Dave scores a century

When Dave Fowlie signed up for the Housing Academy in summer 2008, he did not realise he would become its 100th graduate

"I found the course interesting and enjoyable. The Academy gives you a good insight into housing in the city," says Dave. "I've been working in the community for a long time now and I still learned things that I didn't know. You also get a folder with course notes that you can use as reference material afterwards.
"I would encourage anybody to do it; particularly if you are dealing with housing issues or working in your community and want to be more involved with the housing service."
If you are interested in attending the 14 week, two hours a week course, please contact the Tenant Participation Team on 300300 to book your Housing Academy place.
Dave is also an Area Housing Board (AHB) member.

All the AHBs recently held tenant elections. Congratulations go to the following successful candidates
John Cartwright – East
Maureen Dixon – North Carr
Brian Williams – Northern
David Bond, George Ford and Ken Leighton – Park (elected unopposed)
Graham Fish and Ian Heppenstal – Riverside
Susan Walker – West
Robert Uscroft – Wyke (elected unopposed)

STAR Service Takes Off Hull's Tenants' and Residents' Associations (TARAs) can now offer an all-STAR performance to their members. The Supporting Tenants' and Residents' Associations team (STAR), part of the Goodwin Development Trust, is providing independent help, guidance and support to TARAs in Hull until 2011. Based at the Hooper Building on Guildhall Road, STAR will: help to develop new TARAs by providing training, information, secretarial support and a regular newsletter support and advise existing TARAs act as a link between TARAs and the Housing Service develop links with other organisations in the region to share ideas and information. "STAR will work in partnership with councillors and their officers, the Area Housing Boards, Tenants' Forum and many other local and regional organisations," says service co-ordinator, James Russell. "Many TARAs will have heard from us already, but if you haven't, please call us on 485918 to find out more and let us know how we can help."

tenant news in brief

Tenants' Forum The next Tenants' Forum meeting is an evening meeting on Tuesday February 17 from 7pm - 9pm at the Guildhall. If you want to attend, please come along. New members are always welcome.

Hull number one for team work

The council is now in the premiership – for resident involvement

Hull is the first local authority in the UK to receive the honour of the Tenant Participation Advisory Service's (TPAS) national accreditation for its work involving local residents in improving the housing service.
TPAS presented the prestigious award to local tenants, residents and staff at the Freedom Centre in November 2008.
The housing service's tenant participation team applied for the assessment to receive the accreditation. The process included a series of one-to-one interviews with staff, active tenants, uninvolved tenants and focus groups. These helped:

• demonstrate our commitment to tenant involvement in Hull
• show our commitment to volunteer training and development
• explain how we provide adequate resources for resident involvement
• highlight ways tenants can become involved in improving housing services in the city.

In September, a TPAS scrutiny panel assessed the council's housing services, resulting in the organisation awarding the council their landlord accreditation for resident involvement and the ability to use their kitemark on publications.
"I feel this accreditation is well deserved as it recognises the hard work of the council and its volunteers," says tenant, Herbert Dockerty. "We have built up a strong partnership in recent years, working together to improve services for all. I am pleased to see that others have recognised that we are working hard and making a difference. We are proud of what we have achieved in Hull."
Examples of good practice highlighted by TPAS in their report included:

• the engagement monitoring forms and the database of active tenants and residents
• the inclusion of tenants on pre-interview panels for the recruitment of staff to the Tenant Participation Team
• the Volunteer Support programme and the Housing Academy programme
• the 'Tenants' Compact – The Key to our Future' document
• the tenant involvement structure

"Tenant participation is about getting customers sharing their views and ideas and to take part in influencing the way in which we deliver housing services," says director of housing, John Hocking. "I believe that the people who use our services should be making decisions with us."
For more information about becoming involved with the Housing Service, ring 300300 and ask to speak to the Tenant Participation Team or visit www.hullcc.gov.uk/housing

For further information about TPAS visit www.tpas.org.uk

Did you know? ...That community wardens provide advice and support to local residents in their area? Ring 300300 to find out where your nearest community warden's office is and what support they can offer you, your friends and family. Don't forget to ask about their sloppy slippers campaign! ...You can now bid for council homes online via the Hull City Council website www.hullcc.gov.uk Customers can view all available properties or search for specific property types or areas. Customers can also place and withdraw bids, see feedback on previous properties and link into a street map to show where properties are located.