Tenant Academy

Good news stories

The Tenant Academy delivers pre-tenancy training to applicants living in supported housing. We use this opportunity to see if learners need any support accessing other training or employment.

Here is how the learner describes their experience:

I attended the pre-tenancy training. Once the course was completing I was asked by the TA officer if I need any help/support with anything else such as work/courses – I said I’m just looking for a job since being made redundant and being on maternity leave.

I was then asked if I would be interested in an office job as there was a job within the council. I said I would give it a good go as I had a basic experience of an office job. She kept me updated and offered me encouragement so I applied.

I then got offered an interview, I was given interview training before my interview. I attended the interview, and I was offered the job. I wouldn’t have applied for the job if it wasn’t for the TA officer encouraging me.

I have been working for SBC now for nearly two years and enjoy the job I do.
- Tenant Academy participant

Customer feedback

The course was very informative, well explained and I have learnt more on Council tenancies, benefits and repairs.
- Tenant Academy participant
I am now able to bulk cook and save money.
- Tenant Academy participant
You’re doing a good job, this is very useful information.
- Tenant Academy participant
The course was helpful, and I have learnt to budget better.
- Tenant Academy participant

Tenant Academy highlights from the year

We are proud to say that we have worked with 53 people over the year, supporting them to complete, functional skills, safeguarding,  budgeting and life skills.

Over the year we also had a total of 1182 courses completed online and we attended local schools and held mock interviews for their students.

We hosted a young person from Horizons College with their work experience. They worked with us on lots of different projects which has been rewarding for them and for us.

Here is what the learner said:

During my time at Swindon Borough Council my work experience has been good and there’s been plenty of work and courses to complete.
- Tenant Academy participant

Here is what the college said:

Since starting work experience at Swindon Borough Council J’s confidence has soared. J is speaking confidently about his skills and abilities and linking this to his future aspirations and his current work he does with the Tenant Academy Team.
- Tenant Academy participant

We held Tenant Steering Group meetings, to see what the Tenant Academy is working on, and to provide feedback so we can be sure we were delivering what customers want and need.

We also installed translation software and translated the pre-tenancy training into different languages for applicants where English was not their first language.

If you would like a translated copy, email tenantacademy@swindon.gov.uk.

Annual report

The Tenant Academy Team helps each person to unlock their potential, develop skills and take positive steps towards their future.

Working with customers to develop their skills, we have delivered the following training:

  • Tenancy (e-learning)
    • Number of customers who completed the course: 402
       
  • Be the Change (e-learning)
    • Number of customers who completed the course: 268
       
  • DIY - Decorating your home (e-learning)
    • Number of customers who completed the course: 256
       
  • Loan Shark Awareness (e-learning)
    • Number of customers who completed the course: 256
       
  • Face to face Tenancy workshops
    • Number of customers who completed the course: 34
       
  • Budgeting: workshops for customers living within supported housing schemes
    • Number of customers who completed the course: 10
       
  • Every penny counts: delivered online and face to face. Slow cookers and recipes for low cost, tasty meals were given out on completion.
    • Number of customers who completed the course: 24
       
  • Greenlight to housing: affordability assessments to allow applicants to access SBC housing
    • Number of customers who completed the course: 4
       
  • Designated Safeguarding Lead
    • Number of customers who completed the course: 2
       
  • Fire Marshall training
    • Number of customers who completed the course: 3
       
  • Food Hygiene
    • Number of customers who completed the course: 3
       
  • Safeguarding children (level 2)
    • Number of customers who completed the course: 3
       
  • Safeguarding adults (level 2)
    • Number of customers who completed the course: 4

Tenant Academy, Enterprise Works, Tenants First and Swindon Borough Council logos

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