Following on from our 2023 commitment to get back into our communities and reconnect with customers, 2024 has seen a hive of activity with Impact Days taking place on estates across our three heartlands.

Our Neighbourhoods Teams have joined up again with colleagues from across Torus, tenants and resident, and our local partners to hold Community Impact Days. The events, who include Safer Estates, Tenancy Sustain, Assets, Income, Tenant Voice, involve us being more visible on our estates and speaking to tenants and residents about issues and concerns, whilst providing advice on housing, anti-social behaviour (ASB) and rent issues.

Teams across Torus Foundation have also regularly been on hand to discuss employment support and help customers struggling with their utility bills, providing guidance, and signposting for free support and opportunities. We were also joined by local partners who are currently delivering the Foundation’s Healthy Neighbours Project and who attended two estates in each heartland. Healthy Neighbour Volunteers spent time with residents, encouraging people to get involved in the support and activities available in their local area, to work towards improving their health and wellbeing.

Whilst HMS have helped to remove rubbish, deal with fly-tipping and spruce up communal green spaces.

Starting again in March, we started in Warrington, covering two estates on just one day at Oldfield Road/Pool Lane, Lymm and New Road/Pear Tree Place, Latchford West. Joined by partners from Cheshire Police, Warrington Borough Council (WBC) Enforcement Team, the focus was to improve the estates by clearing rubbish and fly tipping. The end of the day saw a great improvement, with 7 large skips were filled, multiple trips were made by the HMS caged vans to clear fly tipping on the estate, and a litter pick by the Torus Greener Colleague Group.

Events followed on Cherry Tree Drive & Winter Grove Impact Day, St Helens, and St Julien’s Drive, L6.

Despite the damp weather, June has seen Impact Days continue, with Four Acre in St Helens, where the teams’ helped residents with information on recycling and removal of bulky waste, filling 10 x 14-tonne skips, 3 x 8 tonne skips, plus removing at over 8 HMS caged vans with waste, including metal for recycling.

Over in Warrington, the teams were joined by local Councillors, Cheshire Police, WBC Community Safety, WBC Environmental Crime & Environmental Health on Grasmere estate in Orford. The Impact Day saw the removal of 7 large skips and multiple trips were made by the HMS caged vans to clear fly tipping. Whilst Torus Assets colleagues who were successful in completing Stock Condition Surveys or booking appointments.

Talking about the importance of customer engagement, Neighbourhood Area Manager, Charlotte Stenhouse, said:

“Our customers play a key role in ensuring that community events, such as Impact Days are a success. The events are a fantastic opportunity to speak to customers in their own community and find out more about what is important to them and their concerns. It was also important to ensure that they are receiving the services and support both they and we expect.

“The residents who have attended the events have done a great job in helping fill the skips and engaging with the teams.”

Torus Group Housing Director, Paul Warburton, added:

“We have been working hard for the past couple of years to rebuild the connection with our communities following the pandemic and, most importantly, increase trust and be more visible.

“We have spent the last few months restructuring our Housing Teams with the purpose to improve the way our services are delivered to customers. To ensure we are more responsive to our customers’ needs through spending more time in our communities. The new model ensures our Neighbourhood Officers are much more visible on the estates and able to manage any estate issues in a proactive manner.

“We remain thankful for the support of our partners, including the Local Authorities, Police and Councillors who have been great supporters of these events, often getting stuck in themselves, helping to fill the skips. We also love it when our customers come along and join in.

“I am looking to more events and encourage customers to get in touch if they would like to request one in their area.”

Find out more about 2024 community events here.

Find out more about getting involved with Torus and sharing your views to improve services here.