Overview of Forum Housing Association
Forum Housing Association has been a specialist provider of supported accommodation to young people aged 16-25 for 40 years. We are celebrating this special anniversary in 2009 and we already have a range of exciting events in the planning stage.
During the last 4 decades we have increased our accommodation projects in Wirral, Sefton, and Ellesmere Port and Neston. Alongside providing housing for young people we work with our young people supporting their varied and diverse needs in order to prepare them for successful, independent living. We are currently working each week with over 350 young people.
The Association’s new mission statement “it’s all about you” is a testimony to the Association’s Christian foundation and values. It captures for us the sentiments of respect for and consideration of others, which is at the heart of all we do.
There are over 125 staff working for the Association in a variety of roles and included in this is a small group of resident representatives. These are young people themselves, charged with the task of encouraging participation and engagement of our young people in the planning, decision making and evaluation of all the services we deliver.
The Association is conscious of addressing local need and fulfilling its obligations fully within Local, Regional and National Strategies. It is our intention to invest in our young people to enable them to influence and add value to those same Local, Regional and National Strategies, Initiatives and Programmes.
We work alongside many Statutory, Public, Private and Voluntary, Community and Faith Sector organisations and we are grateful for the support and encouragement we receive.
As an Association we strive for excellence in all that we do, we are committed to our own learning and development and to bringing improvements in service for young people wherever and whenever we can
The Resident Representatives Team
The Resident Reps’ Team play a vibrant but vital role within the Association by providing opportunities to engage our residents in fun, innovative sessions and events.
The Resident Rep Team have developed a number of initiatives to encourage young people to be empowered and have a major involvement in policy improvements with real impact and influence.
The Team also endeavour to seek out regional and national events and consultation opportunities to ensure that our young people have the chance to have their views and opinions heard on a much larger scale.
The Team also play a part in the delivery of the Associations Business offer work, working as consultants to help develop other providers youth engagement structures whilst injecting a new exciting culture and way of working.
The Project Panel
The Project Panel gives residents a great say in the development and future of the Association. The Project Panel is created via a democratic voting process which takes place every 6 months.
They meet once a month they discuss the Association business, discussing collective issues and how to tackle them, initiate policy reviews, work on bids to enhance funding for activities and between them allocate individuals best suited to represent the Panel at different local, regional and national events.
Outside of this the Project Reps meet with Service Managers in their projects and plan and prepare and conduct Project Meeting where they invite their peers to discuss and be proactive at working on areas on site that needs improving. This is also an opportunity to promote the services and opportunities within Forum for other residents.
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