Putting Residents First
YMCA England wants to be an organisation that puts residents first, assisting young people to belong, contribute and thrive. Improving services can only be done well by working in partnership with residents who feel their contribution is valued. YMCA England is committed to working together with residents and staff of its YMCA-managed housing schemes to achieve this and will do so in a variety of ways. Doing so will also be entirely consistent with the aim of YMCA England to support, represent and develop the YMCA Movement.
The information below outlines how residents can get involved.
What is resident involvement?
We believe that involving our residents in what we do is an important
part of our service and we are committed to actively involving you in planning
and delivering our services. Our vision
is to involve young people and whole communities in creating and improving
places to live where everyone feels welcome, valued, respected and secure, and where
they can develop in body, mind and spirit.
There are opportunities for you to get involved in planning,
delivering and monitoring our services, and also in the future direction of your
local YMCA, and the work of the YMCA nationally and internationally.
Why should you get involved?
Involving residents is vital to improving our services and
it brings many benefits.
- Services are more likely to meet your needs if you have
helped to plan them.
- You are more likely to be satisfied with our services and
the neighbourhood you live in.
- You will have a better understanding of the limits within
which we have to work, such as financial limits.
- You can learn new skills, make new friends and help to make
a difference for all residents.
Locally:
Your local YMCA can offer you a range of ways in which you
can get involved, and may include the following.
- Being members of residents' committees or forums.
- Being residents' representatives at housing sub-committees
and the board of management.
- Contributing to our residents’ handbook, residents'
newsletter, suggestion boxes, attending meetings and having direct contact with
service staff.
- Filling in service questionnaires and surveys twice a year –
the outcomes are reported to our residents and our Housing Department.
- Completing ‘exit’ interviews and questionnaires (carried out
when a resident leaves) – the outcomes are reported to our Housing Department.
- Attending one-to-one meetings with staff.
- Attending individual service residents’ meetings.
- Making complaints – the details will be reported to our
Housing Department.
Nationally:
YMCA England owns accommodation schemes in 34 locations
across the country, and we believe that all our residents bring their own
special qualities, experiences and unique personality into the YMCA. As the formal Landlord of your home, YMCA
England also wants to give residents the opportunity to get involved at a
National level, to help us ensure that the housing services we provide are the
very best we can deliver, and that they properly meet the wider needs of our
residents.
You can play an important part in the work of our Housing
Department, to ensure that: the voice of
residents is heard; the needs of residents are addressed; and the skills and
experience of our residents is used, to help us continuously improve the
services we strive to deliver.
Ways in which you can get involved at a National level may
include:
- Responding to our STATUS Survey, that seeks the views of
residents on the experience they have of living within YMCA accommodation (This
is a survey that asks lots of questions about different aspects of living in
YMCA Housing, that is sent to each of our residents each year. If you need any help or guidance with this,
staff at your local YMCA will be happy to help you to complete it)
- Joining in Focus groups to look at particular areas of our
housing services
- Seek election to our National Housing Committee, and play a
full part in monitoring our housing services, and planning for the future
- Joining in with Nationally organised Resident Meetings
Keeping you informed:
We will use newsletters and other forms of communication to
provide you with a range of information including information on our services,
policies and performance.
Have we got it right?
We will monitor the levels of interest our residents show in
different ways of being involved and we will always consider new ideas. If you, or other residents living with you,
have any ideas about improving the housing services delivered by YMCA England
or your local YMCA, do please let us know – you can either contact staff at
your local YMCA, or contact us direct at:
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Finding out more:
If you are interested in finding out more about any of the
above, please contact staff at your local YMCA.