Service user involvement

Hestia has an impressive track record of empowering and involving its service users in a meaningful way.  In 1996 Hestia set up a Resident and Tenant Forum to enable a genuine dialogue between service users and the organisation. This dialogue has been growing and expanding ever since and in 2006 the Resident and Tenants Forum changed its name to reflect the wider range of service users we represent.  Today our Better Lives Forum is a vibrant user led body within Hestia, offering many opportunities to influence Hestia as an organisation, as well as regular meetings, training, opportunities to volunteer and creative activities. 

Hestia aims for Service Users to have the best possible opportunities for positive outcomes to meet their needs and wishes. It is clear that the quality of services is improved and is more likely to meet Service User’s requirements when they are effectively involved. This involvement will continually evolve to inform Hestia so that we provide quality, responsive, needs led services that empower service users and enhance their control over their own lives.

This is what some of our Service Users have to say:

Annie – about her experience on an interview panel

“I found the interview experience positive and enlightening. I enjoyed it very much. This is something I would encourage others to try if the opportunity arises. Having a say in who filled the post made me feel that I had some control in my life – a thing I haven’t had for a long time."

Paul - about particpating at the Better Lives Forum

"Hestia's Better Lives Forum is such a wonderful opportunity for me, as a Floating Supported person, to meet and really connect with others receiving the same service and bring me out of what can so easily be a bubble of isolation.  Even more importantly the BLF allows me to place my situation in the context of the many other groups of people that Hestia deals with.  Participation not just makes my life better at a basic level, it enriches my life enormously."