The Active Resident Network (ARN) has been created because we want to work with anyone willing to share their expertise and passion to improve your homes, services and communities.

Network members receive regular newsletters unveiling the latest opportunities, including:

• Taking part in opportunities, in person and online, to work with Eastlight staff to shape the services you are passionate about
• Making a difference in your community through our volunteer Eastlight Residents Groups
• Learning about Eastlight and the housing sector through our Resident Academy
• Applying for paid roles, like our resident-led Customer Influence Committee.

The Resident Academy was created to give residents the knowledge to empower them to get involved with governance structures like the Customer Influence Committee and the Board.

Our online Resident Academy offers a variety of fascinating virtual courses to complete in your own time.

We are also planning Resident Academy events to provide training on a variety of topics to give you the information you need to be involved, whether with Eastlight or within your wider community.

The Eastlight Residents’ Groups (ERGs) are an opportunity for residents to work with staff to make a positive contribution to their neighbourhoods and the lives of other residents.

At quarterly meetings, residents will:

• Discover the latest updates about what’s happening at Eastlight, opportunities to get involved and what other engaged residents are getting up to.
• Hear presentations from staff about the steps Eastlight are taking to improve and address issues in their community.
• Agree on areas in their local community where they will do a walkabout with the local Estate Safety Officer (ESO) and Resident Engagement Officers (REO) to identify potential community improvements.
• Vote on funding community improvements that have a direct and positive impact on the lives of Eastlight residents.

We have three groups covering the Braintree district including, ERG Mid covering Braintree and surrounding villages, ERG South covering Witham and surrounding villages and ERG North covering Halstead and surrounding villages.

We are looking to introduce a group covering the area around Colchester in early 2025.

Our remunerated Customer Influence Committee (CIC) oversees and supports the Board so that the Eastlight residents influence decision-making.

By using insight and data and reflecting a wide variety of resident views, the Committee directly connects customer voice to the top of our organisation and across the wider sector.

The Committee is made up of between six and ten customers appointed by the Board.

You can meet them here.