Harry Gration to Host Inaugural Aire Valley Homes Community Awards

Look North presenter, Harry Gration, has been confirmed as the host for the Aire Valley Homes Community Awards programme to celebrate the work of residents and tenants in improving the lives of others.

The arms-length management organisation (ALMO) responsible for over 15,000 homes in South and South East Leeds, Aire Valley Homes launched the Awards to recognise community champions whose actions and initiatives are making a real difference to people’s lives and their communities.

Harry Gration, a former history teacher at Rodillian High School in Rothwell, South Leeds, said: “I am delighted to host the Aire Valley Homes Community Awards. There are hundreds of people in South Leeds who work tirelessly to improve the community and lives of others. These Awards recognise all the hard work of these individuals and I am proud to be a part of it.”

The Aire Valley Homes Community Awards will be a closed event, where a local dance troop from Dance Action Zone Leeds (DAZL) will open the ceremony with a ‘dazzling’ performance. DAZL’s aim is to improve the mental and physical health of young people and the wider community in South Leeds through dance, by offering classes and arranging performances.

The Aire Valley Homes Community Awards have been made possible with the support of its sponsors Frank Haslam Milan and Cyril Sweett Group.

Established since 1928, Frank Haslam Milan (FHM) has grown into a progressive and forward thinking construction organisation providing a customer focused service to residents across Leeds.

Part of the Keepmoat group, they carry out maintenance, refurbishment and responsive repairs for the public sector as well as building new homes for rent and shared ownership, sheltered accommodation and schools.

One of the leading contractors in tenant participation, FHM ensures tenants and residents are fully involved in the decision making processes and are one of only four contractors to be re-awarded the Tenant Participation Advisory Service (TPAS) Contractor Quality Mark.

Cyril Sweett Group plc is an international construction and property consultancy offering expertise in quantity surveying, project management and a comprehensive range of specialist services such as health and safety consultancy, sustainability, building surveying, dispute resolution and contract advice.

Councillor Peter Gruen said on behalf of the Board: “I see excellent examples of work done by Aire Valley Homes’ residents to improve people’s lives living across the whole of South Leeds. I want to recognise them by hosting this ceremony and give thanks to the people and projects who work so hard to make a difference. I really look forward to meeting these inspirational individuals.”

The Aire Valley Homes Community Awards consist of six categories:
Resident of the Year who will have put themselves forward for as much as they can and/or have actively campaigned for change in their community.
Young Resident of the Year who will be someone under 21 that has demonstrated great maturity and knowledge beyond their years. They may have overcome hardship or difficulty, been a mentor for other young people or may have actively campaigned for change.
Group of the Year which will have provided a positive outcome to their local community.
Best Community Initiative is a project that has engaged local residents in a positive way to unite the community.
Aire Valley Homes Employee of the Year is someone that has gone ‘the extra mile’. They get involved with community events and are an ambassador for the ALMO within the community.
Special Recognition Award. All nominations entered in the other award categories will be considered in this category.

The deadline for entries to the Aire Valley Homes Community Awards is 12 March 2010. For more information on how to enter please go to the Awards section on the Aire Valley Homes website: www.avhleeds.org.uk. The winners will be announced at a closed event on Friday 9 April.