Residents' Conference
We hosted our third Residents' Conference in October 2024 and were pleased to welcome over 90 people - our highest turnout yet.
The event was for all council tenants and leaseholders including residents involved in the council participation structures, such as Resident Associations, Resident Management Organisations and Housing Community Champions.
Presentations and talks
Our partners, stakeholders and staff gave presentations and talks on a range of subjects as requested by our residents. These included:
- Fire safety: the Station Commander of Tooting Fire Station presented on best practice when ensuring building and fire safety within residents' homes, estates and blocks. View the fire safely presentation
- London Borough of Culture: Wandsworth has been chosen as the London Borough of Culture for 2025. Council officers gave a breakdown of what this means for residents and the different activities that will be on offer on their estates. View the London Borough of Culture presentation
- Neighbourhood Renewal Fund: the council team that manages the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund gave a talk on the new fund and its implications for residents. View the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund presentation
- Energy support: Giles Read from Thinking Works - an expert on tackling fuel poverty - explored best practice on low-cost ways to save energy and money. View the energy support presentation
- Cost of living: the Cost of living team explored the support that residents can access including the different schemes and initiatives available. View the cost of living presentation and visit the Cost of Living hub
- Resident engagement and landlord responsibilities: the Assistant Director of Assessment and Tenant Engagement from the Regulator of Social Housing gave a talk on resident engagement and landlords' responsibilities. View the RSH presentation
- Panel discussion on resident engagement: residents and council staff who are actively involved in our council participation structures discussed best practice for getting involved, and how to ensure positive outcomes.
- Tackling damp and mould: a damp and mould specialist and a senior member of staff explained the causes of damp and mould, and more specifically, the action we take when responding to damp and mould reports. View the damp and mould presentation
Information stalls
Twenty community groups hosted information stalls, including council partners and repair contractors. Residents had the chance to connect directly with groups supporting the borough, exchanging ideas and best practices that strengthen community ties.
We thank all partners who joined to showcase the resources available to residents. These partnerships and exchanges empower residents to build positive change in their communities.
Feedback
Feedback received from residents and partners has been very positive, with people reporting that the conference was highly engaging and valuable in helping them to support their residents and the community.
This year’s successful event was made possible by so many residents wanting to both learn about and share key information on work they do on their estates and in their communities. We’re grateful for all the input received on the themes and topics discussed.
To improve future conferences, we are planning a wider range of lunch options and improvements to the technical setup, including sound quality.
Get involved
The conference is an annual event for all council tenants and leaseholders. Whether you were able to attend this year or not, we hope you can join us at the next conference, which will take place in autumn 2025.
If you have any suggestions on what type of training you would like to see offered next time, contact your Resident Participation Officer or email conference@wandsworth.gov.uk.