A long-established provider of housing for later life is celebrating its success after being shortlisted for a string of national awards.
Pickering and Ferens Homes is currently gearing up for the second and final rounds of the UK Housing Awards 2016 and the Almshouse Associations Patron’s Award, which will both take place in the first week of March.
The association is now one of five left in the running for the UK Housing Award in the Outstanding Approach to Tenant Involvement category for its Budget Roadshow, which provided the opportunity for residents to understand and make recommendations about how finances should be spent within the organisation.
Claire Warren, chief executive of Pickering and Ferens Homes said: “I am thrilled that my team’s fantastic work to involve residents has been recognised on a national scale.
“We work relentlessly to ensure all aspects of our organisation feels accessible to our residents. The response from the Budget Roadshow was phenomenal and we were able to gather extremely valuable feedback.
“Not only did this initiative give residents a greater understanding of how the budget is spent, but also allowed our Finance Team to understand residents’ priorities and implement them in terms of our budget planning too.”
Pickering and Ferens Homes is also hoping to get the royal seal of approval for its new Almshouse development, in Longhill, east Hull, which will be visited by the
Patron’s Award Committee to discuss any recommendations to be made to HRH The Prince of Wales.
The objective of the Weaver Grove and Larne Road scheme, which delivered 15, two bedroomed bungalows with community facilities, was to address the national shortfall of housing which enables vulnerable people to live independently.
Claire added: “To win the prestigious Patron’s Award would be a great honour for Pickering and Ferens Homes and the people behind the organisation.
“The Longhill properties were designed by a local architect, with a real focus on designing the bungalows to meet residents’ needs and to enhance their quality of life
“The properties were commended by David Orr, chief executive of the National Housing Federation, when he officially opened the development last year and a Patron’s Award would really be the icing on the cake now.”
The award shortlistings come hot on the heels of it being announced by the Homes and Communities Agency that Pickering and Ferens Homes had retained its highest assessment grade for governance and financial viability.
While the association is yet to find out when the Patron’s Award winners will be revealed, the UK Housing Awards front-runners will be revealed at a ceremony at the Lancaster London Hotel on 26 April.
Emma Maier, editor of Inside Housing, said: “The quality of the entries rose again this year so even to get this far is an amazing achievement. In the face of some really stiff competition, Pickering and Ferens Homes has shown it is performing at the highest level – well done.”