National Recognition For Local Community Group

A local community group backed by Peterborough housing association Accent Nene is celebrating after scooping a national housing award.

Paston Area Community Trust (PACT) has won the East of England regional heat in the What We Are Proud Of category of the Housing Federations Neighbourhood Awards 2008. Accent Nene and PACT will now go forward to the National Finals of the housing Oscars to be held in Birmingham in September.

The award was presented at a gala ceremony held during the Federations East of England Board Members Dinner at the Bedford Lodge Hotel in Newmarket.

One of 16 community groups nominated for recognition, PACT was selected as the winner from a final shortlist of three projects. Board members from all the regions housing associations attending the dinner watched presentations from the three finalists before voting to determine the overall regional winner. PACT now goes forward to the final judging stages within the national Neighbourhood Awards.

Accent Nene chairman Cliff Walker and chief executive Andrew Williams attended the dinner along with Accent Nene board members Peter Williams and Sandhya Sastry. PACT was represented at the event by its chairman Morgan Fitzsimons, vice chairman Tom McClellan, Christina Malle, Accent Nenes community regeneration manager and project manager for PACT, and community development officer Sally Chalfont.

PACTs presentation highlighted the groups achievements including its community safety, environmental and adult education projects. Other successes outlined in the award presentation included PACTs Friendship Group for the over 55s, the Honeypot community café and its Paston Achievers Awards.

Christina Malle said: This award proves that what we are doing at PACT is worthwhile and that all our hard work has been recognised. Weve made a lot of progress since PACTs predecessor Energy for Paston was formed in 2002. We are now very excited about going on to the national finals in September.

Vice chairman of PACT, Tom McClellan, added: Winning this award really shows power to the community. It will give a great push to what PACT has achieved over the last few years.

And we arent going to sit back. We will now be able to raise the groups profile in the wider community and show people what is on offer for them through this achievement.

Accent Nene chairman Cliff Walker commented: Accent Nene is extremely proud of the work that PACT is doing in Paston to improve the lives of residents there. The group should be applauded for all its efforts and its success in winning the award.

Note to editors:

1. Accent Nene set up Energy for Paston in 2002. The project has secured a further three years funding from Accent On Giving, the charitable arm of the Accent Group (which Accent Nene joined in 2005). The project has achieved great success and has given residents opportunities to learn and develop new skills, receive advice and support and to meet new members of the community.
2. Paston Area Community Trust (PACT), formerly known as Energy for Paston, is supported by a number of partners such as Peterborough Regional College and the Adult Education College, which provide education and activity classes, as well as Accent Nene, Peterborough City Council, Cross Keys Homes and the Family Welfare Association.
3. The National Housing Federation represents 1,300 independent, not-for-profit housing associations in England. It promotes the work that housing associations do and campaigns for better housing and neighbourhoods. For more information visit www.housing.org.uk