ALMOs honoured at national awards

Published by Max Salsbury for 24dash.com in Housing and also in Communities

The winners of the sixth annual National Federation of ALMOs (NFA) Awards have been announced in Manchester.

Designed to honour those who have dedicated time, resources and enthusiasm to improving the lives of their neighbours and communities, the awards highlight best practice and celebrate the successes and achievements of individuals and teams from across the ALMO sector.

Innovation, creativity and community were just some of the words used to describe entrants in all eight categories, with winners including Wolverhampton Homes’ Contract Manager, Wilson Severn in the ALMO Team Member of the Year category, and Brent Housing Partnership’s Youth Editorial Board in the Best Use of Communication for its magazine produced entirely by young tenants.

Most Innovative Project winner, Salix Homes with its pilot New Barracks Retrofit, was chosen as a trailblazer of the Government’s Green Deal, demonstrating the future of sustainability in both the ALMO sector and housing overall.

Also winning Best Community Initiative was Salix Homes' ‘Making Differences Count’ project, which tackled inequality and diversity issues to develop a film and training programme.

Winner of Most Outstanding Resident category was CityWest Homes’ Marie Froggatt, who was awarded for standing up for her neighbours against anti-social behaviour and for her involvment in community improvement projects.

Salix Homes’ resident Charlotte Boardman won the Most Outstanding Young Person award for her work in engaging young people in the community, whilst Stockport Homes’ Act Family initiative won Most Effective Partnership after demonstrating great results in supporting local families.

Finally, Bernselai Homes’ HR Committee Chair and Barnsley Council Elected Member, Joe Hayward won Board Member of the Year for his dedication to driving change through the organisation and promoting integration for all of Barnsley’s Communities.

This year’s judging panel included Sue Roberts MBE, NFA Chair; Michael Gelling, Chair of TAROE (Tenants and Residents Organisations of England); and Michelle Reid, Chief Executive of TPAS (Tenant Participation Advisory Service).

Sue Roberts MBE, NFA Chair said: “This year is the first year that I had the pleasure of taking part in judging the NFA Awards. I feel very proud and privileged to be part of a sector whose residents, members and staff continue to develop and deliver innovative, fresh and exciting ideas to improve services and to make lives and neighbourhoods better.  

“2012 has introduced some of the most significant changes to council housing for 30 years, and this year’s entries showed once more that so much exceptional, inspiring and sterling work is being done by ALMO teams and individuals.

“The NFA Awards are about sharing best practice. But also the NFA Awards are about amazing residents and staff, and I for one greatly enjoyed celebrating their successes and achievements.”

2012 is the tenth anniversary of the first ALMOs going live.

Photo caption: Back Row L-R Brendan Keville (Left), Programmes Planning Manager, representing winners of Most Innovative Project category, Salix Homes, Host Stuart Pollitt, Joanne Claridge, ACT Family Manager, representing winners of the Most Effective Partnership category, Stockport Homes, Joe Hayward, Berneslai Homes, Wilson Severn, Wolverhampton Homes

Front Row L-R David Mawson, Regional Managing Director from Sponsor Kier, Charlotte Boardman, winner of Most Outstanding Young Person from Salix Homes, June McRae, Salix Homes resident and member of the Salix Homes Disability Focus Group, representing winners in the Best Community Initiative category, Joyce Baldy-Gray, Brent Housing Partnership Board Member representing winners of the Best Use of Communication category, Marie Froggatt, Most Outstanding Resident, CityWest Homes, Steve Hall, Energy Service Manager from sponsor British Gas