We have just read the article about Downland Court, "A decent place to live is their aim" (The Argus, April 4), and wanted to share with readers our experience of the Court and its residents.

At The Scarman Trust, we have been lucky enough to work with Tina Urquhart and other residents for almost five years and have seen some fantastic achievements up on Downland Court.

We know there are problems on the estate - what part of Brighton and Hove doesn't have its problems? - but we think it is really important to acknowledge some of the positive things that have been achieved, too.

The residents have committed their time and hard work to creating a community where everyone can be involved and where everyone can help make Downland Court the best place to live it can be.

Residents came together and were successful in getting Brighton and Hove City Council to provide, first, a meeting space to run a parent-and-toddler group and an after-school club and, next, a bigger residents' hall, used for bingo, dancing sessions, the under-11s' club, and parents and toddlers and older people's activities.

Eleven-to-15-year-olds on the estate formed the Time Out Club themselves - they raised funds for it and run it themselves, providing activities and games and running a tuckshop.

Some of the young women have recently fundraised for a film project and learned how to storyboard, film and edit as well as perform and dance.

The estate has a new play area, doors, entry systems and bin areas, and new windows and central heating in the flats.

An awful lot has been achieved by local residents coming together and working together to change things for the better.

We all want to say well done to Tina and the residents for everything they have achieved on Downland Court and we all hope, with the help of their new housing officer and support from the council, they can continue to make the Court a real community where people feel safe, involved and valued.

Good luck to all. We look forward to seeing the Court go from strength to strength in the months and years to come.

-The Scarman Trust Team Queen's Road, Brighton