Central Housing Forum

Linda has been the Manager of Caw/Nelson Drive Action Group a community group in the Waterside area of Derry/Londonderry since 2006.  Through this role she has been involved in the local Waterside HCN since 2007 which she has also chaired for the past 4 years.  During this time, she has represented the local community and advocated on their behalf in terms of delivery of service at a district office level.

Linda also joined the Housing Executive’s Central Housing Forum in 2008 as the appointed representative from West Area and she has been the Chairperson of the forum for the past 6 years.

Four years ago, Linda became a member of the Housing Policy Panel as a tenant representative.  This provides the opportunity to articulate on behalf of Housing Executive tenants and particularly when engaging with Government Departments and especially the Dept. for Communities.  This has involved being consulted on and to help inform and shape DFC policies affecting tenants and residents including; the development of the Tenant Participation Strategy for Northern Ireland

For the last 2 years Linda has been independent member on the Housing Executive’s Tenant & Customer Services Committee. 

Linda is a member on many other boards and forums both locally and regionally including vice-chairperson of the Waterside Neighbourhood Renewal Partnership Board, an independent member on the local Policing & Community Safety Partnership and a board of governor of Lisneal College. Linda is also on the board of Apex Housing Association where she is the chairperson of their Housing Management Committee.

Through the various roles and board positions, Linda is continually reviewing tenant feedback and taking on board their comments.  Linda believes that the ‘lived experience’ is the most important feedback any landlord can receive and as a tenant of the Housing Executive for over 35 years feels that it is an excellent position to relay and advocate on behalf of all tenants.

Patricia is the secretary of Moneydig rural network and has been involved in community work for 22 years. Here she deals with the various issues with living in a remote rural location and assists so many with benefits. Her group run sessional projects, an annual environmental project, educational classes, health and well-being sessions, dance and music classes plus lots more etc. 

Patricia is vice chair of the central housing forum and chair of the Rural Residents Forum. 

Patricia also sits on these working groups/ forums/ task and finish groups: 
• Welfare reform & Financial Inclusion
• Strategic cohesion forum
• Social value 
• Digital inclusion 
• Community Conference 
• Task and finish, housing community network 
• Task and finish, disabled facilities grant 
• Housing policy panel 

Patricia is also a member of the Peace-Plus Partnership and is an independent member of the policing community safety partnership in the causeway coast and glens borough council. Patricia was the co-chair of the community engagement platform and also sat on the community planning committee. Patricia is passionate about everything rural and is always the rural voice at all meetings. Patricia is involved in the research work of why there is a lack of rural new social and affordable houses being provided year on year. 

Patricia’s motto is, “that there is always strength in diversity and never give up on your dreams as you can achieve whatever you desire with a little hard work, so don’t be afraid to get your hands a little dirty along the way.”

Patricia is the Co-Founder of the North West Forum of People with Disabilities and is currently Chairperson of the Management Committee.  Patricia has been involved in the Human Rights movement for over 30 years.  During that time she has worked with Disability Action for 27 of those years as Statutory Duty and Policy Officer and specialist on disability equality legislation including the public sector equality duties under Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 and the Disability Order 2007 Disability Duties.

In addition Patricia provides logistical and business support to aid the North West Forums mission and objectives to protect and promote the Human Rights of disabled people.  Patricia represents the North West Forum through a variety of networks and organisations including the Housing Executive’s Disability Forum and Central Housing Forum.

Patricia has been a member of the Disability Forum since June 2017 and the Central Housing Forum since March 2021.  Patricia promotes the interests and concerns of disabled people, in particular, the adaptation process, accessibility of the built environment and to information as well as highlighting the Housing Executive duties under equality legislation and the United Nations Convention of the Rights of Disabled People.  

Patricia’s main objective is to ensure that the voice of disabled people is heard and most importantly listened to ensure that Housing Executive policies are co designed with full and meaningful participation of people with disabilities.

Patricia’s motto is “Nothing About Us Without Us”.

Marty, grew up Whiterock and has lived all his life in West Belfast, from a young age he got involved in Whiterock Westrock Residents Association, where he became involved in Community Development and Youth Work.  Married now with 2 daughters aged 6 and 4 who have him wrapped round their fingers.
 
