Over sixty housing organisations have reached the final stages of the prestigious UK Housing Awards for their outstanding contribution to improving the lives of people in their communities.

The UK Housing Awards are in their 13^th year and the final winners will be presented by the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) and Inside Housing magazine on Wednesday 11 November 2009 in London. The awards recognise excellence across nine categories and present prizes for outstanding achievement in housing in Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and for the UK as a whole.

CIH Chief Executive, Sarah Webb, said: "I am delighted that so many excellent entries were received this year, and this is evident from the high standard of the shortlisted finalists. I want to congratulate all the organisations who have reached the finals, their work is a true inspiration to all of us."

*ENDS*

News release issued on behalf of the CIH by Jill Dwyer, CIH Press Office, Octavia House, Westwood Way, Coventry CV4 8JP. Telephone: 07786 716961. Email: press@cih.org 

Notes to Editors:

1. The Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) is the professional body for people involved in housing and communities. We are a registered charity and not-for-profit organisation. We have a diverse and growing membership of over 22,000 – both in the public and private sectors – living and working in over 20 countries on five continents across the world. Our members work for local authorities, housing associations, Arms Length Management Organisations, Government bodies, educational establishments and the private sector. Many tenants and residents are also members. We exist to maximise the contribution that housing professionals make to the wellbeing of communities. Further information is available at: www.cih.org 

2. The finalists for the UK Housing Awards 2009 are:

Contributing to housing and health:
Bron Afon Community Housing, Cwmbran – Falls Cost Lives Initiative
Clanmil Housing Association, Belfast – Mullan Mews dementia initiative
The ExtraCare Charitable Trust, Coventry – Wellbeing project
Housing 21 – Spring Bank Court, Blackburn extra care housing project
St Albans District Council – Elderly Women’s Tiffin Club
Your Homes Newcastle - Community Care Alarm Service

Encouraging innovation and efficiency:
Knowsley Housing Trust – Advantage initiative
Luminus Group, Huntingdon – Organisation Wholeness Strategy
RMG – Housing Options service for Westminster City Council
Salford City Council – SHIP (Salford Heat Installer Partnership)
Sovereign Housing Group, Newbury – Sovereign Development Consortium

Creating integrated and safe places to live:
Circle 33 – Holly Street Partnership, Hackney
FOLD Housing Association, Northern Ireland – Grouped Traveller Housing schemes
Great Places Housing Group – Devon Street/Norfolk Street project, Oldham
Liverpool Housing Trust – JIGSAW Youth Squad
Northern Ireland Housing Executive, Belfast – SNAP project
Your Homes Newcastle – Challenge and Support initiative

Meeting the needs of vulnerable people:
Accord Housing Group – The Eden Alternative elderly care initiative
Birmingham City Council – Supporting People Programme; Lay Assessors
Derwent Living, Derby – The Butterfly Project for women fleeing domestic violence
Glasgow Homelessness Network – 4Front Learning partnership project
Hact – Accommodate refugee housing initiative

Raising the standards of customer services:
Birmingham City Council – South Lozells Housing Regeneration consultation project
Connaught, Leeds – Training and customer experience improvement programme
Flagship Housing Group, Norwich – Service Right, First Time initiative
Poole Housing Partnership – Raising the Bar initiative
Stevenage Homes – Opening Doors customer service initiative
Taff Housing Association, Cardiff – Inclusion of hard to reach groups initiative

Meeting housing needs and aspirations in a changing market:
East Thames Group – Grand Union Place regeneration project
Hafod Housing Association, Cardiff – Mortgage rescue scheme
Lewisham Borough Council – New housing offer
Salford City Council – Over 50’s Housing Choice initiative
Wrekin Housing Trust – the Inreach initiative

Delivering better accountability and resident involvement:
Bron Afon Community Housing – Stock Transfer process
Northern Ireland Housing Executive – Intercommunity Network initiative
Selwood Housing, Trowbridge – Make a Difference Campaign
Stockport Homes – empowering vulnerable customers to improve services
Stonham (Home Group) – Seaford Court, Wokingham young persons shared accommodation
St Mungo’s, London – Outside In initiative

Contributing to housing and education:
Birmingham City Council – NEETS apprentice scheme
Bournemouth Churches Housing Association (bcha) – Learning 744
Cambridge Housing Society – New Horizons initiative
Home Group – the Peer Motivator programme
Port of Leith Housing Association – Training Opportunities in Lothian (TOIL)
Wakefield and District Housing – Community Leadership Programme

Creating better places to live by regenerating communities:
Elevate East Lancashire – Creative Community Engagement project
Fabrick (Tees Valley Housing/Middlesbrough Council) – Trinity development, North Ormesby
Home – Benwell Neighbourhood Management Initiative
Liverpool Mutual Homes (LMH) – transformation of the Daneville estate, Walton
Meden Valley Making Places – regeneration strategy

Outstanding Achievement in Housing – Northern Ireland
Clanmil Housing Association – Causeway Meadows, Lisburn, Co Antrim
FOLD Housing Association – Grouped Traveller housing schemes
Helm Housing – Ardaveen Manor supporting living accommodation project, Bessbrook
North and West Housing – regeneration of Oakland Park
Northern Ireland Housing Executive – SNAP project
Northern Ireland Housing Executive – Intercommunity Network

Outstanding Achievement in Housing – Scotland
East Dunbartonshire Council – Homelessness Triggers diagnostics tool
Glasgow Housing Association
Link Group – SmartLiving
Link Group – Older Persons Advice project
Renfrewshire Council – Young persons alcohol project
West Lothian Council – New Homes and New Skills project

Outstanding Achievement in Housing – Wales
Bron Afon Community Housing, Cwmbran – Falls Cost Lives Initiative
Cardiff County Council – Landlord Accreditation scheme
Cymdeithas Tai Hafan, Camarthen – Tai Hafan Learning & Work – Moving On project
Melin Homes, Pontypool – Golden Thread project
Rhondda Housing Association – Community Regeneration Strategy

UKHA Inspirational Colleague Award
Wales & West Housing Association -  Jo Brennan
Sanctuary Group - Johnny Paterson 
Guinness Northern Counties - Darren Wilkinson 
Your Homes Newcastle - Lesley Sandland
Soha Housing - Carole Burchett
Old Ford Housing Association - Jan Mahoney