LMH shortlisted in Housing Heroes Awards

Published by Jean Clarke for Liverpool Mutual Homes in Housing and also in Communities, Environment, Health, Local Government

A housing association's work that sees offenders working full-time in the community to repay their debt has been shortlisted from more than 300 entries for the 2010 Housing Heroes Awards.

Liverpool Mutual Homes (LMH) is now one of six left in the running for the Frontline Housing Team of the Year award organised by Inside Housing magazine and the Chartered Institute of Housing for its Intensive Community Payback scheme.

The project has been sucessfully delivered by LMH in partnership with a variety of organisations including Liverpool’s innovative Community Justice Centre, the Probation Service, Merseyside Police and the Council’s North Neighbourhood Management Service.

It has 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 labour. They are also given practical help to turn their experience into paid employment.

Police involvement in the scheme has eased fears about attacks on the 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 has also established links with Jobcentre Plus and a local social enterprise to help offenders leaving the scheme secure training and employment opportunities.

LMH’s Director of Housing and Neighbourhood Services, Angela Forshaw, said: “The hard work of our staff, partners and tenants has made the scheme a huge success with so many people in North Liverpool benefiting.

“Not only do tenants tell us the scheme has made them feel safer in their homes and community - and the importance of this can not be underestimated – but it has also made huge strides in rehabilitating offenders quickly and giving them a renewed sense of purpose.

“This means they are unlikely to transgress and the community can continue to improve.”

Earlier this year the Intensive Community Payback scheme won the Best Local Initiative title at the Liverpool Citysafe Awards and the regional Tenant Participation Advisory Service (TPAS) Connecting People Award.

The full list of LMH’s partners who contributed to the scheme includes HM Court Service, Progress2work, Liverpool City Council, Liverpool Citysafe Partnership, the Furniture Resource Centre, The Friends of Walton Hall Park and Fountains Close Tenant and Residents Association.

Howard Farrand, the President of the CIH said: “Our sector spends a great deal of time talking about policy and strategy, business plans and budgets, our visions and our mission statements.

“Of course all of these things are really important, but in my experience it is the extraordinary people that do fantastic work for our customers that make the real difference.

“So I want to congratulate LMH for getting this far in these awards. It was extremely tightly contested, and I look forward to helping to unveil the eventual winner in May.”

Inside Housing’s events director Ted Stevens said: “All the finalists have done brilliantly in getting this far. Well done to LMH for getting shortlisted. The competition was really fierce with more than 40 entries in some categories.”

Notes to Editors

The Housing Heroes Awards are organised by Inside Housing magazine and the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH), and attract a large response with submissions from the length and breadth of the UK.

The awards are in their second year and shine the spotlight on the people and teams that are doing great work in the social affordable housing sector.

The winners will be revealed at London’s Hilton Hotel on 14 May hosted by TV presenter, Antarctic explorer and Atlantic rower, Ben Fogle.

The awards are sponsored by Campbell Tickell, EMA, Asset Skills, Synergy Group and The Hire Standard. Last year more than 700 people attended.