He has been involved in Full Time Youth Work employment 22 years across the region in different settings, started working in the Upper Springfield Community, then with regional organisations in the justice system as well as young people with care experience and those at risk of dropping out of education training and employment. Marty attended University of Ulster as a mature student to complete his Degree in Community Youth Work, having went straight into employment after school he is grateful for the pathways available for him. 

Marty Was also Chairperson of his local GAA Club for four years, including during the difficult Covid period. As a keen GAA member, he continues to be involved in coaching GAA and sees the important roles sports play in the community setup.

Presently working with NI Youth Forum, representing the voice of young people and working within the housing and homelessness team empowering young people to have their voices heard on the matters important to them and impacting their lives. Housing being a priority for young people and NI Youth Forum it is important that we have Youth Participation and Voice on the Agenda. 

Blair has worked for the Northern Ireland youth forum for the last 5 years starting her journey as a peer mentor. Blair got into youth work given her own personal experiences. Joining CHF aged 25 and has been apart of it throughout her time with the youth forum. Blair has a passion for creating change and being apart of the process for this and these platforms have enabled that. Currently completing her youth work degree and working full time on the sustaining tenancies funded project. Blair values the promotion of youth voice and has enabled this to be heard at a strategic level. Blair was also nominated and won and award for Best Housing Story through CHINI 2024.

Blairs motto is ‘Small steps lead to beautiful destinations’. 

Liam has been involved in the voluntary community sector for 30 years and as well as housing participate in all aspects of community engagement.

Liam is the chair of the Greater New Lodge Community Empowerment Partnership and the Star Neighbourhood Centre as well these he is the vice chair of Greater New Lodge Safer Streets.

Liam wears many hats with in his community and sit on the boards of Duncairn Community Partnership and North Belfast Interface Network.

Liam is the chair of the New Lodge Housing Forum, were he represent North Belfast on the Central Housing Forum 

Liam has been a member of the Central Housing Forum, for 20 years were he represent North Belfast. Liam is a member of the Regional Housing Forum. Liam also chairs his local Housing Community Network in North Belfast 

One of the main obvious goal of Liam’s is to improve living conditions for residents thus in turn benefiting their quality of life and their homes. He speaks for and works to encourage those not so self-confident. 

Liam’s motto is, "no failures just various levels of success". 

Bernie Mc Connell works as a Community Development Officer for Short Strand Community Forum; and has been in this post for the past 22 years.

Bernie lives in the area where her work is based and is the mother of four children and grandmother of two.  Going to work for Bernie is like going round to her second family. Bernie feels a great sense of belonging and gets great fulfilment from what she does.  The Short Strand area can be described as one huge family were everyone is connected through family connections and for the small few that don’t they are brought under the wings of local people.

In her post she deals with a multitude of issues all of which have an impact on the lives of local residents.  They include helping people with issues such as housing, family, benefits, unemployment, environmental, health and childcare.  Quite a lot of these issues are connected to the local family circle and with Bernie having the knowledge in terms of how, where and when make it a lot easier for people to deal with issues.  

Bernie gets all of this knowledge through networking which she does widely in the East Belfast area.  Bernie also sits on a wide range of groups and forums which keeps information flowing.  She has been involved in several major projects in the east of the city and has a good understanding, knowledge and experience of what is required in order to carry out these projects.  Some of the organisations Bernie is involved in include East Belfast Sure Start, Eastside Partnership, Inner East Neighbourhood Partnership, Skanois, Belfast Interface Project, Short Strand Partnership, Eastside Learning and the Housing Executive.

Bernie’s motto is: The grass is always greener when you water it

Reneé is the, Strategic Development Co-ordinator for Lenadoon Community Forum.

Reneé has been involved in Community Development work for over forty years.  Reneé was a founder member of Lenadoon Community Forum, an umbrella organisation established in 1992 after a series of community conferences and consultation events.  

The Forum is made up of over twenty local thematic Community Organisations/Groups/Networks in the greater Lenadoon area.  The vision of the Forum is the creation of a community, which can enable all of its residents to lead healthy, self-sustaining lives, develop their personal abilities and contribute to the well-being of others. 

Reneé is member of a number of Boards and Groups at both local and strategic level in West Belfast and is the Chair of Lenadoon Women’s Group she represent the women’s group on a number of Organisations, Networks and Partnerships.

