We’re creating opportunities for our customers to share their skills, thoughts and experiences. We’re doing this by growing our Customer Collaboration team, and working on projects that champion the voices of our customers and communities.
Charis and Jane are the newest members of our Customer Collaboration team. The team works with and listens to our customers to improve our services. From volunteering opportunities, to innovative projects, the team creates lots of ways for our customers to share their expertise, knowledge and talents.
I’m Charis, I’ve been working with SYHA since June 2020, and I’m delighted to be starting my new role. My background includes working as a housing officer for New Longsight Housing Co-op, a community engagement facilitator for We Make Places, and a volunteer housing adviser for the Whitechapel Centre. I am particularly motivated by equality, diversity and inclusion, and homelessness prevention. I’m looking forward to collaborating with South Yorkshire Housing Association’s customers and people on evaluation and insight, in order to deliver excellent service and inspiring projects across the organisation.
Hi, my name is Jane Lyon! I have been volunteering for South Yorkshire Housing Association since March, but come from a background of customer involvement working for over ten years both for Sheffield City Council and Sheffield Health and Social Care. I am passionate about placing customers at the heart of decision-making, and look forward to working with people to hear their experiences and feeding back views and opinions to make a real difference to individuals’ lives.
Out of work, I love skiing and have recently taken up running and am working through the Couch To 5k programme – very slowly, I have to admit!
Be a star in a new interactive artwork
Our Well Rotherham public health project invests in and strengthens our Rotherham communities. This year, they’re working with North Star and The People’s Picture to create an interactive galaxy that celebrates local stories, people, and innovation.
To star in the final artwork – which will be unveiled at a Science Summer School event, created by Professor Brian Cox, in December – share a picture of how Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Maths has inspired you.
Find out more and submit your photo
Guide created to tackle social housing stigma
Our brilliant tenant Pam Hankinson has worked on a new document, in partnership with the Chartered Institute of Housing called ‘It’s not okay: a guide to tackling stigma in social housing’.
Digital Friends to get 500 customers online
Digital Friends are trained peers who will offer personalised support to help our customers do the things they want to do – a video call with the grandkids, an online exercise class, improve their baking and access new recipes, explore our new online customer services, apply for a new job or practise an online interview… There’s endless things to do, learn and enjoy online, and our helpful Digital Friends will provide support and encouragement along the way.
If you, a friend or family member are a South Yorkshire Housing Association customer and would like to take part, get in touch with the volunteering team.
Funding from the UK government’s Coronavirus Community Support Fund, distributed by The National Lottery Community Fund, has helped us to do this. #CommunitiesCan
Together with Tenants update
We’re part of Together with Tenants, an initiative that recognises that more can be done to ensure that tenants feel represented, listened to, and meaningfully involved in the decision-making that determines the quality of our homes and services.
A new Together with Tenants plan will help housing organisations progress with this ambition to build this collaborative, balanced relationship with our tenants. This includes developing a new charter, which will include things like quality, accountability, and raising issues or complaints. We’d love to work alongside our tenants to develop the charter for South Yorkshire Housing Association. If you would like to be involved in this, please do get in touch with the volunteering team.
To find out more or get involved in any of these projects, get in touch by emailing volunteering@syha.co.uk, or calling us on 0114 2900 200 or 0800 1380 380. If you’d like to volunteer, you can also fill out a volunteering expression of interest form.
