Endeavour chosen as Tees Valley Pilot by TSA

Tuesday 29th September 2009

Endeavour Housing Association has been chosen to drive forward a national pilot project which will give tenants a voice into how local standards should be set in the future.

Stockton-on-Tees-based Endeavour is one of thirty-seven housing projects from across the country which has been selected as a local Standards Pilot by national social housing regulator, the Tenant Services Authority (TSA).

As part of the Local Standard Pilot, around 450 supported housing tenants living in Middlesbrough, Stockton, Hartlepool, and Redcar and Cleveland, will be asked their opinions on issues such as services, satisfaction levels, and quality of accommodation

The pilot will run for six months and the results will be shared across the housing sector in order to replicate best practice.

Endeavour has secured £9,000 from the TSA to move the project forward and aims to use some of the funding to hold 'kick start' events, training for tenants in confidence and self-esteem, and effectively communicate to tenants about services.

Most of the supported housing tenants who will be at the heart of the pilot scheme are vulnerable and have complex needs including those with substance misuse issues, victims of domestic violence, people with learning difficulties and mental health problems, and older people with support needs.

The pilot will support work that Endeavour has already been progressing in tenant involvement through its two dedicated workers.

Endeavour's Head of Supported Housing, Carole Richardson said: "Tenant satisfaction is at the heart of what we do and running this pilot will help us go one step further in ensuring that our services are exactly what they want and need.

"We are honoured to have been selected and see this funding by the TSA as proof that we have been doing things right so far. The fact that it is our Association that will be helping to shape future approaches and improve service not only locally but nationally across the whole housing sector is a fantastic."

Some 185 organisations answered the TSA's invitation to bid for funding of up to £9,000 to support the development of agreements between landlords and their tenants to develop 'local deals'. Grants totalling £281,000 have been awarded.

Peter Marsh, TSA Chief Executive said, "We have had a fantastic response to our invitation and were very impressed with the high standard of all the bids we received. All the successful bidders such as Endeavour Housing Association have shown real innovation and their plans are fantastic examples of good practice which can be shared across the sector."

In July the TSA invited providers such as housing associations, local authorities and arm's-length management organisations to make bids of up to £9,000 to support the development of agreements between landlords and their tenants to develop 'local deals'.

Posted by Kim for Endeavour Housing Association Ltd.