NFA Awards 2015
15-16 July 2015, The Hilton Hotel, Deansgate, Manchester
The 2015 NFA Awards form part of the NFA’s two day Annual Conference: Building
communities the ALMO way, taking place at the Hilton Hotel, Deansgate in
Manchester, 15/16 July 2015. The awards ceremony and dinner will take place on
the evening of the 15th July.
This year the NFA has introduced three new categories celebrating the fantastic
work ALMO undertake in communities with their tenants and residents, and the
diverse range of services being delivered in partnership with their local authorities.
Recently we have seen many ALMOs working hard to challenge the negative images
and stereotypes portrayed in the media of social housing and tenants and this
ambition is reflected in the most effective communications campaign award.
We welcome entries from all ALMOs.
The new 2015 NFA Awards categories are:
1. Best new build scheme
2. Creating greener homes and reducing fuel poverty
3. Improving the Private Rented Sector offer
4. Integrating housing, care and support services
5. Tackling worklessness and investing in social enterprise
6. Helping tenants manage the impact of welfare reform
7. Most innovative resident engagement initiative
8. Working in partnership with your local authority to deliver diversified services
9. Most effective communication campaign – Tackling negative perceptions
10. Apprentice of the year
Awards are now open for entry, with a closing deadline of 12 noon, 8 May 2015.
For further information on the awards timetable, and details of how to book your
place at the Awards Ceremony and Dinner please contact patrick.grace@cih.org
Entering the awards
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ALMOs may submit entries for as many different award categories as they
wish
Eligibility for entering the awards is that your organisation is an ALMO and is
a member of the NFA
To qualify for the NFA awards 2015 a project must have been completed or
running between 1 May 2014 – 1 May 2015.
Please do not exceed the word limits, words submitted over the defined
limits will be excluded from judging
All completed awards entry forms should be emailed in Word format, include
contact details for the person submitting the entry to patrick.grace@cih.org
The deadline for submitting entries is 12 noon, 8 May 2015. Late entries will
not be accepted.
All received entries will be acknowledged by e-mail within 48 hours. If you do
not receive an acknowledgement please contact CIH Events Team on 02476
851722 to confirm receipt of your entry
Judging will take place by independent housing and business professionals on
22 May 2015
Finalists will be notified during week commencing 12 June 2015
The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence or discussion will be
entered into or feedback given regarding the selection of short-listed
nominations or winners
NFA has reserved the right to extend the closing deadline, amend categories
or not award categories should the standard of entries received not reach the
required standard
Winning case studies may be used in post-event materials to promote future
events or best practice. Entrants have the right to mark any information or
sensitive parts of their entry as ‘not for publication or distribution’
Attending the ceremony
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The winners will be announced at the 2015 awards ceremony and dinner at
the Hilton Hotel, Manchester on 15th July 2015. The evening will commence
with a drinks reception at 6.30pm, followed by the awards ceremony and
gala dinner and entertainment.
If you are shortlisted for an award or awards you will be required to purchase
a minimum of 2 dinner tickets for the evening at £65 + VAT each. We are
able to offer finalists a discounted rate for a table of 10, which will cost £600
+ VAT (Once tickets are purchased, a refund can not be given)
Please register your interest by emailing Patrick Grace at patrick.grace@cih.org
The NFA awards are not only about celebrating success, they are also an opportunity
for organisations to learn from each other’s work and to showcase successful
initiatives, that they may be replicated by others in the sector.
NFA Awards 2015 – Category details
1. Best new build scheme
This award is open to all ALMO’s who have developed new homes for their local
community, including social and or affordable housing. The winning development
will demonstrate that:
For example:
 The development has met specific housing need in the local area
 Has incorporated high levels of design and sustainability
 The scheme has made best use of available public assets
 It has added value to the local economy, for example through job creation,
and/or the delivery of apprenticeships / training to local people.
Key category questions:
1. Give a brief summary of your project, outlining its aims and objectives and positive
outcomes evidenced to date (300 words max)
2. How does your development address housing need in the area? (250 words)
3. How did you ensure that the highest levels of design, sustainability and best use of
public assets were met? (250 words)
4. How has your scheme added value to the local economy, how have you been able
to evidence this? (250)
5. Please provide an image or photograph to support your entry (max 3 high quality
images)
2. Creating greener homes and reducing fuel poverty
This award will showcase the great improvements that ALMO’s have made to the
energy efficiency of exiting homes, and/or showcase projects to reduce fuel poverty.
