Black and minority ethnic (BME) tenants encouraged to get involved

Sheffield Homes is holding another Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) Tenants’ Forum on 26 January following the great success of the first event last September. 

Joseph Odeyemi, of Arbourthorne TARA, said: "I’m really glad that I attended the first forum, and it is important that we keep them going.  The forum was a good opportunity to make suggestions, ask questions or express concerns about issues that affect us.  I would like to encourage people to come along to the second forum to discuss any problems they have or any information they would like to share with other tenants."

Tenants have expressed a desire to have more influence on decision making and be involved in discussing ways of improving services from Sheffield Homes.

Over 3,100 letters have been sent out inviting tenants to the second forum, which takes place from 5.45pm until 8.45pm in the Carlsberg Suite at Sheffield United Football Club.  An interpretation service and hot food will be provided.  Sheffield Homes will cover travel expenses and tenants can also book childcare.  Further information on the event is available from the Tenant Participation Team on 0114 273 6089. If possible, Sheffield Homes would like tenants to reply by 14 January if they want to come along so it can cater for everyone’s needs.

Janet Parry, Director of Service Development at Sheffield Homes, said: "We hope that the Forum will be very successful and would like as many people as possible to come along. We are committed to meeting the needs of all our tenants and need everyone’s input on how we can improve our service. If people can’t attend we would still like to encourage them to return the questionnaire enclosed with their invitation. We are trying to build an accurate picture of the translation and interpretation needs of tenants and the information requested will enable us to do this."

For those who do not wish to attend the Forum, the invitation sent out contains details of other ways tenants can get involved and influence their housing service, including: postal questionnaires, telephone surveys, email, estate walkabouts, being a mystery shopper, or via their local Tenants’ and Residents’ Association.

All tenants who reply to the invitation, whether they want to attend the Forum or not, will be entered into a prize drawand could win £50 worth of shopping vouchers.