Reneé played a key role along with others in helping develop the Suffolk Lenadoon Interface Group comprising of representatives from both communities. Through the interface group the stand alone Stewartstown Road Regeneration Project was established the first Jointly Owned Shared Space social economy project, located at the interface on the Stewartstown Road. 

Reneé represents West Belfast and Shankill Housing Community Network at the Central Housing Forum. Reneé was involved in the establishment of the Housing Executive District One Consumer Panel, which has now evolved over time into the West Belfast and Shankill Housing Community Network. Reneé was nominated by the members of the Network to sit as their representative on both the Belfast Regional Forum and the Central Housing Forum. Reneé sees the Central Housing Forum as an opportunity for us to come together as a Collective Voice for Change.

Ian is currently employed as Project Manager at Lower Shankill Community Association and has been since April 2009. Ian has been involved in community activism for over 20 years, both in a volunteering capacity and in paid employment. Ian is heavily involved in peace building work and latterly regeneration activities focussing on deprived working class communities throughout the province.

Ian has been a member of CHF for almost 10 years, during that time Ian has been a member of several dedicated working groups and scrutiny panels and Ian is currently chairing the Social Clauses/Social Enterprise working group. Ian is the voice representing Shankill/West Belfast area on CHF

Ian’s hope is to see prosperous working class communities at peace with themselves and all their neighbours, Ian hopes to see high quality social housing provided for all those who need them and that social housing to be maintained and repaired to the highest possible standards.

Ian uses a quote from LSCA’s own mission statement in all of his dealings with the Housing Executive and any other statutory or public body he is dealing with........ “Nothing about us, without us, is for us” which encompasses all that needs to be said in relation to genuine community or tenant engagement.

Stephen Mills has been actively involved in community work since 2009 and currently serves as the Chairman of the Comber Community Residents Group (CCRG). His dedication to helping people within the Social Housing Sector in Comber is evident through his efforts to address various issues ranging from benefits advice to infrastructure concerns such as potholes.

In 2009, with the support of the local the Housing Executive, Ards Borough Council, Supporting Communities, and local resident Sharon Skillen Scott (now an Alderman on Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council), CCRG was founded. The impetus for creating the group arose from the widespread dissatisfaction among residents regarding the performance of different agencies and the lack of a community voice in decision-making processes.

One of the initial projects undertaken by Stephen and the CCRG involved clearing an old laneway beside Comber Cemetery, transforming it into a walkway which was named after the late Ginny Murdock who lived at the end of that lane. The name Ginny’s Way was proposed by the late Roberta Campbell who was Vicechair. This effort was supported by various agencies that owned parts of the land. Today, Ginny’s Way, adorned with wildflowers and trees planted with the help of Eco Seeds and local schools, stands as one of the most beautiful meadows in the Ards and North Down area. The pathway, which will soon become part of the Comber Greenway, is now frequented by hundreds of people.
 
Stephen also represents the Comber Community Residents Group in the local Housing Community Network Group (HCN) in the Newtownards area. Additionally, he was nominated to and has been a member of the Central Housing Forum (CHF) since 2020, where he represents Ards & North Down. More recently Stephen (with one other) has been asked if he would consider sitting on the Southern Regional Housing Forum.

Stephen's motto, “Always do as I say, not as I do,” reflects his commitment to leading by example and serving his community with integrity and dedication. 

Valerie comes from Newry and has been in volunteering for over 22 years. Valerie is at present volunteering with Carnagat Area Community Association, and through this Valerie was nominated to sit on and become a member of the Housing Community Network (HCN). 

Soon after Valerie was also then nominated to become a voice and member to represent the South Area on the Central Housing Forum (CHF) which she has now been for the last 6 years. 

Valerie during her time at CHF has been on a number of sub committees, and Valerie today is now on the Climate Change, Conference and Welfare Reform & Financial Inclusion working group within the CHF. Valerie has said “that as a member of the CHF I have found out that the Housing Executive includes its tenants in all major decision it takes”. 

Valerie’s Moto in life is, “If it ain’t broke don’t fix it”.

Siobhan became involved in community work in 1998, so 24 years and counting. She first got involved in community based work because her children went to the local Youth Club and this is where her journey into Community Activist began and from this time, in her words, “she has never got parole lol!”

