CBH junior wardens scoop top award!

The whoops of joy could be heard all the way back in Cheltenham after it was announced at the TPAS (Tenant Participatory Advisory Service) award ceremony that Cheltenham Borough Homes' (CBH) junior warden scheme had scooped the title of the best youth involvement project in the South of England.

After beating off stiff competition from other social housing providers from across the South of England, CBHs' innovative and hugely successful Junior Warden Scheme was awarded the Best Practice in Youth Involvement Award.

The award was picked up by two of CBHs' most enthusiastic junior wardens, Chloe Peart and Tirion Parry. The Hester's Way Primary School pupils were thrilled to have been invited to the award ceremony in London and be given the honour of collecting the award.

Tirion said: "It was the first time I had been to London and we had a really exciting day. We were very shocked when we won and we had lots of people coming up to us to say "well done"."

Chloe added: "When we heard our name called it was a blur and we just ran up to collect the award."

The youngest people at the ceremony, the girls were happy to field questions from the other attendees who were interested in the work and role of the junior wardens in the local community. 

Set up in 2006, the junior warden scheme was launched to raise awareness of environmental and community issues to children aged 8 - 10 years old, living within the neighbourhoods CBH manages.

Paul Davies, Chief Executive at CBH said: "We are delighted and proud that our junior warden scheme has been recognised for its inspirational impact on the younger members of our neighbourhoods. The scheme has been a great success in helping us engage with young people and has enabled us to encourage them to get involved and take pride in their community."

As the southern regional winner CBH will now go forward to the national finals of the TPAS awards where they will be up against the other regional winners in the Best Practice in Youth Involvement award. The results of these awards will be announced later in the year.

"We've got our fingers crossed that we will win" said Chloe, "We want CBH junior wardens to be known as the best in England !"

ENDS

Notes for editors

CBH junior warden scheme:

The scheme took place at a local school (Hester's Way Primary School ) and out and about in the community. The packed programme of activities included:

• an estate walkabout with CBHs neighbourhood wardens to learn how to identify and report issues such as dog fouling, fly-tipping and graffiti
• visits to the local animal shelter, a sheltered housing scheme and the local fire and police stations
• visit to Cheltenham Borough Council's recycling centre
• talk from Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust who spoke about the local wildlife and natural habitats in the local community

  Tenant Participatory Advisory Service (TPAS):

• Tenant Participatory Advisory Service (TPAS) is one of the longest-serving tenant organisations in Europe with over 20 years experience informing and supporting tenant and landlord members.
• The TPAS awards were set-up to recognise tenants and housing providers efforts to improve people's lives and share examples of best practice so others can take inspiration from proven, successful, real-life case studies and implement the schemes in their own communities.

Cheltenham Borough Homes:

• CBH is one of the top rated ALMOs (Arms Length Management Organisations) in the country. ALMOs are not for profit companies that run social housing services for their local council.
• Currently CBH manage and maintain around 5,000 tenant and leasehold properties with an overall satisfaction level of 85%, placing them in the top ten ALMOs nationally 
• The organisation's approach to community development and participation; governance and equality and diversity has been recognised as good practice nationally
• CBH continue to develop excellent services by working closely with customers.  It will include building new homes and continuing to regenerate communities whilst tackling issues of worklessness and addressing social enterprise

For further information visit: www.cheltborohomes.org

Press contact: Catherine Best e: [email protected] t: 01242 775317