Customer Committee

Rashidah Owoseni

A proud mother and volunteer hero, Rashidah can usually be found helping out at various charitable initiatives in Salford – everything from supporting homeless people and vulnerable children to working on projects to help improve the community.

Rashidah was living in emergency accommodation with her daughter before a friend recommended Salix Homes to her.

Unfortunately Rashidah’s daughter was rushed into intensive care due to ongoing health issues during the bidding process for a Salix Homes property. Luckily, neighbourhood officer Cheltzea was on hand to take the paperwork to Rashidah at the hospital to make sure she got her home.

“When my daughter became unwell, the kindness the local community showed me blew me away. Cheltzea from Salix Homes went above and beyond to help us get our property and I can never thank her and my local community enough for their support.

“After seeing Salix Homes advertise the Customer Committee, I just knew I had to apply. I have a passion for volunteering and helping people, but after all the help and support I received during a difficult time I wanted to do something to give back. I’m honoured to be able to the eyes and voice for my local community”.

Marta Diaz

Marta is originally from Madrid in Spain but has lived in Salford for the last five years.

After gaining a degree in communications but struggling to find viable work in Spain, Marta made the decision to move to Salford in 2015 and now works in customer services for a large online travel website.

Marta’s first home with another housing provider was on the third floor of a building and had no lift which unfortunately became an issue for her when Marta was pregnant with her first child.

After moving into a Salix Homes’ property three years ago, she has grown to love her community and is keen to give something back to the people in it.

“When I saw that Salix Homes was looking for customers to join its first ever Customer Committee, I was really interested in being involved. I love the community that I live in and I want to try and help to improve it further and support the people within it who welcomed me when I moved here from Spain.

“I’m also thankful for the opportunity the committee presents to grow personally and the experience I will gain from it”.

Keri Muldoon

Keri has lived in Salford for over 20 years and describes herself as ‘a big, strong, community person’. Working as a lollypop lady for a local school, she has had a big impact on Salix Homes’ communities in recent years and chairs a number of local community groups including for floods, the park and a drama class for children.

Keri is passionate about giving back to her community and is constantly looking at ways to raise funds for those in need. Over the years she’s organised a range of fundraising activities including sponsored silences, charity bingo and sponsored fancy dress.

“I’m passionate about people and my community. I enjoy finding ways to raise funds for those who need it most and coming up with events and activities that help to bring communities closer together.

“I’m made up to be a member of the Salix Homes Customer Committee and have the opportunity to work with different types of people to come up with ideas and solutions together.”

Karen Hamilton-Hulse

Karen is a proud grandmother who has lived in Salford for her whole life. She describes herself as hard-working, friendly and trustworthy and in her spare time enjoys spending time with her family, reading and going swimming.

 “After working in care roles in the past, such as being a Sheltered Care Scheme Manager and a Care Home Manager, I felt I had a lot of skills that were transferable for the Customer Committee role.

“I love where I live and I’m passionate about my community so I can’t wait to see how I can help make positive changes in the area where I live.”

Jason Marland

Jason has lived in Salford for over ten years and been a Salix Homes’ customer for five. He’s a high-rise resident who prides himself on being ‘inquisitive’ and a ‘people person’.

Jason’s career has seen him work in a range of people-focussed roles, including for the NHS in mental health services, Ofsted and his current role as a Senior Agent in customer service department working in the bereavement and vulnerability team for a high street bank .

Outside of work, his hobbies include travel, music and a love for all things Harry Potter.

“I decided to apply for Salix Homes’ Customer Committee after seeing it advertised online. I’ve always been interested in the visions and values of the business since I became a Salix customer, but I was really impressed when they announced they were going to officially involve customers to help shape and develop the business even further.

“I’m excited to be a voice for other Salix Homes customers and help to drive important decisions, but I’m also looking forward to being involved from a personal perspective and can’t wait to learn more about the sector.”

Cynthia Alloyda

A zealous and personable member of the community, Cynthia is a mother, local church member and volunteer who is passionate about people.

Cynthia has a combined degree in Psychology with human resource management, a masters in HR and is interested in undertaking another degree in social policy in the near future. She enjoys volunteering at her local foodbank, getting involved in debates and singing in her spare time.

“As a lover of people, I was excited for the opportunity to work collaboratively with fellow customers that had different skillsets and were from a variety of different backgrounds.

“The in-depth, practical decision-making process is something that is of personal interest to me, and I can’t wait for the challenge the committee presents to use my skills to work towards making positive changes to the lives of Salix Homes’ customers.”

Charlotte Haines

Charlotte is Chair of the Salix Homes Customer Committee and Board Co-optee. She’s a busy working mother of three with a husband who works in emergency services.

Charlotte was born and lives in Salford and has regularly volunteered for Salix Homes over the years.

Living in one of Salix Homes’ smaller developments, Charlotte is keen to be a voice for the customers in her area.

“I’ve always had an interest in volunteer work, so when the opportunity arose for me to apply to be on the new Customer Committee I jumped at the chance. I’m excited to be a contact for the area I live in and to watch the direct impact that the positive changes we make have in the community.

“I also have a personal interest in the housing sector so I’m looking forward to learning more about the industry and how not-for-profit businesses like Salix Homes run behind the scenes.”

Ahmed Abdulmalek

Ahmed is a Customer service manager at another Manchester based housing association. Having worked in several roles including IT, and complaints Ahmed has always had an interest in the more strategic element of housing.

Ahmed Previously held Manager roles at Hugo Boss and Mango as well as working voluntarily as a football, cricket coach and Tennis assistant.

Having been part of the Raising Roofs course (designed to get younger more diverse candidates board ready) he shadowed the Board at Irwell Valley for a year before joining Salix Homes Board in September 2021, and is also a parent governor at his children’s school where he holds the role of Chair of the finance committee.

Charlie Williamson

I’m a very proud mum of three and step-mum of one. I’m studying for a sociology degree at the Open University. I have a keen interest in social housing and the local community.

I’m very passionate about nature and the environment. Despite many people thinking of Salford as a built up, urban city, there is nature to be found everywhere and we regularly get hedgehogs visiting our garden after creating a hedgehog highway in our fence. I enjoy watching birds and have noted over 30 different species of birds visiting our fairly normal sized back garden. We also created a wildlife pond in 2019 which benefits lots of insects including dragonflies.

I also enjoy gardening and reading in my spare time. I have lived in Salford for 12 years and I’ve been a Salix Homes customer for six of those after our private landlord sold our rental property.