Communities First

What is Communities First? 

Communities First and the Respect Standard for Housing Management

Details of all the awards/initiatives and how to apply/enter

What is Communities First?

Communities First is a package of incentives that aims to recognise, promote and reward good behaviour and the contributions made by tenants and groups to improve community spirit.

There are lots of tenants and tenants groups who take time and effort to help other tenants and residents and their wider communities.

We recognise these unsung heroes and reward them for their good citizenship.  By supporting and encouraging their work and by singing their praises, we hope to show everyone how much of a difference they make to other people's lives and encourage others to follow their good examples.

We also work with young people to encourage them toidentify with the communities they live in and the role they play in ensuring that it is and remains a happy and healthy place for everyone to live.

What's going on in 2008/2009

Click on the links below to find out more.

Communities First has 3 themes:

1.  Recognising the positive contributions made by individuals and groups

• Good Neighbour Awards are your opportunity to pay tribute to someone special, whose kindness has made a real difference to your life or that of another neighbour.
• Adults and children on local Council estates got snapping and entered the "My community" photography competition.
• We are also looking at how we could enable tenants to be able to access bursaries to support them in taking up or extending voluntary work in their communities.

2. Greening estates.

• "Dig It" Planting Grant.  Community voluntary groups have received grants totaling £12,500 to improve the look of their estates and community areas.

• "Best garden at a Council property competition".  Entries have now closed for this year's competition.  Our panel of tenant judges have visited all the gardens and we are all waiting with bated breath for the awards ceremony on September 25th to find out who this year's winners are.

• Pick 'n 'Party is a new scheme that encourages people living on estates managed by RBH to get together for a community clean up activity.  We will help to organise and promote the tidy ups to encourage adults and young people living in the local community to join in the fun on the day and we will reward everyone who takes part with a party. 

3. Working with young people to make a difference

• RBH's Community Kids is a programme of citizenship sessions that we deliver to 9 and 10 year olds at local primary schools.  The sessions encourage the youngsters to identify with the communities they live in and their role in making it a happy and healthy place for everyone.
• This year we are looking to extend the RBH Community Kids programme into upper schools and also pilot a junior warden scheme with activities that focus on the role of our estate caretakers. 

Communities First and the Respect Standard for Housing Management

Communities First will work hand in hand with the enforcement action Rochdale Boroughwide Housing and our partners take to tackle anti-social behaviour.

By recognising, rewarding and promoting those who respect their neighbours and communities, "Communities First" will reinforce the message that anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated and good citizenship is valued.

Back to About our Services