NEWS STORY: APRIL 2006

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Northwards in the news

What's in 'store' for the volunteer inspectors?

what's in store for tenant inspectors

A group of tenants from north Manchester are training to become inspectors for Northwards Housing, starting in the aisles of a supermarket.

Northwards look after 13,000 Council homes in north Manchester and are being inspected by government's Audit Commission in June 2006, to get funding for major improvements to the homes of all their tenants.

To prepare for this official inspection, a Tenant Volunteer Inspector scheme has been formed, so Northwards tenants can personally inspect the services for themselves. The scheme aims to ensure that tenants are involved in service improvement and delivery.

To give the volunteers an alternative taste of what an inspection is like, a visit to Sainsbury's supermarket in Blackley will form part of their training. They'll be inspecting a number of areas in the store including audio & visual, clothes, deli and groceries. The inspectors will consider how well the areas work, what's good and what's not - and will report their findings honestly and constructively.

Organiser of the scheme, Debra Dalton said, "With the supermarket training we want to equip the inspectors with the qualities they need to carry out the big Northwards inspection. Eventually they'll be inspecting the quality of empty homes that are ready to let, communal areas of multi storey blocks and standards of repairs."

The Volunteer Tenant Inspectors are:

Anne Armitage - retired, a member of local residents association, wants to make a difference by being fair and maintaining a good balance

Carmel Vick - member of tenants association, working on behalf of residents to improve services, is also a community guardian - has a good eye for detail and wants to get things done to benefit the good of the community.

Joan Wilson - active member of the community, provides a voluntary counselling role for domestic violence sufferers- enthusiastic about the new scheme, is open minded and has a wealth of experience as a tenant to support her in this role.

Charlotte Grant - tenant for 17 years, also helps run a Tenant and Residents Association, has a good eye for standards, likes to keep active.

Ann Ash - works part time at a centre that provides support to carers, wants to be part of creating a better and safer environment for the community.

David Smith - 30 years as a tenant, president of local youth club, wants to put something back into the community, is patient and has a good sense of humour.

Krysyna Bosiacki - has two grown up sons, cares for her disabled mother, enjoys gardening, wants to be involved and see things change.

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