Sheltered Housing Fun Day

Review of the Wish Upon a Star Initiative Sheltered Housing Fun Day 8th April 2009

Produced By Diane Hughes Tenant Participation Assistant @ Tamworth Borough Council

Wish Upon a Star – Sheltered Housing Fun Day 8th April 2009 Contents Page 3

Background to Wish Upon a Star initiative How and why was an event chosen for the Sheltered Housing tenants?

How did we inform residents of the forthcoming events?

Page 4

Leaflet surrounding the event What was the day all about?

Page 5

Photographs of the Sheltered Housing Fun Day

Page 6

Programme of events Request sent to staff, partners and councillors encouraging partnership help on the day Who helped on the day other than tenants and residents?

Page 7

Risk assessments The event itself

Pages 7- 9

Post questionnaire responses of the event

Page 10 & 11 Feedback forms completed on the day Page 12

Further contact /information

Tenant Participation Team

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Wish Upon a Star – Sheltered Housing Fun Day 8th April 2009 Background to the Wish Upon a Star initiative The Wish Upon a Star initiative was set up in the summer of 2008 The aim of the scheme is to: • Encourage local action amongst tenants and residents of Tamworth Borough Council • Support activities that contribute to the Tenant Participation Strategy • Support ideas that improve Housing Services Tenants and leaseholders were asked to write their ideas on stars, including where it would or could take place. The ideas are then judged by a panel from across Housing Services, alongside tenants, to decide which idea would be actioned.

The event must include tenants, promote community engagement and cohesion, meet local need and benefit local people.

How and why was an event chosen for the Sheltered Housing schemes?

When the Wish Upon a Star initiative was launched several residents and scheme managers expressed that they would like to bring sheltered residents together in community activities. The following are two examples of what residents were requesting;“More entertainment to suit elderly people, exercise classes, more contact with councillors.”

“Want to meet with other sheltered schemes.”

How did we inform residents of the forthcoming event?

All scheme managers were involved in promoting the event and advising us of tenants individual needs to encourage participants from across all of the sheltered housing schemes to actively get involved on the day.

Tenant Participation Team

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Leaflets were sent to each sheltered housing scheme and handed out to each resident. They were asked to complete the forms and to return them, with their individual requirements regarding assistance on the day or dietary needs, to their scheme managers.

Free transport was also offered for everyone if required.

The event was held at Tamworth Assembly Rooms on the 8th April 2009. It was an exclusive event to Sheltered Housing Scheme tenants of Tamworth Borough Council.

63 people completed the booking forms to attend the event. It was very important to recognise the diversity of individual needs amongst the residents of the sheltered schemes. The tenant Participation Team worked closely with the sheltered housing scheme managers to provide as much assistance as deemed necessary.

What was the day all about?

The event was for residents of Tamworth Borough Council’s Sheltered Schemes at the Assembly Rooms in Tamworth. The purpose of the event was to offer Sheltered Scheme residents the opportunity to talk to local organisations and agencies about any issues or concerns that may affect Tenant Participation Team

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them and provide them with useful information and guidance. Residents were also offered the opportunity to participate in various activities including; Gentle exercises with Age Concern Antique valuations with celebrity Charles Hanson Nintendo Wii games Easter bonnet competition Photographs of Sheltered Housing Fun Day

Morrison Facilities services

Iris Clements and Isa Blunt mastering the Nintendo Wii game

Receiving fire safety advice

Tenant Participation Team

Receiving benefits advice from the Rowan organisation

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Programme of events

Request sent to staff, partners and Councillors encouraging partnership help on the day Emails and letters were sent to outside organisations, staff, partners and councillors who were asked if they could assist on the day or to have a stand to promote their services. This was met with an excellent enthusiasm to attend the event. Discussions were held with the tenant participation team at regular intervals. At all times, consideration for the tenants needs and requirements were taken into account to encourage involvement.

An invite was sent to Charles Hanson, celebrity auctioneer, to attend the event. This was met with excitement from the tenants. However, he cancelled on the day and at short notice.

Who helped on the day other than tenants and residents?

Emma Collett Tenant Participation Manager Helen Rich Tenant Participation Customer Services Assistant Scheme Managers from all sites Councillor Mary Oates Sheltered Housing Scheme Managers from all sites Tamworth Borough Council benefit advisors Fire and rescue services Homelink Age Concern Tenant Participation Team

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The Rowan Organisation Wates living space Staffordshire police Tamworth Borough Council Estate Management team Tamworth Borough Council Income Management team Neighbourhood watch scheme co-ordinators

Risk assessments Risk assessments were carried out by the Tenant Participation Team and the sheltered housing scheme managers to assess the risks to tenants attending the event.

As some attendees had various degrees of disabilities access to the building needed to be assessed and monitored throughout the event. 45 people required transport to attend the 1 day event. A minibus with a wheelchair ramp was provided free of charge by the tenant participation team.

The event itself The event was very successful with everyone who attended. 60 residents participated in the event and fun was experienced by all, from gentle Tai Chi extended exercises to having a play on a Nintendo Wii consul.

As the event took place around Easter an Easter bonnet competition took place. The winner won a handmade novelty Easter cake for their scheme.

There was also an opportunity to join in the fun of the Easter egg decorating.

A free buffet lunch was provided and plenty of opportunities to speak to the various representatives in attendance at the event. The day was kept very informal and was rounded off with a free prize draw.

