RoundUp Newsletter | Issue 4

About our members for our members - Celebrating 25 Years!

Welcometo your latest issue of

/tpasengland

@tpasenglandFeaturing:Looking back 25 years!

“TPAS has helped me to...”

Tell us how TPAS

has helped you...

...in 25 words or less.

Inside RoundUp:

• Stronger Together P3

• Membership P5

• TPAS Awards’13 P7

• Member Stories P11/12

SeePage 6for details

In this issue of RoundUp

Stronger TogetherPage 3

TPAS Awards’13Page 7

TrainingPage 14

Member StoryPage 12

TPAS 25 Year TimelinePage 13

MembershipPage 5

Looking back & LookingForward Page 6

Member StoryPage 11

Grounds for Concern Page 9

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Welcometo your latest issue of

Michelle Reid Chief Executive Steve Meakin MBE Chair

Hello and welcome to your latest edition of RoundUp.The last few weeks have been incrediblyfun for the TPAS team as we’ve seen so many of you face to face at the CIH conference in Manchester and at the TPAS regional and national awards. As you may have heard, TPAS is 25 years old this year so to celebrate we’d love to hear how TPAS has had a role in helping you raise and exceed the standards of tenant empowerment.

Housing Partnership, and our newest,Ekaya Housing. As usual we feature your latest stories of tenant involvementachievements, we’ll bring you the latest expert advice from our consultancy manager, we explore key tenant involvement milestones and finally we feature some of the great photos from the national TPAS awards.

We hope you enjoy this special birthday edition, and as always, do please let usknow what you think about your Round Up!

You can tell us in a range of ways. We’llshare all of your stories and reward the very best. You can find out more on page 6.

In this edition you can continue to follow the story of our Stronger Together campaign, which will be a key feature of our action-packed TPAS Conferences in September. You can read all about one of our oldest members, Havebury

Find out more at: www.tpas.org.uk...click the links on the home page tofollow us on: &

E-LEARNING TRAINING

It’s FREE!

Introduction

Tenant Central is a two year programme delivered by TPAS offering a broad range of opportunities to equip tenants with the skills to lead change in their communities. FREE e-learning training is available as a flexible way to help tenants to develop their knowledge online.

CLICk ThRouGh E-Learning CoursesThese courses take up to an hour to complete. Choose a level, time and place to suit you.Complete our short click through course on ‘Getting Involved’ at: www.tenantcentral.org.uk/training/

ACCREDITED E-Learning CoursesThese courses are accredited with Open Awards. They are supported by an online tutor. You have two weeks to complete the course at any time and place to suit you.

TENANT CENTRAL SoCIAL MEDIA Start Dates:

• Tuesday 10 September 2013

• Tuesday 8 October 2013

• Tuesday 5 November 2013

• Tuesday 3 December 2013

TENANT PANELS ACCREDITED CouRSE Start Dates:

• Tuesday 3rd September 2013

• Tuesday 22nd October 2013

• Tuesday 12th November 2013

• Tuesday 3rd December 2013

Sign up now by completing the booking form on our website.Freephone 0800 035 6351 Email info@tenantcentral.org.ukVisit www.tenantcentral.org.uk and subscribe to our mailing list.Write Tenant Central Team, TPAS, Suite 4b Trafford Plaza, 73 Seymour Grove, Manchester M16 0LD.

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Email us at: welfare@tpas.org.ukto tell us how you’re Stronger Together in your area.Visit: www.facebook.com/StrongerTogetherTPAS

Stronger Together - Tackling change in partnership.

www.facebook.com/StrongerTogetherTPAS

Our volunteers are our ears on theground, they understand the challenges we face as a landlord. Their role involves engaging with customers we are struggling to reachand referring them on to our WelfareReform Team. With support, our volunteers hold scheduled drop-insessions in busy community venues where tenants can share their concerns and ask questions abouthow they are affected. Once a referralhas been made, tenants receive specialist advice and support based on their circumstances.

Julie Atherton - Helena tenant andWelfare Reform Community Volunteer

Why did you want to support helena Partnerships to engage with tenants affected by welfare reform?

