Anyone can set up a group in their area. One or two Tenants is all that is needed to get started. You decide where and when you want to meet and what you want to meet about. There is help and advice available in the form of a Tenants Participation Team. This team can be made up of a Tenant Development Worker and a Community Participation Co-ordinator. Local groups will deal with local issues and you could make a real difference in your area.
Why set up a Group?
Tenant and Resident Organisations are set up when Tenants and/or residents want to get more involved in managing their homes and influencing decisions made about the neighbourhood and area in which they live.
By forming a Registered Tenant Organisation (RTO), individuals who have similar concerns, experiences or ideas can share information and support each other. Groups can have more impact and success than individuals on their own.
An RTO represents a geographical area described in its constitution and addresses issues ranging from Housing and the Environment, to meeting the social and economic needs of the Community.
Setting up a group in your community could help to improve relations with different organisations i.e. your Landlord, local Council, local Police etc.
How to go about it?
Talk to your neighbours and find out their opinions and views, you will probably have a clear idea of why a group may be needed in your area. Talk to as many people in your neighbourhood and area as you can. You may even carry out a small survey. If you find support for your idea, then get together with the people who are most interested.
Find a suitable place to hold a meeting, it could be someone’s home, a room in a community centre, school, church hall, sheltered housing scheme, room in your local pub, as long as it is easy for people to get to. Also try and arrange a suitable place with disability access. You could advertise this in your local shop or community area and it may attract others.
Holding a Meeting
Be clear about what you want to achieve at the meeting, be friendly, welcoming and introduce people.
Ensure that the meeting keeps to the point and is kept in order.
Ensure accurate notes are taken of the main points discussed and of any decisions made.
Ensure that the notes taken are circulated in the form of minutes to all the people who attended prior to the next meeting.
Keep a record of all the people who attended the meeting.
Try to encourage people to form a committee.