We can also work with your participation or community development team to help develop groups where there is under representation.

Working with federal structures and dealing with conflict within community groups is our specialty. We have helped many groups resolve their internal conflict issues provided guidance on constitutional development, standing orders and rules, codes of conduct and financial training and auditing. Please call for further information.

Projects
The WTF undertakes projects funded from a variety of sources. Projects usually concern housing, regeneration and community issues. Examples include:

• Youth project – examining how to engage young people between 16-24 people and help them sustain their tenancies (A partnership programme with TPAS Cymru).
• Best Value – Assisting tenants to understand and be part of their local authorities plans to provide best value in service provision.
• Compact development – Assisting tenants to develop meaningful voluntary agreements with their landlords and a variety of voluntary, statutory and private sector agencies.
• Key Tenants Advocates Scheme - Consists of volunteers who are trained and supported to provide information and support to regions and their groups. they also have a development function, helping to develop and particularly, support new TRA members through their early months.

Collation of member responses to consultation documents 
We provide information to our members concerning current consultations being conducted by the Welsh Assembly Government and Westminster.

Lobbing the Welsh Assembly Government and Westminster
We are fortunate to have an open-door policy with the Welsh Assembly Government and are able to work constructively concerning issues of concern raised by members. Over the years we have lobbied for:

• a right to participate
• hard wired smoke alarms in all rented accommodation
• sprinkler systems in sheltered complexes
• a single secure tenancy for all tenants in the social housing sector
• extending the Right to Manage to housing associations tenants
• improved safety rating systems for houses of multiple occupation
• a compulsory registration scheme for private rented accommodation
• tenants friend system when considering options in housing investment as well as a charter for tenant advisers

Lobbying the movers and shakers of housing in Wales
As a founder member of Housing Forum Cymru we have a seat around the table with all the primary housing and care organisations in Wales. This enables the tenants’ voice to be heard where it matters.

Utilising ICT to interact with tenants
We have undertaken to explore and utilise information and communication technology more over the next three years, to enable tenants to interact with th WTF from all parts of Wales. Through the professional development of our website and other e-communication technologies, we aim to obtain improved e-interaction. We will support tenants to develop their own sites and provide a hyper link to them from our own site.

The WTF Community Awards Scheme
The WTF’s Community Awards Scheme recognises the achievements made by individual and collective participation in communities. For further information look on the news pages.

For Further information about the services offered by the WTF, contact our Member Services Team on 01685 723922 or email sharon@welshtenantsfed.org.uk.