I was brought up to always try to do a good deed each day and as I’m affected by the bedroom tax too,I wanted to encourage others to have the confidence to ask for help.

Helena has supported me with mypersonal circumstances, and I waskeen to contribute in my own community – being an active member of my housing block, everyone already comes to me for advice and a chat.

Myself and the other volunteers have been involved in this initiative from the beginning; we’ve helped Helena to shape the signposting service we deliver by talking aboutour own experiences, and discussinghow we can reach out to people who need someone to talk to. We’ve helped to identify busy areas in our communities so together we can plan drop-in sessions in the places people frequently visit. There are also plans for us to offer support at larger scale events coordinated by Helena too.

We all feel part of a team, we know that Helena is here to support us too and everyone’s confidence hasincreased. It’s fair to say that tenants and landlords need each other, and we’re going to stick together.

Stronger Together celebratesTPAS tenant and landlordmembers who are facing upto the challenges of thewelfare reforms in partnership.Bringing real tenants andlandlords from around thecountry to share theirinteresting stories of success.See how they’re Stronger Together.

Julie Atherton Helena tenant and Welfare Reform Community Volunteer

Julie Atherton (L) &Jean humphreys (R)

Jean Humphreys -Welfare Reform Officer at Helena Partnerships

Why are you working collaboratively with tenants?

Our tenants are the heart and soulof our communities; they understandhow people affected by welfare reform are feeling, and can identify people who are extremely concerned about the reality of Government changes.

We’re joining forces with tenants whoare passionate about helping othersthrough welfare reform, especially those who are well-known in their communities. We know people canfeel more comfortable talking tosomebody they are familiar with andthat’s why we have collaborated withsome tenants to form a group ofWelfare Reform Community Volunteers.

“We all feel part of ateam, we know thatHelena is here to support us too andeveryone’s confidence has increased.”

TPAS MEMBERSHIP5

TPAS membership gives you a wholehost of membership benefits. But howmany of you know what all those benefits are and how you can best make use of them?

Sometimes it’s helpful to have a reminder to really ensure you are getting maximum value for money from the membership.

I have been visiting lots of members lately to explain about TPAS membership. Presentations at seniormanagers meetings, Scrutiny panels, awards evenings or local forums and groups. It’s a great opportunity for me too to hear directly from you as members about the benefits and

Birthdays are important. They providean annual reminder of the passage oftime. They give us a chance to lookback on the things that we’ve done,and to look forward to the things we’veyet to achieve. For organisations, birthdays tend to come and go withoutmuch attention. But this is a special year for TPAS, as we celebrate our 25th anniversary.

We’ve been promoting, supporting and championing tenant involvement and empowerment across England for two and a half decades. We’ve beengiving people the confidence to try newways of working, whilst demonstratingthe incredible impact that great tenant involvement can have on housing organisations. Together we’ve shaped regulation, challenged the status quo,championed rights, driven innovation,and promoted great practice.

When I ask people what they like aboutTPAS, the answers are varied. But the feeling of belonging to a national

services you use and would like to see in the future. And the bonus isgetting to travel the length and breadth of England putting names to faces and seeing some beautiful parts of the country!

Recently I have been to our most northerly member – Homes for Northumberland – who are making great strides with their scrutiny panel development.

And it was “popcorn tastic” at Cross Keys Homes in Peterborough at thepremiere of their Area Panels film night– an inspiring video of all the initiatives that the panels have commissioned to improve their communities.

Contact me if you would like me togive a presentation at your organisation: jenny.topham@tpas.org.uk

organisation that values people and their contribution to communities issomething that resonates with everyone. Our shared values are the building blocks of this organisation. They anchor us in difficult times, and drive us forward to create and support new ideas.

Looking back on our history, there hasliterally been a cast of thousands whohave helped TPAS to achieve its aims,from partner organisations to Boardmembers, to former Chief Executives,to past and present staff and associates, who have built TPAS into the organisation it is today, and who will help to create the TPAS of the future.

Most importantly of all, we owe a hugethanks to you, our wonderful members; the tenants, landlords, and contractorswho are the heart and soul and voiceof TPAS. Your innovation, your expertise,and your passion to work together to create great communities is what makes this organisation so special.

