‘Small associations in a big society’ is a new web-based resource aimed at helping members with less than 500 properties to engage with their local MPs.

It is packed with activities you can get involved in, hints and tips on the best way to build relationships with local politicians and information on our latest campaign activities to get you started.

If you’re a small association with big ambitions forpromoting your tenants and the work you do to MPs, please visit housing.org.uk/smallassociations for more information.

If you are a housing association with fewer than 500 properties, this briefing is for you. We want to help you showcase what you do to local and national politicians.

It’s tough to prioritise this kind of activity when your staff are already working hard to provide much-needed homes and services. But we know you were part of the ‘Big Society’ well before politicians coined the phrase.

Even a small investment of time will pay big dividends in the longer term.

Shout about it

We know that the most effective way to improve politicians’ views of housing associations is through direct contact.

The better they understand your work locally, the more likely they are

to support the sector nationally – voting on bills and lobbying ministers on the issues that affect you and your tenants.

30 minutes to a day

The National Housing Federation has created an online resource with you in mind. Whether you can spare 30 minutes, an hour or a whole day, we have a range of ideas which will suit your time, knowledge and capacity.

Overleaf, you will find a few practical steps you can take to build a relationship with your local MP.

There are many more ideas from housing.org.uk/smallassociations.

Working together, we can ensure that MPs lobbied by us are inspired by you.

Small associations in a ‘Big Society’

Small is Beautiful

www.housing.org.uk/smallassociations

Build up contact with your MP’s staff

Arrange a regular catch up with the people who work in the MP’s constituency office. They will deal with your residents’ complaints or queries.

Building a good relationship and keeping them informed of what’s happening can be invaluable. For example, if you know there will be temporary delays to repairs, it is better that they hear it from you first. And tell them what you are doing to resolve the problem.

If you have any questions on dealing with MPs or their staff, email emma.burnell@housing.org.uk.

Images: Front Page L-R: Wiltshire Rural Housing Association, English Rural Housing Association, Rockingham Forest Housing Association

Back Page: Top to Bottom: Bristol Community Housing Foundation, Greenoak Housing Association, Crosby Housing Association

Share your stories

Why not share your achievements with policy makers? If you have a regular newsletter, an easy way of letting your MP know what you are doing is to send them a copy.

We’d like to hear about it too. If you send us your press releases and tenant newsletters, we can use them to give MPs examples of the great work you do.

So if you’ve got a great bit of news that highlights your achievements, share it with them and with us. Email: emma.burnell@housing.org.uk.

30 minutes

a day

1 hourmonthly

Invite MPs to your open days

This will probably take half a day to plan and the MP will then be with you for another half a day at most. Give your MP plenty of options for dates. They are in Westminster for most of the week, so are most likely to be able to visit on a Friday.

Make sure you involve your tenants and invite the local press. Plan a good itinerary which shows off the best of the work you do, but be prepared to be adaptable – they may have less time with you than you both hoped.

We’d love to share your pictures of visits from MPs. Please email stories and pictures to emma.burnell@housing.org.uk.