Category: Tenant Involvement

By The Tenant Involvement Team

Two outstanding tenant volunteers from Rotherham have been honoured with national awards at this year’s Association of Retained Council Housing (ARCH) conference, in recognition of their exceptional contributions to their communities. This year the conference was held in Lincon.

Nominated by staff at Rotherham Federation (Rotherfed), Barry and Jordan were selected for their continued dedication to volunteering, community support, and driving positive change in council housing. With so many committed volunteers in the area, choosing just two nominees was no easy task. 

Barry was awarded the ARCH Tenant of the Year Award for his long-standing involvement in tenant representation, community engagement, and service improvement. His work includes supporting a local foodbank and a range of other community-focused activities, helping to build stronger neighbourhood connections and ensuring tenant voices are heard. 

Barry said “I was totally shocked by receiving the award for Community Champion” 

Jordan received the ARCH Young Tenant of the Year Award, which recognises volunteers under the age of 30. He was acknowledged for his inspiring leadership and commitment to mental health awareness, as well as his efforts to bridge the digital divide through regular digital inclusion sessions at Riverside House Library. 

Jordan said” I was really honoured to receive the award and I’m really proud to be part of a great group of people working hard to make improvements to our community” 

The awards were presented at the annual ARCH conference, which brings together tenants, councillors, and housing professionals from across the UK to celebrate best practice in the sector. 

These achievements reflect the vital role tenants play in shaping services, building stronger communities, and improving lives across the housing sector. 

By The Tenant Involvement Team

The spirit of Maltby shone brightly last week as the community gathered for a vibrant Cultural Kitchen event, a celebration of the diverse residents who call the area home. More than 70 people came together at the Edward Dunn Centre to share food, entertainment, and connection, making the event a resounding success.

The delicious evening was a collaborative effort, spearheaded by the Maltby Ward Councillors, the Town Council, and the Rotherham United Community Trust (RUCT). Their shared goal was simple yet powerful: to create a space where neighbours could connect and showcase the different communities within Maltby.

The main attraction was, of course, the food. Attendees were treated to an exciting culinary journey, indulging in the rich spices and flavours of Asian and African cuisine, followed by a tempting selection of European desserts. Sharing these dishes proved to be the perfect ingredient for breaking the ice and sparking conversation among community members.

But the event offered more than just a feast. The atmosphere was lively and buzzing, with entertainment for the whole family. Local drummers provided an energetic soundtrack, an outside space was turned into a dance floor inspiring people to join in some impromptu dancing. For those looking for a bit more action, a casual game of badminton was also on offer.

The Cultural Kitchen truly highlighted the rich mix of people and activities available right in the Maltby neighbourhood. It was a testament to what can be achieved when local leaders and organisations work together to foster a sense of belonging and community pride. Events like this make it clear that Maltby is a welcoming place where everyone can find a seat at the table.

By The Tenant Involvement Team

As part of our contract with RMBC we are asked to organise and help deliver focus groups throughout the year.  Rotherham Council is currently reviewing and updating its Financial Inclusion Plan. This focus group is to get the views, experiences and ideas to help shape the plan, from Rotherham residents.  Rotherfed invited three council tenants to the session and other tenants/residents could book onto the Focus Group by contacting Christine Batchford through the Social Supermarket.

The Focus Group was held on Wednesday 20 August 2025 from 11am until 12.30pm at the Rotherham Minister. The session was delivered by Rotherfed and Jackie Cobb, RMBC’s Financial Inclusion Manager.  Ten residents attended the focus group and of the ten, nine of them were council tenants. Jackie explained that the last Financial Inclusion Plan was launched in 2017, and they are now revising the plan which will be in place for the next 3 years. The council wants to continue to ensure that no individual or family is left behind. Jackie distributed the Financial Inclusion Plan and a discussion then took place regarding it. Residents gave their experiences, views and ideas on various things including Household/Energy Crisis, Social Supermarket, RMBC website and the wait times when they ring the council, Rothercard, pension credit, Employment Solutions Team etc. 

It was a fantastic session, and everyone present, participated in it, which was good to see. RMBC found it very useful and got out of it what they needed to help shape the future plan. For Rotherfed it was also very positive and great that nine council tenants attended. This is the first focus group that has not been housing related and has been held in a completely different location, and we feel the Minister worked well as it made people feel more at ease and more willing to get involved and participate.

It was an excellent focus group all round.  Each person who attended received a £10 Tesco voucher thanking them for their time.

By The Tenant Involvement Team

After an initial meeting with the Mowbray Men’s Group, four members requested digital support, which has been facilitated by Brigette on Thursday mornings. The sessions have been going brilliantly. Although the learners were initially nervous and unsure what to expect, over the past month they have learned many things that are important to them individually.

One gentleman is rightly proud to be able to surprise his children with WhatsApp messages. His family were so impressed that they encouraged him to explore other features on his phone, and he now enjoys the sessions so much that he also attends Brigette’s Tuesday drop-in session.

Another member of the group found following verbal instructions difficult due to a language barrier. Brigette went above and beyond by creating help guides and finding resources in his native language.

Brigette not only gives more than four hours per week to support her local community with digital skills, but she also spends many additional hours creating tailored resources to ensure that every learner receives the support they need.