Throughout the last 24 years, Siobhan has played a role in many groups, she is a founding Director of Omagh’s Sure Start and is currently company secretary on the Board of Directors. 

Siobhan also worked as a Community Development Officer for Council in a Neighbourhood Renewal Area. She is a Committee Member of Lisanelly Regeneration Group (LRG) in Omagh for the past 24 years, Siobhan is currently Secretary but has also been Chair & Vice Chair over the years and today she represents LRG on the Omagh Housing Community Network and from this she represents the South West Area on the Central Housing Forum (CHF). 

Siobhan has sat on other forums for the Housing Executive over the years including the West Area HCN & Inter Community Network. Siobhan is a member of CHF since 2013, she is on some of the Working Groups within the CHF inc. Social Value Working Group, Digital Inclusion Working Group, Welfare Reform & Financial Inclusion Working Group & Cavity Wall Research Group.

Siobhan is a Trustee of LRG and held those Office Bearer posts previously & regularly over the last 26 years. Siobhan also sits on the Omagh Housing Advisory Group which is supported by the Housing Executive through HfA and Community Groups share the forum with Housing Associations inc Arbour, Apex & Radius, Political Reps, Education Reps and any local interest groups that can help drive the Shared Housing Programme linked to the Executive's TBUC Strategy. 

Siobhan, as a member of the CHF, hopes to make a difference in the experience and lives of tenants of the Housing Executive by being involved in the design of Strategies, Grants & Policies where, as a member of the CHF, she can be part of the ‘co-design’ commitment given by the Housing Executive and also have an input on the wording of letters that are sent out so they are made clearer for tenants and do not cause confusion or alarm. 

For Siobhan, being a member of CHF means that she has direct contact with both Managers, & Board Members of the Housing Executive and believes there are benefits in both directions for the Community and the Housing Executive. Being involved in CHF also means she is in a position to explain to tenants how & why there are shifts in Schedules or why the delays in different Schemes occur, which does allay a lot of frustration for tenants.

Siobhan’s motto is ‘If I can’t answer your question, I will know/find someone who can’ and Siobhan leaves us with a quote ‘it’s easier to ask for forgiveness than it is to get permission’

In 2010, Keith McCann embarked on his community involvement journey by volunteering with Killicomaine Residents Group.

Presently, he serves as the representative for the South area on the central HCN and remains actively engaged in community initiatives alongside with Killicomaine Residents Group in Portadown.

Before delving into community work, Keith had a background in taxation, having been employed by the civil service, and also spent a period of time self-employed in outside catering.

Keith is driven by a profound passion and vision for community development, emphasising social change through the avenue of play and fostering an environment for both personal and societal transformation. His approach focuses on building upon strengths rather than dwelling on weaknesses, fostering change without judgment or condemnation.

Having joined the Portadown HCN over a decade ago, Keith expanded his involvement in September 2023 by joining the area's regional and central tiers of HCN and now represents his local NCN on the CHF.

Karina comes from Magherafelt and she has been a volunteer community member of Killowen Drive Residents Association since 2013. Karina now has been representing Mid Ulster at Central Housing Forum (CHF) since September 2016. 
 
Karina first became involved in her local community group as a community volunteer back in 2013 while off on maternity leave, she found it provided a great way to meet new people and make a small difference in her community. Karina started attending interagency and local HCN meetings to represent her community group. This in turn led to Karina being nominated to be a representative for Magherafelt at her area HCNs, and overtime led to her being invited to sit on area level scrutiny panel and a member of the Central Housing Forum as Mid Ulster representative.
 
Karina has been relentless in her pursuit for a specific working group to review the adaptation process. She is keen to see improvements within the disabled adaptations both for Disabled facilities grants and adaptations for tenants. She feels much progress can be made to streamline the process and make it easier to navigate. 
 
Karina‘s Motto is; Sometimes ‘no’ just means try harder 

Alan is employed as the Development Manager with Monkstown Community Forum. Monkstown Community Forum is a group which is based at Monkstown Village Centre, Newtownabbey, and falls under the Antrim & Newtownabbey Council area. MCF aims of the development are to provide a self-sustaining enterprise, offering a mix of facilities for community-based groups, as well as commercial space and support for businesses. This would enable the Monkstown community to access useful services and also provide employment opportunities. The MCF continues to look for entrepreneurial opportunities to develop its facilities, services and provision.

