Meet your new Resident Leaders

Zimbabwe-born domestic abuse survivor, Rue, is on a mission to improve, and increase representation, across our estates.

"Many people think landlords just want their rent, but I’ve witnessed first-hand how Eastlight cares for us, takes an interest and aims to give us the best customer experience – and the CIC is key to that success.

Having lived in my Eastlight home with my husband and daughter for ten years now, I’ve always been one to hold Eastlight to account.

It’s the reason I joined their Community Empowerment Team last year, where I engaged with many of you to help clean up our estates, support local charities and make our communities better places to live.

In my new role, I want to encourage residents who look like me to speak up and get involved in big ways and small. I want to help put power behind your words, so show up and help make a difference."

Halstead-based retiree, Michael Ryan, lives in an Eastlight bungalow with partner, Pauline, and he can’t wait to put his skills to the test.

"During my career, I’ve led some iconic rail and construction projects in the UK and overseas, and spent the last 15 years focused heavily on health, safety and wellbeing. And whilst that journey’s come to an end, I still have a lot to give.

With a keen interest in social housing, I joined Eastlight’s Resident Academy back in February. Now, I hope to use my expertise more widely to provide our residents with an improved standard of life.

I want to ensure that Eastlight uses its resources to the fullest, such as their front-line teams and contractors, to identify safety issues and enable the care elderly and other vulnerable people need - especially those who never ask for it."

New-build resident, Magenta, has lived in Sudbury for three years, and you might recognise her from All In.

"I was so grateful to have joined Eastlight’s All In Incubator programme, working in the Colchester Community Team to create Trusted – an initiative providing people with invaluable support through the cost-of-living crisis.

Once the year-long scheme ended, I wanted to do more to help Eastlight’s residents, specifically those that belong to my own micro-community in Suffolk, and a role on the CIC just seemed the most natural fit.

Like many of us, my Eastlight home is my forever home, and I’m excited to ask the simple but important questions around how we’re building homes with residents in mind: What’s Eastlight’s thinking? What haven’t they thought about? How are we involved in the design process?

I’m expecting many interesting and passionate conversations!"