I hope you enjoyed the warmer weather and longer summer days. 

I’m pleased to share this latest update, which covers the key discussions from our most recent Community Voice meeting here in Salford. 

Our group is made up of myself and other tenants who live in the area. We work closely with ForHousing to take action on the things that matter most to us and to signpost issues to the right partners when needed. 

Together, we understand how important it is to listen to tenants — people like me and you — and to learn from each other about the challenges and opportunities in our neighbourhoods. 

We want to make sure our voices are heard and that we have a real say in what happens in our homes and communities. 

Please read on for all the essential updates from our last Community Voice meeting. 

Janette Ball Chair of Community Voice 

We know how important it is for everyone to feel proud of where they live — and that includes keeping our shared spaces clean and tidy. 

Flytipping doesn’t just make neighbourhoods look messy — it also costs a lot to deal with, which takes time and money away from other services. That’s why we’re raising awareness and encouraging everyone to report it when they see it. 

By reporting flytipping or suspicious activity to your Housing Officer, you’ll helping ForHousing take action faster and keep our shared spaces safe and welcoming for everyone. 

Volunteer’s Week was a big success! A huge thank you to everyone who got involved — especially in Little Hulton and Brookhouse Community Centre, where volunteers made a real difference. 

We were also told about The Be Proud Awards returning, to make your nomination click here. 

We got a sneak peek at the new online repairs system that’s being tested. It’s not finished yet, but it’s already looking like a big improvement. You’ll need to have a MyAccount+ account to book your own repairs, but if you prefer, you can still book repairs in any of our usual ways, through the Repairs Reporter or by contacting our Customer Connect Hub. 

There are lots of benefits including: 

• Booking your repair quickly and at your convenience, on a date and time that suits you 
• Being able to switch your repair date or time if anything changes 
• Keep track of any repairs you’ve logged on your account 

We talked about how tenant feedback is collected. Surveys now include open comment boxes, which help give a fuller picture and help ForHousing make positive changes by listening and learning. 

We also discussed disrepair claims, which are rising.  Disrepair is when something ForHousing is responsible for, has not been repaired within a reasonable time of it being reported to them. If that happens, ForHousing have let you down and not met their own standards. 

 Some legal firms advise tenants not to engage with ForHousing during claims, which can make things harder for everyone. We’re working on ways to address this. ASB cases in the area still  remain high.   

The voids standard (the condition of homes before they’re re-let) is still a challenge and an action plan to improve this is in place. 

We also talked about damp and mould, which is the most common home safety concern. 

Awaab’s Law sets out clear legal duties for social landlords to tackle damp and mould quickly and effectively. ForHousing has already made significant progress to align with the new legal requirements. 

ForHousing is aiming to go above and beyond new government guidance under Awaab’s Law, which allows up to 12 weeks to start a damp and mould repair job, by planning to implement 24-hour priority for mould cleaning and damp repairs will start within 5 days of inspection.  

There are also plans to improve the inspection process by reviewing how ForHousing records tenant health needs, support requirements, and whether a temporary move is necessary. Wraparound support services for tenants with complex needs will also be reviewed to ensure they’re supported throughout the repair process. Written summaries of inspections, including repair timelines, will also be sent to tenants within 48 hours. 

We had a great discussion about youth provision. The Den in Ellesmere is thriving — it’s a dedicated space in a great location, and it’s helped reduce anti-social behaviour in the area. 

We also talked about The Valley, where youth club provision is smaller due to the venue size and fewer sessions. A new tender is in place, so we’re expecting improvements. 

Youth clubs are also helping young people build skills and confidence, with many going on to volunteer or work with Salford Community Leisure. 

Play Streets sessions are running well, especially during half-term when ForHousing steps in to fill the gap left by national programmes like the holiday activities and food programme.   

We reviewed the different funding pots available — including the Community Fund, Local Improvement Fund, and  Community Group Grant. Applications are currently lower than usual, so we’re looking at how to promote them better — without it feeling like an advert. 

One great example is the Ivy Park project, which received funding for raised planters and new gates — all under community ownership. 

We’re also exploring ways to make funding history public using a platform called 360 Giving, so everyone can see what’s been funded and where. 

If you’d like to help shape your community, apply for funding, or just find out more, speak to your Community Development Officer. 

Thanks again to everyone who came along and shared their thoughts — your voice really does make a difference.