Over 80 residents from across the borough of Macclesfield attended the annual Residents Conference held at Shrigley Hall by Cheshire Peaks & Plains Housing Trust in on 12^th March 2009. With the theme ‘Working together, moving forward together makes a difference’, the conference was developed to encourage residents to get involved in working with the Trust to improve the services they receive and help to create vibrant communities.

 

The event was hailed a huge success as residents were able to listen to exciting key speakers such as Colin Parry, chairman and co-founder of the Tim Parry Jonathan Ball Foundation and enjoy a drama sketch produced and performed by young people from the Fermain Youth and Community Centre. They also took part in motivational workshops on an array of topics such as how to prevent Anti-Social Behaviour in the community, how residents can be at the heart of the Trust’s internal processes as well as how local communities should and can work together. 

 

Residents were also given the opportunity to have their books signed by Colin Parry and have a go at developing their own artistic structures made out of cane to demonstrate how simple materials can be turned into incredible pieces of art.

 

Pete Pealing, Community Initiatives Manager at the Trust said “the involvement of our residents is vital for us to provide a high quality service that directly meets their needs. The Residents’ Conference is a great way for us to build on our relationship with the wider community and give a real opportunity for them to learn how they can work closely with us and other local organisations to impact positively on their communities.”