Get on board with Sheffield Homes
Made a New Year’s resolution to be more involved in your local community? Why not think about becoming a Sheffield Homes Local Board member?
Peter Morton, Chief Executive of Sheffield Homes, said: “As a local board member, your work will make a real difference to people’s lives for many years to come - job satisfaction doesn’t get any better than that! You could be part of the biggest housing investment programme in the country. I’d like to encourage anyone who wants to know more to get in touch.”
Sheffield Homes recently won the maximum ‘excellent’ three star rating from government inspectors and is now looking for committed, enthusiastic people to help them get even better. Tenants (who must live in the area) and independent board members are needed for five local boards covering these areas:
- North Sheffield
- Manor, Castle, Woodthorpe
- Gleadless
- South Sheffield
- Darnall, Tinsley, and Burngreave
Sheffield Homes Local Boards are made up of five tenants, four independents, and two councillors. They meet every two months and have responsibility for local investment programmes, local tenant participation, local service planning and local performance monitoring. The Sheffield Homes Board of Directors provides strategic leadership, and the local boards ensure that things happen on the ground.
Mike Bower is a Local Board Member in the Parson Cross, Foxhill and Herries area as well as Vice Chair of Dryden and Kyle Tenants’ and Residents’ Association (TARA). He explained more about the role: “I’ve been a board member since my local board was set up in May 2004. As a Board Member you have to consider the area and community as a whole and not just one small estate. It can be time consuming but the benefits far outweigh any loss of personal time. The part that I am enjoying most is planning how the investment will be spent, which areas are in most need and therefore will have improvements first. This has been very rewarding for board members and TARAs.”
Sheffield Homes will provide full training for board members, as well as expenses such as childcare and travel.
Further information and application packs are available by calling 0114 273 4417, emailing barbara.ward@sheffieldhomes.org.uk, or writing to The Governance Team, Sheffield Homes, New Bank House, PO Box 1918, Sheffield, S1 2XX. Completed applications must be returned by 21 February.
Prospective tenant and independent Local Board members will be interviewed in mid-February. The successful independent members will be announced shortly after that. In Areas where more than five tenants wish to join the Local Board a ballot will be held for all tenants to decide which five tenants will represent them. The ballots will take place in early March and the results will be announced towards the end of March. The new Local Boards will meet for the first time in April.
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Contact: Claire Turner, Communications Officer, on 0114 273 6934