TIS National Excellence Awards 2024

 A dedicated individual tenant award 

The Outstanding Contribution to Tenant Participation award recognises an inspiring, individual tenant who has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to driving tenant participation practices forward, to achieve great practice that others can learn from. 

Submissions must evidence how the individual has demonstrated an ability to go above and beyond, empowered tenants, residents, and communities to influence housing policies, services, and standards, explored innovative new ways to get people involved, strengthened relationships and communication, and championed tenant participation practices within their organisation.

Winner:

• Tommy Bennet
  South Lanarkshire Council

Finalists

• Deborah Docherty
  Tenant activist at Bield Housing and Care
• John Young
  Tenant of Paragon Housing Association and member of Clackmannanshire Tenants and Residents Federation
• Peter Gibson
  Scrutiny Panel member at Kingdom Housing Association
• Tommy Bennet
  South Lanarkshire Council

Working in partnership award 

The Excellence in Scrutiny Danny Mullen award recognises housing organisations, and their tenant scrutiny groups, who have demonstrated excellence in working collaboratively to achieve an exceptional standard of scrutiny that has made a real difference to the lives of tenants, delivery of housing services, and improvement of satisfaction levels. 

Submissions must evidence how the organisation and group have worked in partnership to embed scrutiny within the organisation’s strategic approach and have demonstrated an outstanding contribution to empowering tenants to work together, have their say, and influence decisions about housing policies, services, and standards.

Winner:

• Cunninghame Housing Association in partnership with Cunninghame Scrutiny Group

Finalists

• Aberdeenshire Council in partnership with Sheltered Housing Tenants’ Forum
• Cunninghame Housing Association in partnership with Cunninghame Scrutiny Group
• Riverside Scotland in partnership with Riverside Scotland Service Improvement Group
• South Lanarkshire Council in partnership with Repairs Sub-group

Innovative housing organisation award 

The Excellence in Digital Engagement award recognises housing organisations who have demonstrated creativity in developing meaningful digital engagement opportunities. 

The Covid-19 pandemic significantly changed the way that housing organisations engage with their tenants and communities. Traditional methods to get involved are now enriched by new technologies, innovative practices, and online communication tools to ensure tenants and communities stayed connected. 

Submissions must evidence how the organisation has worked collaboratively with tenants, residents, and communities to broaden the reach of engagement by offering innovative, digital engagement opportunities and more, flexible choices to participate.

Winner:

• Aberdeenshire Council

Finalists

• Aberdeenshire Council
• Bield Housing and Care
• North East Tenants, Residents and Landlords Together (NETRALT)

Exceptional group award 

The Tenant Group of the Year award recognises a tenants, residents, or community group who has made an outstanding contribution and achieved great practice that others can learn from in the future. 

Submissions must evidence how the group has added value to their local area and improved community spirit, strengthened relationships and communication, championed tenant participation, found innovative new ways to get people involved, influenced decisions and housing policies, services and standards, or driven community regeneration projects forward.

Winner:

• Gilfoot TARAG

Finalists

• Bield Equality Network
• Gilfoot TARAG
• Tenants Together Scotland
• West Dunbartonshire Tenants and Residents Organisation

Outstanding housing organisation award 

The Housing Organisation of the Year award recognises an outstanding housing organisation who has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to embedding tenant participation, scrutiny, and wider community engagement into the culture of the organisation. 

Submissions must evidence how the organisation is dedicated to going above and beyond, to ensure tenants’ rights are at the forefront, have a meaningful say, and are pivotal in influencing housing policies, services, and standards. The organisation must promote quality and recognise that tenants are at the heart.

Winner:

• Bield Housing and Care

Finalists

• Bield Housing and Care
• Kingdom Housing Association
• Riverside Scotland
• West Granton Housing Co-op

An extraordinary individual member of staff award 

The Lifetime Achievement award recognises an extraordinary, individual member of staff who has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to effecting positive change across the Scottish social housing sector, during their lifetime. 

Submissions must evidence how the individual has made significant contributions, both in the organisation in which they have worked, and across the sector as a whole. A real ambassador for building strong and resilient communities, they have championed tenant participation, had a profound impact on the lives of many, empowered tenants, residents, and communities to influence housing policies, services, and standards, explored innovative new ways to get people involved, strengthened relationships and communication, and inspired those that they have worked with.

Winner:

• Jim Fraser
  Estate Management Inspector at Elderpark Housing Association

Finalists

• Jim Fraser
  Estate Management Inspector at Elderpark Housing Association
• Sheena Macfie
  Housing Services Administrator at Fyne Homes

An extraordinary individual tenant award 

The Lifetime Achievement award recognises an extraordinary, individual tenant who has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to effecting positive change across the Scottish social housing sector, during their lifetime. 

Submissions must evidence how the individual has made significant contributions, both in the organisation in which they have worked, and across the sector as a whole. A real ambassador for building strong and resilient communities, they have championed tenant participation, had a profound impact on the lives of many, empowered other tenants, residents, and communities to influence housing policies, services, and standards, explored innovative new ways to get people involved, strengthened relationships and communication, and inspired those that they have worked with.

Winner:

• Betty Simpson
  Housing volunteer at Aberdeen City Council

Finalists

• Betty Simpson
  Housing volunteer at Aberdeen City Council
• Betty Stone
  Executive Committee Convenor at Edinburgh Tenants Federation
• Harry Woodward
  Tenant member at Edinburgh Tenants Federation
• Janice Murray
  Tenant member of Service Improvement Group at Riverside Scotland