Please note that we have had to re-arrange the date for the AGM as we have been unable to approve the accounts in sufficient time to meet the deadline for call the meeting.

Please note that the AGM will now take place (online) on Wednesday 8th October at 6.30pm.

This is for Members only and the notice calling the meeting along with the accounts and nominations to the Executive Committee will be sent out shortly.

There’s been a recent update to the Data Protection Act 2018 as a result of the introduction of the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025.

For individuals who believe that their data has been misused they are now required to raise their complaint with the Data Controller (i.e. the organisation handling their personal data) first before escalating it to the Information Commissioners Office (ICO).

In practice this will mean that you need to ensure that your complaints process should include reference to handling complaints regarding data protection concerns.

See this article from Anthony Collins Solicitors for more detail.

Meet Mary Simpson this years recipient of TMO Board Member of the Year. Mary  has been the heart and soul of the Roupell Park community for over two decades. Her journey began in 2000 when she voiced her frustration about the lack of investment in her part of the estate. At the time, she was told, “If you want change, join the Board”. So, she did. Mary became a Board member that same year, then Treasurer, and in 2009 took over as Chair – a position she has held with pride, dedication, and tireless energy ever since.

Mary is an incredibly dynamic and compassionate leader. Whether dealing with complex estate issues or supporting vulnerable individuals, she approaches every challenge with the same energy, empathy, and sense of responsibility. She describes herself as “a helper by nature,” and it’s this core quality that made her a natural fit for the role or, as she puts it, ‘easy’ for her. Mary is too modest. ‘Easy’ underrates her value to our community, which is much appreciated by all.

Leadership and Community Focus
Mary’s leadership is grounded in action and trust. She’s mediated disputes between tenants, sat on staff disciplinary panels, and developed a sound understanding of HR, payroll, and governance. She has never once seen this as a job – and has always refused remuneration for her time. “This is where I live,” she says. “I want to see change, to build a stronger community and make people’s lives better.”

Among her many achievements, Mary is proudest of supporting the creation of the MUGA (Multi-Use Games Area) in 2022. “That was a big moment for me – to create something for the young people, a safe place that accounted for their time.” She was also closely involved in the redevelopment of the Hyperion House pocket park in 2018 and has regularly helped run Fun Days, and seaside trips, arriving early and staying late to make sure everyone has a good experience.

Despite being a single parent to two boys, Mary has always made time for others – often putting neighbours’ needs above her own. One of the most touching examples is her relationship with Betty, a former Board member and elderly resident who sadly passed away in 2019. Mary supported Betty every day during her terminal illness, buying her food, spending time with her, and offering quiet companionship. Betty would often say to her, “Don’t you need to go home?” – but Mary never left until she knew Betty was okay. She looked after her as if she were family. This is Mary.

Mary is a constant, reassuring presence for residents and staff alike. Her door is always open – for advice, support, or simply a listening ear. Everyone was aware of this, and valued Mary’s ability to be impartial to help navigate sensitive situations. Her compassion shines most visibly through the Christmas Hamper Project. Originally run by Pat and Betty, Mary took over the project after they passed and has been organising it almost single-handedly for some years now– sourcing, wrapping, and hand-delivering hampers to the estate’s elderly and isolated residents. “I know most of them by name”, she says. “Many of these hampers are the only gift they receive at Christmas. I always take the time to talk to them – that’s what matters most.” What could be a simple delivery becomes a warm, meaningful connection, thanks to Mary.
Mary is practical and down-to-earth — if something needs doing, she gets on with it. When attendances at the resident-founded social club began to drop, Mary stepped in and became a regular. She would come straight from work to play games and spend time with some of the estate’s oldest residents. Inevitably, there was lots of laughter which Mary brought.

On estate cleaning days, Mary was often the first — and sometimes the only Board member to roll up her sleeves and join in. Nothing is ever beneath her. Her actions speak volumes, and the impact she makes is both wide-reaching and quietly powerful.

During the Covid pandemic, Mary played a vital role liaising between food distribution services and the elderly and vulnerable. Her concern always goes to those most in need — though she often hides this deeply empathetic nature beneath a cheerful, sociable demeanour.

Last year, she attended every session of our permaculture workshops and even adopted her own planter, where she now grows vegetables. Her approach is always community-minded: when she needs more soil, she considers not just herself but all residents with planters.

Vision and Legacy
Mary is widely respected for her resilience, integrity and energy. She believes in transparency, owns up to mistakes, and always works to improve. She has witnessed – and helped drive – enormous positive change at Roupell Park, and she’s proud of how far the community has come.

