Lone Barn Court and Sapphire Close Estate Roadshow

Residents at Lone Barn Court recently had the opportunity to meet with colleagues from across Orwell during a community roadshow designed to bring services directly to the community.

Representatives from a range of teams, including Tenancy Sustainment, Repairs, Estates, Customer Insight and Talent, were on hand to answer questions, listen to feedback and offer support on a variety of topics.

The roadshow created a welcoming space for residents to have open conversations with colleagues, discuss any concerns they may have, and share their experiences of living in an Orwell home. By having multiple teams available in one place, residents were able to access advice, gain information and, where possible, see issues addressed quickly.

Gathering feedback

Our key objective of every roadshow is to understand what residents enjoy about living at Orwell property, what’s working well, and where change could be made.

Residents were invited to share their thoughts by responding to three questions:

What makes Lone Barn Court and Sapphire Close special?

• “What makes this community special is the mix of different ages, cultures and backgrounds. It’s a welcoming place with a real sense of community.”

• “People look out for each other here, and that community spirit makes a real difference.”

What would you like to see more of?

• “I’d like to see more investment in communal areas, both inside and outside, to help keep them looking their best.”

• “The communal spaces have lots of potential. A little extra care and maintenance would make a big difference.”

What would make the biggest difference?

• “I’d love to see more shared spaces where neighbours can sit, chat and get to know each other.”

• “Creating more places for residents to meet and spend time together would help strengthen the community even further.”

By listening to what residents would like to see more of, we can explore opportunities to make positive changes that enhance life at Lone Barn Court and support a thriving community.

Jack Trigg, Orwell’s Estate Services Manager, reflected on the day and shared his thoughts on the event:

“I really enjoyed seeing other team members of Orwell interact with tenants, witnessing a member of staff using sign language to communicate with a tenant was wonderful. Also being able to meet people who you have communicated via email in person is great.”

Sharing her perspective on the roadshow, Amanda Dixon, Orwell’s Customer Resolution Officer, said:

“Lone Barn was my first roadshow, and I thought it went well. Everyone worked together as a team, and the event was well organised throughout. One of the key takeaways for me was a conversation with a resident who said, “I love living here. I’ve been here for 13 years and it’s great.” I believe that says a great deal about the community and the positive experience people have living there. It was genuinely uplifting to hear and a real reminder of the impact our services can have on residents’ lives.”

A big thank you to everyone who took the time to attend the roadshow, speak with our colleagues, and share their thoughts and experiences.

Community events such as these help us strengthen our relationships with residents, better understand local priorities, and ensure customers’ voices continue to shape the services we provide.

We look forward to hosting our final estate roadshow of the year at Herivan Close/ Gardens in Lowestoft on 17^th September.