SIX Town Housing has welcomed five new members onto its board.

The organisation, which manages nearly 8,000 properties on behalf of Bury Council, always has a mix of tenants, councillors and independents on its board to ensure that appropriate challenges are handled, tenants’ needs are heard and risks are minimised.

The three councillors joining the board are Cllr Lucy Smith, Cllr Kevin Peel and Cllr Nicholas Jones. They will be replacing former members, Cllr Susan Southworth, Cllr Rhyse Cathcart, Cllr Jackie Harris and Cllr Steve Wright.

The new tenant board member, Tina Harrison, already does a lot to support people living within her community and was awarded an MBE for her services in the recent Queen's Honours list.

Ms Harrison is one of the founders of Corrie Gardeners, a group of volunteers who run environmental initiatives and social activities within Coronation Gardens in Radcliffe. She is also a key volunteer for the Trinity Foodbank, which delivers over 100 food packs locally a week. She already sits on Six Town Housing’s tenant-led Customer Review Group, who check and recommend service changes, with the group itself nominating her for this new position.

Eric Tamanis is the new independent member, which means he is neither a tenant or councillor.

Mr Tamanis, who has over 30 years of housing experience, said: "I'm looking forward to being a part of my home town housing organisation and using my local knowledge and experience to further the successes of Six Town Housing.”

The new members will be joining the existing board members, which includes Hugh Broadbent (Chair), Anthony Noblet (Chair of HR & Appeals), Clare King (Chair of ASRP Committee), Chloe King (independent) and David Howell (tenant).

Ms Harrison added: “Through my other volunteering, I speak to a whole range of tenants regularly, including some of the most vulnerable people living within our communities, and it is great that I’ll have an opportunity to provide a voice on their behalf as a tenant board member.”