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| Article Date: | 25/11/2009
| | Article Title: | TENANTS GAIN HOUSING QUALIFICATION |
Tenants who volunteered to help monitor and improve services delivered by their landlords
were celebrating achieving housing qualifications this week.
The Services Inspection Team, a partnership with tenants from Nottingham Community Housing Association (NCHA) and Newark & Sherwood Homes (NSH) was established to enable its members to become the 'eyes and ears' for tenants and landlords. They monitor the services provided by both organisations and make recommendations for improvements.
But busy as they've been undertaking a schedule of inspections which included Service Delivery in Remote Areas and Grounds Maintenance, they have also found time to undertake a formal housing qualification. Castle College Nottingham has coached the team through the Chartered Institute of Housing Certificate Level 2 course to improve their housing credentials.
The course was offered to the Team by both landlords on a voluntary basis, and volunteer they did! For some tenants, this was a first time experience of higher education but they tackled their assignments with enthusiasm and passed the course.
At a special ceremony at Kelham Hall the team gathered to celebrate their unique achievement and to talk of their experiences whilst taking the course.
Colin Shakh, a tenant from the Moorgreen Estate at Strelley in Nottingham said
"'It's all about helping tenants, getting out there and speaking to them. They talk to us because at the end of the day we're just like them - tenants. Doing this course has helped us see the other side of housing; the course has also made the team closer and given us an even greater understanding of housing. This all means that we can achieve what we set out to do which is making a better service for tenants and with doing that, with luck, giving them a better life."
One tenant who started the course has now landed a job in housing and she credits the confidence and self belief she gained during the course for her success in gaining employment.
Picture shows Colin Shakh (centre) with NSH Chief Executive Rebecca Rance and NCHA Chief Executive Mike Andrews
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