Over the past few years, our High Trees Community Action team has been out and about, listening to the concerns of residents on the Fields Estate and helping them come together to tackle the issues that matter most to them. More than 50 residents have contributed their perspectives to a listening report which summarises many of the challenges facing residents.
Over the last two years a group of residents have met regularly to discuss improvements to the estate. The High Trees Community Action team have supported the group to think through the practical steps they need to take to secure change. Residents have witnessed tangible improvements because of their campaigns, with bin areas and communal spaces receiving much-needed improvements.
As one resident put it, “When we came to the meeting […] you begin to see that there was an opportunity here for all these voices to unite and have all these issues amplified. That is what we have been striving to do over the last couple of years.”
In February, the group hit a major milestone: officially becoming a Tenants and Residents Association (TRA) recognised by the Wandle Housing Association, joining just two other active TRAs among Wandle’s extensive housing stock of over 5000 properties. This formal recognition not only demonstrates the impact of their work but also strengthens their voice, expanding their platform to advocate for their needs and concerns.
Now, the group is moving ahead with ambitious plans for improvements to their community and housing, aiming to secure better bins, improved doors, spruced-up communal spaces, and more consistent bin collections. Reflecting on the journey ahead, one member of the TRA summed it up, “I will stay [involved] and what motivates me to do that is the fact that we are now getting heard.”