Priory View Independent Living Bringing our Community Charter

Priory View Independent Living Bringing our Community Charter to life Carol Rooker Head of Housing Operations Central Bedfordshire Council

Why have a Community Charter? • Visible signal that we wanted residents who would embrace all the benefits that this brand new Independent Living Scheme would give them • Gave a strong message that we had developed Priory View for people who wanted to be part of a Community • Whilst we were clear from the beginning

Café and Beauty Salon

• How did we communicate about the Community The Charter was available when people Charter? first applied to live in Priory View • Always spoke about the Charter at open day sessions • All applicants were asked to confirm in writing that they would uphold the values that were spelt out in the Charter • Successful applicants were reminded when signing up for their apartment that they had

What’s in the Community • “Be open to joining Charter? in…. Priory View is a thriving and supportive community” • “Be a good neighbour…. its important to look out for each other and lend a helping hand” • “Have your say…talk to the Priory View team about ideas you’ve got for making Priory View a great place to live” • “Respect each other…. Being part of a Community

Relaxing in the public open space

Bringing the Community Charter to life to joining in” View • Clear“Be from open the beginning that Priory was for people who wanted to be part of a vibrant community • The building was designed to encourage residents to come together in the beautiful open spaces to socialise and take part in activities

Bringing the Community Charter to life Monday Tuesday Wednes Thursday Friday Sunday Clubs and Activities day Gardeni ng Club Book Club Pottery Painting Christian Fellowsh ip Games Afternoo n Julie’s Dance to Seated your own Exercise music Coffee Morning Film Club Bingo Knit n Natter Craft Coffee Classes Afterno on Bring your Quizzin

Knit and Natter Club

Bringing the Community Charter to life “Beresidents a goodwho neighbour” • We want are willing to socialise with each other, look out for their neighbour and lend a helping hand • The good news is that there are very visible signs that this part of the Charter is coming to life • Residents are picking up newspapers for

Bringing the Community Charter to life • This was“Having always oneyour area of the say” Community Charter where we thought that lots of residents would take up the offer to ‘have their say’ • Currently we have a number of informal channels and members of the Priory View team working on the reception desk can often be found talking to residents who are ‘having their say’

Bringing the Community Charter to life • Residents Association – training sessions “Having your say…You said we on being a representative and effective did” committee meetings • Residents Noticeboard – in the residents library. Managed and organised by the residents • Controlled Parking Scheme for residents • Improving the garden layout – moving the

Bringing the Community Charter to life “Respect other” • An important part ofeach being in a community is to accept other peoples differences and making the most of them • We recognise that at Priory View residents have different views and needs. It is crucially important to us that everyone is respected and there is no tolerance of rude or offensive views, discrimination or harassment

Bringing the Community Charter to life “Become a volunteer” • Everyone is encouraged to volunteer in whatever way they can to the community spirit of Priory View • Its been a gradual build up but its growing • We have a volunteer working on the Reception desk and we have had volunteers running stalls at Open Events

Highlights of the Community Charter in action • Volunteering …you may have met Steve when you signed in at Reception ! • Clubs … the garden club helped healthy eating over the summer with a good supply of runner beans and an honesty box • Activities…residents organised their own Halloween Party – with food, music and

Garden Club produce

What we’ve learnt…and how we might have done it differently? • More work to build the community before occupation. • More discussion of the community charter when people moved in. • Starting committees earlier and enforcing the charter at the outset. • Have a rolling orientation plan for everyone e. g. how to use hobs, heating etc.