That said, she’s never complacent. Anti-social behaviour remains one of her biggest frustrations – not because she’s afraid of confrontation, but because action is often too slow. “If I can have a word with someone and stop things escalating, I will. Most people just want to be heard,” she says. “But it takes persistence, patience, and humanity – and we don’t always get it right. We’re only human, but we can always try to do better.”

This is what one of her long-standing fellow Board Members had to say about Mary:

“Mary’s commitment to Roupell Park has been nothing short of incredible. She’s never missed a meeting, and she always tackles issues head-on — even the tough ones others might avoid — with clarity, courage, and a sense of humour that puts people at ease.

She genuinely cares about this community. What really stands out is how she makes space for others to grow. She listens, welcomes different views, and treats everyone with warmth and respect. Her door is always open. 

I often wonder how we’ll ever fill her shoes when she steps down. Her impact will be felt for a long time. Mary, thank you for everything — your leadership, your heart, and your unwavering dedication.”

— Agnes Nyuma, Roupell Park Resident and Board Member

“Mary is incredibly resilient and professional. For her, failure simply isn’t an option — especially in her role as Chair of our Resident Organisation. She always goes the extra mile for residents and office staff. I remember when our late founding Secretary, Betty, was unwell Mary stepped in as next of kin at the hospital and supported right through to the interment. Every year, she personally organises the Christmas hampers — buying and delivering them herself. She also puts together other social activities on the estate, even though it’s not part of her official role. She truly leads by example.”

— Oni Idigu, Roupell Park Resident, Executive Board Member and Treasurer

“I have known Mary since 2014, when I became a Councillor for the Ward in which Roupell Park Estate is located. In all that time she has been an exemplar of what a good member of a Residents’ Association should be: She really cares for and represents her residents (rather than her own agenda); she works hard and tirelessly for the good of the estate and its residents; she is positive, friendly, cheerful and resilient; and everyone on the estate, from management, staff and residents, loves and respects her.”

—Cllr Adrian Garden, Rush Common Councillor and Mayor of Lambeth 2025

Conclusion
Mary is far more than a Board member – she is a quiet force of nature, a tireless advocate, a compassionate neighbour, and an inspiring community leader. Her presence at Roupell Park has been vital in transforming lives, often without recognition and always without seeking reward. She leads with her heart, listens with intention, and acts with courage. Her legacy is one of care, connection, and real change. Mary would often check in about vulnerable residents, asking whether they’d been visited by social services – things she didn’t have to do, but did anyway, simply because she cares. Her actions go beyond duty; they come from a deep sense of humanity.

Mary has also built strong, respectful relationships with local councillors, never hesitating to speak up when her community needs a voice. Her natural leadership and commitment to public service have often made me think she’d make a brilliant councillor herself. Her energy is boundless, her loyalty unwavering – she cares for the estate and its residents like a shepherd tending to their flock. Whether supporting a vulnerable neighbour or advocating for better services, Mary never shies away from what needs to be done.

Mary is considering retiring from her role this year, believing that Roupell Park is now in capable hands, with a Board made up of experienced and senior members. If she does step down, she will be deeply missed. But her legacy — a vibrant, caring, and connected community — will live on.

Brenchley Gardens Management Association, a small TMO in South London is looking for a new, part-time manager.

For more details check out the TMO Vacancies page

There’s been a flurry of government consultation announcements and this concerns the implementation of rent convergence as part of the governments 10 year rent setting strategy affecting both council and housing association tenants.

As part of the Spending Review the government announced that there will be a 10 year rent settlement for social housing from 1 April 2026 in which rents will be permitted to increase by CPI+1% per annum.

In response to previous consultation the view was expressed that the level of investment in new and existing social housing that is needed to deliver the government’s ambitions will not be unlocked unless Social Rent convergence is implemented.

Convergence would allow rents for Social Rent properties that are currently below ‘formula rent’ to increase by an additional amount each year, over and above the CPI+1% limit, until they ‘converge’ with formula rent. Formula rent refers to the formula that is used to calculate the rent that may be charged for a given property when it is let to a new tenant. A convergence mechanism was originally introduced in 2002 but was scrapped in 2015.

The government therefore confirmed at the Spending Review that it will implement a convergence mechanism as part of the new rent settlement. The details of precisely how, and at what level, this mechanism will be implemented will be confirmed at Autumn Budget later this year, taking account of the benefits to the supply and quality of social housing, the impact on rent payers and the impact on the government’s fiscal rules. To inform that decision, this consultation focuses on how convergence should be implemented.

Once that decision has been made, the Secretary of State intends to direct the Regulator of Social Housing to set a standard on rents that will apply to Registered Providers of social housing.

You can respond to the consultation on the governments website here. This consultation closes on 27th August 2025