Friday, 17 November 2017
The services we offer to all groups in membership include:
Friday, 17 November 2017
Groups registered with SMBC receive the support offered to community groups but are also eligible for additional support - which is provided through a grant funding arrangement from Sandwell MBC.
Such support can be tailored to meet the needs of your group - please contact us for additional information if you are part of a local tenants and residents group.
Friday, 17 November 2017
As an individual member you will receive from us:
Individual membership provides lots of scope for personal development. Involvement will help build personal confidence and introduce you to a range of transferable skills that are prized by employers. It is also a way of demonstrating to a potential employer you are a self-motivated and community minded person - in fact just the sort of person they would want to offer employment to.
Friday, 17 November 2017
Chair
I have been a member of SCIPS since 1995 either as a member of a TRA or as an Individual member. During this time I have lived in Tividale, Oldbury, Langley and now Smethwick and have encountered many of the issues that affect tenants on a daily basis.
Over the years I have been involved in many of the major pieces of consultation that have taken place for example Compulsory Competitive Tendering, Estate Renewal Challenge Fund and the Options Working Group looking at the four options given to the local authority by the government. One of which was the creation of Sandwell Homes as an ALMO. I was also a Tenant Inspector for 13 years and am now a Tenant Auditor. The other tenant auditors and I look at all the services that tenants receive and produce reports with recommendations to improve services for the tenants of Sandwell.
I became a director of SCIPS in 2001 and I have held the position of Chair since 2010 working closely with the staff and Management Sub Group.
I have a BTEC, HNC and degree in Housing studies and am a corporate member of the Chartered Institute of Housing.
Vice Chair
I have been a member of SCIPS since the 90's and have been on the Board since 2015.
Over the past 20 years I have been an active member of Sandwell's tenant movement. I have also been involved in tenant and residents associations, housing services panels, complaints panel, housing of older people, repairs groups and the new tenants view club.
In my role as Vice-Chair he works closely with the Chair and SCIPS Manager.
Outside of SCIPS I am Chair of Rowley Community Group which meets every six weeks to support tenants and residents of Rowley and address any issues or concerns they may have.
Director
I was elected to the Board of Directors and Trustees in April 2015 and have been a member of SCIPS since 2001.
I have lived in Smethwick since the early 70's. I was also a member of Windmill Lane TRA during the 1980's and was member of Mile Oak Court TRA until the block was pulled down in the late 1990's/
I was also secretary to Thompson Gardens TRA until the group folded.
Director
Have lived on Harvills Hawthorn estate since 2000. Worked at Sandwell CABx 1985-1990: Team Leader on West Smethwick Estate (‘Concrete Jungle’) 1985-86, then Joint Manager Smethwick CAB 1996-1990. Sandwell District CABx trustee 2008- 2016. I have 40 years experience in the voluntary sector in a range of roles - volunteer, project worker, manager, trustee – in organisations ranging from local frontline delivery to regional infrastructure. I work at the Chinese Community Centre-Birmingham where I have gained community development skills that would be relevant to SCIPS as a capacity-building organisation. I am keen to be involved with a Sandwell organisation.
Director
I have been a member of SCIPS for about 21 years and have been a Board Member for about 12 years.
I enjoy going to meet friends on the Board of Directors and Trustees and the staff that are involved in SCIPS Management.
Director
Having been a member of Hateley Cross Big Local Partnership for 4 years and now co-chair of the Partnership and the green spaces sub-group, I have formed a close working relationship with SCIPS, our local trusted organisation, and its staff with whom I meet regularly.
As I am retired from full time work, I am both willing and able to devote some of my time to this role. Having previously worked in Local Authority senior management and as a freelance consultant running my own limited company, I feel I have some transferrable skills to assist me in the role.
Director
I am an active member of Essex Avenue TRA and Hateley Cross Big Local. I am also involved in setting up a community pantry at the Hub in Hateley Heath. I enjoy mixing with people and being involved with the local community. If I can help others I will. When I was working, I was an office administrator and an accounts administrator dealing with purchases, sales and nominal ledger, VAT, Petty Cash, Wages, Bank reconciliations and general office duties. I always give 100% to any tasks I am given. I have done a 3 year and 2 year position on SCIPS Board in the past and have been on Greets Green Partnership 9 years and 5 years as a Board Director. Tenant Inspectors for 22 years and a member of SCIPS for 16 years and at present on Tenants View Panel and complaints panel for Sandwell Council and was also Chair of Agewell 2016.
Treasurer
I have been a member of SCIPS for many years now and served on the Board of Directors for quite a few of those.
I returned to SCIPS Board ofDirectors and Trustees in 2022.
I have also served on some of the Sub Committees. I have been in the Tenant Movement for many years and have played lots of roles, and I have also been with Cotterills Farm TMO for over 25 years.
The Board of Directors are an elected body which leads the organisation.
Eligible members are invited ahead of the AGM to nominate themselves or other suitable candidates to join the SCIPS Board of Directors.
As a duly elected Director you will be expected to oversee the running of the Company and to ensure all aspects of SCIPS legal requirements are undertaken. You will have a clear role in helping to form policies, manage staff and guide and steer the Company to ensure we have good governance in the day to day business of the company.
Director’s skills are regularly utilised at Board and General Committee meetings. You may also be requested to attend and to represent the Company at events such as conferences and seminars.
A Director’s role can be challenging but not difficult and your commitment, support and enthusiasm would be well utilised in the progression and in the management of the organisation.
Full training and support is provided to all board members.
Friday, 17 November 2017
"SCIPS is a non-political, independent, charitable organisation led by Sandwell residents. We offer facilities, skills and expertise to provide a range of high quality services and a link for all communities to consult on local, regional and national, Housing and Regeneration issues. SCIPS exist to enable an effective exchange of views and opinions, enabling communities to influence and affect change."
Sandwell Community Information and Participation Service is a community – led organisation guided by principles of empowerment, democracy and inclusion. These principles form the fundamental ethos of the company, and are enshrined in our Mission Statement and expanded upon our Core Values.
Our core values are the basis upon which services are provided, projects developed, and the overall vision of the organisation realised.
Empowerment
Equality
Independent
Partnership
Professional
