Building Stronger Communities Debate
The following is an open transcript of the Twitter/Facebook and Customer Influence Meeting Debate regarding Bromford’s response to the civil unrest and riots that broke out in parts of the UK in Summer 2011.
The summary conclusions reached by our customers were:
1 – Customers feel that Bromford’s approach of changing behaviours rather than ending tenancies is the right course of action. They do not believe in just shifting the problem on unless there is no way back.
2 – The creation of mentoring opportunities for young people who do not feel part of society and have no leadership at home should be a priority.
3 – The new Bromford Customer Deal (See my Blog all next week) is crucial in highlighting problems at an early stage.
Hope you enjoy reading the comments!
Responses from customers on Twitter and Facebook:
Newest messages first – start at bottom
Customer – @BromfordLiving yes can i remind you of what mining communities were like – closely knit
Customer – I am afraid it is going to happen again because socirty is have and have nots
Customer – @CIGatBromford yes agreed we do and we must but other agencies must work along side us
Customer – @BromfordLiving yes we are having this problem and we are finding the police are all talk no action
Customer – totally agree but agencies are suffering cut backs vicious circle syndrome
Customer – were would the volunteering come from skills from parents
Customer – i would agree and also politicians should keep out as well
Customer – and this is at the heart unemployment our young people losing hope
Customer – it is very difficult because the police do not take this seriously
Customer – no it was not i think some of it was down to gangs and organised crime
Customer – society seems to have given up on our young people but they are our investment for the future
Customer – we cannot do this on our own at the moment society is fragmented and its getting worse
Customer – @BromfordLiving with difficulty rioters seem to have come from varios backgrounds and not from some sort of a sub culture
Customer – think the situation is very deep rooted
Customer – and that is really good but is jail going to work in every case
Customer – #riotreport But remember: the more you give, the less people value it! We can provide the opportunities but not solve it all
Customer – #riotreport people have nothing to aim for, opportunities need to be created to give something to work towards.
Customer – #riotreport discipline and pride. We need to instill these in young people!
Customer – #riotreport Religion used to play a big part in society and where many people got their morals from.
Customer – #riotreport there are a lack of male role models in society and families. We need to give people aspirations
Internal Colleague – RT @annagillespie74 Some stats to dispel the myths Riots: Gangs Did Not Play A ‘Pivotal Role’ In Riots http://news.sky.com/home/article/16095055 #riotreport
Internal Colleague – Some stats to dispel the myths Riots: Gangs Did Not Play A ‘Pivotal Role’ In Summer Riots | Home | Sky News http://news.sky.com/home/article/16095055 #riotreport
Internal Colleague – “Alleged rioters come from deprived areas”: How do we break the cycle? http://bit.ly/uSiuXE #riotreport
Internal Colleague – Just back from customer meeting looking at #riotreport. Lively challenging and some great ideas. Not bad for a Monday night.
Internal Colleague – “@Gangology: So reports confirm summer riots were not gang driven #statingtheobvious” #riotreport not quite as bad as reported in the end
Internal Colleague – #riotreport you can continue to post thoughts using this hashtag,we will share it when we provide our collective thoughts to the #riotreport
Internal Colleague – #riotreport please see the B’ham project #nopostcodes tweets and the fantastic film they have made! some big stars took part!
External Partner – @BromfordLiving #riotreport stimulate thinking around stronger community – celebrate local life & produce + key role models = mood shifters
Internal Colleague – #riotreport thanks to everyone for your really strong & considered responses tonight!
Internal Colleague – #riotreport Are we right to say ‘No deal, no keys?’
Customer – “@BromfordLiving: #riotreport -Top three for me #partnerships #education & connecting communities together to make them stronger!” agree!
External Partner – @BromfordLiving #riotreport 1 aspiration is sown in the home, family & workplace 2 rewards those w best housing stock 3 match haves w needs
Internal Colleague – #riotreport -Top three for me #partnerships #education & connecting communities together to make them stronger!
