Contact Us on 01206 244700
Resident Involvement
Our residents are at the heart of everything that we do. Staying in touch with residents' views is really important to us, and we try and do this in many different ways.
If you'd like to have your say about how we provide our services, or get involved in how the Society is run, we'd love to hear from you. Here are some of the options available:
- Estate Representatives
- Residents Forum
- Tenants or Residents Associations
- Resident Contact Database
- Board Membership
- Equality & Diversity Forum
- Environmental group
Residents' Forum
Please note that the next Residents' Forum is to be held on Wednesday 8th September at 11.30am at Colne Housing Society, Digby House, Riverside Office Centre, Causton Road, Colchester, Essex CO1 1RJ. Click here for directions.
Our Residents' Forum is the place to come if you want to get involved in the bigger issues that affect residents. The Forum meets four times a year and its purpose is to:
- comment on and recommend changes to our policies, like our repairs policy or our policy for tackling anti-social behaviour
- look at our performance and suggest where we can improve
- discuss significant changes to our services, for example, rent settings, or changes to how services are delivered.
For more details, or if you want to attend the Residents' Forum contact Emma Cruickshank on 01206 244717 or e-mail getinvolved@colnehousing.co.uk.
Notes of our Residents Forum are taken and available below for your information:
Residents' Environmental Group
Are you interested in environmental issues? Well, why not join our Residents’ Environmental Group?! The Residents’ Environmental Group meets three times a year to discuss the Society’s environmental priorities as we are really keen to find out what you think about these issues. If you would like to join the group please call Emma Cruickshank on 01206 244717, or Customer Services on 01206 244700 to let us know that you would like to get involved. Alternatively you can e-mail emma.cruickshank@colnehousing.co.uk
The next meeting is on Thursday 30th September at 11am at Colne Housing Society, Digby House, Riverside Office Centre, Causton Road, Colchester, Essex CO1 1RJ. Click here for directions.
Estate Representatives
What is an Estate Representative? Being an estate rep is a great way to help improve your local neighbourhood. The role involves being in touch with your Housing Officer regularly, reporting neighbourhood problems like abandoned cars and giving us feedback on how our gardeners and cleaners are performing. As an Estate Representative, you are our link to the day to day issues of our estates and developments.
How much time do I need to give as an Estate Rep? Give as much or as little time as you like. It is up to Estate Reps to contact Colne Housing as and when they wish, although your Housing Officer will usually contact you once a month.
Will I be paid for my time? Colne Housing will help out by paying a contribution of £20 once every three months towards your telephone line rental.
How do Estate Reps contact Colne Housing? It's up to you. We would prefer telephone contact, but if this isn't possible, you can use post, fax or e-mail. There are also regular meetings between Housing Officers and Estate Reps.
What other assistance will I be given? You would be provided with the names and telephone numbers of Colne Housing staff for each of the services the Society provides. In addition, you would also have the contact details of services provided by the local council, police and details of other Estate Reps (with their permission).
If you want to find out more please telephone 01206 244700 or e-mail getinvolved@colnehousing.co.uk.
Residents' Associations
What is a Residents Association? These are groups of local residents who hold regular meetings to discuss issues concerning their neighbourhood. Some also organise social and fund raising events.
How do I form a Residents Association? Talk to your neighbours and then contact Colne Housing on 01206 244700 or at getinvolved@colnehousing.co.uk. We will give you all the help and advice you need, including training on how to run meetings, setting up your Association's constitution and lots of other practical tips.
Resident Contact Database
We invite all of our residents to offer feedback in a variety of ways. This could include taking part in a survey (postal, telephone or online) or being part of a focus group to study a specific issue. If you are happy to answer some questions from time to time, give your views or maybe take part in a small project, let us know by telephoning 01206 244717 or e-mailing getinvolved@colnehousing.co.uk and we will add you to our Resident Contact Database.
Board Membership
Colne has a long history of tenants being part of the Board that runs Colne. We aim to have up to four resident board members at any one time. As a Board member you can have an important say in how the Society is run. If you want to find out more download an information sheet or contact us on 01206 244719 or e-mail getinvolved@colnehousing.co.uk.
Equality & Diversity Forum
Residents with a particular interest in equality and diversity issues are invited to join our Equality & Diversity Forum. The aim of the Forum is to:
- review and comment upon diversity issues
- agree policies, procedures
- review publications
- consider complaints relating to discrimination on the basis of inequality
- agree the Society's response to government guidance and case law, as well as set targets and develop new initiatives to improve performance in this area.
Meetings are held three times a year. For more information contact us on 01206 244717 or e-mail getinvolved@colnehousing.co.uk.
