We have a range of ways to get involved, from the comfort of your armchair doing surveys and reading documents to tell us what you think – right through to sitting on our scrutiny group, who meet regularly and pro-actively scrutinise the way services are being delivered!
We are committed to hearing from different groups, so that we can fully understand and meet people’s diverse needs. So if you, or someone you know, is keen to get involved, but would like more information about the ways we can support you, then please let us know.
Just some of the ways we can help people with diverse needs to get involved are;
- Organising for a BSL interpreter to be present during an engagement event
- Organising for an interpreter to be present, so that non-English speaking residents can participate and make a valuable contribution to the discussion
- Organising for materials and documents to be provided in large text, another language or an audible format
- Organising transport to specific events if you are unable to get there without assistance
- Hosting events in our communities (e.g. a local faith centre or LGBTQIA+ safe space), to reach more people and provide a tailored session that meets diverse needs
- Always hosting events in accessible locations that have appropriate facilities for disabled people
- Providing a buddy or coach who can help with understanding the documents / discussion topic, and who can support you in answering/asking questions
- Hosting events in older person schemes
Supporting youth involvement and inter-generational events
Below is a real-life example of how we currently support a disabled residents to become actively involved – and the amazing impact they have on improving outcomes for other residents!
“A current member of our Your Voice Scrutiny Group first got involved in resident engagement in 2023, with a strong commitment to championing inclusivity and representing residents with physical disabilities. After experiencing a life-changing neurological condition in 2021, this resident had to give up work, stop driving, and adapt to life as a wheelchair user with an assistance dog. Despite these challenges, they remained determined to contribute meaningfully to their community and MCC Housing Services ensured all meetings and events were accessible, so they could get involved.
Since joining the You Group, they have completed Introduction to Scrutiny Training and actively participated in summer engagement events, promoting the group's work and helping to recruit new members. Their group has just completed its first scrutiny project, which included them shadowing contact centre staff and interviewing key personnel. They’ve played a vital role in reviewing several areas, including Tenant Satisfaction Measures (TSM), the Complaints Report, the Compensation Policy, and the MCC Housing Services website. They’ve also contributed to discussions around improving communication from MCC Housing Services.
We’ve supported this resident in developing their skills and confidence. With aspirations to return to work, they approached us for help in pursuing a CIH Level 2 qualification in Housing Practice. We assisted them in applying for a bursary to cover the course fees, which they successfully secured.”
