South Yorkshire Tenants and Residents Network
The South Yorkshire Tenants and Residents Network is an informal alliance of RotherFed, Barnsley Tenants Federation, Doncaster Tenants Federation and the emerging Tenant and Residents Alliance of Sheffield. The principle behind the network is to create a forum to help tackle issues on a regional and national platform as previously few opportunities for borough-wide federations to meet up and learn from each other on a subregional level. The key aims of the network are:
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To get South Yorkshire Federations to come together as a collaborative group and form a network.
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To link up with the wider tenant and resident movement.
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Provide a forum for exchange and sharing of information between South Yorkshire Federations and borough wide organisations through regular events.
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Acknowledge the membership and linkages of its member organisations.
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Enable engagement of tenants and residents in debate on neighbourhood issues at the national, regional and sub regional level and promote South Yorkshire Tenants’ & Residents’ Network members representation on regional and sub-regional decision-making bodies.
The South Yorkshire Tenants’ & Residents’ Network welcomes membership from South Yorkshire wide community members and organisations. The new network will be an independent network founded on democratic principles and is not affiliated to any political parties. The network positively promotes equal opportunities within the community and within its membership, work for the elimination of discrimination against persons on the basis of race, gender, age, sexuality, disability or religion.
One of the Workshops
The network was formally launched at a conference held in Rotherham at the Springwell Gardens Community Centre. Chairs of South Yorkshire’s local tenant and resident federations came together to sign a charter agreeing to support a South Yorkshire network enabling tenants and residents to address issues both on a local and national level with one collective voice. Workshops discussing the future of South Yorkshire Tenants and Residents Network were preceded by presentations from Chief Executives of all four Arms Length Management Organisations (ALMOs) in South Yorkshire outlining and consulting on plans for their future. Richard Crossley, from the Tenants Service Authority, also spoke at the Conference on the creation of a National Tenants Voice which aims to give tenants a voice, influence and expertise at national level, giving them a greater influence over the services they receive.
Front Row (from left): Peter Collins (RotherFed), Brian Naughton (Doncaster Federation), Barry McGowan (Barnsley Federation)
Back Row (from left): Peter Morton (Sheffield Homes), Graham Eades (2010 Rotherham), Susan Jordan (St. Leger Homes), Helen Jagger (Berneslai Homes)
Chair of Rother Fed Peter Collins said: “The tenants and residents network meetings will be a great platform through which people can come along and make their voices heard. Having the four chief executives from each of the South Yorkshire ALMOs at this conference also demonstrated a true commitment to the network from them and set the context for us working closely together with the ALMOs in the future.”
Chair of Barnsley Tenants Federation Barry McGowan said: “The event went extremely well and feedback about the launch of the network has been very positive. This sets the standard for future meetings and we expect this will set the context for tenants and residents to work with the South Yorkshire ALMOs in the future.”
Chair of Doncaster Tenants Federation Brian Naughton said: “We are looking clearly into the future of housing management and involvement and I was delighted to be able to show Doncaster’s commitment to the network through the signing of the Charter. Members will be given every opportunity to help the housing services make sure they are providing the services council tenants want. We need our tenants to stand up and have their say.”