Get involved with Origin

Want to get involved? By getting involved you can help us improve the services we offer you.

Getting involved brings lots of rewards. You can:

• Meet new people;
• Learn new skills;
• Improve the services your community receives.

There are many ways for you to get involved:

The Origin Housing Residents Forum

Local residents and Origin service users form the Origin Housing Residents Forum. The Forum discusses all areas of Origin’s business and has links to the Board. Meetings take place on the first Wednesday of every month and last 2 hours. 
Should you wish to get involved in the Residents Forum please email residentsforum@originhousing.org.uk

Tenants Advisory Panels (TAPs)

There are a number of TAPs that cover general needs housing. The advisor panels look at a range of issues such as anti-social behaviour, gardening contracts and repairs. Supported housing and learning disability panels focus on issues relating to their schemes. TAPs meet approximately 4 times a year with meetings lasting up to 2 hours.

The Youth Forum

The Youth Forum meets four times a year at Basil Jellicoe Hall and includes young people from Camden, Enfield and Hertfordshire. You can find out more about our youth projects from the Origin Youth website.

The Retirement Housing Forum

Representatives from all the retirement housing schemes meet 3 to 4 times a year to discuss all issues surrounding the provision of retirement housing.

The Editorial/Reading Panel

The Editorial and Reading Panel review Origin Housing’s publications and contribute articles to newsletters and bulletins. Meetings take place 3 to 4 times a year.

The Design Panel

The Design Panel meets twice a year to consider feedback from residents 12 months after they have moved into new Origin Housing homes. The purpose of these reviews is to look for potential improvements to future building projects.

Resident’s associations (RA)

There are already a number of resident’s associations, covering different neighbourhoods. Resident’s associations are formed by local residents and they work in partnership with Origin Housing.

Resident’s associations carry out a variety of work including campaigning for improvements to their neighbourhood and organising social events.

Local opportunities

At a local level there are numerous ways to get involved including:

• Coffee mornings;
• Estate walkabouts;
• Fun days.

Origin Housing organise meetings that are as local as possible and wheelchair accessible. Refreshments will be provided and travel expenses reimbursed on proof of travel. If you have special needs or need translation Origin Housing will try to meet your needs.

Project and focus groups will be set up where a specific issue needs action and will be made up of Origin Housing staff and residents/service users and any other relevant parties (e.g. police, local authority, voluntary organisations).

Resident involvement opportunities

If you would like to get involved, there are many choices…

You can:

• Share your views with individual staff members;
• Take part in telephone surveys;
• Complete questionnaires;
• Attend local events;
• Write to Origin Housing;
• Attend annual Residents Events;
• Submit articles for newsletters and bulletins;
• Join or start a resident or tenants association;
• Start an informal group;
• Attend local resident or service user meetings;
• Attend training events;
• Take part in estate inspections walkabouts;
• Become a block or resident representative;
• Contact us through the website;
• Take part in estate fun days or clean up days;
• Attend specific consultation events e.g. major repairs;
• Join a forum or panel e.g. residents, editorial, repairs;
• Attend neighbourhood officers estate meetings;
• Attend scheme meetings e.g. retirement, care and support;
• Make a complaint;
• Use a suggestion box;
• Attend cultural celebrations;
• Join trips and outings;
• Take part in neighbourhood improvement plans;
• Be part of a grant award panel e.g. Community Chest;
• Become a mystery shopper;
• Take part in best value reviews;
• Take part in a focus group;
• Become a board member.

Origin Housing residents forum meeting dates 2010

Meeting Room 3 Eversholt St

Wednesday	3rd March	6 – 8pm
Wednesday	7th April	6 – 8pm
Wednesday	5th May	6 – 8pm
Wednesday	2nd June	6 – 8pm
Wednesday	7thJuly	6 – 8pm
Wednesday	Summer break August	6 – 8pm
Wednesday	1stSeptember	6 – 8pm
Wednesday	6thOctober	6 – 8pm
Wednesday	3rdNovember	6 – 8pm
Wednesday	1stDecember	6 – 8pm

Read our leaflet on this subject - Making your voice heard.

Contact us

If you would like more information or to be involved in any of the panels and forums, please contact our Resident Involvement Co-ordinator Gulshan Sangha on 020 7209 9341 or email getinvolved@originhousing.org.uk