Background Information
This multi agency programme was developed to support individuals to gain knowledge and have every opportunity to build on their current skills to assist them in managing a tenancy. It provides an opportunity for those who have a tenancy at present or those who are considering a tenancy in the future. The programme ensures that tenants or potential tenants have the skills and knowledge to manage their tenancy effectively. The programme also allows tenants to achieve an OCN qualification and was open to anyone in the Eden area from 16 years upwards. Referrals for this initial pilot were taken from the partnership organisations.
Programme Structure
The commitment was for individuals to attend the full programme one evening a week for approximately two hours for 12 weeks. Participants developed a portfolio throughout the programme and benefited from a high level of support and personalised learning. The programme was a mix of group discussions, debate and personal worksheets. There was also guest speakers from a broad range of agencies :- Eden Housing Association, Shelter, Impact Housing, Fire Service, CADAS, Benefit Advice Centre Carlisle and Cumbria Action for Sustainability.
The programme covered the following areas:-
- Housing options open to individuals
- Information about why tenancies fail or more importantly succeed
- Financial skills around budgeting and coping with debt
- Energy efficiency
- A picture of what support is available in the area
- Tenants and landlords responsibilities
- Safety in the home
- Understanding of the benefit system
- Elements designed to support and develop life and social skills
Participants Profile
6 people completed the project. The age of the participants ranged from 18 to 40 plus. Some participants held a general needs tenancy whilst some were residing in young peoples supported accommodation. Residents came from both social and private landlords.
Staff Summary
After running the pilot and reviewing the initial programme there are a number of areas that need to be considered. Firstly, it was felt by some participants that 12 weeks was too long a commitment and for the programme to be more effective it should be run over 6 weeks . We feel that we can still complete the programme effectively in this time. Also after reviewing feed back from participants and staff observation we feel that we would modify the programme and ‘shorten’ some of the elements without losing any of the value or learning.
Comments from participants
“ I’m glad I took this course”
“ I now have a greater understanding of the issues tenants might face”
“ without this I wouldn’t have know how housing benefit worked”
“This has helped me to keep my tenancy”
Results from evaluation with participants
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Future Development
We have agreed with participants that we will contact them six months after the end of the programme, to see how the programme has really affected their tenancy. Of course it is not until this point that we will see the true success of ‘My Tenancy Matters’.
Our ambition is to embed ‘My Tenancy Matters ‘with both private and social landlords so this project is recognised as a beneficial achievement by landlords when considering perspective tenants or as a recommendation of a useful achievement to existing tenants.
January 2010
