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Resident engagementKeeping promisesTenant review panel gets to the heart of the issueWolverhampton Homes has celebrated the one-year anniversary of a successfuland pioneering tenant review panel to scrutinise and improve its services.Thanks to the panel, which was launched in January 2010, the ALMO has madea number of changes, including making it easier for tenants to move home to aproperty that suits their needs.It has also increased opportunities for resident participation and involvedresidents in the creation of its annual report, enabling them to see first-hand howthe organisation is performing and how it plans to improve.The panel is made up of nine community-spirited tenants from all walks of lifewho share a common passion for delivering excellent service to Wolverhamptontenants and making a difference to the wider community.Margaret Wright, director of performance and customer services atWolverhampton Homes, said: “Our review panel is instrumental to our overalltenant involvement strategy. Ultimately, it means we can create a greater tenantinfluence into all major decisions in order to improve processes and betterservices for everyone.”Family planningSheffield Homes has taken an innovativeapproach to educating young adults about theresponsibilities of parenthood and childbirth.The ‘Baby think it over’ project is run by a localcommunity forum, and uses ‘virtual babies’ preprogrammedwith a wide range of behaviour patternsbased on that of a real-life baby. These are then givento 13-16 year olds and are left with their new ‘mum’ or‘dad’ for the day or even the night.Funded by the ALMO’s Your Communities, YourChoice initiative, the project is designed to‘deglamourise’ teenage pregnancy, teach young peopleabout the pressures of caring for a child, and providethem with information about their future options.Young resident gets involved in ‘Baby think it over’ projectBank of BerneslaiGetting agroove onBerneslai Homes, Barnsley’s ALMO, has actively involved customers inshaping budgets for 2011 and put regular funding for youth projects highon its agenda.Following the comprehensive spending review last year, Berneslai Homes askeda panel of customers for their views on how to save money, with the feedback useddirectly to influence budgets.Comments included reducing the frequency of grass cutting, lowering decorationA Northwards Housing funding and tenantempowerment scheme has helped a new urbandance class for children get on its feet.Supported by the Eric Hobin CommunitySponsorship Fund, the Blackley Street Dance Crewaims to teach five to 16 year-olds new skills andimprove their confidence.Dance group founder Angela Whiteley said: “Thefund has given us the opportunity to give local kidssomething to do so they’re not on the streets. The classmakes them feel like they have something to worktowards. That’s how I started out; I used to come to aclass like this and it made me want to become a danceteacher.”Launched in memory of former Charlestowncouncillor Eric Hobin, who passed away in 2007, thefund provides up to £500 to community improvementprojects and activities that benefit the people of northManchester.DIY essentialsStevenage Homes has been helping tenants tomaintain their own homes via a series of DIYworkshops run in association with keycontractors and suppliers.Stevenage Homes worked with Decent Homescontractors Apollo, Breyer, Mitie and Wheldon’s andsupplier Buildbase to help tenants carry out repairs andmaintenance tasks that do not necessarily require aprofessional contractor, such as decorating, tiling, andbasic plumbing.One participant, resident Abdul Mugalu, said: “Icame along as I really want to tile my bathroom but Iwas quoted £700 for the job by a professional firm.This workshop has given me the skills to do it myself.”Tenants get hands-on with straightforward DIY tasksallowance for new tenants and reducing the size of property ads in the local press.Meanwhile, the ALMO has released more than £7,000 of funding for 16 localyoung people’s groups.These grants are given as part of the annual young persons’ funding pot and aredesigned to benefit the borough by improving engagement with young people. Youthgroups are given the opportunity to apply for grants of up to £500, with the moneyto be spent on trips, equipment, activities and community benefit projects.ALMOs in Action | 7