me is not about living in each other’s lives but knowing that what you do for each other has a positive effect. Having that knowledge can really help your mental and physical wellbeing in that you are not alone and that help if needed is close by.

In my community we know we have each other to rely on and that each good turn deserves another. I know I do all I can for others and that what I do makes a difference to people – this makes me feel good.

Out of experience over my 43 years living in this community I know that if you go that extra mile it can have many positive outcomes.

So, I suppose my advice to anyone is – please do all you can to help others, it makes such a significant difference to people.

Yes I can think of an example from earlier this year. I was very ill and called my neighbour asking for help as I realised I could not get myself to the doctor. My neighbour was wonderful and without her I would not have managed.

She helped further by taking me to collect my prescription and helped me get food shopping. She then visited me regularly for over a week to make sure I was okay.

I have known her for years and to have her there made the whole experience a lot more bearable than it would have been otherwise. It took me a few weeks to recover but the whole experience was a perfect example of what can happen when people care and are willing to support each other in times of crisis.