Affordable housing provider West Devon Homes has launched a new way for customers to be directly involved in shaping the services they receive through the recently launched Think Bank. Staff at West Devon Homes held a Think Bank awareness day last week at the Tavistock office in Plymouth Road and will hold another event later this month at the Okehampton office. The Think Bank was officially launched by West Devon Homes' chief executive Jean Peters. When West Devon Homes carried out a survey of customers last July, it asked if they would like an opportunity directly to influence the services they receive. They were asked to indicate which services they were interested in and the way in which they would prefer to be involved. The methods of involvement are tailored to the requirements of each customer, ranging from postal and telephone surveys, text messaging and internet surveys to attending meetings. More than 300 customers responded — 20%— and this led to the establishment of the Think Bank. Jean Peters said: 'We are really excited about this new way of approaching customer involvement and consultation. 'We already have a greatly valued relationship with our tenant panel and tenants' and residents' associations. But we wanted to introduce a means by which the wider customer population, who might not want, or be able, to be involved in formal groups can directly influence the services they receive. 'We now have a large body of tenants, with various interests and from a range of backgrounds, who can influence our service improvements in a way that suits them.' The eye catching Think Bank logo was designed by Alex Stephenson, who attended Tavistock College and is now studying at Plymouth College of Art and Design. If you are a customer of West Devon Homes and would like to know more about the Think Bank, contact the corporate issues officer Michelle Stephenson on 01822 813770.
