Riverside did blooming marvellous at regeneration awards » Communities » 24dash.com

Riverside Housing has scooped a Strictly Regeneration Award for its Blooming Highways project in the Peel Knowsley neighbourhood of Sefton.

The Strictly Regeneration Awards - sponsored by NewHeartlands, Communities and Local Government, Neighbourhood Renewal Unit and Liverpool, Sefton and Wirral Councils - recognise the excellence and diversity of regeneration projects on Merseyside and the individual and collective contribution they are making to the renaissance of the region.
Riverside won the award in the Best Practice in Partnership Working category, which recognises how joint working helps promote the regeneration of an area.

Blooming Highways was a partnership between Riverside Housing, Peel Road Community and Residents Association, Sefton Council, Anchor Staying Put and St Leonard’s Youth and Community Centre. The project provided 84 large hanging baskets on lampposts and 380 baskets outside homes, youth and community centres, schools and churches in the neighbourhood.

The intergenerational project not only improved the visual appearance of the area but also improved community cohesion and fostered greater pride in the neighbourhood.

Yvonne Makin, Sefton Neighbourhood Manager, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have won an award - the effort and commitment from all those involved in the planning and delivery was exceptional. Special thanks have to go to the residents group, volunteers and young people as we could not have achieved this without them.”

Riverside Housing was also highly commended in the Excellence in Innovation award for its Own Place initiative and the Good Practice in Neighbourhood Management award for its Bonfire and Mizzy Night Project in partnership with Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service. Community Seven, a subsidiary of Riverside Housing, was also shortlisted for the Good Practice in Neighbourhood Management award for its Kensington Environmental Enhancement Project.