Alan completed a Theology degree at the Irish Baptist College/Queen’s University Belfast and this led to Alan been involved in faith-based community development since 1997. Initially this was with the Care Centre (a project of the local churches in Monkstown) and since 2007 for the social enterprise project of Monkstown Community Forum.

Alan has been a member of Central Housing Forum since 2020 and he represents the South Antrim area for the CHF. Primarily Alan’s role on CHF is as a representative of the South Antrim Housing Community Network (HCN). Alan sees bringing information that is provided/discussed at CHF level to the local HCN meetings as a vital part of the role.

A quote Alan finds helpful is from an American writer, Carl Bard - "Though no one can go back and make a brand new start - anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending."

Jan originally comes from Somerset in England from a conference and event background. She moved to Northern Ireland in the summer of 2009 and volunteered as secretary with Doury Road Development Group in Ballymena soon after. Doury Road Development Group have been working to regenerate the area, as for many years it had the reputation as one of the worst heroin estates in Northern Ireland. The estate has had a lack of investment over the years leading to many derelict properties and disputed land encroachment issues; 

Having not worked with a Community Group before she undertook training to find out more about the Community sector and how that worked.

After a time the mentor for the group left and Jan was encouraged to continue, she attended college for the first time and successfully completed Leadership in a Shared Society, then Belfast Met to gain a Diploma in Community Development and Sustainability in the Third Sector degree.

In recent years our community group have been working in partnership with the Department for Communities on a pilot initiative (Building Successful Communities) to regenerate our area, upgrade infrastructure, and demolish the unsightly derelict houses in the area, whilst working on new plans for housing.  All of this has been in partnership with a number of local statutory, voluntary and community organisations. The (BSC) initiative supports only six projects throughout NI to participate in the pilot with our area chosen as the only one outside Belfast. This has been a real success and we have been informed by the local Housing Executive that there is now a waiting list for our community.

Sheila currently volunteers as Treasurer of Coolessan Community Association, which covers approximately 1000 houses  that fall into the Coolessan Ward Area of Limavady, which is a high area of (NIMDM) need according to NISRA Stats (DfC, NISRA 2021)
Sheila also represents the Causeway Coast and Glens Tenants Panel / Limavady Interagency, Disability Forum, Rural Residents Forum and Central Housing Forum.

She has been involved in Community Work for over 25 years in a range of roles. Sheila’s Community Development journey started as she became one of the founding members of the local community group RVRA, 1999/ 2000. During the early days, she had the opportunity to engage with several agencies including Roe Valley Women’s Network/ Education Forum with whom she had the privilege to volunteer with for a few years.

As part of her role on the Community Association she had the opportunity to join the Consumer Panel for the Housing Executive and was actively engaged in it until its closure.

Sheila thoroughly enjoys the various platforms that she sit on. It is a great way to learn about the work the Housing Executive carryout by different departments and the staff are fantastic to work with, nothing is too much bother for them to find any answers to questions that are asked of them.

The Central Forum membership gives Sheila an insight into the hard work that happens internally within the Housing Executive and to learn from all the other groups and how they have coped over the years and particularly through COVID and now during the cost of living crisis.

When asked on their experience of working with the forum, Sheila warmly responds with “The Community Based Volunteers CHF members are very inspiring! They articulate their passion as to what the tenants are telling them from the ground up and ask for changes to be made or work on a project that can make tenants lives more bearable with different life changing demand s that may have been bestowed on them”.
Prior to COVID Sheila agreed to become a member of the Central Housing Forum for the CC&G area. Sheila‘s predecessor resigned from the Central Forum due to ill health.

“It has always been my desire to be a voice for my area, to bring back all relevant and valuable information from central to my local and wider community through the Interagency and other fora’s. This has been made possible  due to the help of Supporting Communities and the Housing Executive by allowing me to take a seat on these working groups”.
Sheila is passionate about her experiences and “truly believes that the Central Forum and the various interagency meetings and Estate inspections have a positive impact on my community, and I am grateful to have a role in such a worthwhile forum.”

Sheila’s motto is: You can’t make change by sitting on the side-lines.
 “Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.” -James Baldwin.