The British Red Cross have joined TPAS as an Associated member. TPAS have worked with BRC recently in supporting publication of a First Aid guide called “Everday First Aid in the Home”. Download a copy at www.tpas.org.uk

We will be looking at further collaborations over the coming months.

So Happy Birthday to everyone who is part of the TPAS family. The road we’ve so far travelled has been a rocky one, but great progress has been made. The next 25 years may prove to be even more challenging than the last, but together we will continue to lead and support trailblazing tenantinvolvement across England.

To celebrate our birthday we’d like to reflect and hear your inspiring stories of how TPAS has helped you make an impact and create change within your communities.Please see below.

A warm welcome to the TPAS family to two more organisations who have joined us recently

Paradigm housing has over 12,000 properties spread over the South, East Midlands and West London. They also have a large care and support base too.

“TPAS membership gives you a whole host of membership benefits.”

TPAS Membership

On the Road! Michelle Reid, TPAS Chief Executive

Taking stock

Call 0161 868 3500 or email: info@tpas.org.uk Follow us on @tpasenglandLike us on /tpasengland

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Welcome to new members...

“TPAS has helped me to...”

Tell us how TPAS

has helped you......in 25 words

or less.Ways to share your story:

/tpasengland

@tpasengland

info@tpas.org.uk

f

@

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What better wayfor us to celebrateour 25th Anniversarythan to tour the country, hosting three regional awards to find andrecognise theincredible achievements of social housing providers, tenants,and contractors as their hard workdirectly benefits the local community!

Celebrating acheivement

The TPAS Awards 2013And wow! Social housing tenants and landlords did a fantastic job of demonstratingour belief that tenant and landlord partnerships make total business sense. The stories we were told of overcoming the challenges presented by welfare reform,scaled down regulation and value for money pressures were truly inspiring live under the legendary British Airways concorde. For the full story including winners, visit www.tpasawards.org.uk

Above Left: Young Tenant of the Year - Jaden CameronAbove Right: Excellence in Annual Reports - SOHABelow Left: Happy 25th birthday TPAS!Below: Excellence in Working Together Award - Homes for Haringey

Top Left: Excellence in Tenant Led Scrutiny The Customer Senate - Salix HomesMid Left: Winner of Excellence in Equality and Diverse Award - We speak your language Tower Hamlet HomesTop Right: Tenant of The Year - Muna MohamedMid Right: Excellence in the Community Award - Middlesborough Community Land TrustBottom Right: Tenant Resident Liason Officer of the Year - Contractor - Samantha NashBottom: Excellence in Youth involvement - Air Aragon Youth Consultants

View more at:www.thetpasawards.org.uk

consent before varying the terms of the agreement. This means that consultation alone is not sufficient to remove the clause preventing the use of Ground 8. The danger ofcourse is that tenants may give theirconsent without understanding what is being proposed or fully appreciating its implications.

It appears that many of the landlordswho are considering use of ground 8 are looking to tie it in with a revamp of their tenancy agreement. Now I’m all for making agreements more accessible. And I’m not suggesting for one minute that this is a way offooling tenants into accepting theintroduction of the Ground 8 clausebut I am saying that offering tenantsa new user friendly ‘plain language’

tenancy agreement could mask the fact that it contains a new clause that represents a significant erosion of security.

Of course I can see how on the faceof it Ground 8 offers a remedy to thehuge increases in rent arrears thatare expected as a result of welfare reforms. Believe me I know how frustrating it can be when serial non-payers play the system and are granted one suspended possession after another. And lets beabsolutely honest here, a lot of you are probably thinking ‘so what’….you get yourself into rent arrears, you’ve got no-one to blame but yourself and what’s so wrong in making it easier for your landlord to evict you?

But we know the reality of rent arrearsis rarely that simple and many peoplefind themselves in arrears throughno fault of their own, the ‘bedroom tax’being a case in point. Discretionary

grounds for possession allow the court to consider each case on its own merit and give the defendant every chance to deal with their arrearsbefore eviction is finally granted. A mandatory ground is inherently non-discerning and fails to give any ‘benefit of the doubt’ to the tenant. For this reason the use of Ground 8 runs a real risk of heaping more hardship on tenants already suffering the results of benefit cuts. Surely we have the wit, wisdom and compassion within the sector to manage this tough situation without taking such a draconian and retrograde step?

