Paula is Grace Eyre’s Peer-to-Peer Tenancy Support Co-ordinator. She is responsible for supporting two Peer Mentors to help Grace Eyre tenants in Brighton & Hove and West Sussex to sustain tenancies, reduce isolation and feel more able to have their say. There was a need to give tenants an alternative to Housing Officers and having Peer Mentors with lived experience of a learning disability and autism, as well as experience of managing their own tenancies, has helped bridge this gap. This is a pilot project until March 2025.
Paula has set up various forums and provided opportunities for tenants to engage. This includes monthly tenant meetings, drop-ins, workshops and a newsletter. The Peer Mentors assist in some of these areas by meeting people on a one-to-one basis and developing further activities and forums suggested by the tenants to encourage engagement.
A recently social event at Grace Eyre was the first time some of the tenants had met each other properly. The evening included a delicious buffet catered by Team Domenica and a variety of team games with people competing against each other, providing a great deal of laughter! Three tenants helped set up, organise the games, manage the door, and tidy up at the end. It was great fun and everyone really enjoyed it!
Some quotes from the Housing Officers, who also supported the event:
‘…great fun evening, great turn out, the group jelled together very well. Lots of laughs they are all looking forward to the next event.’
‘…Lots of laughing! Everyone really enjoyed the quizzes. Food was great too. A real success.’
‘…’the tenants wanted to say a big thank you and how nice it was’.