What people say
“Merton Priory Homes (MPH), as a new stock transfer is building its relationships with residents and key stakeholders. Paul was commissioned to help us develop the strategic and delivery framework for our £1m Community Fund following an excellent track record in working with other partners within Circle Anglia. Paul has worked with residents to develop their confidence and voice in shaping the priorities for the investment in their communities and supported them in working with other stakeholders on an equal footing. The sense of empowerment felt by the residents involved has had a positive impact on the new relationship with MPH. The ambitious timeline for the project was delivered, which included a wide ranging research phase, facilitated events and developing and agreeing with stakeholders an ‘Economic and Community Development Strategic Plan’. MPH now has a completely tailored package which allows the Community Fund to be launched within 100 days of transfer”.
Pauline Ford- Managing Director Merton Priory Homes – part of Circle Anglia
“Paul`s involvement at Wandsworth Council started with preparing service users who had been doing service reviews with supporting people staff, to move on to be part of tender panels in re-contracting services. Paul has done three things with us. Firstly he has run two sessions to prepare a group of 20 carers to be a reference group to meet regularly with Adult Social Services as a stronger voice for carers and move carers issues along with the department. The carers thoroughly enjoyed these sessions and it provided a solid basis for the group to start holding its meetings. Secondly, Paul has run 3 training sessions with service users on `evidencing outcomes`. This is where the department is moving towards collecting personal outcome statement direct from service users about what they feel they have achieved by having social care support. Again service users really appreciated Pauls skills, clarity and his ability to get the best out of people. Finally Paul facilitated a community event with people with disabilities in the Borough wanting to move towards setting up a centre for independent living. Paul`s facilitating was critical in achieiving a very positive and practically focused set out of outcomes the group are now enacting”.
Jim Cowan – Policy and Performance Officer Adult Social Services Wandsworth Council
“Paul worked with Toynbee Hall to manage our SAFE team, which delivers innovative financial capability services to the most financially excluded people in London. Paul was an excellent coach and mentor to the team, he helped us identify and develop a new outcomes monitoring IT system, and brought his knowledge and experience to help us manage the projects and relationships with funders. This is the third time we have taken Paul on at Toynbee Hall, and he comes highly recommended”.
Mark Allan – Director of Services Toynbee Hall
“Paul revitalised our tenant forum, facilitated a successful awayday, undertook an extensive tenant consultation and managed a number of community development projects. His calm focused approach enabled us to exceed all of our expectations”.
Lawrence Stewart – Managing Director Croydon Peoples Housing Association
“I am writing to express my thanks for developing our business plan. In particular, CBMEA found the process very useful in both setting the context within which CBMEA has to operate and the views of all stakeholders to help shape a business plan that is responsive to our members needs and owned by our members”.
Anju Bhatt – Director Camden BME Alliance
“SHG commissioned Paul to work with us to conduct research on our residents training and employment needs. We selected Paul because we had come across examples of his work with other housing associations and he was highly recommended. Overall, we were very pleased with the quality of the work. Paul and his team were professional and engaged with residents in obtaining at times, sensitive information. Deadlines were met and papers produced at every stage keeping us fully informed throughout the project. The research led to Paul developing a bespoke Training and Employment Strategy. Thanks to Paul’s work, SHG now has a credible evidence base and robust strategy that we are confident will meet our residents’ needs”.
Anabel Palmer – Director of Foundation Projects Southern Housing Group
“Paul’s professional approach coupled with his patience, and passion to keeping focussed to the interests of tenants and our organisation, has given us the tools to manage change in the new world of ‘commissioning’. This has enabled us to evolve and continually be one step ahead and be professional”
Meric Apak – Chair of Camden Federation of Tenants & Residents Associations
“Paul undertook his work with patience, skill and professionalism and never lost sight of the importance and value of tenants’ views. This resulted in a report that has enabled us to move forward with confidence, playing a real part in improving standards for tenants across the borough.”
Maggie Rafalowicz – Assistant Director of Housing Strategy & Regeneration London Borough of Brent”
“Paul has provided community development and resident involvement projects for Circle Anglia over the past four years. I have no doubt as to Paul’s ability to deliver both strategic and local involvement programmes. Paul is able to work with residents, provide training that meets their needs, empower them to understand their rights and methods of involvement available, and to further ensure agencies provide what is required of them. Paul’s knowledge and experience of the involvement and regeneration field is vast, along with good practice through his own work and others, which helps to support any work he takes on board.”
Bina Omare – Head of Community Development & Growth Circle Anglia Housing Association.
“Paul has worked on a range of projects for Hyde Plus over the last 4 years. These projects include; support in regeneration bids, project delivery, facilitation and evaluations. He is adept at building trust very quickly with residents; this enables him to understand the needs of the community he is working with. He is able to work with volunteers and workers from the community and voluntary sector as well as senior officers from the statutory sector. Paul has met all the deadlines set. We will happily work with him again”
Gail Weston – Head of Regeneration Hyde Plus
“Paul was instrumental in building the foundations of the neighbourhood management programme in Honor oak, and also the wider Lewisham neighbourhood management programme. Paul organised community consultation events, community training programmes, with both residents and service providers. Paul also undertook evaluation of the Lewisham neighbourhood management programme. This set the pace for the continuation of neighbourhood management under the local area agreement. Paul was particularly successful at engaging and reaching the most hard to reach groups. Paul has assisted residents to meet with agencies in an equal way through training and workshops. Paul has excellent conflict and resolution skills and is an excellent listener and problem solver. The Honor oak neighbourhood management project is a national award wining project.”
Samantha Dias – Honor Oak Neighbourhood Management Coordinator
“Paul has worked for VAC for a number of years on a variety of subjects and areas. He has done sterling work on Social Enterprise training, evaluation of a grants programme and a strategic plan for supporting community centres in the London Borough of Camden”
Simone Hensby -Director Voluntary Action Camden
“We’ve worked with Paul on a number of projects including neighbourhood management and a best value review of Community Regeneration. Paul has always been highly professional and produced good results on all the projects he’s been involved with.”
Philip Miles – Head of Regeneration Family Mosaic Housing Group
“BANG has worked with Paul over the last three years in various capacities, particularly business planning and project evaluation. Paul is professional, efficient and above all provides value for money. His work has been crucial in Life FM’s success both in delivery and attainment of the 5 year community radio licence.”
Jennifer Ogole – Chief Executive BANG Edutainment Ltd
“As interim director of Beauchamp lodge Settlement Paul played a critical role in moving the organisation forward and paving the way for the permanent Director. He was crucial in helping the new director to settle in and get quickly to grips with the organisation. Paul’s involvement with the organisation continued as he worked with the new Director to help produce the Business Plan. Paul’s business sense and commitment to social equality are a perfect match and he was a great asset to Beauchamp Lodge during the time of his involvement.”
Hayley Rose – Chief Executive Beauchamp Lodge Settlement