“Ground 8 however allows a landlord to obtain an immediate possession order simply if they can prove that the tenant is more that 8 weeks in arrears.”

Ground 8 of the 1988Housing Act is a mandatory ground forpossession that can beused if an assured tenant owes more than 8 weeks rent arrears.

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Just when you think you know about all the potential implications of the welfare reforms on our sector…the rumour mill starts whirring at full speed and comes up with another.

But the latest development in the tale of woe that is welfare reform is a bit more sinister than the others because it relates to something we have control over rather than one being inflicted from central government. If you haven’t heard I’m talking about use of Ground 8.

Ground 8 of the 1988 Housing Act isa mandatory ground for possession that can be used if an assured tenant owes more than 8 weeks rent arrears. (The ground doesn’t apply to Secure Tenants) Until now, housing associations have included a clause in their assured tenancy agreements that prevent them fromusing ground 8 as part of a voluntary‘code’ adopted by the sector following the 1988 act. It has been most visibly applied during stock transfers

where the ‘offer’ promised that Ground 8 would not be used and so no reduction in security of tenure would result.

The assured tenancy grounds for possession that are currently used are discretionary, which in practice means that the county court judge doesn’t have to grant immediate possession. Ground 8 however allows a landlord to obtain an immediate possession order simply if they can prove that the tenant is more that 8 weeks in arrears.

The saving grace in this situation, particularly for stock transfer tenants is that an assured tenancy agreement will normally include a clause requiring the landlord to obtain the tenants individual

Jon Warnock, TPAS Head of Consultancy

Grounds for Concern

View more at:TPAS Consultancy

havebury housing Partnership (hhP)is one of TPAS’s longest standing members having been with us since 1993.

So it seems fitting that in TPAS’s year of celebration that Havebury should be celebrating too by again achieving TPAS Landlord Accreditation (RIQ). It’s the second time that Havebury has been granted the prestigious accreditation after being one of the first in the East of England to be accredited in 2010 for their resident involvement.

As part of the accreditation process, TPAS looked thoroughly at every aspect of HHP’s work with its tenants and spent three days on site carrying out

interviews, focus groups and observations before the award was made.

The accreditation panel were particularly impressed with how HHP knows the needs of their tenants and their communities and uses that intelligence to really focus on service delivery.

It’s clear too that resident involvement hasbeen effectively embedded at HHP with allstaff having responsibilities and contributions to make linked to involvement.

Presenting the RIQ award to Sandra Norris, Tenant Board Director and Chair of the Tenants’ Forum, Michelle Reid, TPAS Chief Executive congratulated HHP on the strong sense of respect between employees and residents.

Sandra said “Havebury employees have worked incredibly hard over the past three years to continually become more attuned to residents’ views and improve the resident involvement service.

And Karen Mayhew, Chief Executive ofHavebury Housing Partnership, said:“We are committed to keeping tenantsat the heart of what we do and empowering them to play a meaningfulrole with service delivery and development.”

So congratulations havebury housing Partnership. And here’s to many more years of working together.

Havebury Housing Partnership gain the TPAS Landlord Accreditation (RIQ).

Member story:

“...Havebury employees have worked incredibly hard over the past three years...”

It’s not only TPAS who are celebrating being 25 years old. one of TPAS’s newest landlord members is Ekaya housing who joined us in spring this year. They have just finished a year of celebrating, reaching their 25th anniversary too in 2012.

Ekaya is a Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) Housing Association. It provides housing and support services to black and minority ethnic women and other groups with similar needs across eight London borough’s including Southwark, Wandsworth and Lambeth.

Ekaya also provides accommodation and support services across these boroughs for young single vulnerable pregnant women and mothers aged 16-25.