During our after-session phone call, Brigette said, “I can’t wait to get the kids to bed tonight and start on my resources.” We cannot thank or praise Brigette enough for the time, energy, and positive spirit she brings to this project.

By The Tenant Involvement Team

As part of our contract with the Council we are asked to organise a couple of pop-up engagement events in areas that have traditionally been hard to reach, in order to open up conversations between residents and the Council.

A recent family-friendly event at The Lanes Community Centre proved that community engagement can be both effective and enjoyable. The informal gathering was a collaborative effort between Rotherfed, The Lanes community group, RMBC Neighbourhoods, Housing, and local councillors.

Instead of a formal meeting, the event was designed to be a relaxed, fun occasion. It featured a magician, party food, and creative activities like biscuit decorating for children. This casual atmosphere had a strategic purpose: it helped to break down barriers between residents and officials, creating a space for more open and honest conversations. People felt more comfortable connecting with their neighbours and local leaders, rather than feeling like they were just attending another meeting. Residents felt at ease raising important concerns about issues like bin collections, graffiti, and anti-social behaviour.

But the event wasn’t just about airing grievances. It was also about planting the seeds of change. Organisers took the opportunity to show residents how they could get involved, from joining local groups to volunteering on panels.

By The Tenant Involvement Team

August has been a busy month on the Fitzwilliam estate for the residents, with a coach trip to Cleethorpes, two community skips and a family fun event.

Cleethorpes Trip

Two coaches full of residents enjoyed a trip to Cleethorpes at the beginning of the month.  After the success of last year’s trip, the TARA organised another one this year. A small charge was made for the coach and the local Coucillors also helped pay for the coaches with some of their CLF funding. Everyone had a great day in the sunshine, and they are already looking forward to next year’s trip!

Community Skips

Two much needed community skips were organised for Wednesday 13 August. The skips were placed on Calladine Way outside of the shop fronts. The skips allowed residents to get rid of any waste they might have at their properties and both skips were filled within 3 hours. The caretakers also helped with this by collecting large bulky items from residents’ homes. RMBC staff, Rotherfed staff and the local Councillors also supported with getting the skips filled and the rubbish removed. They TARA also made sure that the green space opposite the shops was clean and tidy ready for the family event the following week.

Family Fun Event

The family fun event was held on Monday 18 August and whilst the weather wasn’t as sunny as it had been previously, it stayed dry, and everyone had a lovely afternoon. Over 50 residents attended and took part in the activities that were on offer including arts and crafts, facepainting, an assault course, football darts and taekwondo skills. RMBC youth and library services, FLUX and Children’s Capital of Culture also attended with activities and Sam’s Army Mission were there giving water safety advice. Everyone also enjoyed a free pizza lunch which was provided through HAF. The TARA spoke to residents to gain their feedback on what the TARA have been organising and what they would like to see happen in future. This was only the second event the TARA had organised and ran, and they were really pleased with how it went. They will now be looking at other events/activities/depending on what funding they can secure moving forward.

By The Tenant Involvement Team

Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council (RMBC) and Rotherfed are once again showcasing their commitment to tenant involvement, as a group of 20 dedicated residents work to renew their prestigious Tpas Exemplar Award.

The Tpas Exemplar Award is a significant achievement in the world of social housing, recognising organisations that have consistently demonstrated outstanding tenant engagement over an extended period. With the accreditation lasting for three years, this effort marks a new cycle of proving Rotherham’s continued excellence in tenant-led decision-making.

RMBC first gained Exemplar status in 2022, becoming only the third housing provider in the country to achieve the top accolade. The renewal process is a rigorous one, involving a comprehensive self-assessment, and a ‘futureproofing’ session where tenants and staff work together to create an engagement plan for the coming years.

20 tenants attended a variety of Tpas reality checking sessions which were conducted in-person, online, hybrid and by telephone. These included tenants who are involved in our main panels, local involved tenants, ie group leaders, and tenants with minimum involvement, ie the tenant connectors pool.

We are grateful to all tenants who gave their time to attend these sessions and take part in the assessment.

The outcome of this year’s assessment will be announced in the coming months, but for the tenants and staff involved, the collaboration itself is a key victory, reinforcing a culture of strong partnership and ensuring the resident voice remains at the heart of Rotherham’s housing services.

By the Tenant Involvement Team

A new community group in Rotherham East is making big strides, with plans to launch regular coffee mornings and bingo sessions at the Swinburne Neighbourhood Centre. Led by an experienced community member who has been involved with Rotherfed for many years and, supported by a core of enthusiastic individuals, they want to add more inclusive activity to their local area.

Rotherfed staff recently met with the group for their first meeting, providing essential resources like a model constitution, safeguarding information, and handbooks on roles and responsibilities. The staff also helped the group book their first two weekly coffee sessions, which will be held every Monday and Friday.

In addition to the coffee mornings, the group is hoping to expand their offerings to include a mid-week bingo session on Wednesdays. This longer session will allow attendees to play bingo and then enjoy a shared meal, creating a welcoming and social atmosphere.

While there have been some initial booking challenges with a pre-existing group at the centre, Rotherfed and the housing team are actively working to clarify the situation with Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council (RMBC). Both parties are committed to finding a solution and will be meeting with the group again next month to provide an update.

Despite these hurdles, the new group is focused on a positive start. Group support will also be assisting them with new promotional materials to help spread the word and encourage new members to join.