The project will need to evidence how improvements are impacting positively on the
quality of life for residents and/or helping to address fuel poverty. The winning
award will demonstrate:
 How improvements made have helped make properties more energy
efficient, and how improvement have been funded
 The positive impact improvements have had on residents’ quality of life
 How the changes have helped tackle fuel poverty
Key category questions:
1. Give a brief summary of your project, outlining its aims and objectives and positive
outcomes evidenced to date (300 words max)
2. Describe the main improvements you have made to properties and how has this
improved energy efficiency? (250 words)
3. How were you able to fund the improvements? (200 words)
4. How has the project contribute to addressing fuel poverty (200 words)
5. How have the improvements impacted on the quality of life for residents? Please
demonstrate positive outcomes achieved? (200 words)
6. Please provide an image or photograph to support your entry (max 3 high quality
images)
3. Improving the Private Rented Sector offer
This award will celebrate the positive contribution ALMOs are making in improving
the quality of homes, tenancy conditions and/or the standard of management within
the private rented sector (PRS). The winning scheme will demonstrate:
 An effective partnership with one or more private rented sector landlords,
that results in the availability of an additional valuable housing option to
people on the housing register, and has helped meet local housing need
 How the ALMO, landlord, and tenants are all benefiting from the
arrangement.
Key category questions:
1. Give a brief summary of your project, outlining its aims and objectives and positive
outcomes evidenced to date (300 words max)
2. Tell us what have been the positive outcomes, of the partnership, for:
a) The ALMO
b) The landlord/property owner
c) Residents
(300 words)
3. How has the partnership with the PRS helped support a sustainable community?
(200 words)
4. How did you ensure the highest standard of accommodation and tenancy
agreement is offered to residents? (200 words)
5. Please explain how the scheme is funded? Does the scheme deliver additional
income / surplus for the ALMO, or deliver added social value to the community?
(200)
6. Please provide an image or photograph to support your entry (max 3 high quality
images)
4. Integrating housing, care and support services
This award provides an excellent opportunity for ALMO’s to showcase how they are
working with their local authority to deliver integrated housing, care and support
services. including the provision of suitable housing and support options, for elderly
and vulnerable residents who need additional support or specialist accommodation.
The winner will be able to demonstrate:
 The provision of integrated care and support options within their housing
offer for older people
 The development of additional specialist services to support the wellbeing of
older residents and others in the local community (for example; outreach
services into local communities)
 Can demonstrate partnerships with other public services such as health and
social care providers to tackle local challenges for health and wellbeing
Key category questions:
1. Give a brief summary of your project, outlining its aims and objectives and positive
outcomes evidenced to date (300 words max)
2. Outline the additional health, care or support options offered above the standard
sheltered housing service provision (150 words)
3. Please evidence the benefits the project delivers for individual service users
and/or the wider community (350 words)
3. How has the project addressed local challenges, and delivered positive outcomes
for local public sector partners (such as health or social care) (250 words)
4. Please provide an image or photograph to support your entry (max 3 high quality
images)
5. Tackling worklessness and investing social enterprise
This award will demonstrate how ALMO’s are working with their tenants and social
enterprise organisations to help reduce worklessness. The award celebrates a
successful partnership between the ALMO and the social enterprise business to
develop a business model that meets its social goals. Addressing issues such as; long
term and youth unemployment, whilst at the same time supporting sustainable
growth.
The winning award will be able demonstrate:
 Demonstrated how their approach has resulted into positive outcomes for
local people and communities
 Evidenced successful case studies of how tackle worklessness has impacted
on the community and also the wider economy
 Partnership / support of an innovative social enterprise that meets meet the
needs of the local community and enhanced people’s life chances
 Be able to demonstrate a sustainable business model
Key category questions:
1. Give a brief summary of your project, outlining its aims and objectives and positive
outcomes evidenced to date (300 words max)
2. Evidence how the project has helped reduce unemployment, and delivered added
value to the local economy. What measures have you used to measure the added
value? (300 words)
3. Demonstrate the enterprises sustainability in terms of future profit and growth.
How has the initiative been funded to date, and is there opportunity to grow the
service in the future? (250 words)
4. Please provide an image or photograph to support your entry (max 3 high quality
images)
6. Helping tenants manage the impact of welfare reform
This award will recognise a project or initiative designed to help tenants manage the
impacts of welfare reform, that has been well received and can demonstrate positive
outcomes for tenants and the wider community.
The winning initiative will:
 Demonstrate value for money and innovative ways to help residents manage
the impact of recent welfare reforms, including universal credit
 Maximise the use of digital technology to access information and advice
 Demonstrate effective partnerships with community groups and advice
agencies to maximise local available resources and funding (where
appropriate.)
