A magician has been helping housing association bpha to remove the 'smoke and mirrors' from resident involvement.

Magician Dan Rogerson asked young people at the Foyer project in Bedford to 'pick a card, any card' as bpha staff visited to raise awareness of the association's apprenticeship scheme.

The event, held to promote opportunities for young people to access work and training, was one of a number held by bpha during April as part of Resident Involvement Month.

Other highlights included a Family Fortunes-style quiz at a sheltered scheme in Bedford, where retirement services staff and residents were quizzed on a survey of 100 bpha staff covering general knowledge and resident involvement.

Elaine Warwick, resident involvement co-ordinator at bpha, said: "During April we have been out and about across a wide area to promote the many opportunities for residents to get involved and have their say.

"We are committed to involving residents in the important decisions affecting their homes and communities, and helping them to challenge us where they feel we have fallen short.

"The apprenticeship scheme is one very practical way that involvement can benefit local young people.

"Elsewhere we have also been promoting the forums for consultation and community involvement, which have a major impact on the way we deliver our services to local neighbourhoods."