Get to know your Neighbourhood Team

Andrea Morris is our Neighbourhood Manager for the North East covering Hemlington/Stockton/Yarm and North Shields. Find out what she likes best about her job, what she would do if she were CEO for a week and which celebrity she would happily be neighbours with.

How would you explain your job in 30 words?
A very challenging role, demanding but rewarding at the same time. It’s a role where you have to think on your feet and be willing to go over and beyond to succeed.

Andrea, in her office smiling at the camera What’s the best thing about your job?
Making a difference to people’s lives, caring about the environment we live in, and making sure everybody feels included and empowered to live independently.

What’s the best thing about working on your scheme?
The tenants. It feels like a real community at times as people care about the area they live in.

How many tenants do you talk to in a day?
This depends on the day really, but for example, I have already spoken to at least six tenants in the space of an hour. It is an extremely busy office and scheme, and there are always people milling about.

Pick one of these animal companions to live with: snake, ferret or rat?
I would not pick any of them really, I have a real fear of rats, so would have to go with a snake if pressed to pick one.

What’s the nicest thing that’s happened to you on your scheme?
I have just changed regions, so I’ve not long been in post in the North East, but I got a real show of appreciation at the last service-user meeting in Bradford from tenants for the support and assistance I gave them on the Jubilee event in June 2022.

What’s the most unexpected thing that’s happened to you on your scheme?
I have had so many things over the years, but the one that devastated most of us was the floods of 2007 in Hull, our Park Road scheme. They impacted all the residents on that particular scheme and staff who then had to work from a portacabin for a number of months.

If you had to be CEO of your scheme for one week, name three things you’d do?

Implement regional budgets for one-off emergencies on scheme, or urgent works which do not fall under the general day-to-day issues. This would help us get things resolved much quicker and smoother.
Bring in street Wardens/security to monitor and make tenants accountable for fly-tipping, and waste management, and ensure tenants’ safety and well-being in the process.
Put in place additional staffing (floating staff) to cover sick leave, and annual leave, especially in light of the pandemic.

If you could bring all the tenants of your scheme together in one place and ask one thing, what would you ask?
I would ask tenants to give me feedback about how they think we could improve our services and their scheme.

What’s your favourite Friday night takeaway: fish & chips, Chinese food or a curry?
It would definitely be Indian food.

You’ve got a bonus holiday for being a great Neighbourhood Manager– how do you spend it?
Going away. Travel is my ultimate pleasure. I love going to new places near and far away.

Which of these programmes would you appear in Neighbours, Love Thy Neighbour, or The Nightmare Neighbour Next Door?
Love thy Neighbour. It would be much better if we all tried to get on with our neighbours than be enemies. I like a peaceful home life (which is very easy when you live in the countryside).

How would your neighbours describe you?
Probably kind and thoughtful... I helped my community with getting food to older people who needed it during the pandemic, and I’m also a member of our Parish/village committee organising events throughout the year.

Who would you most like to be your neighbour and why – Ant & Dec, Reeves & Mortimer, Morecombe & Wise?
Ant and Dec. I just love how they bounce off each other, funny but genuine, down-to-earth guys.

Do you know where the name Habinteg comes from?
It’s Latin or integrated housing.