Internal Colleague – #riotreport 2nd takeaway – we would rather Bromford change behaviour not shift problem on
External Partner– #riotreport @weavermiles but it worked! We can connect communities in so many ways – community is not just a place, but a common interest
External Partner – @BromfordLiving #riotreport responsibility to ensure the vulnerable are housed but reward could be given to better tenants for best stock
Internal Colleague – #riotreport do we really think evicting the customers who were part of the riots make the situation better?
Internal Colleague – #riotreport @petemarl Point One – social investment is good for communities #partnerships
Internal Colleague – @BromfordLiving #riotreport I sent out the tweet 4 #riotcleanupBham it was a common purpose not existing relationships. Randoms came 2gether
Customer – #riotreport top 3 takeaways 1- encourage volunteering and mentoring for all people
Customer – @Jamoo1987 @BromfordLiving @BromfordHomes @kicfm Rioters should not be kicked out their homes. Being homeless isn’t the answer #riotreport
External Partner – @BromfordLiving #riotreport making people homeless will only make matters worse. Restorative justice Yes & inv the community #partnerships
External Partner – @BromfordLiving #riotreport can HAs take a leadership role implementing the govt localisation agenda? E.g space 4 neighbourhood forum
Internal Colleague – #riotreport @PaulBromford lets go for it, the top three things we can take from this tweet off! What are our recommendations?
Customer – #riotreport we saw in the aftermath of the riots of local people who never want this to happen again, there is a desire for change!
External Partner – @BromfordLiving #riotreport what made a strong community in say the 60s & now. What changed?
Customer – #riotreport @RuthGBromford interesting tweet! How do we give communities greater say over local decisions?
Customer – #riotreport get involved with children at an early age like cubs and scouts
External Partner – @BromfordLiving #riotreport how can u match tenants wants (e.g. Fresh veg & gardening skills) & have (spare veg patch) – bring comm 2gether
Customer – @PaulBromford #riotreport no, we want our communities to thrive, we have responsibility too
Customer – #riotreport FB comment ‘I think if anything those found taking part shud be made instantly homeless – or unemployed.. – discuss?!
Customer – #riotreport work clubs, providing opportunties within our organisation for our tenants. Working with other organisations, training providers
Customer – RT @mrbromford: @PaulBromford if we have the apprentiships yes but is this letting the govt of the hook #riotreport
External Partner – #riotreport to an extent yes. Keep communities together but must also be a mix. E.g. If downsizing want to still stay local
Internal Colleague – #riotreport social media lead those clean ups – not police, schools, housing providers? Communities can affect change for themselves!
Customer – #riotreport social investment?! We do have responsibility to support our communities with opportunities for jobs, learning and skills
Customer – #riotreport @CIGatBromford how do we encourage some of the positive actions by communities as they cleaned up after the riots
External Partner – @BromfordLiving #riotreport the home life is personal. It is here where ppl feel so comfortable. Outside it, it is a must have culture
Customer – #riotreport Tough action needs to be taken!
Internal Colleague – #riotreport could housing providers build bridges? broker relationships, put things in place like apprenticeships which intervene & redirect
Customer – #riotreport tough love is required if rioting within one of our communities and they live there, even if a relative, they should be punished
External Partner – @CIGatBromford #riotreport what does it mean ‘sense of community & place’ – how can a HA contribute to this Q?
External Partner– #riotreport a good home is essential. Once you have that ppl wish to self improve & get competitive (good) to move up ladder
Customer – #riotreport what of the positive things that have happened in communities since the summer. clean ups, strong communities?
Customer – #riotreport “why can’t Bromford place apprenticeships from within community organsisations who are struggling”
Customer – #riotreport FB social housing estate with problems with gangs etc.The provider should put pressure on the police to deal with the problem.
