My Area – Ellesmere Port

Get involved

We’re passionate about working together with you to provide services that make a big difference to you and your community.

Your involvement helps shape the way we do things so that we’re always listening, acting on feedback, and improving so that we can be the best landlord possible.

Find out more about the opportunities for you to get involved!

What can we offer?

We value your engagement and our friendly team are on hand to offer the relevant training and tools to support you in any way you choose to get involved!

From home

You can play an important part in influencing services from the comfort on your home! There’s lots of quick and easy ways you can get involved. If you’d like to take part in any of the below activities, please get in touch with us today. 

Take part in a survey

Choose a specific topic that is of interest such as:

Homes – from repairs to paying your rent.

Neighbourhoods – from grounds maintenance to communal areas and caretaking.

Tenant – from tenant services to how we communicate.

Home ownership – from shared ownership, Right to Buy or leaseholder.

Readers panel

Join the virtual readers’ panel to review marketing and communications to tenants.

Online involvement

We encourage you to follow ForHousing on Twitter and Facebook.

We want to work together with you to advise, challenge and make suggestions which will help us to improve our services. If you’re interested in getting involved and want to make a difference, contact the team today.

One off activities

Get involved without the long-term commitment by attending one-off events or meetings for a chance to  share your views.

We will also hold an annual tenant involvement event, where those of you who are currently involved are invited to celebrate the successes of involvement and share ideas on how this can be improved in the future.

If you’re interested in getting involved and want to make a difference, contact the team today.

Regular activities

Mystery shopping panel

Another way to get involved is through mystery shopping! The role of a mystery shopper will be to review the delivery of our service standards, which sets out our commitment to you when using our services.

As a mystery shopper, we ask you to make note of your experience when using our services, via phone, online or visiting our office. We will then meet with you to discuss your customer service experience and hear your ideas on any improvements we could make.

Special interest group

This is a great opportunity to represent the interests of tenants by:

• Sharing ideas on how we can encourage involvement of a diverse range of tenants
• Getting involved in equity and diversity campaigns such as, domestic violence, anti-bullying, disability awareness days choosing topics throughout the year to raise awareness
• Researching and discussing best practice focussing on how we can be the best landlord possible
• Recommend changes we could make to ensure we continue to provide an excellent service to you

Service excellence

The ForHousing Service Excellence Group will act as a driver for continuous improvement in performance through scrutiny.

The core functions of the Group will be:

• Monitor tenant satisfaction to ensure ForHousing listen and understand the views of tenants
• Monitor the delivery of the Housing Management Contract in Cheshire West and Chester

Tenant inspectors

The tenant inspectors will ensure standards are being met through taking part in inspections.

Neighbourhood/block inspectors

The role of an inspector will be to undertake inspections within each neighbourhood, checking standards are being met with grounds maintenance and reporting issues of concern with the upkeep of the area and any external repairs required.

We will then meet up with you to discuss inspections, whether standards are being met and hear ideas on improvements that could be made.

If you’re interested in getting involved and want to make a difference, contact the team today.

In your neighbourhood

Tenants and Residents Associations

We can support you in setting up at neighbourhood level, a Tenants and Residents Association to provide an opportunity for you to:

• Help improve the area in which you live
• Be involved in projects/activities that will support people living in the area
• Help build community spirit

Neighbourhood walkabouts

You and other local residents can take part in neighbourhood walkabouts. Find out more about when and where you can get involved.

If you’re interested in getting involved and want to make a difference, contact the team today.

Volunteering

Do you want to give up some of your time through volunteering but not sure how to go about it?

Volunteering has many benefits for both the community and you…

Make a difference: Be a part of something that benefits all

Meet people: Connect with others and make new friends

Learn new skills: Gain experience and keep learning

Take on a challenge: Try something new, achieve personal goals

We can help you to explore the many volunteering opportunities available in your local area and find out what’s the right fit for you. Get in touch today by completing this form.

Be Proud Awards 

We love to recognise the achievements and contributions that you and others make in your community.

It makes a big difference, creating a big, bright place where everyone feels supported and welcomed.

That’s why we host our annual ‘Be Proud’ awards – an opportunity to celebrate and shout out the amazing community spirit throughout the year!

Information about when nominations for this year’s Be Proud will open will be announced later this summer! Keep an eye on our social media to stay up to date.

Funding

We want to enable you to make a difference to where you live.

Did you know that if you have an idea for a project that could benefit your community, that funding is available for you?!

So, if you’re part of a community group, school, charity, or similar organisation – we want to hear from you!

We’re proud to be working with the Cheshire Community Foundation to establish a new community fund called ForCheshireWest. 

ForHousing currently invest £25,000 annually into this fund with Cheshire Community Foundation who work with other businesses to also invest in order to create a sustainable community fund in the local area. So far, our partners at MBNA have committed a further £25,000. 

The aim of this fund is to build a permanent fund for charities, community groups and voluntary sector organisations to invest in local communities, supporting them to address issues within their neighbourhoods across the themes of health and wellbeing, education and employment and improving neighbourhoods. 

The fund will focus on projects that support the development of sustainable, self-reliant communities and that demonstrate high levels of active citizenship and is open to groups across Cheshire West and Chester.

Organisations wishing to apply should apply via the existing Cheshire Community Foundations Small Grants programme or, for projects over £1,000 the Cheshire Community Foundation Main Grants programme. 

For details of how to apply and information about the dates of application rounds, please see the Cheshire Community Foundation website here.