Member Article

Housing hero shortlisted for national award

Darlington-based Alf Hannaford has been shortlisted from almost 200 entries for the 2015 Housing Heroes Awards. These awards are in their seventh year and will once again showcase the people and teams that are doing exceptional work in the affordable housing sector.

Alf is one of only eight finalists left in the running for the Inspirational Tenant of the Year award. Alf lived in the Gresham area of Middlesbrough for 14 years, before moving to Darlington. He said: “When I found out about the nomination I couldn’t have been happier. It was a complete surprise to me. I love being an involved tenant and I am proud about what our Link and Scrutiny groups achieve for our neighbours and communities. I don’t do it for any recognition, I am just passionate about what we do. Job satisfaction is its own reward - being nominated for an award like this is a bonus!”

Sally Thomas, head of community investment for North Star Housing Group, who nominated Alf for the award said: “We’re delighted to see one of our tenants get the recognition he deserves for his dedication to his community and to his fellow tenants at Endeavour and Teesdale housing Associations. He is a member of North Star Tenants’ Voice Scrutiny Panel where he brings a wealth of knowledge and skills and puts in a lot of hard work and commitment.

Alf has been doing volunteer work for over twenty years. To staff North Star and to his local community, he is a Housing Hero for his work as project manager for TRICS charity, working with thousands of local children in Gresham, teaching them life skills which will stay with them forever. He has helped countless young people to develop confidence and ambition for the future – so much so that some of the youngsters he worked with from the beginning have gone on to become youth leaders, acting as role models for the younger children and helping lead activities at TRICS.

Alf was also an influential part of the formation of Middlesbrough Community Land Trust (MCLT). As Chair of Board and joint Project Manager of MCLT he worked alongside other volunteers to refurbish three previously empty and run down properties in Gresham, providing homes for local families.

The Housing Heroes Awards is organised by Inside Housing magazine and the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) and attracted an amazing response with submissions from the length and breadth of the UK.

The winners will be revealed the night before the doors open at the CIH Conference and Exhibition, at a sensational awards ceremony in the Exchange Hall at Manchester Central on Monday 22 June. The awards are sponsored by Circle Housing, Creative Bridge, Longhurst Group, Manchester Strategic Housing Partnership, New Charter Group, Places for People, Sovini, Wheatley Group and The Wrekin Housing Trust. Last year almost 800 people attended making it one of the largest award ceremonies in the social housing calendar.

Emma Maier, editor of Inside Housing, said: “All the finalists have done incredibly well in getting this far because the standard of entries this year was stronger than ever. Congratulations to Alf for being shortlisted. This is a real achievement in itself given there were almost 35 entries in some categories.” CIH chief executive Terrie Alafat said: “Congratulations to all of the shortlisted finalists. From frontline and back office housing professionals to tenants and board members, the housing world has many heroes working hard to make a difference in their communities. These awards aim to make sure they get the recognition they deserve.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Laura Wood .