Teams and individuals working in the housing sector across the county have enjoyed success in the Kent Housing Group (KHG) Excellence Awards, which took place on 25 September.
The annual awards celebrate the very best projects, professionals and partnerships across housing in Kent and Medway.
“Our members share a passion for housing delivery. It’s not just a job – it’s the reason we strain every sinew to ensure we serve the people and places in our great county,” said KHG Chair Brian Horton as he addressed an audience of more than 100 housing professionals who gathered at the awards ceremony at Eastgate in Northfleet.
Brian added: “Once again, the judges have been touched by the passion and purpose behind the vital contributions colleagues in housing are making in Kent and Medway. The innovation and the vision that are demonstrated illustrate the caring side of housing and the drive we have to make a difference.
“Our housing sector faces considerable challenges, but seeing so many success stories gives us enthusiasm for the art of the possible and enables us all to go back to the day job inspired by what we have seen and heard here.”
The awards ceremony was hosted by KHG Executive Board member Becs Wilcox, sponsored by Southern Housing, South East Consortium (SEC) and CMSG React.
Brian presented a ‘KHG Chair’s Lifetime Achievement Award’ to Ashley Hook, who recently retired after 16 years as chief executive of mhs homes.
Kent Housing Group’s Helen Miller was presented with the ‘KHG Chair’s Award’, while the chair himself, Brian – who describes himself as a “housing enthusiast” – was the recipient of the ‘KHG Board’s Special Recognition Award’.
Category winners and highly commended
- KHG Lifetime Achievement Award – Ashley Hook
- KHG Chair’s Award – Helen Miller of KHG
- KHG Board’s Special Recognition Award – Brian Horton of KHG
- Asset Management winner – Krystal Reynolds from Golding Homes
- Asset Management highly commended – Thanet District Council’s Responsive Repairs team
- Associate Professional winner – Pete Fry from Medway Council
- Associate Professional highly commended – George Taylor, Stephen Simpson and Tommy James from Ashford Borough Council
- Community Project winners – Getaway Garden (with Future Skills CIC) from Town & Country Housing and Jobs Plus at Southern Housing
- Community Project highly commended – Thanet District Council’s High Rise Living Group
- Delivering Services for Vulnerable People winner – DAHA at Sevenoaks District Council
- Delivering Services for Vulnerable People highly commended – Elle Bolton, Substance Misuse Pilot at Maidstone Borough Council, and RISE at Thanet District Council
- Development and Regeneration winner – Crescent Road at Tunbridge Wells Borough Council
- Development and Regeneration highly commended – Fortis House, Ashford Borough Council’s move-on accommodation scheme delivered with ZED PODS
- Housing Professional winner – Mandie Stallard from Golding Homes
- Housing Professional highly commended – Michelle Jackson from Thanet District Council and Sean Richards from West Kent Housing Association
- Innovation winner – Fortis House, Ashford Borough Council with ZED PODS
- Innovation highly commended – Terry Vine from Thanet District Council
- Partnership winner – Medway Winter Project at Medway Council
- Partnership highly commended – LAHF Partnership (delivery in motion) and Housing and Community Hub, both Sevenoaks District Council
- Private Sector Housing winner – ABC Lettings service at Ashford Borough Council
- Private Sector Housing highly commended – Maxine Evans from Dartford Borough Council
- Team of the Year winner – Housing Revenue Account Property Services team at Medway Council
- Team of the Year highly commended – Kent County Council’s Gypsy, Roma, Traveller Resident service and Gravesham Borough Council’s Rough Sleeping Initiative
- Unsung Community Hero/Neighbour of the Year winners – Sam Bunting, a tenant of Ashford Borough Council, and Paulette Giddings, a tenant of Gravesham Borough Council
- Unsung Community Hero/Neighbour of the Year highly commended – Kathy King, a member of Dartford Tenants & Leaseholders Forum
- Young Professional of the Year winner – Ellis Reynolds from Clarion Housing
- Young Professional of the Year highly commended – Nesrene Boumnijel from Ashford Borough Council and Dartford Borough Council’s Eleanor McCreadie
