Download a leaflet forming a new residents group here
WHAT DO RESIDENTS' GROUPS DO?
Residents' groups can deal with a wide range of different matters. Examples of what residents' groups often can do include:-
- campaigning and/or raising money for better play facilities
- organising social events for adults and/or children
- campaigning for improvements to parking or traffic control
- increasing the sense of community
- campaigning for improvements to the properties
- organising a neighbourhood watch scheme
- campaigning for better facilities (e.g. public transport, payphone)
- suggesting idea to Westcountry about the service it provides
Residents' groups can have more influence and power than residents working just on their own, and they often have more success than Westcountry staff. This can mean real benefits in having one on your estate.
It does not mean that residents' groups always get what they want, but they often stand a better chance!
HOW DOES WESTCOUNTRY HELP RESIDENTS' GROUPS?
Westcountry provide advice and assistance. Our Resident Involvement Workers, Sarah Cracknell and Barbara Smith, and your Neighbourhood Co-ordinators can help you with starting a residents' group and will help for as long as your association is going.
We pay an annual grant of £50 (or more if required) to assist with running costs such as telephone calls, postage, stationary, ink cartridges, photocopying and so on. We do not expect money to be raised through compulsory subscriptions.
We can type and copy your minutes, agendas, letters and so on, produce leaflets and newsletters for you or help you to produce them yourselves.
We also offer our offices and some properties that we have as venues for meetings, or we will pay for hall hire if we have nothing local that is suitable.
We can attend your meetings to:
- hear your complaints and problems
- ask your views on future plans, changes and/or improvements
- generally advise and assist
We can provide appropriate training or pay for you to attend conferences that offer great opportunity to see what other residents' groups are achieving.
We will pay for your group to be members of the Tenant Participation Advisory Service (www.tpas.org.uk) which provides help, information, regular newsletters, seminars and conferences for residents' groups.
We will put you in touch with other residents who can help, advise and guide you.
WHY DOES WESTCOUNTRY ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS' GROUPS?
We support residents' groups for a number of reasons:
- residents' groups help make neighbourhoods safer
- local councils, the police and other organisiations respond well to residents' groups
- residents groups help Westcountry better understand the needs of your particular estate
- talking with residents can keep our costs and your rent down
Westcountry will promote and help a residents' groups if there is enough support from all its residents.
HOW DOES A RESIDENTS' GROUP START?
There has to be interest!
People often think about residents' group when a particular problem comes up, such as speeding car or parking. A good start is about 30% of residetns showing interest and at least three or four residents willing to be involved in a residents group. Working with those residents, Westcountry will organise a meeting inviting all residents. If there is enough interest, residents will vote on whether to start a residents' group and then everyone needs to agree:
- what the residents' group should do and how best to do it
- about a set of rules
- elect a committee or officers
HOW WILL THE RESIDENTS' GROUP WORK?
Usually there will be meetings to review progress, discuss new ideas, decide what action to take and who will do it. These will usually be just a small group (the committee), meeting as often as necessary; sometimes once a month, sometimes less often. There will need to be general meetings as well, when all residents on the estate are invited, perhaps every 4 - 6 months.
Outside organisations may be invited to answer specific problems. For example, a Neighbourhood Co-ordinator may come to discuss problems that are Westcountry's responsibility.
You may want to invite you local community police officer to set up a Neighbourhood watch scheme with you, or to answer questions about policing in your area.
WHAT NOW?
If you are interested in starting a residents' group on please contact the Resident Involvement Workers, Sarah or Barbara on 01803 200300