External Partner – #riotreport closer better joined up working HA’s, Police, Courts, Education, Support Agencies & Community (inc ten panels) big challenge 4us
External Partner – @CIGatBromford #riotreport sow the seeds of aspiration. Help individuals on thier journey to get a house to raise a family. Make it reality
External Partner – @BromfordLiving #riotreport aspiration & purpose in a community is imp. 1 thing most aspire to have is a decent home to raise a family
Customer – #riotreport seems like government would make it more difficult to evict, takes months through legal procedures
Internal Colleague – #riotreport young people have so many key changes in their lives – mashed up with media influence can create volatile responses
Internal Colleague – #riotreport agency approach is a great one, instilling a stronger community needs a strong community voice! How can we help customers?
External Partner – @CIGatBromford #riotreport family, home life & workplace are key influences. A sense of place & belonging = ownership (don’t trash ur yard)
Customer – #riotreport comment from young customer “young people were really angry. get into gangs if not confident. Need to engage them”
Customer – #riotreport should we give our communities responsibility to let our homes? Our customers decide who lives in their street?
Customer – #riotreport @mrbromford says @BromfordLiving i would agree and also politicians should keep out as well
Customer – #riotreport multi agency working with police, social services, schools etc is required for finding route cause and turn communities around
External Partner – #riotreport no, individuals riot not governments. Although, the govt set the scence in both social & economic changes
External Partner – “people felt disconnected – we have become disconnected” #riotreport
Customer – #riotreport #ukhousingproviders can’t fix problems alone – other agencies need to be involved
Customer – #riotreport it’s no good to eject people from their homes to make a problem in another community. Work to find out the cause
External Colleague – @BromfordLiving #riotreport the transition between primary & secondary is daunting. Opportunity to sow the seeds of aspiration with a mentor?
Customer – #riotreport – ‘I am not sure that Housing Associations could begin to touch the issues of the society we live in!
Customer – #riotreport discussion at our meeting “should a housing association tenant be compelled to take up skills and volunteering”
Internal Colleague – #riotreport Riots are not new….history repeating itself, what have we learnt?
External Partner – @BromfordLiving @CIGatBromford what were the ‘mood changes’ and how can we understand them by nurturing future role models #riotreport
Customer – #riotreport people have lost faith in making peaceful protests. We all have rights but people think for themselves, not for others anymore
Customer – #riotreport do we have a role with schools &citizenship programmes, how do we ensure we have the scale & reach in our engaging in comm’s
Customer – #riotreport cust on FB: “punish the rioters, but ask why it happened, we have 990000 youth unemployed, then you’ll help to prevent riots.”
Customer – #riotreport – would it help if local communities had a lettings board & decided who should live on their street?
Customer – #riotreport it isn’t beyond our reach to make a difference
Customer – Young people have to be the priority for employment and any community inclusion #riotreport
Customer – #riotreport could we run parenting courses?
Customer – #riotreport customer email ‘the courts should deal with rioters, housing providers could have role in life skills, what do you think?
Internal Colleague – #riotreport lots of ideas as to why it happened but what is our role as a social housing provider?
Customer – #riotreport Do the government have a lot to answer for? Were they central to the riots?
Customer – #riotreport – customer in B’ham says, too many kids are removed from schools before they are officially excluded-its all about league tables
Customer – #riotreport it’s societies problem! Riots have always happened but modern technology fuelled it
Customer – #riotreport customer comment “creating work for young people that pays would be a start”
Internal Colleague – @CIGatBromford #riotreport how do we use our influence to change behaviours or use our relationship to discourage riots
Customer – #riotreport if 10,000 people were charged, are we going to evict all those people?
Customer – #riotreport – customer on FB: “Where there’s an estate with problems the hsing provider should put pressure on police to deal with problems”
Customer – #riotreport greed and boredom seems to have been the motive for most participants
Customer – #riotreport “housing associations need to prioritise their investment – riots don’t happen everywhere”
Internal Colleague – #riotreport is it fair that only those in social housing could lose their homes! Or should it be a risk we expose?
Customer – #riotreport Was it all down to our ‘younger generation?’ Not sure!
