Training is available on a variety of subjects for new and existing groups. The courses give tenants and residents the skills and knowledge to work effectively within their local community. Training is free of charge and reasonable travel costs will be paid.

As well as organising group training, the Community Involvement Team can also offer one-to-one training for new tenant representatives.

Here is a selection of training sessions that are available:

Secretarial Skills

This course provides essential guidance on the role of a secretary, plus how to produce agendas and accurate, brief and clear minutes.

Chairing skills

This course will give a clearer sense of the role of chairperson and provide some tips on how to run meetings effectively and to deal with difficult situations and any conflicts that may arise.

Basic book-keeping

This course will enable treasurers to set up simple book-keeping systems, record and balance bank and petty cash transactions and produce financial statements.

Equality and Diversity

This course will equip tenant representatives with the knowledge and skills required to ensure equality of opportunity within a group and challenge any unacceptable behaviour within the community that groups represent.

Commitee Skills

This course will cover why we have committees and what makes a successful committee. It will help you organise and run your meetings effectively and help you get the most out of your committee.

Producing Newsletters

This course will provide you with practical tips to design and edit eye-catching and interesting newsletters. The course will include how to write creatively and how to design the layout to ensure a good read.

Producing a Welcome Pack

This course will provide you with practical help and ideas to produce a Welcome Pack for your group.

Involving Hard-to-Reach Groups

This session will look at approaches you can use to involve hard-to reach groups, for example young people, refugees, black and ethnic minority communities and older people.

Involving Young People

This course will explore the barriers to involving young people and how they can be overcome. It will also look at tried and tested techniques and approaches used to engage young people.

Organising a Fun Day

This session will give you lots of ideas and skills for organising a fun day for your estate or community. It will cover ideas for themes /activities, fund raising, volunteers and health and safety issues.

Managing Conflict

This session will look at how to deal with conflict between individuals and groups and offer ways to work effectively.

Working with Children

This course will provide groups who are involved in projects with children (e.g. after school clubs, mother and toddler groups, youth clubs) with knowledge on issues around child protection, health and safety and insurance.

f you are interested in attending any of the above sessions, please contact the Community Involvement Team.

Tenants Resource Centre

The Community Involvement Team has a Tenants Resource Centre, which provides free use of the following equipment and services to help tenant representatives run their groups:

• Computer with email & internet access
• Telephone Fax machine
• Stationery
• Photocopier
• Printing facilities
• Laminator
• Reference library of housing information.

The Resource Centre is based at Point Blue, Moor Street, Bury. Please contact the Community Involvement Team to arrange an appointment.

Reward Scheme: When you have used our Resource Centre on 5 occasions you will receive a reward!  If you are part of a tenants and residents association (TRA) you can choose from a stationery kit to get your group organised or refreshment hamper that you can use at your next meeting.  If you are not a member of a TRA but do work in the community and are a resident of the borough of Bury, you will receive a gift voucher!