Community Empowerment Shines In Preston

Community Gateway Association (CGA) are celebrating as they are the first Housing Association in the North West to be awarded a Community Empowerment and Cohesion Award by North West Together We Can (NWTWC).

NWTWC is the Regional Empowerment Partnership for the North West supported by the Department for Communities and Local Government. 

CGA application focused on Option Studies across three estates in Preston. (Howarth Road, Farringdon and Thirlmere and Porter Street) and provided evidence of engagement and empowerment before during and after the Options Study process.

Option Studies encourage communities to take more control by identifying issues and putting forward proposals for improving homes, neighbourhoods and environments. This also generates a community vision. The process enables tenants to get more involved from individual involvement or working with others to form community groups or to consider tenant management.

Comments from residents who have been part of the Option Study process were in the report , one resident commented “Doing an Option Study has greatly helped in this area, We are seeing real benefit; it’s cleaner and quieter around here, all because we’ve worked together”

Four main criteria judge the success of an application. Projects need to demonstrate improvements in community engagement, greater social cohesion, innovative and inspiring activity that addresses needs and changes in service delivery or other key outcomes in neighbourhoods.

Joyce Archer Community Empowerment Officer who submitted CGA’s application commented,” It is fantastic that we have received this award. I would like to thank all the residents who have been part of these Option Studies; it is due to local people who are committed to making a difference in their local area that these studies have been an overwhelming success.”

Eve Davidson. Programme Manager from North West Together We Can said, Community Gateway Housing Association, its residents and partners are to be congratulated on the project that has demonstrated significant community engagement and empowerment within the Options Study project and therefore has reached the standard for the NWTWC Community Empowerment and Cohesion Award. The Association is to be commended as the first Housing Association recipient of the Award.”

(Picture - NEARA residents group waiting for the flats to be demolished on Howarth Road)