Resident Involvement
Why
Getting residents involved in backcourt improvements and maintenance is very important for a sustainable project, but it can also be one of the most time consuming elements, for housing officers and residents themselves. If the residents are actively involved then it is more likely that the improvements will meet people’s needs, and they will have an increased sense of ownership and responsibility. When there are decisions to make, options to chose between, and if local residents’ opinions can really influence the outcome, then consultation is essential. If the plans are already finalised and the works are going ahead, it is too late to consult, but make sure that everyone is kept informed about progress. Increasing residents’ involvement makes it more likely that the improvements will be maintained and further enhanced, and lead to an improved quality of life for all residents, now and in the future.How
Different approaches to increasing involvement, by and with residents, are illustrated in the following examples from the SBI Good Practice Guide:-
Copperworks Housing Co-operative
Copperworks encourage local involvement in the backcourt improvements by targeting funding to the closes where residents are willing to contribute their own time to the improvement works. The residents of those closes are now taking an active part in maintaining and further improving their backcourts. Other closes are eager to get involved now that they can see what has been achieved.
Partick Housing Association
During the backcourt improvements in Partick HA, the resident participation officer worked closely with all residents on the consultation for the new plans. The same officer was also key in raising awareness and interest in the recycling pilot, which was introduced alongside the redevelopment. This benefited both the residents, who had an enthusiastic ‘recycling motivator’, and the council waste teams, who appreciated the local contact to help with access and other problems.
GOW Community Triangle
This backcourt has a core of active residents and a large proportion of temporary tenants, mainly students. While it was originally a group of students who organised the first clean-up of the badly deteriorated backcourt, many residents got involved when there was serious security, and health and safety problems in the backcourt. Now there is a small core of active residents who visit all new tenants each September with information about the activities which take place – ongoing clean-ups, art workshops and performances and social events.Garrioch Residents Association
A high level of resident commitment has been maintained over 30 years. The standard of the backcourt is so high that new residents can clearly see the benefits of the Residents’ Association and are more likely to get involved. There are regular social events held in the backcourt for all residents – communal barbeques, Easter Egg hunts etc. Though there are still only a minority of residents involved – 20 active members - this is sufficient to maintain the momentum of the project.Who
Residents
Where those living in the tenement block get together to share their ideas and contribute their own energy to improving the backcourt. This type of local commitment is invaluable to get projects off the ground, and to maintain them in the long term. However, a problem for a residents’ group trying to develop an improvement project on their own is that owner/occupiers may not find it easy to get funding to invest in a private backcourt. Also, if the group of active residents is too small, they may end up exhausted, disillusioned and burnt out unless they can increase the numbers of neighbours taking part and develop partnerships with other organisations.Landlords
Where the registered social landlord (housing association or co-operative) undertakes investment in improvements in one or several backcourts for the benefit of current and future tenants. They often have access to substantial loan and grant funding, and they have the expertise to commission and oversee big capital projects. However, sometimes landlord-led projects can find it difficult to get their tenants involved and many consultation attempts are met with apathy or indifference. Building community involvement is time consuming, but the benefits to inclusion and sustainability makes it a worthwhile investment.Other partners
Both residents’ associations and social landlords can benefit from the involvement of other organisations such as environmental organisations and public service providers. These organisations can contribute advice, additional support, expertise and possibly funding opportunities. The original SBI backcourts all benefited from the involvement of Kelvin Clyde Greenspace. The council department(s) involved in waste collection and maintenance on the backcourt can also be key partners in any improvement project.Where to find out more.
Community clean-ups – before you start, contact your local authority, for advice and perhaps equipment and support. Make sure you have considered health and safety issues. If you are not sure how to get in touch with your local authority, COSLA (the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities) has a good directory here.Keep Scotland Beautiful provides free Clean Up Kits and many other ideas.
If you want to find your local Community Council, try this website. They may know about initiatives which will support your backcourt projects.
The Tenement Handbook (ISBN 187319014X) is one of the few publications that explains the practicalities and legalities of tenement buildings, old and new. It is a guide for all those who live in traditional Scottish tenements, as well as for owners and tenants who live in jointly owned property. For more information, click here.
The Scottish Government has produced ‘We are all responsible, An owner's guide to the management and maintenance of common property’ (ISBN 0-7559-0131-2). It is available to download here.
Community WebNet is a database of community and environmental projects across Scotland. Each of these groups is carrying out projects to improve the quality of life for local communities. The site contains a wealth of resources to help you carry out projects in your community, learn from the experience of others and share your own experiences.
Click here to download the Resident Involvement information sheet