One way they have been celebrating has been to recently run a “Super Mum” competition in conjunction with The Voice newspaper. The winner was Esha Johnson, a mother and business woman whose pioneering endeavours include becoming the founder member of ‘Celebrating Youth Excellence’, an organisation that awards young people and their parents for outstanding achievements.

To conclude their 25th Anniversary celebrations, Ekaya’s media marketing campaign featured Ekaya’s home grown Super Mums’ testimonies in The Voice Newspaper and Voice online, raising awareness of Ekaya’s services.And whilst Ekaya may be one of TPAS smallest landlord members in terms of stock size, at approximately 430 units, its ambition and strength remains far from small. Ekaya recently acquired 10 new units in Lewisham and are rightly proud to be growing and still serving their communities all these years later.

happy Birthday Ekaya!

Ekaya Housing finish on a high after their own 25th Anniversary

Find out more at:www.ekaya.co.uk

Find out more at:www.havebury.com

Member story:

See Ekaya’s 25th anniversary video on You Tube. Search for “Ekaya Housing’s 25th Anniversary Celebrations”

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Training, 25 years later!

Oh how things have changed!It wasn’t so long agowhen tenant trainingwas primarily focussedon running courseson such things as‘setting up a residents association’, ‘writing a constitution’ and ‘meetings and committee skills’. Then came training on ‘KLOES’ and‘tenant compacts’ (remember them!) Of course many of these committee and group based topics are still really important but we now see a trend towards courses that reflect the new involvement opportunities such as ‘mystery shopping’, ‘inspecting yourlandlord’ and of course ‘tenant scrutiny’ and ‘monitoring performance’.

It’s not just the topics that are different either. People are more interested in new ways of learning too such as e-learning, ideal for people who want to learn at a place and pace to suit themselves and fit it into their busy lives.

There is also a huge interest these days from both housing staff and tenants on learning how to use social media to complement and increase the ways in which they can engage with tenants and each other.

We have also seen an increased demand for accredited training courses which is recognised as adding value including helping people access education, training and employment.

Skills training on topics suchas ‘asking the right questions’, ‘building yourconfidence’, ‘public speaking and presentationsskills’ as well as ‘being assertive’ and ‘interview skills’ remain popular and important in helping tenants and residents to effectively and confidently engage in all types of involvement activities.

TPAS TRAINING 14

For more information contact the TPAS Training Team on:0161 868 3520 or email: training@tpas.org.uk

1985

2003

2009

2007

1988

20041997

2007

1990

1993

1992

2010

2013

“Inquiry into

British Housing”

was launched,

chaired by

HRH the Duke of

Edinburgh.

TPAS England launched as an independent

advisory service for both tenants and

landlords.

“Opening the Window:

the hidden history of

tenant organisations”

published. Authored by

John Grayson

and supported

by TPAS.

NFTMo (National Federation

of Tenant Management Organisations

is formed).

TPAS hosts the IuT (International Union of Tenants) congress at our

annual conference in Birmingham.

Fitton Hill

T&RA in Oldham

became the 1500th

tenant member

organisation to

join TPAS.

TARoE (Tenants and Residents

Organisations of England)

is established.

CCh

(Confederation

of Co-operative

Housing)

is launched.

“A Toolkit for Tenant

Auditors and

Inspectors” is

published - a

Innovation in Action

project led by TPAS.

TPAS launches theCliff Whiteley Award for tenants who have made an outstanding contribution to their

communities.

TPAS is a leading

contributor to the

publication “Resident-

Led Self Regulation:

Potential and Prospects”.

Here we see the

beginnings of scrutiny...

TPAS is a major influencer in the formation of the Regulatory Standards for Social Housing, helping to shape a robust Tenant Involvement and Empowerment Standard and others. TPAS Celebrates

its 25th Anniversary!

Celebrating 25 Years

The TPAS 25 Year Timeline

Follow signs for a packed programme

Welfare Reform

Scrutiny Tenant Panels

Skills forchange

Strengthening Communities

From

£349

24 & 25 September, 2013 MANCHESTER

11 & 12 September, 2013LONDON

For more information visit: www.tpasconference.org.uk follow: @tpasconference join the debate: #tpasconf13or contact Penni on: 0161 776 7192