If you are interested in getting involved we have volunteering opportunities to suit everyone no matter how much time you may have to spare.
Armchair Volunteers
Did you know that you can get involved from the comfort of your armchair. We have several volunteer opportunities that you can do at your leisure as and when it is convenient for you.
These include:
- Completing surveys
- Sign up for our Newsletter
- Readers Panel
- Virtual Panel Member
If you can spare a few minutes to complete our surveys, we would really value your thoughts and opinions. You will have the opportunity to have your say at your own convenience.
If you are interested in completing surveys, please complete an expression of interested form or contact the Tenant Voice and Engagement Team on 01942 486645 or TVAET@wigan.gov.uk.
Every quarter the Tenant Voice and Engagement Team produce a Newsletter. The Newsletter contains information about what events and projects the team are taking part in.
There are updates on what is happening in each area across the borough. Therefore, this is a great opportunity to find out what is happening near you.
If you would like to receive the newsletters please complete an expression of interest form or contact the Tenant Voice and Engagement Team on 01942 486645 or TVAET@wigan.gov.uk.
If there is one thing that unites us all - it's the importance of good communication.
Reading some long-winded document full of jargon is enough to turn anyone off.
Gathering user feedback is an important aspect of our work as it allows us to ensure that our resources stay as useful and timely as possible.
Our reading panel helps to make sure we are communicating the best we can.
As a member of the readers panel, you will comment on printed material produced by us before it gets published.
We want you to be involved in helping us make sure our information is clear and user-friendly. It is important that we are using the right words, in the right way, to pass on information.
Once a document has been considered, and any necessary changes made, it can be published as being 'tenant-tested'.
Panel members can be sent information such as leaflets and policies to read and comment on and would be asked to think about:
- How information is worded
- How its presented
- Whether it answers the questions that you would ask.
As a member of the Tenant Readers’ Panel, we will contact you when we are updating our resources.
Documents will be sent to you by email or post, whichever you prefer along with a short questionnaire to complete. You will then be given a week to consider the questions and return your comments to us.
You can decide which documents you would like to comment on, you may have time constraints that mean you can only comment occasionally, or you may be able to comment on all documents.
The Tenant Readers' Panel requires no previous knowledge, you just need to be a tenant of Wigan Council.
We will be looking for your general impressions on the content, tone, layout and structure of our letters, guides and factsheets.
If you are interested in this role, please complete an expression of interest form or contact the Tenant Voice and Engagement Team on 01942 486645 or TVAET@wigan.gov.uk.
We are looking for tenants to join our Better Connected Community Fund virtual panel.
The Better-Connected Communities Fund - enables local groups, individuals, and organisations to apply for funding up to the value of £2,000 for projects and ideas which benefit our neighbourhoods.
The panel will be responsible for assessing all applications to the fund that have passed the eligibility criteria.
The panel will decide if the project will be fully/partial funded or declined.
The members will assess the applications individually and report back their recommendations.
If appointed, you will:
- Always act in the best interests of Wigan Council and our tenants and residents
- Accept joint responsibility for Panel decisions
- Ensure that confidentiality of all information is maintained.
The successful candidate will:
- Be a Wigan Council tenant
- Have experience in active community work. For example, this may be with tenant groups, sports clubs, faith groups, school groups and could be virtual communities
- Have experience of working as part of a team. For example, you may have been a committee member at a group or work with others to organise events
- Demonstrate excellent communication skills and the ability to influence and reach consensus in decision making
- Have the ability to plan ahead and to see the long-term implications of decisions made
- Have the ability to research and analyse information presented in a range of formats, to challenge in a positive, constructive, and supportive manner
- Embrace the digital age, i.e., use of email, access to a computer etc.
- An awareness of the issues facing tenants and prospective tenants of Wigan Council and Wigan and Leigh Homes.
If you are interested in this role, please complete an expression of interest form or contact the Tenant Voice and Engagement Team on 01942 486645 or TVAET@wigan.gov.uk.
The role of the Tenant Voice Group is to listen to the voice of the tenants and residents who reside on Wigan Council Housing Estates. This will give tenants and residents a platform to engage in a positive and constructive relationship with Wigan Council and influence how their estates are managed.
If you are interested in this role, please complete an expression of interest form or contact the Tenant Voice and Engagement Team on 01942 486645 or TVAET@wigan.gov.uk.
The role of the Eyes & Ears Member is to give a voice to tenants and residents who reside on Wigan Council Housing Estates. This will give tenants and residents a platform to engage in a positive and constructive relationship with Wigan Council and influence how their neighbourhoods are managed.
