How to get involved
There are a number of ways you can tell us what you think of the services we provide. Whatever time you have, there's a way for you to get involved that suits you.
You can share your views in one of the following ways:
- South Tyneside Homes Board
- Community Area Forums (CAF's)
- Residents' groups
- Service Development Groups (SDG's)
- Quality panel
- Tenant Inspectors
- Panels
- Estate walkabouts
- Forums
- E-Involvement
- Comments, compliments and complaints
South Tyneside Homes Board
The board is made up of 12 people:
- Four individual tenants and leaseholders
- Four councillors
- Four independent people chosen for their professional skills.
The board discusses a range of issues and makes major decisions to improve our services across the borough.
Community Area Forums (CAF's)
CAF's give you the chance to come along to a venue in your area and meet with us, local councillors and other people who have an influence on what happens in your community. You can find out more about what is happening in your area and what will affect you.
Residents' groups
Tenants' and Residents' associations and community groups represent tenants and leaseholders living in an area, block, sheltered housing scheme or individual street.
They put forward views about housing, community and local issues as well as taking part in the decision making process.
Funding is available (subject to successful application) to cover the running and administration costs of residents' groups.
We work with 13 Residents Associations in the borough.
Service Development Groups (SDG's)
Service Development Groups (SDG's) help us to make sure our services are meeting your needs. By joining a SDG you can share your ideas and suggestions on how our services can be improved.
We have SDGs in the following areas:
- Housing Solution
- Empty Homes
- Income
- Repairs and Maintenance
- Decent Homes
- Tenancy Enforcement
- Estate Management
- Sheltered Housing
- Complaints
- High Rise
Quality panel
Our quality panel is made up of tenants who meet up every quarter to check how we are performing and suggest ways we can improve.
Tenant Inspectors
Our Tenant Inspectors are trained to check the quality of the services we provide against our agreed standards. We provide full training for all our Tenant Inspectors.
Panels
We have two panels that help us check and improve the way we communicate with you.
Readers Panel
This Panel is made up of tenants who have all received training in 'Plain English'. They read the main written information which is sent to our tenants, such as Housing Matters, other newsletters and information leaflets. The Panel then gives us feedback on whether our communications are clear and easy to understand. We put the 'Readers Panel Approved' logo on information that they have approved.
We can send you any information we need you to look at. You can return your comments to us in the way that suits you.
Editorial Panel
This Panel is made up of tenants who meet every 3 months to talk about the contents of our tenant newsletter, provide suggestions for articles and give feedback on the final version.
Estate walkabouts
By joining our housing staff and local councillors on an Estate Walkabouts you can tell us how we can make your estate a better place to live.
They're a great opportunity to look at your estate and report any issues. They also give you a chance to check problems are being dealt with and standards are being met.
Forums
BAME (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic) Housing Forum
This forum is run by CREST. It aims to give people from various ethnic minority and faith backgrounds the chance to influence our housing services, policies and procedures and provide feedback on the services they receive. This will help us identify barriers and issues people may face.
Future Meetings:
Wednesday 21 March: 11am
Ocean Road Community Centre, South Shields
Norman Kaid Suite
For more information or to register your interest contact Lotyfa Begum on (0191) 456 8566 or e-mail lotyfa@thecrestproject.co.uk Or turn up on the day.
South Tyneside Homes' Independent Disability Forum by BLISS=Ability
This forum is run by BLISS=Ability. It is aimed at giving disabled people and their carers the opportunity to influence our housing services, policies and procedures and provide feedback on the services they receive. This will help us identify barriers and issues people may face.
Future Meetings:
Wednesday 28 March: 10am
The Deaf Club, South Shields
For more information, to register your interest or request support to attend the meeting contact Linda Gibson on (0191) 427 1666 or email lgibson@blissability.co.uk
E-Involvement
You can now get involved from the comfort of your own home. Our new E-Involvement group means you can tell us what you think by completing surveys and questionnaires on your computer.
Comments, compliments and complaints
All of our local housing offices have feedback forms for you to give us your compliments, comments and complaints. Let us know what you think and we will use your feedback to improve what we do.
You can also give us feedback by:
- using our online forms
- post
- telephone
