Group members can include those with lived experience, landlords, local authorities and other public and voluntary sector stakeholders. Each member brings a ‘piece of the puzzle’ to uncover specific challenges about TA in their local area and collectively develop, test and implement solutions to address those challenges.
"The TAAG has helped raise awareness of the real challenges faced by people in temporary accommodation and given residents a voice to share their experiences. It has started to build better understanding between professionals and those with lived experience, which is a positive step toward change."
Person with lived experience of TA, Westminster TAAG
Our national TAAG network currently comprises eleven TAAGs: Manchester; Tameside; Bristol; Westminster; Southwark; Newham; Islington; Waltham Forest; East Sussex; Brighton and Hove; and West Sussex - and is continuing to expand , with now over 450 individual members. Take a look at our TAAG map to find out more about the TAAG areas and what they are up to.
To stay updated with the work of the TAAGs, you can sign up for our TAAG newsletter here.
“Being part of the Temporary Accommodation Action Group shows us what genuine collaboration can achieve. The forum brings together partners, providers, landlords and people with lived experience to explore the challenges of temporary accommodation in Bristol and create solutions that make a real difference. Through this shared effort, we’re strengthening the day‑to‑day delivery of temporary accommodation and shaping meaningful, practical improvements to the service we deliver for the people who need it most.”
Cllr Barry Parsons, Chair of the Homes and Housing Delivery committee at Bristol City Council
Beyond the ‘softer’ outcomes of different TA stakeholders being in the same room, understanding different perspectives and building relationships, TAAGs also create a range of ‘harder’ outcomes which can benefit all stakeholders involved. Examples of these include:
A collaborative leaflet or handbook that brings together information and support services in an area for residents in TA
Development of a standards and qualities charter to be embedded into future TA contracts by the local authority
Specialised training for TA providers on supporting people with multiple complex needs
Find out more about the successes and outcomes of TAAGs here.
If there isn’t already a TAAG in your local area, it is possible to set one up. The key ingredient is a willingness to collaborate with different TA sector stakeholders. This can start, for example, with Local Authority and key voluntary sector support organisations, or with TA providers and LA commissioners, and grow from there to include other stakeholders.
Each TAAG needs a local chair to run and manage the meetings, but it’s important that it is a collaborative space and that responsibility is shared across members. A key way to do this is by setting up a steering group with cross-sector representation to help support the chair.
Find out more about how to set up a TAAG here.
Although Justlife doesn’t have to be involved in every TAAG, we are keen to make sure you get the benefits, resources and good practice sharing offered by being part of the network. So if you are thinking about setting up a TAAG and want to know more, please get in touch with our TAAG Development Lead, Eve Elliott, eve@justlife.org.uk
Driving change for individuals and families living in temporary accommodation