As an eyes and ears member you will be asked to share your views on services and the neighbourhoods where you live, to raise issues that affect the wider community and work with officers to create solutions that work for everyone.
The role is not a platform for personal issues or to discuss past grievances, but to focus on future Housing services and ensure the voice of the tenant is heard and acted upon.
The function of a Tenant Eyes & Ears Member is to:
- To provide a safe place to share community knowledge and information
- Provide a forum to discuss progress, raise local issues and concerns to remove any barriers/ obstacles
- The group will meet on a bi-annual basis
- Members will be involved in their community. Taking part in Estate Inspections attending forums and tenant assemblies
- On occasion individuals may be co-opted to provide specific advice and expertise as required. This may include void inspections, completing surveys attending task and finish groups.
To become a Tenant Eyes & Ears Member you do not need any particular qualifications. If you are a Council Tenant and are keen to represent the area where you live and can commit to:
- Meet on a bi-annual basis
- Be interested in the area they live in
- Want to make a difference.
If you are interested in this role, please complete an expression of interest form or contact the Tenant Voice and Engagement Team on 01942 486645 or TVAET@wigan.gov.uk.
Do you take pride in your home and community?
Do you care about your neighbourhood being a clean, safe, and friendly place to live?
Do you want to make a positive contribution and help make things better for your community?
Would you like support to implement tenant led activities?
If you answered yes to the questions above, then we are looking for people like you to join our team of Neighbourhood Champions.
The role of Neighbourhood Champion is to give a voice to tenants and residents who reside on Wigan Council Housing neighbourhoods. This will give tenants and residents a platform to engage in a positive and constructive relationship with Wigan Council and influence how their homes and communities are managed.
The role is not a platform for personal issues or to discuss past grievances, but to focus on future Housing services and ensure the voice of the tenant is heard and acted upon.
To become a Neighbourhood Champion, you do not need any particular qualifications.
If you are a Council Tenant and are keen to represent the area where you live and can commit to:
- Meet on a quarterly basis
- Play an active role in your community
- Be able to give constructive feedback and work together to create solutions
- On occasion take part in focus groups/meetings
- This may include void inspections, completing surveys attending task and finish groups.
Then Tenant Voice - Neighbourhood Champion may be the role for you!
If you are interested in this role, please complete an expression of interest form or contact the Tenant Voice and Engagement Team on 01942 486645 or TVAET@wigan.gov.uk.
The Housing Advisory Panel will provide challenge around services delivered to Wigan Council and Wigan and Leigh Homes’ tenants. It will act as a sounding board and source of advice for the Cabinet on issues of concern to tenants. It will provide and receive feedback via its members from other engagement forums and groups.
If appointed you will:-
- Always act in the best interests of Wigan Council and our tenants and attend sufficient events with tenants to understand their needs and perspectives on services
- Provide leadership, challenge and support in a constructive manner to the Executive Management Team, sharing knowledge and experience as appropriate
- Participate in constructive decision making with the aim of reaching a consensus
- Accept joint responsibility for Panel decisions
- Ensure that confidentiality of all information is maintained
- Sign and adhere to the Member Code of Conduct as operated by Wigan Council
- Ensure regular attendance at Panel meetings and forums, preparing for and fully participating in them.
The successful candidate will:
- Have experience in active community work. For example this may be with tenant groups, sports clubs, faith groups, school groups and could be virtual communities
- Have experience of working as part of a team. For example, you may have been a committee member at a group or work with others to organise events
- Demonstrate excellent communication skills and the ability to influence and reach consensus in decision making
- Work with others effectively as part of a team
- Have the ability to plan ahead and to see the long term implications of decisions made.
- Be able to think creatively and generate new ideas to solve problems
- Have the ability to research and analyse information presented in a range of formats, to challenge in a positive, constructive and supportive manner
- Embrace the digital age, i.e. use of email, access to a computer etc.
- An awareness of the issues facing tenants and prospective tenants of Wigan Council and Wigan and Leigh Homes.
For more information on how to become a member, please visit our Housing Advisory Panel page.
If you are interested in this role, please complete an expression of interest form or contact the Tenant Voice and Engagement Team on 01942 486645 or TVAET@wigan.gov.uk.
Our Scrutiny Panel members are known as Scrutineers. If our Housing Advisory Panel want to find out more about a particular area of our business, they request assistance from our Scrutineers.
As a scrutineer you will get the opportunity to look really closely at how we work and take part in an in-depth review of our services. You will be able to ask questions of our workforce, attend meetings and delve deep into the inner workings of our organisation.
