Meet our involved residents

Charlaine

Resident Strategy Group member Charlaine Nkum successfully won a Resident Hero Award at the G15 Ethnicity in Housing Awards 2022.

Her determination to support and empower others is incredible, sharing her lived experience and bringing her expertise in inclusion and diversity to the table.

A mother of three by the age of 20 she had her first child during her final year of her GCSEs. But nothing phases Charlaine, if it’s something that will support her family, her local community and even issues at a national level, she’ll take it on.

The sky is your limit and only you can control your destiny. Determination and a positive mindset are key. Use the negativity as your motivation and become everything they said or thought you were not going to be.

Paul

"You get the chance to be asked our opinion as residents which I believe is a positive way of getting both sides of being a tenant and looking at what happens on Southern Housing's side as well.

You're part of a group that is able to voice issues that residents are experiencing and also learning about the other side of being a tenant from the landlords point of view.

You meet residents in the local area and having discussions about working together to resolve any problems. It is a friendly proactive chance to make life better for everyone.

I have learnt lots from Southern Housing's side as the communication is improved greatly and discussions are listened to and recorded for further actions to be taken.

The training I’ve completed has taught me things that I can use in my day to day life, that there is someone who is listening and supporting tenants and that issues are being dealt with however it does take time.

As a new member I have already gained skills and learnt about policies and procedures that I was totally unaware of."

This your chance to improve your local neighbourhood and living environment. It’s easy to moan about problems, however if you want to see the bigger picture and appreciate that we are being listened to then join Resident Involvement. Its a small amount of time to give for a great return.

Sebastian

"My decision to join as an involved resident at Southern Housing was motivated by a keen desire to strengthen communication and understanding between the association and its residents.

I believed that by working from within the system, I could provide a perspective that may not always be apparent to the association, and thus help to foster improvements where needed.

My hope is that through my involvement and fierce scrutiny, we can foster a culture of empathy and responsiveness that benefits everyone in our community.

What I appreciate most about my involvement is the chance to interact with stakeholders at all levels within Southern Housing.

It's invaluable to gain insight from documentation and strategic discussions, but the highlight for me is undoubtedly connecting with fellow residents.

It's through these personal interactions that I'm able to see if the actions taken at the top truly resonate at the grassroots level and positively impact our day-to-day experiences.

This holistic view ensures that our voices are heard and our needs are addressed effectively. I've gained confidence in holding the people making decisions at Southern Housing accountable to their actions, honest in their statement, respectful in their communications, efficient in their delivery and overall trustworthy in their approach to residents.

As involved residents it's critical that we experience the services Southern Housing provides as others' experience them.

If you're only joining to improve a local service for yourself, you might not enjoy the work. However, if your experiences inform an underlying issue that needs to be addressed and you want to create an equitable dialogue between residents and their landlord at this critical time, this could be a great opportunity to be part of that, see change that everyone wants to see”.

My hope is that through my involvement and fierce scrutiny, we can foster a culture of empathy and responsiveness that benefits everyone in our community.

Kathryn

“I was very interested in joining as I wanted to do some voluntary work and was very interested in how Southern Housing works and meeting new people.

I enjoy chatting to people and listening to their views, it’s very interesting and I get insight into the processes.

I've gained knowledge and understanding and it’s lovely seeing familiar faces and new faces, it feels very relaxed too.

Being involved is interesting, it makes a difference and it’s nice to give my opinions and listen to others, it’s very enjoyable.

I was made to feel very welcome which is the most important thing."

I thoroughly enjoy being part of the team, it is a friendly, but professional atmosphere. Everyone is so lovely, and I would like to say thank you for accepting me to be a part of it.

David

“I became an involved resident as I wanted to contribute towards the management of our estate. I listen to the views of other residents, gain experience and insight into the operations of other estates and the management of Southern Housing.        

I would say make the effort to become involved in the group and you will soon appreciate the value of the knowledge gained by your participation and you will be helping others, especially older residents who may have important input, but find the modern technology challenging."

I am finding my involvement to be a rewarding experience.