As part of National Involvement Week, we’re excited to shine a spotlight on our community of involved tenants who make a huge difference by sharing their honest feedback and ideas on how we can continue to improve our services.
We recently spoke with one of our newest involved tenants to help you understand what it’s all about…
Hi Bob, what made you want to get involved with My Voice and become an involved tenant?
I wanted to make a difference to the way things are running on the estate and to be more involved with my local neighbourhood. I wanted to speak to Midland Heart and make them more aware of tenants’ feelings.
What are the main benefits of being involved?
It’s good to meet other tenants and understand their points of view. Everyone is so different, we come from different parts of the Midlands and are a mix of general needs, retirement living, shared ownership etc so you get to understand different people’s experiences of the same issue and come together for what’s best to do next. It’s the old saying ‘two heads are better than one’.
Is there a particular project that’s stood out to you?
I was really interested in the discussions around our day-to-day services in gardening, repairs and general upkeep.
We recently finished a scrutiny project about neighbourhood communication, and I know a lot more now than I did, mainly that it’s not a one-way street. People are quick to complain when things aren’t done but there’s a lot that goes on in the background that we do to make changes and fix things.
I’m particularly excited about the discussions in the ongoing Board scrutiny and very excited to see the changes this brings in strengthening the bridge. I already feel like I have a better understanding of what goes on at Board level.
Have you faced any challenges in the role as an involved tenant?
Not so much a challenge but I can remember initially feeling uncomfortable proposing an idea that I wasn’t sure other tenants would agree with but, once I’d said it, I found it valuable to share different opinions and get more feedback on my ideas.
What would you say to others thinking of joining My Voice?
I would love to see more young people involved. We’re a diverse group but we’re always looking to get more people involved and it would be great to have the next generation making changes.
At the end of the day, we make a difference and that can lead to a better way of living for tenants. We can make a progressive way forward and can help Midland Heart to better understand their tenants and their feelings.
We know that the more tenants we have speaking to us and giving us their ideas, the better! So, if you’re interested in joining My Voice and becoming an involved tenant, you can find lots of information here.
