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Encourage your tenants to apply for the Northern Housing Consortium training bursary
The Northern Housing Consortium is expanding ‘Unlocking Success’, the bursary scheme that supports tenants to access learning, to celebrate its 50th anniversary, writes Tracy Harrison
A lot has changed in social housing over the past 50 years. One of the areas we’re seeing big steps forward in is tenant engagement and empowerment, although there is still more to do.
This was really brought home to me listening to someone who had worked in housing since 1978, at a recent colleague event. He spoke about how he thought people working in housing had got much better at listening to customers and not assuming they know what they want. He also felt that having tenant board members had helped there be more focus on the needs of customers.
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We wanted to involve tenants in our anniversary celebrations and one of the ways we’re doing this is by making Unlocking Success, our tenant bursary scheme, bigger and better. This year we’ll be giving out 50 awards to support people living in social housing to access training and realise their ambitions.
We started the bursary in 2019 as we wanted to give something back directly to residents, supporting our focus on tenant engagement. We’d held fundraising events prior to this with members, but we really wanted to support a cause that lies at the heart of social housing, supporting tenants. A lot of members I spoke to were doing work to help residents to access training and development, so this seemed like an area we could help make a real difference.
“We started the bursary in 2019 as we wanted to give something back directly to residents, supporting our focus on tenant engagement”
This year, we’re offering a mixture of grants for specific items such as laptops or travel passes, and £500 cash bursaries to support with the cost of learning. The bursaries are to cover costs including course fees, travel, equipment, childcare and even living expenses. Since 2019 we’ve awarded 101 bursaries with a value of over £36,000.
The awards have definitely made a difference – if you’re on a low income, costs that come with training can be prohibitive and a real barrier to people fulfilling their potential. We’ve heard about people relying on their smart phone to complete courses because they can’t afford a laptop. Or worrying about how they’ll afford to get the train to university.
Every year, we hold a fundraising event where we hear the stories from the bursary winners. It really brings home the challenges people face and the difference even a small amount of funding can make.
Last year we heard from Simone, a tenant who was awarded the £500 bursary for a First Response Emergency Care course. Simone said: “I have applied for the C1 on my license now, and I can’t wait to start my driver training, which wouldn’t have been possible any time soon without this bursary! I am so happy and grateful to have people supporting and believing in me, and to be chosen for it.
“I am definitely on the right path now and come September I will either be working and training with North West Ambulance Service as an EMT or training to be a paramedic at Warrington Vale!”
“This year we’ve opened the scheme to affiliate members, too, so even if you’re based outside the North, people who live in your homes may potentially still be eligible”
The scheme is open to anyone aged over 16 who lives in a home rented from or managed by one of our members. This year we’ve opened the scheme to affiliate members, too (members who access Consortium Procurement), so even if you’re based outside the North, people who live in your homes may potentially still be eligible.
It’s a quick and easy process to apply: a colleague from the housing provider fills in a nomination form and the person who would like the support does a short pitch for the award – either written or by video. We’ve also put together a pack to help organisations promote the scheme to colleagues and residents. If you’re aware of someone who might benefit, help us make a difference by getting an application in.
Applications for Unlocking Success Awards are open until 5 July. Find out more and apply at bursary.northern-consortium.org.uk/
Tracy Harrison, chief executive, Northern Housing Consortium