Post - questionnaire responses after the event After the event held at the Sheltered Housing Fun Day on 8th April we requested feedback on the event by the residents to see if it was successful or not.

1: When asked how satisfied or dissatisfied individuals were with the completed wish Upon a Star project the following responses were received: Tenant Participation Team

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• •

75% of people who responded said they were very satisfied with the completed project.

25% of people who responded said they were fairly satisfied with the completed project.

2: When asked how satisfied or dissatisfied they were with how we kept everyone informed about the project, the following responses were received: • 88% felt they were kept very informed about the project • 12% felt they were kept fairly informed about the project 3: When asked how satisfied or dissatisfied they were that their views were taken into account during the planning of the project the following responses were received: • 88% were very satisfied that their views were taken into account during the planning of the project • 12% were fairly satisfied that their views were taken into account during the planning of the project 4: When asked what tenants and residents felt were the key benefits of the project the following responses were received: • 100% felt that it empowered a community or group to deliver a local project / initiative • 50% felt that the event enabled community members to identify neighbourhood needs • 38% felt that the event promoted a positive image of Tamworth or a local area • 75% felt that the event encouraged local community action amongst tenants and residents • No one felt that the event involved children and young people more purposefully and imaginatively in their neighbourhoods as this was a sheltered housing fun day for the over 60 year olds.

• 38% felt that the event has improved the local environment • Other comments were stated as “Enabled sheltered housing residents to make contact with residents of other schemes”.

5: when asked if there was anything that you think could have been changed or done differently to improve the project there were no further comments noted.

6: Age groups by people who answered questionnaire Age 55 – 64 65 – 74 75 – 84 85

Represented by 1 2 5 Not represented

7: Ethnicity Group

represented by

White British

100

Tenant Participation Team

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8: Gender Represented by

Gender Male Female

50% 50%

9: When asked if they wished to be added to the database of tenant involvement, 88% requested that they would be added.

Easter bonnet winner

Kenneth Guy – winner of the Easter cake that was baked and donated by Trish Lees - 3rd prize

Pros

Cons

Well attended by 60 residents with a good representation across the sheltered housing schemes.

Activities were fun and within the residents capabilities, taking into account various health considerations.

100% feedback rated the 1 day event as a success.

Links made with new tenants and increased knowledge of how to become involved in tenant participation

Tenant Participation Team

Possibility that new tenants attending this event will fail to get involved with other tenant participation activities again in the near future.

Charles Hanson let us down on the day at very short notice. A replacement could not be found.

Only a small percentage of tenants completed the post event feedback form.

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Feedback forms completed on the day Everyone who attended on the day was requested to complete a feedback form surrounding the 1 day event.

1. When asked how did you hear about this event the following responses were received: • 30% heard about the 1 day event through the flyers • 47% heard about the 1 day event through their scheme managers • 4% heard about the 1 day event through word of mouth • 11% heard about the 1 day event through other means • 8% did not respond to this question.

2. When asked if they had attended any other Tenant Involvement activity or event the following responses were received: • 22% stated that they had been involved in another Tenant Involvement activity or event • 19% stated that they had not been involved in another Tenant Involvement activity or event • 6% did not respond to this question.

3. When asked how they had become involved we received the following responses: • Meetings • Fun days • Seniors United groups • Tenants consultative Group 4. When asked how people rated the 1 day event the following responses were received: • 38% felt that the event was excellent • 28% felt that the event was good • 9% felt that the event was satisfactory • 2% felt that the event was poor • 23% did not respond to this question 5. When asked whether they would attend a similar event in the future the following responses were received: • 83% said they would attend a similar event in the future • 9% said they would not attend a similar event in the future • 9% did not respond to this question 6. When asked if they knew that the event had been organised by a newly established group of tenants called ‘Seniors United’ the following responses were received: • 53% stated that they did know that the event had been organised by a newly established group of tenants called ‘Seniors United’.

Tenant Participation Team

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•

36% stated that they did not know that the event had been organised by a newly established group of tenants called ‘Seniors United’ 11% did not respond to this question

7. When asked if they would be interested in becoming involved in the monthly Seniors United meetings the following responses were received: • 17% would be interested in becoming involved in the monthly Seniors United meetings • 19% would not be interested in becoming involved in the monthly Seniors United meetings • 11% did not respond to this question 8. Individuals were requested to rate the following activities: • The transport - 70% rated it as good • The venue – 79% rated it as good • The food – 77% rated it as good • Nintendo Wii games – 13% rated it as good • Antiques valuation – let down on the day and at short notice • Stalls and displays – 26% rated it as good • Easter bonnet parade – 79% rated it as good • Easter egg decorating – 19% rated it as good • The overall event – 77% rated it as good 9. Other comments received were as follows: • “A pleasant day out and thank you to all that organised it.”

• “A very good turn out”.

• “First time at this event, very surprised it was so pleasant and good”.

• “Made very welcome on entry and stall were very interesting”.

• “All in all a good it was a good day”.

Further contact / information

Tenant Participation Team

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Tamworth Borough Council would like to thank everyone who attended and made this Wish Upon a Star event a success.

If you would like to put forward ideas for Wish Upon a Star initiative in your area, you can find out more by contacting the Tenant Participation team on 01827 709 448 or visit our website for more information. http://www.tamworth.gov.uk/housing/tenant_participation.aspx

Tenant Participation Team

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