From A Street Party to Participation Oscar for Vineyard Vale

Published by Amanda O for Tenant Participation Advisory Servcie Wales in Housing and also in Communities

Vineyard Vale Community Group has been successful in being awarded the TPAS Cymru “Successful Participation in Rural Areas” Award at the 2008 TPAS Cymru Participation Awards held on Thursday 15th May 2008, at the Angel Hotel in Cardiff.

The TPAS Cymru Participation Awards, also known as the “Participation Oscars” celebrates and recognises the work of tenants and landlords in their communities who work together to make improvements to services and neighbourhoods.

Some 6 years ago, members of Vineyard Vale estate decided to celebrate the Queens Jubilee with a street party – now they have won an award for their hard work and effort in working to bring a community spirit to the estate. The community group have held whirlwind of social events, and have been involved in setting up new projects and activities within the community. One of the groups’ main achievements has been to create a specially designated and well equipped play area for children of all ages to use. In all of the work that the community group has accomplished the group has worked hard to ensure that any barriers which exist are quickly removed so that the whole of the small rural community has a voice on all projects.

The main sponsors of the Participation Awards are Wales & West Housing Association. Anne Hinchey, Chief Executive of Wales & West Housing Association said, “It’s always a pleasure to sponsor and support the TPAS Cymru Tenant Participation Awards. We have much to be proud of in Wales with the way in which tenants get involved in their community. As landlords, it’s important that we listen to tenants and learn from them. These awards are an opportunity to rightly reward those nominated by other tenants for the hard work and time they give to their community.”

The TPAS Cymru Participation Awards present an opportunity for Tenants and Landlords to be recognised for projects and participation efforts, and to share good practice across Wales. They are nominated by people in the communities where they operate. The judging of nominations is carried out by an independent panel of professionals working in the field of Housing.

This year TPAS Cymru received over 50 nominations for the nine Participation Awards categories, from across Wales. The submissions were of a high standard and they truly captured the attention of the judges, not only in terms of the written material and detailed explanation of projects but for the imaginative range of participation projects and initiatives being undertaken in the Principality.

John Drysdale, Director, TPAS Cymru said: “Winners of TPAS Cymru Participation Awards are always hugely pleased to have their effort and their achievements recognised. And they are right to be proud because their work is having a real beneficial impact in their communities.

Tenant participation is now established and recognised as essential to good running of housing and communities. But practices and resources still vary widely across Wales – some good and sometimes bad. The Participation Awards enable TPAS to find good examples and worthwhile lessons and to share them so that standards are raised throughout Wales. It’s great to be able to celebrate success!”