• Resident members charter yellow logo

    The Resident Members Charter

    When residents told us our old shareholding offer didn’t give them enough say, we listened and acted. Together, we co-created the Resident Members Charter: a powerful way to make sure your voice truly shapes Eastlight's services.

    The Charter is our long-term promise to put resident views at the heart of decision-making. And through the Eastlight Community Gateway Circle, we hope to bring people together for activities that boost accountability, transparency, communication and inclusion, so your voice doesn’t just get heard, it drives real change.

    This includes: 

    • Providing opportunities for residents to scrutinise performance and get involved in improving service quality
    • Providing opportunities for meaningful two-way dialogue and embedding residents’ views, ensuring that ideas and content are sourced from local communities
    • Ensuring that diverse needs and preferences are considered when engaging in activities within the Eastlight Community Gateway Circle.

Understanding the Resident Members Charter

Residents, colleagues and Board members share what the Resident Members Charter is all about – and how it gives residents a real voice in shaping Eastlight’s services, communities and decisions. Find out how you can get involved and make a difference where you live in this short video below:

Want to get involved? Sign up to an activity with our events calendar

Our events calendar is your go-to place for discovering all the ways you can get involved with Eastlight. It brings together a wide range of activities, from neighbourhood meet-ups and community projects to workshops and special events, so you can easily find opportunities that suit your interests and schedule.

You’ll also be able to see which events your Neighbourhood Leads are attending in your area, making it easier to connect with them, ask questions, and build stronger relationships within your community.

But before you sign up, don't forget to check out the ways you can get involved with the Community Gateway Circle below.

 

Visit the calendar here
Eastlight resident, Bobbie, holding up her Gold card and standing to the right of the Resident Members Charter banner.
  • The Community Gateway Circle which includes all the opportunities residents can get involved with to influence Eastlight, including the Eastlight Residents Groups and the Active Residents Network

    The Community Gateway Circle Explained

    Our Community Gateway Circle is all about bringing people together and making it easier for residents to get involved and have their voices heard. It links up our existing groups focused on scrutiny, communications and involvement, so everything feels more joined‑up and accessible.

    Ultimately, it’s about building stronger relationships, making sure residents are at the heart of what we do, and working as one team to deliver our services in a way that really makes a difference.

    Eastlight resident, Tammy, said: "We created the circle to connect everything together, so that all the really good stuff that happens in different places in Eastlight joins up. We also wanted to improve communication, and this circle reflects something continuous, with no 'us and them'." 

    Find out how you can get involved here
An older man with white hair and glasses is leaning on a metal railing which leads up to a block of flats.

Eastlight Resident Members

As an Eastlight resident, you’re invited to become a Resident Member, a simple step that opens the door to making a real impact. You’ll get your own Membership card and regular updates through the Active Residents Network newsletter, filled with chances to share your views, join activities and help shape the future of your community. We’d love to have you on board!

A group of four women are stood around a table looking at big pieces of paper which have been written on.

Scrutiny and Service Improvement Activity

Our resident-led scrutiny programme empowers Resident Members to play an active role in shaping our services. Through this initiative, the CIC will identify key areas of the business for closer examination.

Members will have the opportunity to get involved in meaningful activities, such as surveys and workshops, that explore your day-to-day experiences. Your insights will directly influence improvements and help drive real, lasting change.

A woman is stood on her doorstep in front of a red front door. She is holding a small yorkshire terrier in her arms.

Charter Steering Group

This passionate group of residents helped design Eastlight’s new offer and are now working side by side with Eastlight staff to bring it to life. Together, they’re making sure the Charter is more than just words by turning it into real, lasting change for our communities.

A woman is sat at a table. Her two children, a young boy to her left and young girl to her right, are stood next to her.

Active Residents Network

If you’re passionate about your home, your community and making things better, the Active Residents Network is for you. It’s open to anyone who wants to share their ideas and experiences to help shape Eastlight’s services. As a member, you’ll receive regular newsletters packed with opportunities to get involved, give feedback and help drive positive change.

Eastlight's Bobby and Jo are stood with ERG Witham members who have installed a new flowerbed in their community.

Eastlight Resident Groups

Want to make a real difference in your neighbourhood? Join one of our Eastlight Resident Groups (ERGs) where residents and staff team up to improve local communities through quarterly meetings, estate walkabouts, and dedicated budgets for community projects. Join one of our four groups:

  • ERG Mid – Braintree and surrounding villages
  • ERG South – Witham and surrounding villages
  • ERG North – Halstead and surrounding villages
  • ERG Colchester – Colchester only 
Young resident Bobbie Town is sat on a sofa in her home. Her black and white cat is sat next to her.

Community voices

We know many residents want to be a bridge between Eastlight and their communities but often don’t get the information or support they need to play that role confidently. This is especially true in areas where Eastlight owns fewer homes. We’re working to change that, so every voice can be heard and every community can feel connected.

Eastlight resident, Board member and Customer Influence Committee Chair, Catherine Turner (left) and Eastlight resident and Customer Influence Committee member, Michael Ryan (right). Catherine is sitting in her wheelchair and Michael is standing next to her. They are both smiling. Two Eastlight staff members are stood chatting in the background.They are all pictured inside Eastlight House, Braintree (near the main Reception area).

Board and Committees

Our Customer Influence Committee (CIC) puts residents at the heart of Eastlight’s decision-making. Appointed by the Board, the CIC is a part of Eastlight's Governance structure. Together, they use real insight and lived experience to make sure your voice reaches the top and helps shape not just Eastlight, but the wider housing sector. It’s a powerful way to turn your perspective into progress.

Meet the CIC here
A woman is stood next to a man in a wheelchair. They are both talking to a woman who is stood on her doorstep.

Resident communication

You told us you want better communication and we’ve listened. That’s why it’s now a key focus within the Community Gateway Circle, giving you more chances to shape how we connect with you. From the letters you receive to the pages of Shine Magazine, your voice is helping us get it right.

Eastlight's Debbie Mitchell and Andy Allocca are with Eastlight family Charlea and her daughter Lilly. They are all holding onto a ribbon while at an event opening the new playground.

Resident events and consultation

We host exclusive events for Resident Members to hear your views and keep you in the loop. And when big changes are proposed, you’ll be among the first to be consulted, in line with housing regulations. It’s all about making sure your voice helps shape Eastlight’s future, every step of the way.

Sign up to an activity with our events calendar

Our events calendar is your go-to place for discovering all the ways you can get involved with Eastlight.

Visit the events calendar here
A resident talking with a staff member during the Eastlight Resident Members Charter celebration. In the background, there are more tables and chairs, with other staff members and residents chatting.