BETRA Tenant Management Organisation (TMO) was formed in April 2004, part of a government scheme to help give back some power to residents on estates.
We are run by a small, voluntary board consisting of local residents, supported by the estate manager Lloyd Edwards and a small staff team. 
Our aims
We strive to make our community a friendly, welcoming and comfortable place to live. We work to ensure that our estate is maintained and our residents supported to the highest levels possible. And we encourage residents to play an active part in the running of our organisation, the building of our community. Our estate Set in Harold Hill, part of the London Borough of Havering in East London, our estate is made up of 13 Houses, all of which are three stories high: BETRA EventsBETRA Bingo
The last Wednesday of each month, in the boardroom, from 5-7pm Meet friends and neighbours for an easy-going chat over a few games of bingo, followed by an end of game buffet on the house. All Annual General Meeting 15 August Home SwapDid you know the mutual exchange scheme allows social housing tenants to advertise their property with a view to swapping their home with another social housing tenancy?
If you would like to advertise your flat for a mutual exchange, we can publish your home’s details here. We will not publish names and addresses, just the key information. Here are three local properties currently available for a home swap: ● 1 bed looking for a 2 bed (any floor). ● 2 bed looking for a 3 bed (any floor). ● 2 bed looking for a ground floor or house 3 bed. If interested in either of these properties, or you would like to advertise your property in this newsletter, or if you have friends in the area that are looking to swap, please get in touch with the office. 
The latest BETRA NewsOur newsletter is published quarterly. If you would like to contribute an article, perhaps on the ways we can improve our community, or if you have any other suggestions for the things we could include, please get in touch with Lindsey. All ideas welcome.
See back copies of BETRA News. Other publications from BETRA
BETRA News isn't the only new publication to tell you about. We also have brand new editions of both our. Also available to read on this website is our Out-of-hours Emergency Procedures booklet and our Residents Handbook. 
Need help with computers?Residents sometimes ask us for help with using computers. In fact, there is help available in our local neighbourhood.
ICT Skills Training At The Betty Strathern Centre, ICT Skills Training provide free basic computer courses to local adult communities in the areas of East London and Essex. Training ranges from the basics, such as how to turn on a computer, searching the Internet, creating and using emails, to more advanced accredited courses using the Microsoft Office programmes. For the accredited courses, there would be a small charge towards the cost of your second qualification certification. Tuesdays 10:15 – 12:15 at Betty Strathern Centre, 41 Myrtle Road, Harold Hill, Romford, Essex, RM3 8XS Website: ictskillstraining.org.uk Harold Hill Library Then there's always Harold Hill Library. Our local is located on Hilldene Avenue. It’s a very popular facility, fully accessible, and with lots of events and activities, including a Citizens Advice Service every Monday and Thursday 10am-2pm. You can phone Harold Hill Library on 01708 434973 for more information. Here ere are some of the facilities it has to offer: • 11 computers providing internet access • Homework station • Four car parking spaces • Six cycle posts • Minicom • Limited Exhibition space • Adult reading group • Young at Heart group that meets the last Tuesday of every month • "Reading Buddies" to help your children develop their reading skills • Regular baby rhyme time sessions for under threes and story times for under fives • Black and white photocopier • E-books and audio books. 
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Thumbs up for BETRAOn Monday 22 July, the continuation ballot count took place at the BETRA office, and the message from residents was clear: Carry on BETRA!
You may have seen the results on our notice boards. We had a resounding yes vote of confidence in this our latest five- year ballot. Of 72 votes cast, 71 were in favour of BETRA, meaning we comfortably exceeded the 51% of votes needed for BETRA to stay looking after our estate for another 5 years. The ballot was carried out by Havering independent Community Engagement team in our office. Residents and Committee members were present to witness it all, and all enjoyed the food we laid on for the event. As the result was announced, our Acting Chair Wendy said: “I’m delighted with the result. It shows we are clearly doing some things right, all across the estate. I want to say a huge thank you to Lloyd and the staff for all their hard work over the last five years, and here's to the next five year’s hard work in support of our community!” 
Above, Lloyd Edwards, BETRA Estate Manager, and below, Jennie Goddard, our Part Time Housing Assistant. 
Local Heroes
Let’s hear it for BETRA’s community wardens. For the last 10 years or so, they have played an important role in supporting our community. Community wardens work alongside other Council staff, the police and police support officers, working together with BETRA to make our estate as pleasant as possible. They provide an approachable, friendly and a highly visible presence in the areas where council tenants and lease- holders live. They can help with general enquiries about the estates as well as anti-social behaviour. If you are currently experiencing noise or any other type of anti- social behaviour, then please contact the community wardens on 01708 726 685 and request a visit. If, however, you have concerns about criminal behaviour you should always contact the police. Fancy joining our Board? With some of our present Board likely to step down in the not too distant future, BETRA will soon be looking for new recruits to our executive board. This is an opportunity for residents to become involved in the running of our organisation and this estate. Anyone living on the Barnstaple Estate is eligible to stand, and our new estate manager, Lloyd Edwards would be delighted to talk through the possibility with any interested residents. Easter Egg Hunt
This was another successful BETRA event and thanks to everyone who helped make it happen. Meantime, watch this space for upcoming events, including free transport and subsidised tickets to the Havering Show (see posters in the blocks). We also hope to run a Halloween event on Thursday 31st October, as well as a Christmas do this year. More details to follow nearer the time. 
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