NEWS STORY: APRIL 2009

This page was published as a news story on the date shown. The information in it may have been updated on other pages since then. Please use the navigation links, the search facility, or site-map to check.

Northwards Heroes

2009 Housing heroes award 2009 Housing Heroes Awards

We have been shortlisted from more than 300 entries for a Housing Heroes Award. This is a new awards scheme for shining the spotlight on the people and teams that are doing great work in the social/affordable housing sector.

Why we’re up

We’re in the running for the Tenant Empowerment Team of the Year after our team came up with the Northwards Pot of Gold Scheme. Pot of Gold is all about empowerment. Every year, Northwards tenants have the power to shape the way the organisation spends its resources.  Last year £90,000 was shared between the three local Area Panels. The tenants then decided how the money should be spent. 

How our scheme works

The Wilton Area Panel used their Pot of Gold funds to engage and empower local young people. A panel of 19 young people (aged 11-18) chose who to fund from a range of youth service proposals, which included fun sports, documentary making and craft sessions. This was empowerment in every sense. Local tenants made their own decision on how to spend the money, while young people decided who should receive financial support.

More about the awards

The Awards are organised by Inside Housing magazine and the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH). They attracted a phenomenal response with submissions from the length and breadth of the UK. So we’re very proud to be in the running.

What the organisers say

Steve Benson, the President of the CIH, said there were some amazing people working in the housing sector: “Our sector spends a great deal of time talking about policy and strategy, business plans and budgets, our visions and our mission statements. Of course all of these things are really important. But in my experience it is the extraordinary people that do fantastic work for our customers that make the real difference. So I want to congratulate every finalist for getting this far in these awards. It was extremely tightly contested, and I look forward to helping to unveil the eventual winners in June.”

Fingers crossed!

The winners will be revealed at a glittering awards ceremony at London’s Hilton Hotel on 10 June. The ceremony will be hosted by TV presenter and former politician Michael Portillo.

print print this page