Listen to our site
In early 2023, WSHA and Willowacre Trust issued a comprehensive survey to our tenants to better understand the areas where we could provide additional support. 748 tenants responded—the largest ever response to a WSHA tenant survey.
In response to this survey, we re-evaluated support services in order to better assist our tenants as living costs continued to spiral. Actions included:
- Expanding the support services team to include a new Energy Advice Assistant and Wellbeing Adviser.
- Developing a comprehensive list of partner organisations to signpost tenants to further assistance
- Securing GCVS social inclusion funding to provide the equivalent of wellbeing calls, warm spaces and promotion of free travel for under 22s and over 60s
- Securing funding from Smart Energy GB to promote smart meter take up by tenants and help tenants have more awareness and better control of their energy use
- Reviewing Asset Management and Repairs processes to prioritise repairs and improvements that will advance the energy efficiency of tenants’ homes and reduce fuel poverty
Willowacre Trust also secured £187,972.50 in additional funding to help directly with the Association’s response to the cost of living crisis and to support tenants. This funding included over £12,000 in energy vouchers for tenants and £20,000 towards Money Advice and Digital Support.
You can read the full 2024 Cost of Living report here.