National Residents’ Group

The National Residents’ Group (NRG)  helps to shape services, strategy and policy around customer needs and monitors decisions that have been made by the Metropolitan Board.  Made up of up to 12 customers from across the organisation, and up to two independent members, the National Residents’ Group monitors Metropolitan’s operational performance across our housing and care & support services. The group also scrutinises Metropolitan’s approach to involving our customers, assessing the impact and benefits of involvement to them and the organisation, and the value for money this offers. It also provides a way for Metropolitan customers to raise concerns with the regulator, once they have exhausted the internal resolution processes.

The National Residents’ Group meets bi-monthly in London, Nottingham and Cambridge. Members are recruited for their ability to challenge Metropolitan constructively and to represent the views of our diverse customers. The group has recently undertaken a skills analysis of all its members with a view to arranging appropriate training.

The National Residents’ Group’s objectives are to:

• Work in partnership with Metropolitan and be the voice of customers
• Have membership on and work with Metropolitan’s Customer First Committee
• Link into  involvement structures within each region and help achieve good working relations between each region and its involvement structure
• Make sure that each customer has an equal opportunity to get involved in shaping policies, procedures and strategy, as well as the decisions taken in the day-to-day management of homes and overall decision-making processes
• Assist Metropolitan and its staff in the formulation of policies, service delivery, strategies and other appropriate activity
• Consider reports and recommendations about Metropolitan’s service delivery, strategies and other appropriate activity
• Consider reports and recommendations about Metropolitan’s service provision and respond if appropriate
• Have a scrutinising role over Metropolitan’s involvement activities and structures
• Reply to consultation from the government and any other relevant bodies
• Have links to other national residents’ groups

National Resident’s Group members

• Jennifer Corbett (Chair)
• Terry McLoughlin
• Hamid Behvandi
• Frederick Limbaya
• Trudy Hughes
• Anne Vivian-Smith
• Saheed Adekunle Lawal
• Stewart Jackson

 Jennifer Corbett (Chair)

Jennifer joined the Group in March 2011, as a leaseholder representative. An active participant in local residents meetings and site inspections, Jennifer is pleased to have the opportunity to make a contribution to Metropolitan’s future plans, always representing the customer’s viewpoint.

Professionally, Jennifer is a Management Accountant working in London’s West End and is also a qualified Project Manager, Vocational Assessor and Numeracy and Literacy Supporter. She mentors graduates and is an active member of a women’s network based in East London. Jennifer is a widow with two grown-up children and enjoys cinema, gardening, knitting and puzzles.

Terry McLoughlin

Terry joined the NRG in September 2008 to represent customers in London. He leads the group on diversity and is Chair of his local resident association.

Hamid Behvandi

Hamid was born in Iran and completed his primary and high school education in the south of Iran, going on to get a degree in petrochemical engineering from Tehran. He came to the United Kingdom in 2000 and is currently a student at Derby college, doing a construction management course. As well as his membership of Metropolitan’s National Resident’s Group, Hamid also works as a volunteer with his local community Persian cultural association and the Red Cross.

“I am a very active person and as I believe that the most important thing in life is health. I do a lot of exercise such as walking, running, cycling and dancing and I try to help other people to be very active and healthy as well”said Hamid.

Frederick Limbaya

Frederick joined the National Residents’ Group in February 2011 to represent customers in London. He has lived with Metropolitan for the past four years. Frederick has previously worked as resident chair person at Drapers City Foyer Hostel and believes that membership of the NRG will give him the opportunity to make a positive contribution and a vital difference to society. He has recently completed a degree in Economics and Social Policy which he believes has given him a variety of practical skills that he will diligently and enthusiastic apply to this role.

He also enjoys meeting new people, playing football, running and spending time with his family. Frederick is looking forward to working with the members of NRG and Metropolitan’s staff to make a difference its residents.

Trudy Hughes

Trudy joined NRG in March 2011. She liked the idea of giving something back to local residents. Having not been involved with anything like this before she is looking forward to the challenge!

Trudy enjoys going to the gym and catching up with friends and family.

Anne Vivian-Smith

Following in her mother’s footsteps, Anne spent most of my life working in the voluntary/community sector, helping out at jumble sales and baking cakes for fetes. At the age of 21 she progressed to hostel work, chairing charities and eventually managing charities at local and regional level. With this good fortune, Anne was able to study for an MBA in Public Service Management and other qualifications in Strategic Management.

“I’m a total anorak. Bring on the details, I love ‘em!’ says Anne.

Saheed Adekunle Lawal

Saheed is a housing and social care practitioner currently working in a supported housing. With qualifications in Housing Management and Maintenance and he is a member Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) and has a Mentoring and Enabling Others qualification from South Bank University. Saheed’s current role involves the provision of housing related support to vulnerable adults, housing management, developing team plans and monitoring performance.

Saheed is currently an active member of his local residents group. “I feel very privileged to be appointed a member of the NRG. Membership of the NRG will no doubt will give me the opportunity to make positive changes and give back to the society” said Saheed.

Stewart Jackson

Stewart Jackson joined the NRG last year after moving in to a Spirita property in 2009. Before moving to a Metropolitan property, Stewart was an active member of the National Sheltered Housing Strategy Group, Guiness Midlands Customer Panel and the Arboretum Tenants and Residents’ Association.

An engineer and project manager by trade before retirement, Stewart continues to put his engineering skills to good use, having rebuilt a crashed vintage aircraft from scratch.