We’re entering an exciting new chapter at Hightown, with fresh initiatives designed to ensure your voice is heard and acted upon. Resident involvement is a vital part of how we improve, grow, and serve you better.
Our new Resident Involvement Officer, Elaine Rixon, is leading the way. With a strong background in housing, charity and education, Elaine brings energy, compassion and a clear focus; making sure every resident has a chance to be heard.
“I work closely with housing teams and residents to organise events and create different ways for people to get involved,” Elaine explains. “From focus groups and surveys to fun community days, there is something for everyone – small contributions can have a big impact.”
New ways to get involved
We’ve recently updated our resident involvement menu and launched several new ways for you to get involved and shape the services that matter most:
- Thriving Together Group - for residents with lived experience of disability to share insights and ensure housing services are accessible, inclusive and responsive.
- ASB Focus Groups to tackle key community issues and we held an ASB open day.
- Let’s Talk webinar series covering topics like rent, repairs, and damp and mould.
- Estate Champions play an important role in monitoring and improving the services they and their neighbours receive.
This summer, we’re also hosting eight neighbourhood events - all great opportunities to meet the team, have fun, and share your views. You can keep up to date with what’s happening on the events page on our website.
Why does resident involvement matter?
Because your feedback helps us:
- Improve services based on real experiences
- Build trust through transparency and accountability
- Tailor support to the diverse needs of our communities
- Meet new Social Housing Regulations that put resident voices front and centre.
By listening and involving residents, we have achieved some great results:
- The Thriving Together group did a walkabout around Hightown House and made suggestions for improvements. As a result, new disabled access signs will soon be installed at our reception desk and we have arranged deaf awareness training for our staff.
- Two panels came together to analyse our Resident Involvement Strategy & Neighbourhood Management Policy and their feedback and suggestions have influenced the services that we provide.
- Our Resident Voice and Scrutiny Panel is working with the Tenant Participation Advisory Service (TPAS) to scrutinise specific services within Hightown to ensure that our residents are at the heart of what we do.
- Working with the Police, we have undertaken ASB door knocks across our estates - providing advice and gathering evidence to help us to deal with issues quickly and efficiently.
We’re proud of the progress we’re making, but we know there’s always more to do. So come along to one of our summer events, join a focus group, or just say hello - we’re listening.
Visit the resident involvement pages on our website, email us at involve@hightownha.org.uk or call 01442 292255.
