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SHIFT Awards show sustainability is alive and kicking in the housing sector. Over 230 housing and sustainability professionals came together on the 24^th November in London to celebrate outstanding achievements in sustainability at the SHIFT Awards 2016.

Broadland Housing Association is celebrating after winning a prestigious award for its sustainability performance.  They received the Best of Class – Existing Homes, The Lean and Green Award and the prestigious Gold Standard Award.

The SHIFT Awards are the UK’s sustainability awards for the housing sector, recognising the achievements of organisations leading in energy efficiency, lean and sustainable business and the delivery of affordable homes. The ceremony was held in London and hosted by Marcus Brigstocke.

The awards followed the historical Paris Agreement, reinforcing the commitment to accelerate global action on climate change and the vital role that the housing sector has to play in achieving such ambitious goals.

Bevan Jones, Sustainable Homes’ Managing Director, said:

“These awards clearly demonstrate that sustainability is not dead and that it has a major role in creating better homes and businesses whilst enhancing people’s lives. What we must do now is harness the energy and ideas from this event to improve policy and practice within housing and sustainability. We can’t wait to host the awards next year when we think we’ll see even more leadership and enthusiasm from the sector”

Michael Newey, Group Chief Executive commented “Broadland are very proud to receive these awards and hopes that we can continue to see efficiencies and in turn drive down fuel poverty for our tenants. I feel that the whole team have worked effortlessly on behalf of our tenants and am very proud of their achievements and happy to bring these awards home to Norfolk”.

 

Broadland Housing Association, established in Norwich in the 1960s, has been busy marking the 50^th anniversary of the first screening of “Cathy come home” by the BBC.  The Ken Loach directed docudrama significantly raised awareness of the plight of the homeless in the UK and, fifty years later, the message is still very relevant.

Broadland is part of a national coalition of over 20 housing associations, all established in the 1960s and early 1970s, who have come together to form the Homes for Cathy campaign.  Events have been organised across the country, involving local communities and local politicians, to raise the profile of homelessness and the lack of affordable housing.

In Norwich, last Friday, Broadland hosted a screening of “Cathy come home” followed by a lively debate chaired by The Rt. Rev. Graham James, the Bishop of Norwich.  The panel included Phil Kirby, the Chief Executive of Broadland District Council: Major Barry Willson from Salvation Army: Alan Waters, the Leader Norwich City Council; Kate Slack, a Board Member from Broadland Housing Association; and Michael Newey, the Chief Executive of Broadland Housing Association.

Homelessness is becoming an ever increasing problem in Norwich and across Norfolk. Major Willson said that the continued need for the Salvation Army soup kitchen in Norwich city centre highlighted the growing problem.

Alan Waters commented that following the screening he felt that low pay, insecure employment and low quality homes were still as big an issue today as they were 50 years ago.  He felt that the councils still had a key role to play in resolving the underlying issue of homelessness.

Phil Kirby said that in some respects the housing industry has moved on significantly, due to better regulation of housing standards. Yet there are still not enough homes and young people are still the most affected.
Michael Newey commented that even today, 50 years on, some families remain only 3 pay cheques away from finding themselves homeless.  He stressed that not enough homes of all tenures are being built, but there is especially a significant lack of new homes to rent at affordable and social rents. He called on parliamentarians of all political parties to commit to ensuring that the welfare system and government investment tackled the growing problem of homelessness.

He was also sad to note that there are still not enough affordable houses being built, with no easy ways to meet the increasing housing need.

The Bishop of Norwich ended the evening by saying that he hoped that the screening and debate had contributed a little towards raising the public consciousness  of the need to find a solution to the housing crisis and how clear it is that we need more affordable homes.

For more information on The Homes for Cathy Group please go to homesforcathy.co.org.