It’s been a busy few weeks at New Roots with the launch of the ‘It’s not OK’ Campaign, but it was well worth the trip down to this year’s TPAS Conference and Awards at the Chesford Grange Hotel in Coventry!
TPAS is the Tenant Participation and Advisory Service, who work tirelessly year-round to bring landlords and contractors together with the tenants they support. 2017’s National Tenant Conference was an opportunity for representatives from organisations across the UK, both professionals and tenants, to celebrate success stories, share good practice, and have a bit of fun!
New Roots was honoured to again deliver a workshop to representatives from across the housing sector, this year on the motivation of young people in supported housing. As is only right, staff and young people worked together before and on the day to deliver a meaningful and educational experience to those in attendance. In a repeat of last year, the young people who generously donated their time to share their experiences and insight made the workshop a fantastic success! It’s a huge thank you from me to Sheridan and Katrina for all they brought to the day, and to Ian, our Business Support Manager, who offered some fantastic advice on the corporate side of supported housing.
After New Roots’ success at the Central Region Finals earlier this year, we were delighted to attend the National Finals, which brought this year’s conference to a fantastic close. In awe of the work and commitment of the other regional winners, Peabody and New Bury Vision Group & Bolton at Home, it was an honour just to attend and share the room with some fantastic organisations from across the country, all working to improve tenant engagement across the UK.
I am, however, delighted to announce that we were successfully named National Winners of the Award in Excellence in Engagement in Supported Housing 2017! Carol Scawthon, our fantastic CEO, joined Sheridan, Katrina and myself in collecting the award from Caritas Charles, TPAS’ Director. The judges commented on New Roots’ person-centred approach, and it was fantastic to hear our young people explain further what it means to be a New Roots tenant. Fittingly, there were significantly more young tenants in the audience this year than ever before, particularly from within supported accommodation.
Take a look at the nerve-shredding moment when the winner was announced on the TPAS Twitter Page.
New Roots would like to congratulate all this year’s winners, listed below. It’s a huge privilege to stand next to you and the work you do. Well done!
Southern Region: Learn for Free – Plymouth Community Homes
Central Region: Future Gateways – Futures Housing Group
Northern Region: Livin Futures – Livin Housing
National Winner: Learn for Free – Plymouth Community Homes
Southern Region: Avondale Community Events (A.C.E) – City of London Corporation
Central Region: Communities Week 2016 – Fortis Living
Northern Region: Environmentalists Project – South Yorkshire Housing Association
National Winner: Environmentalists Project – South Yorkshire Housing Association
Southern Region: This is Phoenix – Phoenix Community Housing
Central Region: In House Mediation Service – Derwent Living
Northern Region: Everyday Voice, A New Way of involving Wythenshawe Residents – Wythenshawe Community Housing
National Winner: This is Phoenix – Phoenix Community Housing
Southern Region: HOUSE – West Kent Housing Association
Central Region: Youth on Board (YoBs) – Fortis Living
Northern Region: Stockport Homes’ Youth Aspiration – Stockport Homes
National Winner: Youth on Board (YoBs) – Fortis Living
Southern Region: Resident Scrutiny – Optivo
Central Region: NWLDC Tenant Scrutiny Panel – North West Leicestershire District Council
Northern Region: Tenants at the Heart of Scrutiny – Wythenshawe Community Housing Group
National Winner: Tenants at the Heart of Scrutiny – Wythenshawe Community Housing Group
Southern Region: Transitions – Peabody
Central Region: New Roots Housing Project – New Roots Housing
Northern Region: Melodramatics for Seeing Red – New Bury Vision Group & Bolton at Home
National Winner: New Roots Housing Project – New Roots Housing
Southern Region: Real Homes, Real People – Phoenix Community Housing
Central Region: Your Voice Matters, Annual Review for Customers 2015/16 – Stafford and Rural Homes
Northern Region: Annual Review 2015/16 – St Leger Homes of Doncaster
National Winner: Real Homes, Real People – Phoenix Community Housing
Southern Region: Tenant Involvement Team – Oxford City Council
Central Region: Youth Involvement Team – Aragon Housing Association
Northern Region: One Money Team – One Manchester
National Winner: Youth Involvement Team – Aragon Housing Association
Southern Region: Kickstart Your Career– Keepmoat
Central Region: The Normanton Project – Derby Homes
Northern Region: The Legacy Project – Mears & Rotherham MBC
National Winner: Kickstart Your Career– Keepmoat
Southern Region: Danielle Frost – Peabody
Central Region: No Regional Winner
Northern Region: No Regional Winner
National Winner: Danielle Frost – Peabody
Southern Region: Ray Champion – Hammersmith & Fulham Council
Central Region: Sally Wilsdon – Moat Homes
Northern Region: Eric Alker – Wigan & Leigh Homes
National Winner: Eric Alker – Wigan & Leigh Homes