The achievements and success of housing professionals across the UK have been recognised in this year’s Guardian Public Services Awards in London. The housing sector provided an impressive eight finalists, in thirteen categories, and walked away with three winners despite tough competition from the rest of the public sector. The highest accolades go to the three category winners:

- Poplar HARCA, for their Family Intervention Project, which aims to change the anti-social behaviour of local families and support them in their homes (Service Delivery - Housing and Regeneration Category, sponsored by Chartered Institute of Housing);

- Derwent Living, for the Butterfly Project; a supported housing scheme in Derby for women with complex needs fleeing domestic violence (Service Delivery - Complex Needs Category);

- Care4you, Sheffield City Council for helping older residents stay in their own homes, cutting waiting lists and savings costs (Innovation and Progress – Transformation Category).

The runners-up can also take great pride from the night with the achievements and versatility of housing professionals helping them to reach the final stages of the Awards, which attracted more than 800 entries. The runners-up include:

- Liverpool Mutual Homes which increased energy efficiency and cut tenants’ fuel bills in a radical refurbishment project (Innovation and Progress - Sustainability Category)

- North Lanarkshire Council Housing and Social Work Services for its inspirational social work training programme (Innovation and Progress - Front Line Engagement);

- Willow Housing and Care for helping pensioners in care homes retain as much independence as possible (Service Delivery - Care of Older People Category);

- Live Wirral Wardens for helping residents groups become strong and sustainable (Service Delivery - Housing and Regeneration Category);

- North and West Housing for turning a 6.5 acre no-go area into a valuable social space (Service Delivery - Housing and Regeneration Category).

Abigail Davies, CIH Head of Policy said: "The evening was a great night for housing and the work of housing professionals. It once again shows that housing professionals and the work they do sits at the very heart of public services.

"CIH is proud to be a sponsor of the Guardian Public Services Awards that showcases the work of the housing sector to a wide audience and illustrates the immense contribution we make to good social policy. Our warmest congratulations go to all winners and runners-up in very competitive categories."

*ENDS*

News release issued on behalf of the CIH by Jill Dwyer, CIH Press Office, Octavia House, Westwood Way, Coventry CV4 8JP. Telephone: 02476 851780 or 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. Further details about the awards and winners can be found at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/publicservicesawards