Winners Announced at Seventh Annual Nfa Awards

WINNERS ANNOUNCED AT SEVENTH ANNUAL NFA AWARDS

Winners and Finalists Honoured at Prestigious Council Housing Award Ceremony

Press Release

Date: 10 July 2013

Staff and tenants from council housing management organisations across the country were celebrating last night (9 July), as the winners of the seventh annual National Federation of ALMOs (NFA) Awards were announced, at the Midland Hotel, Manchester.

The Awards recognise success and outstanding achievements in the ALMO (arm’s length management organisation) sector – rewarding those individuals, projects and teams that make a significant contributions to their local communities.

The event was attended by almost 200 individuals actively involved with the ALMO sector. The full list of winners is as follows:

·  Championing Financial Inclusion - Stockport Homes

·  Best Green Initiative - Ascham Homes

·  Championing Digital Inclusion - Berneslai Homes

·  ALMO Team Member of the Year - Mark Wheelwright – Aire Vallley Homes

·  Board Member of the Year – Alison Inman – Colchester Borough Homes

·  Most Outstanding Resident (Over 25s)

o  Dewitt-Bukater and Daniel Steadman – Wolverhampton Homes

·  Most Outstanding Resident (Under 25s)

o  Bianca Dorsett – Hackney Homes

·  Most Effective Partnership - Derby Homes

·  Best Community Initiative – CityWest Homes

Across all categories, people and projects highlighted the many ways in which ALMOs are working to improve the quality of their tenant’s lives, and delivering innovative and responsive solutions in a rapidly changing environment. Full details of each of the award winners can be found at http://www.almos.org.uk/awards.

Sue Roberts MBE, Chair of the NFA, said: “This is the second time I have had the pleasure of taking part in judging the NFA Awards and I feel very proud to witness the innovative and exciting projects that were recognised today. Once again this year’s entries continue to demonstrate that ALMOs are rising to the challenge despite difficult economic conditions and political pressures.

“The Awards are about sharing best practice and recognising real achievement from our staff and residents and, I for one, enjoyed celebrating their achievements as ALMOs continue to lead the way in delivering housing services.”

The NFA Awards judging panel was made up of Sue Roberts MBE, Chair of the NFA; Michael Gelling, Chair of TAROE (Tenants and Residents Organisations of England); Michelle Reid, Chief Executive of TPAS (Tenant Participation Advisory Service); and Stuart MacDonald, Editor of Inside Housing magazine.

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For more information please contact Simon Baylis or Ellie Smith at Acceleris Marketing Communications on 0845 4567 251 or email / / http://www.almos.org.uk

Notes to Editors:

2013 NFA AWARDS WINNERS

Category / Winner / Finalists
Most Outstanding Resident / Over 25s
Wolverhampton Homes -Adam Dewitt-Bukater and Daniel Steadman
Under 25
Hackney Homes -
Bianca Dorsett / East North East Homes Leeds
- Yvonne Bagguley
Salix Homes - Thomas McMullen
ALMO Team Member of the Year / Aire Valley Homes - Mark Wheelwright / Ascham Homes - Albert Frimpong
East Kent Housing - Michelle Thomas
Board Member of the Year / Colchester Borough Homes - Alison Inman / Brent Housing Partnership - Karin Jaeger
Wolverhampton Homes - Sue Constable
Most Effective Partnership / Derby Homes / Salix Homes
Stockport Homes
Best Community Initiative / CityWest Homes / Northwards Housing
Wolverhampton Homes
Best Green Initiative / Ascham Homes / CityWest Homes
Stockport Homes
Championing Digital Inclusion / Berneslai Homes / East North East Homes Leeds
The Gateshead Housing Company
Championing Financial Inclusion / Stockport Homes / East Kent Housing
Lambeth Living

·  Arm’s-length management organisations (ALMOs) have led a revolution in the management of council housing since they were first established in 2002. The NFA now represents 50 ALMOs, which manage over 700,000 council homes across 50 local authorities.

Awards Sponsors

Allpay - Championing Financial Inclusion

http://www.allpay.net

Rixonway Kitchens - Most Effective Partnership

http://www.rixonway.co.uk

Gerda - Best Community Initiative

http://www.gerdasecurity.co.uk

Kier - Most Outstanding Resident

http://www.kier.co.uk

Mitie - Championing Digital Inclusion

http://www.mitie.com

Integrated Services, a Wolseley UK company - Most Effective Partnership

http://www.integratedservices.co.uk

Utilita - Best Green Initiative

http://www.utilita.co.uk