Maintenance Working Group Profile Report

Produced by: Chris Meadows
MHA Technical Services
Report date:- December 2009

INTRODUCTION

The Maintenance Working Group (MWG) consists of residents and Magna Housing Association Limited (MHAL) Officers. The objective of the group is to provide constructive feedback and suggestions to aid MHAL’s decision making on repairs and maintenance activities.

Although the MWG has no powers per se, it is still considered as a valuable part of the process when considering the planned maintenance programme. Therefore, it is important that every effort is made to ensure the members of the group are representative of MHAL’s resident profile.

Please note that the data used to provide the statistics in this report are to be confirmed. The information on MWG group members largely consists of the data that has been provided by members to MHAL. There are a number of gaps in this data and for the purpose of this draft report, these have been estimated. Please do not be offended by our estimations and rest assured any relevant changes will be made to the report once we have the full data confirmed.

AIMS OF THIS REPORT

The purpose of this report is to analyse the profile of the current MWG members and identify areas where the group is under-represented. The report will also offer suggestions as to how the group might encourage participation from these areas.

 
KEY FINDINGS

Profile

                                               MHA Resident Profile %        MWG profile %
Gender  
Male                                                    42%                                    43%
Female                                                58%                                    57%
Disability  
Disabled                                              51%                                    36%
Ethnicity  
BME                                                     3%                                      0%
Age  
20 or under                                         1%                                      0%
21 - 40                                                28%                                    0%
41 - 60                                                31%                                    36%
60+                                                     40%                                    64%

AREAS THAT NEED INCREASED REPRESENTATION

The results highlight that the MWG is under-represented in the following areas:

o Female                          -1%
o Disability                       -15%
o BME                               -3%
o Aged 20 or under          -1%
o Aged 21-40                   -28%

There are five areas where the MWG is currently under-represented. The two areas which are particularly lacking are residents who consider themselves to have a disability and residents aged between twenty-one and forty.

It is also worth considering that BME groups and residents aged twenty or under have no representation in the MWG at all.

POSSIBLE REASONS FOR UNDER-REPRESENTATION

The large difference in profile with disabled residents suggests that access and consideration in meetings is paramount. This would need to be made clear whereever possible when implementing any of the potential motivators. There are also potentially literacy issues which highlights the need to use non-written communication as well as written.

The issue with younger people failing to get involved with the programme could be due to the following reasons:

o Work commitments
o Family/ child care commitments
o Pre-conceptions
o Bad impression/experience of similar groups
o Social activities
o Lack of motivation

POTENTIAL MOTIVATORS

We need to do something to raise the profile of the under-represented categories and this section of the report suggests methods, incentives and alternative methods of communication that could help us achieve a more representative profile.

Some options are:

o Utilise MHA website and Opendoor publication to highlight the MWG’s need for residents from underrepresented groups to give their input.
o Ask for suggestions as to how residents would like the MWG to operate.
o Ask what would enable and encourage residents to join.
o Offer alternative means of communication, e.g. vote / make suggestions via e-mail, phone, social networking sites, internet forums or post.
o Explore possibility of alternative meeting times and venues to include out of hours.
o Explore possibility of multiple, smaller meetings to offer various attendance options and cater for less confident speakers.
o Publicise the positive effects, achievements and influence of the MWG to reassure residents that their input can make a real difference. This could involve including outcomes and summaries in MHA publications.
o Incentive scheme of some sort, e.g. store vouchers, sports centre vouchers, free prize draw.
o Offer child care funding / loss of earnings repayment while on MWG duty.
o Offer crèche facilities.
o Use alternate media such as radio, local press etc.
o Identify exemplary residents from underrepresented groups and make a personal approach.
o Offer residents the opportunity to attend as a spectator so as not to put any pressure on to stay in the group if it is not what they expected.

This is not an exhaustive list and any suggestions are welcome.