We want to hear your thoughts on our services, your homes and your neighbourhoods. This will help us to develop and deliver the best possible services for you.
There are loads of good reasons to get involved!
You can make a big difference to what we do and the way we do it – making things better for customers!
You will also gain experience and skills that could help you into work or access training. It’s also a great way to meet new people and make friends!
We will support you to get involved, however you choose to do it. For example, we will pay for your transport if you are attending a meeting, or pay for childcare if you need it. Just let us know how we can help you.
We offer lots of opportunities to get involved - just pick the one that’s right for you!
You may prefer for get involved regularly or just from time-to-time. Either from the comfort of your home or by attending meetings and events.
Below are all of the ways you can get involved and make a difference. If you are interested in any of them – we would love to tell you more. Please complete the form at the bottom of this page and we will be in touch!
How to get involved | What's this? | What's involved? | Commitment |
Become a Customer Board Member |
Our Board is a team of people who set our priorities and oversee the work we do. The Board includes three customer members. All Board members get paid for being on our Board. This starts at £5,500 per year. |
Preparing for meetings by reading and commenting on reports. | High: at least 1 day per month |
Resident Scrutiny Panel | The panel is a team of customers who review our services and make recommendations for how we can improve to the Audit Committee (a subcommittee of the Board) |
Attending regular evening meetings and giving your thoughts. Carrying out activities between meetings such as reading policies and customer surveys. |
High: half a day per month |
Special Focus Group | This group of customers provides feedback about any service or policy changes we are planning. | Attending meetings and giving your thoughts and feedback. | Medium: half a day, four times a year |
Mystery Shoppers |
Our Mystery Shoppers are Customers who provide feedback to us after any contact with us. Such as a repair, a visit from your neighbourhood manager or calling us. | Accessing our services and completing feedback forms. | Flexible: approximately 30 minutes each time you provide feedback |
Customer Auditors |
Customer Auditors help the Resident Scrutiny Panel to collect information about the quality of our services. They also speak to new customers about their experience of moving into their homes. |
Carrying out inspections and surveys either in person or over the telephone. Attending meetings. |
Medium: half a day every 2 to 3 months |
Customer complaints group |
Our customer complaints group help us to monitor how we deal with complaints to help us provide a better service for our customers. |
Reviewing how we have dealt with any complaints as well as making suggestions on how we can improve on things going forward. Attending meetings. |
Medium: Evening meeting four times a year |
Independent and Community Living Resident Groups |
Customers who live in our sheltered and supported homes have the opportunity to comment on the support services they receive at their scheme, at regular residents meetings and events. | Attending meetings in the communal sitting room. | Flexible: customers can attend meetings as often as they wish |
The Irwell Valley Foundation is Irwell Valley Homes charity. Any customer or community group in our area can apply for funding from the Irwell Valley Foundation. The Panel are the people who consider these applications and decide which we support. |
Attending regular meetings. | High: half a day, once a month | |
Community Events | We hold events in the local community throughout the year | Attending fun and informative events in your neighbourhoods and providing feedback. | Flexible: customers can attend as often as they wish |
Focus Groups | Focus Groups are small groups of customers who meet together to provide feedback about our services and recommend improvements. | Attend occasional meetings at a venue in your neighbourhood. | Flexible: customers can attend focus groups as often as they wish |
Surveys | We regularly carry out surveys with customers to ask them about the services they have received. | You can complete a survey by telephone, email or text | Flexible: customers can complete surveys at any time from the comfort of their homes. It only takes a couple of minutes |
Social Media |
Customers can comment, make suggestions and share our posts on our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. We also use social media to ask for customers options, make them aware of things that are going on in their neighbourhood and our services. |
Following us on social media and engaging with us |
Flexible: customers can post comments any time. |