Training Services

Essential courses for residents and social housing professionals - PDF version
Training at your place or ours!

Who are we?

Open Communities is an independent advice and training agency which specialises in supporting and advising tenants, landlords and other local stakeholders through change.
We offer expert training, advice and support to tenants and residents groups, particularly those seeking a greater say in the way their homes and neighbourhoods are managed.

We have also played a key role in helping to establish many successful, thriving tenant management organisations. Our services are increasingly extending beyond housing into all forms of community consultation and engagement to help regenerate neighbourhoods and improve local services.

We can develop peoples skills confidence and knowledge.

What can we do for you?

Open Communities specialises in the delivery of tailored training and capacity building - providing training for social landlords, tenants organisations, leaseholder groups and Board and Committee members in all areas of housing management and maintenance. Ensuring people have the skills and the knowledge to make a real difference.

The following training courses will help you develop the knowledge and confidence you need to meet your objectives.

• An introduction to Tenant Management
• An introduction to Repairs and Maintenance (CAM Service Provision No. 6 compliant)
• Appraisals for staff and board members
• Becoming a learning organisation (CAM Initial Stage Competencies No.1 & Governance No. 4 compliant)
• Being an effective Board Member (Relevant to CAM Governance section)
• Beyond Resident Involvement to Empowerment
• Bookkeeping for beginners
• Building & sustaining membership (CAM Governance No. 5 compliant)
• Business Planning (CAM Organisation & Strategy No. 2 compliant)
• Calculation of Management Allowances for TMO’s (Relevant to CAM Financial Control section)
• Committee & Officer Skills and being in control of business (CAM Governance No. 3 compliant)
• Community activity & development (CAM Initial Stage Competencies No.7 & Community Involvement No. 1 compliant)
• Community Gateway and other Tenant-led Stock Options
• Combating Anti Social Behaviour in our Community
• Choice Based Lettings & Local Lettings (CAM Service Provision No. 4 compliant)
• Creating effective presentations
• Contract management (CAM Service Provision No. 3 compliant)
• Creating Community Arts Projects
• Delivering Empowerment through Community Charters
• Developing marketing plans and strategies
• Developing your communication skills (Relevant to CAM Governance section)
• Developing the Offer document (CAM Service Provision No. 1 compliant)
• Effective meetings (CAM Initial Stage Competencies No.4 & Governance No. 2 compliant)
• Engaging and Empowering Communities in Regeneration
• Housing & Tenancy Management (including allocations & lettings, caretaking & cleaning) (CAM Service Provision No.4 & No. 6 & No. 7 compliant)
• Inclusivity, Diversity & Equal Opportunities for TMO’s (CAM Community Involvement No. 3 compliant)
• Income and Financial Management for TMO’s (CAM Initial Stage Competencies No.6 and Financial Control No. 1 & No. 2 and Service Provision No. 5 compliant)
• Information, consultation and involvement (CAM Initial Stage Competencies No.8 & Community Involvement No. 2 compliant)
• IT for beginners
• Managing Human Resources & Being a Good Employer (CAM Organisation & Strategy No. 3 compliant)
• Minute taking
• Negotiation skills (CAM Organisation & Strategy No. 4 compliant)
• Organisational Strategy & Policy Development (CAM Organisation & Strategy No. 1 compliant)
• Organising successful events
• Partnership working (CAM Organisation & Strategy No. 4 compliant)
• Performance Management
• Private Finance Initiatives (+)
• Project management and commissioning support (CAM Initial Stage Competencies No.2 compliant)
• Regulation and monitoring for TMO’s (CAM Service Provision No.2 compliant)
• Rules and constitution (CAM Initial Stage Competencies No.5 compliant)
• Team Working (CAM Initial Stage Competencies No.3 & Governance No. 1 compliant)
• The Right To Manage
• Time Management
• Top ten tips for fundraising
• Understanding Housing Finance (+)
• Understanding Housing Business Plans (+)
• Understanding Local Management Agreements
• Understanding Risk and Management (+) (Relevant to CAM Financial Control section)
• What makes Good Governance (Relevant to CAM Governance section)
• Writing a successful newsletter

If there is a particular training topic that is not on the list we would be happy to discuss your training needs.

