We're excited to introduce Barry Russell as the newly appointed Chair of the Customer Assurances Group (CAG) – a vital group that ensures your voice is heard at every level of decision-making within Staffs Housing and the wider Honeycomb Group.
Barry isn’t new to our community. In fact, he's been a Staffs Housing tenant for over 30 years, and he brings a wealth of lived experience, understanding, and commitment to this role. Over the last few months, Barry has been acting as CAG Chair, helping lead the group informally — and now, it’s official.
Why CAG Matters to You
The Customer Assurances Group exists to make sure that our services, policies, and decisions reflect what matters most to you — our customers. CAG creates space for you to:
- Share your concerns or feedback
- Suggest improvements
- Influence how services are delivered
- Help shape the future of social housing
Barry is determined to make sure your voices guide what we do. As he puts it:
“Tenants should always be at the heart of every decision. We want everyone to feel confident in speaking up — and know that their input genuinely makes a difference.”
A Champion for Your Voice
Barry has been involved in various customer panels and has also worked in local government, giving him a valuable understanding of housing from both a tenant and service provider point of view. His goal now is to strengthen that connection between tenants and Staffs Housing by building transparency, trust, and open communication.
Barry lives with psoriatic arthritis, a long-term condition that causes him daily pain and affects his mobility. He manages this with painkillers and a determined mindset. His own experience of living with a chronic condition gives him a strong appreciation for the barriers some customers may face. That’s why he’s especially passionate about ensuring that everyone — regardless of health, ability, or background — has a fair and accessible opportunity to be involved in shaping the services that affect them.
Get Involved – Share Your Thoughts
Barry and the CAG want to hear from you. Your thoughts and experiences are vital in helping shape our services and create real, positive change for all customers.
If you’ve got ideas, feedback, or issues you think CAG should be discussing, please get in touch by emailing:
📧 CAG.chair@honeycombgroup.org.uk
Whether it's a big concern or a small suggestion, every comment counts. Your input could directly influence how we improve homes, services, and community support across Staffs Housing.
Looking Ahead
We’re confident Barry’s leadership will bring new energy to the group and create more opportunities for you to be involved in shaping the services that matter most to you. It’s an exciting step forward in our journey to be more open, responsive, and customer-focused.
