Getting involved

Pictured above: Me with the Cheetham Hill Green Team

My name is Richard Wright and I am very pleased to introduce myself as your Involvement Manager. 

‘Johnnie’ Johnson Housing Trust (JJHT) has employed me as part of their drive to give residents a bigger say.

I have lots of experience of working with residents and helping them make changes for the better. This is exactly what the Trust wants.

Have a say, have an impact

Managers and Board members have been thinking hard about how to give residents a stronger voice.

They have written a new Resident Involvement Policy, outlining a vision for the future.   It says we will...

‘put residents at the heart of ‘Johnnie’ Johnson Housing Trust’

‘make a positive partnership with residents’

‘make them feel valued and confident so they make a positive impact and have genuine influence’

Because it’s best for all

Giving residents a say and influence is good for both the Trust and you. The policy says we will...

‘understand what is working well and what needs to change’

‘develop excellent relations with our residents’

Key people

The Board and Managers want key people to keep involvement high on the Trust’s agenda. The policy states...

‘employ an involvement manager to co-ordinate and promote involvement’

‘have a Board champion and lead Director’

I am here because of the policy.  The lead Director is Peter Daly. Peter is a senior manager who helped develop the new involvement policy.   Joe Robinson is the Board Champion.  He has worked closely with Peter on the new policy.

Involve those who are seldom heard

Thanks to the policy, there will be new ways to have a say.   This might be at road shows or emailing us your views on a survey.   We hope that residents who have never been involved before will have the opportunity to do so.  

Sometimes new people say they are put off by meetings. We will provide training to help everyone develop their skills. Confident, knowledgeable residents can really have an impact.      

Make sure it happens

Residents will help us set targets for involvement, such as to involve a certain number of people.   They will monitor these targets and challenge us. We will survey everyone to ask if they have a voice.

                                Best regards, Richard