Manningham Housing Association (MHA) board member and tenant Cath Bacon has been chosen to represent the views of social housing tenants around the country on a high profile committee.
She will serve as a member of the Housing Ombudsman’s Resident Panel which provides feedback and advice on the formal process of investigating complaints about registered social housing providers including housing associations, other landlords, managers and agents.
The Panel also examines key areas of the Housing Ombudsman’s work including the annual business plan and three-year corporate plan.
Membership is made up of tenants from a cross-section of landlords in the Housing Ombudsman Service, ensuring that occupants with different types, size and location of social housing provider in England are represented.
In addition to her role on MHA’s board, Cath Bacon is also Chair of the Bradford-based association’s Customer Panel which scrutinises the services it offers to tenants.
Away from MHA, she is Vice Chair of Bradford District Credit Union and is preparing to stand for election to Bradford Council in May having previously served a four-year term on the local authority.
Cath Bacon said: “I am proud to be appointed to the Housing Ombudsman’s Resident Panel following a competitive process.
“I believe I bring a wealth of experience to the role through my work with MHA, my experience as an elected member of Bradford Council and my role as a trade union local organiser.
“Tenants who choose to bring complaints to the Housing Ombudsman do so because they have felt let down by their social housing provider and want their voice to be heard.
“I will seek to give them that voice whilst working with the Housing Ombudsman to deliver service improvements.”
Barrington Billings, MHA Chair, said: “Putting tenants first and shaping our services according to their needs are MHA’s guiding principles.
“No one understands this better than Cath which makes her an excellent choice for this vital role which will allow her to speak up for tenants on a national level.
“She has been a first class board colleague and I know she will do a magnificent job.”
Lee Bloomfield, MHA Chief Executive, said: “There is a wonderful culture of togetherness at Manningham Housing Association which has enabled us to achieve the highest possible gradings from the Regulator of Social Housing, attain the Customer Service Excellence quality mark and become the first housing association in the country to be accredited for our work in promoting equality, diversity and inclusion.
“Cath is an incredibly important part of our team and her appointment is fantastic news for MHA, social housing tenants in England and the Housing Ombudsman Service.”