(+) please note that the fees for these courses carry a premium charge from those advertised

Our qualified trainers:

Andy Sage Andy has been working as a trainer since 2003. He is at the forefront of thinking on engaging and empowering communities and is experienced in working with communities on housing and regeneration projects

Bev Heaton MCIH BSc (Hons) Based in the north of England, Bev is an experienced and qualified trainer. She has worked within community regeneration projects for many years, and has raised funds and provided fundraising advice for community investment activities throughout her career

Bryn Parry Jones BA (Hons) ACIH Based in Wales, Bryn is a former local authority principal officer and has a solid background in social housing in Wales

Bob Clare MBA FIH Dipl PA Based in the north of England, Bob is a former Director of a Housing Association. He has experience of social housing and tenant management

Blase Lambert BSc Blase is a former manager of a TMO has regularly delivers training to tenant led organisations nationally

Bob Dawson Based in the South, Bob specialises in training in community initiatives and art projects

David Parkes FCIH David is a former local authority Director of Housing, with a solid background in social housing and tenant participation

Graham Martin BSc (Hons) MSc MPhil MBA FCIH Graham is a former senior officer with a national housing association and is a financial analyst. Graham delivers training around risk management and business planning strategies

Jamie Martin BA (Hons) MCIH A Regional Director of Open Communities, Jamie specializes in training on community governance and tenant participation

Kevin Keech Kevin specializes in community development and board governance training

Lee Page BA (Hons) MCIH Based in the south, Lee specialises in tenant management, social housing and mediation training

Liz Michael Liz is based in the South and specializes in tenant management and tenant participation including Local Management Agreements

Mark Hibbard BSc MSc MPhil MCIH A Regional Director of Open Communities, Mark has experience of delivering training on community governance, Private Finance Initiatives

Raymond Coyle BA (Hons) Bsc ACIH Ray is a Regional Director of Open Communities, based in Wales. A qualified teacher Ray specialises in the development of community development and tenant participation and tenant management.

Richard Amoah Based in the South, Richard specializes in the delivery and support to tenant management organisations

Steve Rafferty Steve is a well qualified trainer with experience carrying out training in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. He specializes in the training of community groups and social enterpises

Tom Hopkins FCIH Tom is a Director of Open Communities and specializes in the support of tenant management, business planning and developing negotiation skills.

4 simple steps how to book your place 

Step 1
Contact enquiries@opencommunities.org or FREEPHONE 0800 0731051 for further information and choose your course.

Step 2
You will be sent a booking form upon enquiry and you will need to confirm by post or fax, with the agreed booking fee paid by cheque in advance.

Where possible payment should accompany your booking form. Please send a cheque or include credit card details or a BACS remittance.

Step 3
We will send written confirmation and joining instructions within 10 working days including a comprehensive course programme and venue map.

Step 4
Enjoy your course and tell your friends!

Course Fees (per person per day)

(**) If you wish to cancel your registration please notify us in writing or by email at least 10 working days before your course commences, otherwise the full fee will be payable. However you are welcome to send a colleague in your place at no extra charge. A £30 administration fee will be charged for all cancellations.

(+) please note that the fees for these premium courses will increase by 150% from those advertised

(#) Concession will be agreed upon enquiry.

“I have found the training sessions both helpful and informative. They have guided my understanding and have equipped me with the knowledge to add to proceedings”.

Your place or mine!

Our place

Open Communities has training centres located in;
• Liverpool
• Birmingham
• London
• Cardiff

where we offer:
• Training on a variety of topics in comfortable surroundings with;
• The opportunity to meet other groups and
• Discounts for early bookings

 
Your place

Open Communities can arrange to deliver training at your place because;
• Courses can be delivered at a time and place of your choice, and we can
• Tailor the course for your needs whilst;
• We can offer competitive prices to other training providers

For more information about training please contact enquiries@opencommunities.org or FREEPHONE  0800 0731051