Active Learning for Residents (ALfR)

This is a new Chartered Institute of Housing initiative designed to recognise the achievements of tenants & residents who are actively engaged in community activities.

It acknowledges that by working in their community, people acquire skills, knowledge and competence which remain largely unacknowledged. ALfR seeks to redress this by creating a qualification framework which awards NVQ's at levels 2, 3 & 4 in recognition for skills and knowledge gained.

Housing/Tenant Involvement staff will be trained to become 'recognisers' and they will be able to assess when people have reached a certain skills level. This means that the scheme participants don't have to go on lengthy training courses to have their efforts recognised.

Trans-Pennine Housing is going to be signing up for the scheme and they will be able to train up to ten members of staff to act as recognisers.

For more information contact: Val Morris on 01422 284517.

Involving Young People Conference

Unfortunately, the Involving Young People event scheduled to take place on the 19^th April 2008 had had to be cancelled because of lack of support from Federation member TARA's.

There was quite a bit of interest from tenants from other parts of Yorkshire and Lancashire but not much from Calderdale, Sheffield and Rossendale. This is a real shame when we constantly hear people complaining that they can't get young people involved in their activities!

Members are reminded of the need to consider whether they really think something is a good idea or appropriate before voting in favour of a proposal.

A lot of time, money and effort had gone into organising the event and it was really disappointing when delegates who had voted in favour of the proposal did not commit to attending the event.

There have been a number of other occasions when delegates have committed to doing something and then backed out at the last minute, this is a considerable waste of rent payers money.

Gender Equality Action Plan

It is a requirement of the Housing Corporation that Housing Associations have a Gender Equality Action Plan in place by April 2008. It is one of six equality and diversity themes. The plan must show what actions are being taken with regard to ensuring that services do not discriminate against men or women. Within the Trans-Pennine plan actions have been grouped under headings which make sense of what is happening across the Trans-Pennine group.

These deal with:

A copy of the draft plan was circulated to all TARA's in April. If anyone has any comments about the Action Plan they should contact Iris O'Donnell, telephone 01422 348041, in her capacity as Diversity Champion and she will pass them on to Pennine Housing