Tenant Board Members from the south of Coventry

Below are statements from the three current Whitefriars Housing Group Limited tenant board members from the south of Coventry, all of whom were elected in 2006.

Joan Allen

I have visited Coventry on a regular basis to stay with family for the last 35 years. I have worked and lived in Coventry, in a Whitefriars’ property, since August 2001. I have been an active member of my local community from the second week I moved into my new home. For this reason, local tenants felt I had the drive and dedication needed to put their points across on a number of issues, but particularly on housing in the local area.

I am new to the concept of customer involvement, as this is not encouraged by many other landlords. I have been very impressed and delighted by the efforts and the keenness shown by Whitefriars to make their customers happy – much of which goes unnoticed. I would agree that they do not always get it right, so need to hear the views of local people. I have observed their efforts in trying to get a diverse collection of tenants to assist them in customer satisfaction strategies and feel this is a good step forward.

I am a great believer in making positive changes, building on progression and community involvement. I feel we all want to live and work in an area that we can be proud of, and recognise that those who live in the areas, can speak from first hand experience as to what it is like and changes that need to be made. Only those who live in an area can let a landlord or other local officials know what needs to be done to make it a better place to live in.

I have seen a lot of improvements to various properties in many areas, and some progression on a lot of issues in my short time here. It is, therefore, my hope that I can assist Whitefriars – along with my other tenant board member colleagues, to recognise areas that they can improve yet further, and basically be the voice of those who elected me and other tenants.
 

James Cotterill

Hello, I’m Jim Cotterill. Thanks for looking at the Whitefriars website. I have been elected to the board for my third term. Thank you for having the confidence in me to give me yet another opportunity to represent you. As well as being on the board, I am also vice-chair of the property and investment committee and vice-chair of the human resources committee. I also enjoy an involvement in some of the “customer service improvement groups”. Right old smarty pants aren’t I?

By being so involved with Whitefriars, it gives me a great insight as to what they are doing and trying to do. It is your money that is being spent. They don’t get it right every time, but they do try to. By having elected members like myself and my colleagues on the board who are not housing experts, it gives us the chance to ask senior managers to look at things from a different angle to what their training might have taught them - always with the interest of their residents in mind. As residents ourselves we know what we want and how we like to be treated. The same as you.

I hope you enjoy the rest of the website and remember…don’t give up on the Sky Blues. Take care of yourselves.

Moira McCall

Being disabled myself, I have an interest in how disabled tenants and non-disabled tenants cope with daily tasks of living, work, socialisation and housing.

The policies that Whitefriars Housing Group introduces to tenants and lease-holders has an impact on all our lives. I have a degree in Sociology and Social policy and would like to use my education to help assist in fairness policies.

I also work as a volunteer for a Disability Group, assisting in Advocacy (which includes tenancy issues). That means getting adaptations made to a home. I also have an interest in the Anti Social Behaviour Order issue. I think it is important that we work together and improve our lives collectively. I have lived in Cheylesmore for over 30 years.

I attend Network meetings and Reference Group meetings on the Council of Disabled People. I also attend the Whitefriars Champions Group. It consists of attendees from all walks of life (staff, tenants, councillors etc). This is interesting as they discuss putting into practice ideas, issues, and policies on crime, health, different sections of society in elderly, young people, ex offenders etc.

I hope to be on the board to represent those tenants who need a voice, and I hope to learn more about how to improve our lives as worthwhile citizens.