Practical resources for working with residents
The Community and Neighbourhood Engagement Resource Directory brings together people-centred tools and activities to help organisations engage residents in retrofit.
The resources help people understand how their homes work, feel more confident about making improvements and connect with neighbours around shared concerns. They support engagement before physical work begins and throughout a retrofit project.
Whether you work for a local authority, a housing provider or a community organisation, use the directory to find approaches that suit the people and places you work with.
What can you find in the directory?
The directory includes resources developed by organisations working directly with residents across different regions and settings. These include community groups and universities, alongside housing providers and retrofit practitioners.
Resources cover:
- Understanding the home: accessible ways to explore heat loss and energy use, or understand issues such as damp and ventilation
- Taking everyday action: activities that help residents notice how their homes behave, try small changes and learn what works for them.
- Bringing neighbours together: approaches to community engagement and organising around shared concerns, including warm, healthy homes.
- Listening to residents: tools that help people share their experiences and priorities so these can inform local projects and decisions.
How to use the directory
Browse the cards below and select one to read more, then follow its resource link to access the tool or activity.
Use Filter on the left to narrow your results, or Sort next to it to change their order. The search icon on the right lets you search by topic or keyword.
To view a larger version of the directory, click the icon in the bottom-right corner.
Share your resources
This is intended to be a living resource. We know there are many more examples in use across the country, and we would like to include them.
If you have developed or used a resource, tool or activity that helps people engage with their homes or local places, we would like to hear from you. It can be simple, informal or early-stage. It does not need to be a formal toolkit.
How to use the resources with your community
Start with residents’ experiences and what matters to them. A concern about heating bills or persistent damp can be a useful starting point for a wider conversation about home improvements.
Look for a resource that fits your purpose and the people you want to involve. Consider access needs and whether the activity works best in someone’s home or a shared community space.
Before using a resource, check its guidance and any permissions for adapting or sharing it. Build in time to listen to feedback, and explain how residents’ contributions will influence what happens next.
Questions about community engagement and retrofit
- What is community engagement in retrofit? Community engagement in retrofit means involving residents in decisions about improving their homes and neighbourhoods. It includes listening to their experiences, explaining the options available and giving people opportunities to influence the work. Engagement should continue as a project develops, with opportunities for residents to ask questions and understand how their feedback has been used.
- Who is this resource directory for? The directory is for organisations and practitioners working with residents on home improvements or neighbourhood retrofit projects. This includes local authorities and housing providers, as well as community groups. Residents organising activities in their own neighbourhoods can also use it.
- Can these resources help before a retrofit project starts? Yes. The resources can help organisations begin conversations about homes and understand residents’ priorities before a project is planned. They can also help residents explore what they want to improve and build confidence in discussing the options available.
- What does “soft retrofit” mean? Soft retrofit describes activities that help people understand their homes and feel more confident about making improvements. Examples include exploring how a home loses heat or bringing neighbours together to discuss shared concerns. These activities can take place before or alongside physical retrofit work. They support residents’ involvement but do not replace necessary repairs or building improvements.
- How can residents’ feedback inform a retrofit project? Residents have first-hand knowledge of how their homes feel and function. Their feedback can help organisations understand problems that technical assessments alone might not explain, including difficulties using heating controls or keeping rooms comfortable. Use this insight to inform project decisions. Explain what has changed in response to feedback and be open about any limits on what the project can address.
- Can I suggest a resource for the directory? Yes. If you have developed or used a tool or activity that helps residents understand their homes or get involved in local improvements, we would like to hear about it. Resources can be simple or informal, including approaches still being developed.