You will then report your findings back to our Housing Advisory Panel, who will feedback those findings to the Board and suggest ways we can do things better.
If appointed, you will:
- Be enthusiastic about making sure Wigan Council provides great service
- Choose which scrutiny processes you get involved in ensuring you scrutinise the services you have a real interest in, looking at service delivery and performance
- To make recommendations to the Board for areas in which reviews should be undertaken
- To make evidence-based recommendations for service/performance improvements to the Board
- Full training will be provided.
The successful candidate will:
- Have experience in active community work. For example, this may be with tenant groups, sports clubs, faith groups, school groups and could be virtual communities
- Have experience of working as part of a team, for example, you may have been a committee member at a group or work with others to organise events
- Demonstrate excellent communication skills and the ability to influence and reach consensus in decision making
- Work with others effectively as part of a team
- Have the ability to plan ahead and to see the long-term implications of decisions made
- Be able to think creatively and generate innovative ideas to solve problems
- Have the ability to research and analyse information presented in a range of formats, to challenge in a positive, constructive, and supportive manner
- Embrace the digital age i.e., use of email, access to a computer etc
- An awareness of the issues facing tenants and prospective tenants of Wigan Council.
If you are interested in this role, please complete an expression of interest form or contact the Tenant Voice and Engagement Team on 01942 486645 or TVAET@wigan.gov.uk.
The main purpose of a High- Rise Champion is to represent their block or area by acting as a link between us, contractors and tenants or leaseholders.
This will give tenants and residents a platform to engage in a positive and constructive relationship with Wigan Council and influence how their blocks are managed.
As a Hi-Rise Champion your role would be:
- Represent your block or area with regard to Wigan Council
- Members will be expected to play an active role in their community. Taking part in Estate Inspections attending forums and tenant assemblies
- On occasion individuals may be co-opted to provide specific advice and expertise as required. This may include void inspections, completing surveys attending task and finish groups
- Inform the relevant department any issues that are raised from residents in your block or area
- Provide advice and follow up any issues that are raised for tenants in your block or area.
To become a Hi-Rise Champion you do not need any particular qualifications. If you are a Council Tenant and are keen to represent the area where you live and can commit to:
- Meet on a bi-monthly basis
- Play an active role in your community. Take part in Estate Inspections attend forums and tenant assemblies
- On occasion individuals may be co-opted to provide specific advice and expertise as required. This may include void inspections, completing surveys attending task and finish groups.
If you are interested in this role, please complete an expression of interest form or contact the Tenant Voice and Engagement Team on 01942 486645 or TVAET@wigan.gov.uk.
The role of the Sheltered Voice Group is to bring together tenants and residents who reside in Wigan Council Sheltered Schemes. Have a voice for the wider community and give tenants and residents a platform to engage in a positive and constructive relationship with Wigan Council and influence how their schemes and wider housing services are shaped and managed.
The functions of the Sheltered Voice Group are to:
- Bring together tenants and residents from across the borough who are keen to shape the future of Housing services
- To provide a safe place to share community knowledge and information
- Provide a forum to discuss progress, raise local issues and concerns to remove any barriers/ obstacles
- The group will meet on a quarterly basis
- Members are expected to play an active role in their scheme. Attending Sheltered forums and tenant assemblies
- On occasion individuals may be co-opted to provide specific advice and expertise as required. This may include void inspections, completing surveys attending task and finish groups.
To become a member of Sheltered Voice you do not need any particular qualifications. If you are a Scheme Tenant and are keen to represent the area where you live and can commit to:
- Promote a positive outlook and are keen to share your thoughts and ideas on housing services and ideas for your scheme(s)
- Available to meet on a quarterly basis
- Play an active role in your scheme community. Attend forums and tenant assemblies.
Then Sheltered Voice may be the group for you.
If you are interested in this role, please complete an expression of interest form or contact the Tenant Voice and Engagement Team on 01942 486645 or TVAET@wigan.gov.uk.
In Wigan our young people’s voices matter to us.
Our aim is to ensure that every young person living on our estates, aged 11-21, no matter their ethnic or social background can have their voice heard; allowing young people to have the opportunity to have their say and make informed decisions on key issues affecting them, their homes, and their communities, and helping us shape how our services are planned and delivered going forward.
If you are a young person aged 11-21 years who lives on a Wigan Council estate who wants to make a difference to where you live, have opportunities to work with other young people, and represent your community please contact the Tenant Voice and Engagement Team to find out how to get involved.
If you are interested in this role, please complete an expression of interest form or contact the Tenant Voice and Engagement Team on 01942 486645 or TVAET@wigan.gov.uk.