What is Resident Involvement?

Resident Involvement (or Tenant Participation) is about giving choices and encouraging tenants to have a say in how their homes are managed by housing associations or local authorities. Here, we refer to Resident Involvement or Tenant Participation interchangeably.

Housing associations are required by the Housing Corporation (the regulatory body for housing associations) to treat Resident Involvement as a central part of their business and to make sure that they have the funding and staff in place to make it happen.  West Kent has a long tradition and a firm track record of promoting and funding resident involvement, primarily in the past through direct support to the Association of West Kent Tenants and Residents (AWKTR) and additionally, since December 2003, through WKE.

West Kent can provide the following support to involved residents:

• Reimbursement of travel cost – mileage (40p per mile), bus and train fares
• Taxis to meetings when necessary and with prior agreement
• Childcare costs (when looked after by non-family member) with prior agreement

West Kent also offer £5-£10 of shopping vouchers for attending certain events as a gesture of thanks.

 

Our Vision Statement

At West Kent we aim to provide opportunities and choices to ensure that residents have a say in how their homes are managed and in how relevant services are developed and delivered. We want all of our residents to be able to participate in shaping and influencing the services they receive from West Kent, by a method they choose, that suits their personal circumstances. The level and extent residents wish to be involved we leave to them – our task is to provide the opportunity and the encouragement.