Community Impact Awards
Curo has been named national winner of the Community Impact Awards for its Independent Living Service which fits care and support around residents’ needs.
The winner was announced on 12 March at a Parliamentary reception at the House of Lords, hosted by cross bencher and housing expert Lord Best. Nick Hurd MP, the Minister for Civil Society, presented trophies to Curo and highly commended entrants Family Mosaic and New Linx Housing Trust.
The winner
The judges felt Curo's passion and commitment shone through in this innovative project which has improved quality of life for more than 500 people in the South West. For many the service has been an alternative to residential care through simple adjustments that make life easier - from home adaptations and shopping deliveries to money advice.
Awards' judge Claire Bailey-Jones from the sponsor Morrison said: "The scheme has a positive impact upon family, friends and neighbours of those who use the service. It can be used as a template for housing associations across the UK to help people stay in their own homes for longer. Absolutely fantastic and cannot be commended enough!"
Highly commended entries
Family Mosaic's Pathways2Work scheme which offers employment and training support to Londoners was highly commended. The scheme unlocks local job and apprenticeship opportunities and provides a varied programme of assistance, from IT training to money management programmes and new business development. Claire Bailey-Jones commended its "hugely successful and dynamic approach".
New Linx Housing Trust's Big Busy Diary is a packed schedule of community-led activities that set out to tackle isolation and anti-social behaviour in the Winthorpe area of Skegness. For judge Jon Land, Editor of 24housing magazine, it is "what the Community Impact Awards are all about".
Regional finalists
The winner and highly commended entries were chosen from nine regional winners, which in turn were chosen from category winners selected around the country. David Orr, the National Housing Federation's Chief Executive, was also a judge and praised the standard of entries throughout. "I'm always astonished by the diverse ways in which housing associations are transforming their areas for the better" he said. "But with 200 entries to look at this year, I was blown away by the high standard of work happening across the board".