Tenant Participation Compact - Draft Training Strategy, Tenant Participation Unit

Introduction

The Tenant Participation Unit is responsible, together with RoFTRA, for the delivery of training for the tenants movement in Rochdale. Over the years, a number of different training strategies have been employed in order to improve access to training and development opportunities for tenants.

Tenants’ groups in the borough are supported by Tenant Participation Officers, who regularly visit and undertake liaison visits to determine training and funding requirements and give general support on activities.

Training is undertaken by a wide range of people and agencies – officers from the TPU, RoFTRA, external agencies etc. on a partnership basis.

Identification of training need

The training needs of tenants are identified in the following ways:

• direct discussions with officers from TPU and RoFTRA
• questionnaires to all tenants groups and tenants attending events eg annual conference
• discussion at regular twice-yearly liaison visits
• informal discussions with other officers from the TPU
• the annual tenants conference and residential weekend

Training opportunities

Tenants are able to access training in a number of different ways including:
1. informal training with Tenant Participation Officers
2. organised formal training either with one or a collection of tenants groups coming together in an area
3. attending external training
4. attending linked training opportunities that are organised within the Council. The TPU has a list of tenants groups and sends out regular information about a range of issues

Training undertaken in past year

Tenants’ groups have taken up the following training during the past year. In partnership with CVS and RoFTRA, a 6-week "Introduction to Community Work Skills" training course was held covering the following:

1. Health and Safety for community bases.
2. Training for Treasurers was held by TPU with an outside consultant from Greater M|nachester CVO.
3. First Aid training, a day course which gives tenants an initial qualification.
4. Food Hygiene training
5. The annual tenants residential held at Trafford Hall for 3 days each year with workshops on a variety of topics.
6. An accredited Community work skills training was held by RoFTRA.
7. Roles and responsibilities of secretary, chair, treasurer and committee members.
8. The annual tenants conference has a number of workshops that tenants attended to gain a better understanding of a range of issues including tenancy enforcement, funding, environmental issues, consultation, etc.
9. Funding and resourcing training.

Future training

With the advent of more ICT centres across the Borough, the increasing availability of computers to groups, together with the partnership approach between RoFTRA, TPU and Hopwood College, a range of training opportunities will continue to be offered. The four original ICT centres have successfully applied for a UkOnline grant to improve equipment, carry out capital improvements and have a budget for training.

Based on the results of the training questionnaires, a further programme of training is currently being developed in consultation with CVS, RoFTRA, Lifelong Learning and tenants groups.
Training will also be carried out this year for community bases particularly on health and safety and child protection issues.

Back to Tenant Compact