Customer – #riotreport we shouldn’t reward bad behaviour
Customer – #riotreport shouldn’t we find out why tenants in our communities wanted to take part?
Customer – customer from B’ham says ‘ yes they should be evicted’ But we need to sing from the same hymn sheet to make a difference #riotreport
Customer – #riotreport if a tenant is a persistent anti social behaviour offender, bromford should say we don’t want them!
Customer – #riotreport “need to invest in young people , only way to avoid it happening again”
Customer – Live consultation on riots and social inclusion. “riots have always happened – nothing new” #riotreport
Internal Colleague – #riotreport should social housing providers take legal action against tenants that have taken part?
Customer – #riotreport with difficulty rioters seem to have come from various backgrounds and not from some sort of a sub culture
Customer – @BromfordLiving my first thought is the riots were part of a disengagement of society #riotreport
Customer – Refuse housing?? Explain how we want our customers to live in our homes and communities #riotreport
Internal Colleague – How do we encourage stronger communities, where members work with the right partners to challenge behaviour #riotreport
Customer – #riotreport – customer says on FB: “We will only cure this by education, re-investing in deprived areas, we have to give the youth hope”
Internal Colleague – We must help people choose the path that they know is right. Act as a sign post & support…be a force for change #riotreport #NoPostcodes
Customer – Create communities where bad behaviour is not tolerated because the neighbours will not allow it! #riotreport
Customer – #riotreport customer says on FB – some tenants just abuse the housing they have, but the large volume are good tenants!
Customer – Make people responsible – instil behaviours – get up & get out! Dont wait for something to drop on the mat! #riotreport
Internal Colleague – #riotreport Wolverhampton rioter convicted – who was a ‘Princes Trust’ Award winner – how do we make a difference?
Customer – #riotreport “customers need to get clear set of expectations at start”
Internal Colleague – what is your view of the role of a housing provider in a community & how that can influence customers involvement with riots #riotreport
Internal Colleague – Join us tonight on twitter #riotreport to have your say on how we can build stronger communities to prevent this… http://fb.me/147NrMRuJ
Internal Colleague – Check this video out — NO POSTCODESfinHQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yf-WMm96O6A&feature=share via @youtube and join us tonight #riotreport to share your view 4.30pm
Internal Colleague – How can we stop the riots happening again? Live tweet off Monday 24th Oct at 4.30pm #riotreport join us and give your views @BromfordLiving
Discussion Group – Action against the Rioters
- We need to understand why the person took part in the rioting
- Assess if the person has caused any anti-social behaviour previously
- Work in partnership with other agencies – bring everyone to the table
- Work with parents if they cannot control their children, send them to parenting classes
- Looking into education and how that can help
- Customers need to have respect and understand the impact
- Possible counselling for the family – and interventions
- Allow the criminal justice system to take action first – housing associations should follow
- If there has been incidents of anti social behaviour in the past then take legal action against the family
- Use the customer deal as a tool to tackle asb
- 3 strikes then out by using the customer deal
- Where customer have been convicted in the past and have taken part in the rioting then legal action needs to be taken
- Take a stand to show that Bromford will not tolerate this behaviour
- Firm action needed to show that we are not a soft touch
Discussion Group – Investing in Society
- Need to signpost opportunity – Employment & Skills;; Workclubs; Skills Assessment; Private Sector Jobs; Volunteers & Placements.
- People need to belong to something; invest time and effort in people; how do we get hold of people with no or low aspirations
- Lack of discipline and pride -Provide focus and direction
- Nothing to aim for! Create something!
- Are we pandering – more we do, more they want?
- Down to the parents – negative parenting skills
- Provide a path – Identify families we can help – do what it takes…Be sure we are targeting the right people
- Lack of male role models – needs to be taken into account via volunteering
- More Diversionary action
- Get tough in expectations- Tell them clear expectations
- Set the standards – No deal – no keys
- Living in our property is an opportunity for people!
- There are jobs – we just need to link them to people
- Need clear Community expectations – re-inforced at all times
Paul Taylor 