Local Events: Community Stories

While we were there, I had the pleasure of meeting one of our customers. She had a number of problems and didn’t know where to start or who to speak to. She didn’t feel confident calling in, and she found using online services difficult.

Speaking face to face gave her the chance to share her worries. It also helped her feel more connected to Citizen, as she could see the person behind the service. Building these relationships is so important, and it helps us support our customers in the best way possible.

On 23rd June, the Engagement Team visited the Canley Social Supermarket. This is a very popular place in the community and a great chance for us to meet our Citizen customers face to face.

Many customers came to speak with us. We were there to listen, offer support, and give advice. We also talked about engagement and how customers can get involved.

Lots of people don’t know what engagement means or how they can take part. That’s why events like this are so important. Speaking to people in person gives us the chance to explain what we do and answer any questions. It helps our customers understand how they can have their say and make a difference.

On 15th April, the Engagement Team visited the Our Lady of the Assumption Foodbank in Tile Hill. We visit this foodbank regularly and aim to go at least once every six weeks. 📅 This helps us make sure we meet different customers each time we visit.

Today, I had the great opportunity to meet one of our customers. She had never been before and just wanted to speak to someone face to face. 💬 This pop-up gave her the perfect chance to do that.

At our visits, we make sure customers have the chance to sit down, have a chat ☕, and feel listened to. It’s not just about offering support – we also talk about engagement, and how customers can get involved in shaping our services.

We have lots of brilliant ways for you to share your feedback 🗣️ about the things that matter most to you. Whether it's in person, online 💻, or through events like this – we want to hear from you!

This month, we only have a few face-to-face events. That’s because we’re working hard behind the scenes on other important things — like our focus groups! 🧠

Focus groups help us learn more about what matters to you, and they’re a big part of how we stay connected with the community.

If you’d like to learn more about our focus groups and online surveys, just click the link Join the Conversation

If you want to see the Engagement Team in your community, please fill out the short survey or contact us by email.

We’d really love to hear from you! 💬

On the 26th of March, the Engagement Team visited the Hagard Community Space at Willenhall Food Hub. This was a fantastic opportunity for us to connect directly with our customers and offer the support they need in person. We were able to meet many people from the local area and have real, face-to-face conversations with them. 🏠🤝During the event, we answered a variety of queries from our customers, discussing how they could get more involved with our services and what opportunities were available. We also took the time to explain our Citizen Local Fund, which helps support people in the community. Many customers were interested in learning more about how they could benefit from it. If you would like to know more about the Citizen Local Fund, please click on the link. 👉 Citizen Local Fund

One customer shared that they were really happy to see us because they don’t use online services, and they felt much more comfortable getting help in person. This was a great reminder of how important it is to reach out to our customers in different ways, especially for those who may find online services difficult to use.💬

Events like these are a wonderful way for us to engage with the community, understand the needs of our customers, and make sure they know we’re here to support them.🌟

On Friday, 21st March, we had the pleasure of joining our customers and the local community at Longfield House in Coventry for the Tree Planting event as part of the Tiny Forest project 🌱. This initiative has been a journey for us, from the early consultations to finally planting the trees, and it was wonderful to see everything come together 🌳. While the weather wasn’t perfect, we were lucky it stayed dry for the day! The event was about more than just planting trees—it was an opportunity to bring everyone together and make a lasting impact on our environment 🌍. Our customers, along with children from the local primary school, joined us in planting the trees 🌳. It was great to see so many people roll up their sleeves and contribute to a project that will benefit the environment for years to come 🌱.

During the day, we also had the chance to speak with our customers about the many great opportunities to shape our service 💬. It was a perfect chance for everyone to use their voices and share their ideas, helping us to improve and evolve the way we work. We believe that by listening to your feedback, we can build a better, more customer-focused service.

This is all part of our ongoing commitment to making a positive difference in the community 🌟. Thanks to the collaboration between Citizen Housing, Coventry City Council, and Earthwatch, we’re proud to be playing our part in creating a greener, cleaner Coventry 🌿. This event is just one of the many steps we're taking to protect and improve our environment, and it’s also a way for us to engage with the community and build stronger connections .

We’re excited to continue working together towards a more sustainable future 🌍, and we look forward to sharing more community-focused initiatives with you in the future! 💚

On Friday 14th March, Vicki and Jamie from the Engagement Team visited Hereford! We had the chance to work alongside the local Neighbourhood Officer and help with tenancy management checks. We also joined them for a neighbourhood walkabout with local residents to get a better feel for the area. This gave us some really valuable insights into the challenges faced by the community and helped with the neighbourhood plan. 📝

While we were there, we got to chat with local residents and hear about all the amazing things happening in the community. 🌟 A few customers raised concerns, especially about a park closure. The Engagement Team made sure they had a space to share their thoughts and ideas. It's so important for us to encourage our customers to speak up and help shape the services we offer. 🗣️💬

The feedback we gathered will be really helpful for the Neighbourhood Officer’s neighbourhood plan, too! This visit was a great reminder of how we all work together to listen, support, and encourage our customers. 🤝

And don’t worry, this won’t be our last visit to Hereford! We’re excited to keep working with local Neighbourhood Officers, who really understand how our customers want to engage. Can’t wait for the next trip!

On the 11th of March, we had the pleasure of visiting the Our Lady of the Assumption Food Bank in Tile Hill.

We've been attending regularly to ensure that our customers are aware of the opportunity to speak with us face-to-face. This has been a fantastic way for us to build stronger connections with the community. 🤝

During the visit, we spent time engaging with the customers, explaining the many benefits of getting involved and how they can participate in various programs. We were also there to offer support, answering any questions and providing helpful information. 💬

The feedback we've received has been overwhelmingly positive! Many customers, as well as those working within the community, shared that they appreciate having this chance to engage with us directly. It’s been a great way to build trust and start developing meaningful relationships.

To continue strengthening these connections, we’ll be visiting the food bank every six weeks. This will allow us to keep raising awareness and give more opportunities for our customers to meet the Engagement Team in person. We’re excited to keep working together! 😊

Tidy Friday Manor Farm, Coventry

On the 7th of March, the Engagement Team, in collaboration with Coventry City Council, came together for a day of community action, focusing on making a positive change in the area. We rolled up our sleeves and worked hard to remove bulky items that had been left behind, while also planting a range of beautiful plants and shrubs 🌳🌸 By clearing a large amount of debris, we not only made the area look much cleaner but also created a more welcoming environment for everyone who lives and works there. This collective effort helped bring the community together and demonstrated our commitment to improving the spaces where we live.

Throughout the event, we had the chance to chat with our customers about engagement and how you can help shape the services we provide 🗣️💬.

The feedback we received was fantastic, and it was wonderful to see our Citizen colleagues getting involved in the community.

The positive changes we made were truly impactful, and this event serves as a great example of how, by working together 🤝, we can create real change

It is important that we at Citizen are out in the community, offering support where it's most needed. Seeing the incredible transformation at Manor Farm was a real highlight, and it was clear that our customers greatly appreciated the opportunity to dispose of their unwanted rubbish, helping to improve the area for everyone. This is exactly the type of community-driven work we’re proud to be a part of. Keep an eye on our Community Events for the next date for our Tidy Friday – we’d love for you to get involved!

🌟 A big thank you to Diane, who kindly provided delicious sandwiches for everyone! Diane runs the Henley Green Grub Hub, a fantastic initiative making a real difference by providing food and support to local residents . Her dedication and hard work are truly inspiring! 🌟