“I moved onto Black Haynes Road with my mum and dad back in 1968 when they became tenants of Bournville Village Trust (BVT). I moved into my own flat as a Birmingham City Council tenant in 1971 but moved back to Bournville in 1982 when I got married and had a flat where my wife and I brought up our two boys.
We moved around a bit then, owned our own home but then due to circumstances became private renters. That was so expensive and due to family illness and wanting to move closer to my mum, we became tenants of BVT again.
I think being a social housing tenant has offered us security when we needed it. As long as we pay the rent, we have a roof over our heads and no worries about repairs or a new roof. You can make the inside as beautiful as you like, make it ‘your home’, without the worry of the building. You can’t call it your own and build up a nest egg, but then these days there is no security as people can fall into negative equity.
For 32 years of my working life I was a coach driver and manager of a coach company. I have travelled to many parts of Europe including Russia, Poland, Austria and most European countries.
I have been a Scout leader for 50 years as a volunteer and still help out every Friday evening. I love hearing back from so many of the Scouts who have done so well. One became the Chief Fire officer on the Isle of Wight and another a flying executive for BP.
Through the Scouts I had already been involved with the Bournville Festival for several years but in 2015 I retired and had a bit more time to spare. From 2016 I joined the Bournville Village Council and became fully involved with helping to organise the stalls and arena acts at the Festival. I really enjoy putting something back into the community.”
Know a tenant who deserves to be recognised and has a great story to share? Please contact Jess Allan by emailing jessicaallan@bvt.org.uk or call 0300 333 6540 (Birmingham) or Fleur Hemmings by emailing fleurhemmings@bvt.org.uk or call 01952 567417 (Telford).