SARH shortlisted four times in top regional social housing awards

FOUR community projects led by a Stafford housing association have been shortlisted in major regional social housing awards.

Stafford and Rural Homes submitted four entries into the annual Tenant Participation Advisory Service (TPAS) central region awards – and all have been chosen as finalists.

“It is a fabulous achievement to be shortlisted four times considering what a large area the central region covers and the high standard of the competition,” said Karen Armitage, Chief Executive of Stafford and Rural Homes.

“It is testament to the fantastic partnership working between SARH staff, customers and community partners that we have achieved this success.”

SARH’s Meadow Road Allotment Project has been shortlisted in the ‘Excellence in the Community Award’.

The project has seen SARH and Stafford Borough Council come together with local residents and other partner organisations to transform an area of unused land into a mixture of community and family allotments.

English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes run each week by SARH have been shortlisted in the ‘Excellence in Equality and Diversity Award’.

The class is for people who don’t speak English as their first language and want help to improve their English skills. The sessions have proved a great way for customers to meet others in a similar situation and many who come have made great friends.

SARH’s customer board, which meets monthly, looking at how SARH is performing and helping to shape and prioritise services, was nominated in the ‘Excellence in Working Together’ award.

A team of ‘Customer Inspectors’ who have been trained to inspect the way SARH work and how they deliver services to customers have also been shortlisted in the ‘Excellence in Tenant Scrutiny Award’.

“These projects are great examples of how we aim to ensure customers are at the heart of everything we do.  This is crucial to our success in delivering homes, communities and services that allow people living and working in the Stafford borough to thrive and prosper,” said Chris Plant, Community Involvement Manager for SARH.

The central region awards ceremony takes place at the St Johns Hotel, in Solihull, on April 12.

Winners from the central region will be put forward to a national award final along with winners from the Northern and Southern regional finals.