Cairn in the Park hits the right notes with tenants
Cairn tenants, staff and partner organisations gathered in their numbers at the Alona Hotel in Strathclyde Country Park for Cairn's second annual tenants' conference on the 5th of October.
The conference provided an excellent opportunity for staff and tenants to meet and get to know each other, as well as providing a platform to explore and encourage tenant participation. Tenants were involved in discussions and workshops about a broad range of issues including tenant participation, the Scottish Social Housing Charter, welfare reform, repairs and maintenance and home energy savings.
Gordon Robertson led an entertaining morning session entitled "Cairn's Heart and Soul" where tenants were encouraged to work in groups to think about what Cairn could do to become a better housing association and what they could do to help.
There were opportunities to visit exhibition stands or workshops from SOLAS, Strathclyde Police, Strathclyde Fire and Rescue, North Lanarkshire Council, the Citizens Advice Bureau, the Tenant Participation Advisory Service and Cairn's repairs and maintenance partner Rodgers & Johnston. Students from Motherwell College offered on-the-spot health checks and tasty samples from their catering school.
The afternoon session of Table Talk was a big hit with delegates. Taking a cue from feedback received at our first tenants' conference in Inverness in 2011, where delegates expressed a preference for informal discussions in small groups, Table Talk used a speed dating format where special guests spent 15 minutes chatting at each table.
Closing the conference Cairn's Chief Executive Jason MacGilp highlighted many of the themes that had emerged as key issues to take forward and reiterated Cairn's commitment to involving customers in shaping "A Better Cairn". Reflecting on the event Jason said, "The day was full of life and energy and it was a great turnout from our tenants. We are now tasked with building on this excellent platform and taking customer involvement to the next level."
Please download the full Conference Report for Cairn in the Park.