LMH does the double at TPAS awards

An innovative project that sees offenders working full-time in the community to repay their debt and an officer’s outstanding community work have won national awards.

The Liverpool Mutual Homes (LMH)-led scheme won the 2010 Tenant Participation Advisory Service (TPAS) Connecting People Award and in a different category, Dave Pye was recognised for his outstanding efforts improving the lives of tenants in the west area of Liverpool.

Liverpool Mutual Homes' Intensive Community Payback scheme; Justice Seen, Justice Done has been delivered in partnership with a variety of partners including the Community Justice Centre, Merseyside Probation Service and the police.

The work resulted in a 50 per cent reduction in the number of reports of anti-social behaviour in North Liverpool compared to the three months before.

Tenants say they feel safer in their homes and now have a renewed sense of community spirit.

The scheme allows Judge David Fletcher to sentence offenders appearing at the Community Justice Centre with a new Intensive Community Payback order whereby they have to work five days a week until they complete their unpaid hours, with work starting within two days of sentencing.

Offenders are shown the affects of their crimes and, motivated by role models, they are able to gain experience of full-time work, complete their hours and rehabilitate quicker whilst also seeing the results of their work. They are also given practical help to turn their experience into paid employment.

Police involvement in the scheme has eased fears about attacks on site and reassured residents. The high visibility of the scheme has given residents the confidence to suggest further work and is helping offenders to successfully rehabilitate into the community motivated by direct praise from residents and partners, taking real pride in their achievements and developing a work ethic.

The Intensive Community Payback order has been successfully used as a last chance for offenders who have breached previous community orders to avoid custody. The work is also seen by the community as a tougher alternative to a short spell in prison.

LMH customer involvement officer Dave Pye won the Tenant Involvement Officer of the Year award for his efforts in the West neighbourhood housing area for LMH.

After joining LMH in 2008 he has worked tirelessly with numerous organisations and agencies to improve the area and his enthusiasm means he can engage with groups of all ages across the community and raise levels of participation in a diverse range of initiatives.

He has also been instrumental in making sure LMH tenants are aware of the £10,000 Community Initiative Funding that is available for their area every year and helps them apply for grants of up to £500 per scheme to get their projects started.

Dave helped the Merseyside Chinese Community Development Association create an allotment club targeting hard to reach groups to get them involved in the community event, worked with a junior school to give an insight into the building and construction industry, helped reduce anti-social behaviour, supported a dance group and promoted employment and training opportunities.

Liverpool Mutual Homes Chief Executive, Steve Coffey, said: "We are delighted to see the hard work of our staff, tenants and partners has been recognised because they are exceptional examples of the work we are doing to make a significant difference to tenants’ lives.

"Dave's work and commitment has brought the local community together by improving cohesion and integrating hard to reach individuals into society.

"Likewise, the Justice Seen, Justice Done project has really transformed north Liverpool with a reduction in crime and anti-social behaviour and has made huge strides in rehabilitating offenders quickly and giving them a renewed sense of purpose.

“It has resulted in tenants feeling safer in their homes and community and the importance of this cannot be underestimated.”

Over the past two years the TPAS Connecting People Awards have recognised and rewarded tenants and people who work with them for the work they carry out in communities across England.