A Hull City Council tenant who dedicates his time to supporting his fellow residents has been awarded funding for neighbourhood projects.
Craig Smith has received an Unlocking Success Bursary of £500 from the Northern Housing Consortium Charitable Trust. He plans to use the funding to buy a laptop or tablet for the communal room at his block of flats, providing residents with better access to online services and support when they need it.
The funding will also enable Craig to update his food hygiene certificates, enabling him and other residents to organise and run community events such as summer barbecues and social gatherings. With the certification in place, tenant volunteers will be able to serve hot food as well as snacks, helping to bring residents together and strengthen community spirit.
Craig lives in a multi-storey block of flats where, as Chair of Hull City Council’s Multi-Storey Living Group, he helps other residents to access support and resolve any issues they face. As a tenant representative, he also volunteers his time to work with the Council across a number of projects and committees, including serving as Vice Chair of the Tenants’ Forum.
Speaking about the award, Craig said:
“This bursary will make a big difference. It will help us to improve what we can offer to residents, make it easier for people to access support, and give people more opportunities to spend time together as a community.
“It’s important that tenants have a voice in shaping housing services. By building strong connections between residents, we can ensure our views are represented when Hull City Council reviews services and makes decisions.”
The Unlocking Success Bursary is funded through the Northern Housing Consortium Charitable Trust. The programme helps social housing tenants overcome practical and financial barriers to learning, training and skills development, supporting them to achieve their goals and make a positive impact in their communities.
Hull City Council congratulates Craig on his award and looks forward to seeing the positive impact it will have for residents.