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Sandwell Community Information & Participation Service (SCIPS)

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A brief history of SCIPS

During the late 1980's the tenants' movement within Sandwell managed to successfully resist an attempt by the Central Government of the day to move some of Sandwell's housing stock into a Housing Action Trust. After managing this successful blocking manoeuvre the tenants asserted their right to have an independent autonomous borough-wide organisation to serve the tenants of Sandwell. This 'people power' was the catalyst for the development of the organisation known today as Sandwell Community Information and Participation Service (or simply SCIPS!) This organisation was originally and for many years known as Sandwell Tenants & Residents Federation but we changed our name to SCIPS in late 2002 as we moved to charitable status. SCIPS was established in 1989 with a small grant along with a seconded officer from Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council (SMBC). During the following years the organisation made much progress and gained much experience, especially around the issues of:

Tenants rights.
The formation of new Tenants & Residents Associations.
Partnership working (especially with SMBC).
Raising the profile of the tenants movement locally in Sandwell.

SCIPS had come a long way, but was still some way of achieving the original vision of a fully independent and self-governing tenants organisation. The realisation of that original vision came in 1994, when SCIPS negotiated a funding package which enabled the organisation to directly employ their own staff. Having recruited staff the tenants felt were fully committed to the organisation SCIPS continued to prosper. Two more major milestones were reached in a short space of time –

SCIPS registration as a Limited Company with a Board of Directors made up of tenants.
SCIPS opened its own resource centre (which is still in operation today). The centre being officially opened in 1996 by Nick Raynsford, MP (Shadow Minister for Housing & Construction).

Who we are?

We are a small UK based registered charity providing information, support, advice and training to local Tenants & Residents Associations, individuals and where appropriate to the wider local community. Over a fifteen year period we have accumulated a wide knowledge and experience base which we hope to be able to share with the wider world via our Community Information focused website SCIPS.

We are completely independent with no political affiliations and we are able to offer support and advice without any agenda. We further pride ourselves in providing a professional yet friendly service. Ths website is therefore an extension of our current work and future plans.

www.scips.org.uk