By joining one of our Communities of Interest, you’ll have the opportunity to play an important role in shaping our services and driving meaningful change where it matters most.
If you're interested in one of our involvement opportunities and would like more information, or if you'd just like to have a chat with someone from our Resident Engagement Team, please email us at speakup@sanctuary.co.uk. You can also let any staff member know you’re interested, and they’ll help you get started.
Make your mark, make a difference.
What's in it for me?
Joining one of our Communities of Interest offers a range of personal and professional benefits that go beyond making a difference:
-
Take part in training and gain valuable skills like teamwork, leadership, digital literacy, communication, and report writing. This skill development can improve your CV and help with future job opportunities.
-
Getting involved can give you a strong sense of purpose and boost your self-esteem. By stepping out of your comfort zone and participating in these activities, you'll enhance your confidence.
-
Being part of a group that focuses on positive change can improve your personal wellbeing. Engaging in meaningful activities helps reduce stress and increases overall happiness.
-
Most roles involve meeting new people, which is a great way to broaden your social network. If you live alone or feel isolated, joining one of our communities of interest is a good way to connect with others and be part of a supportive group.
-
Discover different services or parts of your neighbourhood that you might not have seen before.
Take part in an Experts by Experience Test
You’re the experts, right?
As residents living in our services, you have valuable insights into what works and what doesn’t.
You can help us to do better by becoming an Experts by Experience Test Assessor.
In this role, you’ll visit other services, talk to other residents, and get a firsthand look at how things are running. Your feedback will highlight what’s great and where we can improve, and you’ll let us know if you’d recommend our services to others.
If you choose to be an assessor, we’ll arrange and cover the cost of your DBS check before any visits. Travel expenses are reimbursed at 45p per mile if you drive, or we’ll provide train tickets. During your visits, we’ll supply snacks and drinks, and a Resident Engagement Officer will be there to assist you.
Get started by sending us your name, address, and contact details, along with what you think makes a good service.
Take part in an Estate Inspection
Think of Estate Inspections as a tour round your local estate, but with an eye for improvement.
As an Estate Inspector, you’ll team up with a Housing Officer and Estate Supervisor to spot areas that could be better before rating the estate as Good, Fair, or Poor based on what you find.
You’ll be on the lookout for things like:
-
Graffiti that’s affecting the look of the area
-
Broken windows that need fixing
-
Untidy gardens that need sprucing up
And the best part? Any problems you find will be addressed, and you’ll have played an important role in making your community a nicer place to be.
Take part in a Policy Review
Many of our policies and procedures affect your experience at Sanctuary Supported Living, and we want your help to make them better for everyone. No matter how long you’ve been with us, your feedback is valuable. It helps us understand your expectations and improve our services to better meet your needs.
When a policy is up for review, you can share your thoughts by:
-
Completing a short survey
-
Having a discussion with your Project Worker
-
Joining a virtual call on MS Teams
We’ll let you know how your feedback has influenced the policy and explain if any suggestions couldn’t be implemented.
Policy reviews don’t take up much of your time, and you can choose which policies you want to help with based on your interests.
Become a Customer Mentor
Your experience as a resident gives you a unique perspective on life at Sanctuary Supported Living.
Become a Customer Mentor and help our leadership team understand what it's really like living in our services.
All you have to do is let us know why you’d be a good mentor, and we’ll pair you with a member of our Leadership team. You’ll then take part in three sessions, either in person or on Microsoft Teams, where we’ll talk about your experiences and explore how to use your feedback to make improvements.
Become a Sustainability Ambassador
Have you thought about doing your bit to protect the planet?
As a Sustainability Ambassador, you’ll be passionate about making your community more eco-friendly and have ideas for a cleaner environment. You’ll collaborate with the Resident Engagement Team to review our efforts on climate change and discuss strategies for achieving Net Zero emissions.
Our brainstorming sessions are held online, so you can join from wherever you are. Plus, you can attend as many sessions as you like.
Get Involved
Looking for strategic involvement? Check out our resident panels for more ways to engage.
Get involved
Resources
Get support and guidance from a range of Sanctuary partners and external agencies.
Resources