Newydd, a housing association with 3,000 homes across mid and south Wales, has won in three categories at the Welsh tenant engagement awards hosted by TPAS Cymru on 3rd July.
The annual awards, held this year at the Park Inn in Cardiff, showcase how tenants and landlords work together to make a positive impact at a local level in the social housing sector.
The first award went to Cath Kinson, a Newydd tenant from Barry, who won the Lifetime Achievement Award in a very competitive category. A highly dedicated individual who throws herself into every challenge, Cath has been an invaluable member of the community, making a positive difference for the benefit of all tenants.
Cath Kinson (centre above) said, “I’m so thrilled to have received this award
and it’s been special sharing it with fellow tenants at the ceremony. Taking a
little time out to help can make a big difference in changing the services that
your landlord provides for the rent you pay. Going forward I will continue to
challenge, making sure tenants are at the heart of our partnership.”
Newydd also won the Digital Communication and Engagement Award for ‘My Newydd’, a new tenant portal to allow tenants to manage their tenancy. A combination of social media, video, email marketing, leaflets and consultation with tenants were used to increase registrations for this account by 92% in the first month alone.
The gala event culminated with the ‘Tenants at the Heart’ Award (see main photo), which went to Newydd’s ‘Hearts of Gold’ project. Tenants have played a central role in Newydd’s achievements for over a decade; integral in the design, development and implementation of services. During this project relationships have been strengthened, upskilling tenants in the process.
Paul Roberts, Chief Executive of Newydd said, “We work with tenants to ensure our services are the best they can be. These awards recognise the huge value of our relationship with tenants and how important it is that we not only listen but work together to continuously improve.”
David Wilton,
Chief Executive of TPAS Cymru said, “I believe Newydd’s success is based on
their commitment that one size and approach does not fit all when it comes to
listening to their tenants. They demonstrate a diverse range of approaches to
engagement which is working for both tenants and staff.”
