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

This award is kindly sponsored by Dundee City Council

Changing for the future. Offering a wide range of information and services to residents and businesses in Dundee, a creative and dynamic city in the North-East of Scotland.

www.dundeecity.gov.uk

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

This award is kindly sponsored by West Lothian Council Tenants Panel

West Lothian Council Tenants Panel is thrilled to sponsor the Excellence in Scrutiny Danny Mullen Award (working in partnership). The Panel, composed of tenants with over 50 years of combined experience and knowledge, is dedicated to supporting and promoting tenant participation across West Lothian. Our award-winning panel excels in scrutinizing and monitoring service delivery, annual HRA and capital budgets, new builds, and repair services. They are also actively involved in the preparation and delivery of consultations.

Danny Mullen, a former tenant representative and chair of the panel, devoted much of his time to advocating for tenants’ rights and welfare in West Lothian and beyond. His kindness and gentle nature made him a beloved community figure, and his legacy lives on through the improvements he helped achieve.

In partnership with TIS, West Lothian Council is committed to providing the best possible service to tenants. We are proud to have our West Lothian Council Tenants Panel sponsor this award and look forward to continuing our collaboration with TIS to support and empower tenants in our community.

www.westlothian.gov.uk/TenantParticipation

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)

This award is kindly sponsored by CIH Scotland

CIH Scotland is the professional body for people who work in housing, the independent voice for housing, and the home of professional standards. We exist to support housing professionals to create a future which everyone has the place to call home. We promote the art and science of housing and act in the best interested of our members and the wider public.

www.cih.org

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

This award is kindly sponsored by Edinburgh Tenants Federation

Edinburgh Tenants Federation is a voluntary organisation that works to ensure that tenants and residents of all landlords can participate fully in the development and implementation of proposals relating to the social, economic, physical and environmental regeneration of the communities of Edinburgh.

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

This award is kindly sponsored by Citrus Energy

Founded in 2013, Citrus Energy is a social enterprise that exists to help energy consumers make genuine savings on gas and electricity costs through our truly impartial advice and recommendations. As a social enterprise, any profit we achieve is re-distributed into the community we work with to help reduce fuel poverty issues and create sustainable employment.

www.citrusenergy.co.uk

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

This award is kindly sponsored by East Ayrshire Federation of Tenants and Residents

Established in 2007, East Ayrshire Federation of Tenants and Residents is an umbrella organisation that represents tenants and residents associations, and tenants throughout East Ayrshire. A nationally recognised and award-winning Federation, they aim to promote the rights of tenants and residents in the maintenance and improvement of housing conditions, housing services, and communities.

www.eafederation.com

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

This award is kindly sponsored by Cunninghame Housing Association

More than just a landlord. The Association’s origins and track record of success and a growth since its registration as a social landlord in 1984. As a leading Social Landlord and Social Enterprise we take pride in our Vision, Mission and Values. These will make sure that we are “More than just a Landlord” as we strive to make our “Communities Better Places”.

www.cunninghame-housing.org