" Willow Park Housing Trust scoops prestigious national housing award "
Willow Park Housing Trust, based in Wythenshawe, south Manchester, is celebrating the news that it has scooped a prestigious national housing award.
Announced at a special awards ceremony in Central London, Willow Park Housing Trust has fought off tough competition from over 100 entries to win the Housing Corporation Gold Award in the Empowering Communities category. It is the only winning housing association to be selected from the North West.
Now in its second year, the Corporation's popular competition this year looked for the best housing association in the categories of Empowering Communities and Environmental Sustainability.
This Gold Award is in recognition of Willow Park's Central role in building and supporting vibrant and sustainable communities and enabling residents to shape services and to determine their own futures and for helping people achieve what they want from their lives.
Irene Lawrance, Tenant Director and Chair of Willow Park's board was delighted with the announcement; "Since Willow Park was created in 1999 it has been our belief that real and lasting change will only happen if the tenants and residents are at the heart of decisions. This has certainly been the case over the last 8 years. The Willow Park area of Wythenshawe has been transformed and has now become a neighbourhood of choice where people are proud of their homes and community."
Mervyn Jones, Chief Executive of Willow Park also commented; "We are thrilled to be recognized for the work we do within our communities. We have always seen our role as being about more than providing homes and this award recognizes the fact that we are a community-led organisation, and without the support of our communities we would not be able to achieve what we do."
Sir Duncan Michael, Chairman of the judging panel said: "Congratulations to Willow Park Housing Trust in securing this prestigious national award for their community work."
"Through a resident-led programme, Willow Park has turned the most deprived ward in England into a settled community where people are queuing up to live. They've achieved this by making significant improvements in all aspects of the quality of people's lives."
"A worthy winner."
