Section: Web Watch
Working Websites
Each month we select good practice by social landlords in how their websites are designed and used,
looking at specific issues, such as information giving and on-line services for tenants and other service users.
Oxford Churches Housing
Association
This is a website worth a visit, mainly because of its direct and easy-to-use format. This is achieved through simple
navigation, with all sections of the website clearly identifiable on and accessible from the home page.
There is plenty of content, so we
confined ourselves to selecting one section at random. We went for a key issue – Resident Involvement. This section is split into short
explanatory paragraphs, each dealing with one aspect of the Association's resident involvement activities. The list of activities is somewhat
impressive:
- A Residents' Panel made up of up to 20 residents, who meet five times a year to monitor and advise on the
Association's work.
- A Village Voices scheme, which aims to improve two-way communication with residents in rural areas.
- Annual involvement of residents in the budget setting process.
- A citizens' newsletter that involves residents in editorial
decisions.
- An email panel for surveying residents' views.
- Residents' Focus Group meetings that provide information
to residents on specific services and seek their feedback.
- A young persons' Texting Forum, which aims to give 16 to 25 year-olds the
chance to say how they think the HA could improve their communities and services.
- Residents' associations, encouraged by start up
grants, ongoing financial support, and discretionary payments for equipment or special events.
- Support for residents who wish to complete
the National Certificate in Tenant Participation at Oxford Brookes University.
- A residents' suggestion scheme that encourages
participation by offering the possibility of receiving high street vouchers.
We also liked the prominent use of the word
customer.
www.ocha.org.uk.
