Housing Corporation Gold Award winners announced » Housing » 24dash.com

The winners of the prestigious Housing Corporation’s Gold Awards 2007  have been announced today at a special ceremony in central London.

There were three themes for the annual awards which were presented by Housing Minister, Caroline Flint.

Now in its third year, the Housing Corporation's Gold Award scheme is firmly established as the most coveted and valued annual housing award in England.

Entries were attracted from 71 housing associations, both  large and small.  Tackling worklessness (28 entries) was the most popular theme.

Twenty associations competed for the joined-up development award. Building cohesive communities, the extra theme, attracted 23 entries.

Each winning association will receive a cash boost of £50,000 to help fund a year long programme of knowledge sharing.

Sir Duncan Michael, Chairman of the judging panel, said: "The inspirational work of this year’s nine Gold Award winners is dramatically changing the lives of thousands of people across the country for the better.

"We saw the astonishing transformation of run-down estates and neighbourhoods, community cohesion programmes that bring together divided communities and ground-breaking training and employment schemes that help men and women into work in areas of high unemployment.

"All nine are worthy winners and will spread their knowledge and expertise across the sector where their work can be replicated by those who face similar challenges.

"Spreading good ideas and practice is the whole idea of the Gold Award scheme, and I hope a great many associations will take part in the dissemination programme in the coming year to share the experiences and expertise of the winners and thus improve the lives of thousands more people.

"I would like to take this opportunity to  pay tribute to all the  winners, finalists and the housing associations who took part in the competition.”

The winners are as follows:

Building cohesive communities

Winners:

Ashram Housing Association
Old Ford Housing Association
The Papworth Trust

Finalists:

Bradford Housing Community Trust and Manningham HA
Industrial Dwellings (1885) Ltd
William Sutton Homes

Delivering joined-up development

Winners:

Great Places Housing Group
Newlon Housing Trust
Nomad E5 Housing Association

Finalists:

Gentoo Group
Peak Valley (Contour Housing Group)
Sentinel Housing Association

Tackling worklessness

Winners:

Accent Group
Derwent and Solway Housing Association
Places for People  Group

Finalists:

East Thames Group
St Mungo's Community Housing Association
Wakefield and District Housing