Youngsters take over housing trust

SIX young Warrington residents were given the opportunity to “take over” the town’s biggest social housing provider for a day.
Golden Gates Housing Trust (GGHT) organised the day to mark the annual “Takeover Day” – a national initiative led by the Children’s Commissioner for England.
This is the first year GGHT has taken part in the event which gives children and young people the chance to shadow jobs, get involved in decision-making and offer their opinions on key issues.
Instead of attending school for the day, six young people from GGHT’s Youth panel, Young Voices of Warrington, spent the day at the Trust’s offices working on projects and making key decisions.
Morning activities included supporting staff and tenants in deciding which applications to the GGHT Community Sponsorship Fund would be successful in securing funding.
In the afternoon, the group were given a “Dragon’s Den” style marketing task and asked to develop recommendations on how GGHT could ensure their properties appealed to young people looking to move into their own home for the first time.
The young people also came up with designs for flyers and campaign ideas to promote the Trust’s homes. Each team then pitched their ideas to GGHT bosses who had the tough job of deciding the winners.
GGHT chairman Roy Smith said: “I was delighted to be able to welcome these young people to GGHT for the day.
“This is a great initiative and gave the young people who took part the chance to shadow our staff and gain valuable experience in making decisions. Our youth panel exists to help give young people a voice in the things that affect them and I can’t think of a better way of highlighting this than by giving them an opportunity to take over GGHT for the day.
“We now plan to do this every year, extending the opportunity to many more young people.”
Pictured (left to right): Ryan Ford, Christian Broughton-Bell, Dylan Williams, Carenza Foxall (Sitting down), Aled Williams and Abigail Hanson from GGHT’s Youth Panel.