Key category questions:
1. Give a brief summary of your project, outlining its aims and objectives and positive
outcomes evidenced to date (300 words max)
2a. Provide evidence of how your initiative has helped tenants manage the impact of
welfare reform (250 words)
2b. Provide an example of a positive outcome or campaign case study (150 words)
3. Please explain how has the project been funded? Where applicable outline how
you have worked in partnership or involved local advice agencies, organisations or
community group to maximise local funds and resources (300)
4. Please provide an image or photograph to support your entry (max 3 high quality
images)
7. Most innovative resident engagement initiative (New Award)
This award recognises the fantastic work the ALMO sector does on a daily basis to
engage with communities, and place tenants at the heart of service development
and delivery. This award will showcase an innovative resident engagement project
that has been successful at engaging diverse members of the community. It may also
demonstrate the use of more modern methods of engagement such as online
activities / social media, or include working in partnership with other local agencies
or organisations such as schools, clubs etc.
The winning initiative will:
 Demonstrate success at engaging with diverse members of the community.
 Evidence the use of a innovative engagement methods, to suit different
customer groups / demographics
 Demonstrate that customer feedback from the initiative has led to
improvements within the ALMO
Key category questions:
1. Give a brief summary of your project, outlining its aims and objectives and positive
outcomes evidenced to date (300 words max)
2. Demonstrate how the initiative has engaged with its target audience, and how ongoing engagement will be sustained (250 words)
3. Evidence how information and feedback gathered through this resident
engagement initiative has led to improved services or positive outcomes for the
community (250)
4. Please provide an image or photograph to support your entry (max 3 high
resolution images)
8. Working in partnership with your local authority to deliver diversified
services (New award)
This award will celebrate the successful partnership between an ALMO and its parent local
authority. It will demonstrate how the ALMO has worked closely with its local authority to
deliver additional services (over and above core housing management services) to help their
council achieve efficiency savings, deliver excellent value for money and provide good
quality services to customers.
The winner will:
 Have developed diversified services in partnership with their council that meet the
needs of the council and the local community over and above the existing core
ALMO housing service
 Be able to demonstrate that the new service model provides value for money,
customer satisfaction and positive outcomes for local people and communities
 Be able to evidence how these new services link to a sustainable business model for
the ALMO as well as the councils’ corporate or housing strategic objectives.
Key category questions:
1. Give a brief summary of your diversified services, outlining the aims and objectives of the
new service/s and positive outcomes evidenced to date (300 words max)
2. How has the ALMO worked with its parent local authority to develop this new service and
why? (250 words)
3. Tell us how the service/s has helped the council deliver on its corporate or housing
strategic objectives and why the ALMO was best placed to deliver those outcomes? (250
words)
4. Demonstrate how the diversified service has provided value for money and provided
either/or savings for the council or customers as well as delivering an improved service (250
words)
5. Please provide an image or photograph to support your entry (max 3 high quality images)
9. Most effective communication campaign: Tackling negative perceptions
(New award)
This award recognises the challenge of identifying and engaging with customers
effectively, and celebrates a successful marketing or communications campaign
using multi channel communications. This award is focusing on the work individual
ALMOs are doing to challenge the negative media perceptions of social housing and
tenants.
The winner will:
 Demonstrate how it has engaged with staff, residents, communities and the
media to tackle public and media negative perceptions, through the
promotion of positive images
 Have incorporated a range of communication methods / tools, including
online and social media presence, to reach different audiences
 Be able to evidenced the desired outcomes and influence of the campaign to
show it was effective
Key category questions:
1. Please summarise your campaign, including key aims and objectives, messages,
and positive outcomes achieved. (300 words)
2. Please outline the range of communication methods you used to target different
audiences, and indicate which online digital channels you used to place your
messages. Please demonstrate how each method contributed to a successful
campaign? (200 words)
3. If you actively involved tenants and/or the local community in the development
and delivery of campaign messages please explain how they were involved? (300
words)
4. Please provide evidence of positive outcomes / reach and explain how you were
able to measure the campaign success? (200 words)
6. Please provide an image or photograph to support your entry (max 3 high
resolution images)
7. You can also submit a short video/ film clip showing your campaign and/or
relevant case studies. The film clip should be no longer than 4 minutes long or a
short case study.
10. Apprentice of the year
This award recognises the efforts of an apprentice or trainee and how they have
made a difference within the ALMO. The winner will:
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Demonstrate commitment to their work and studies,
Make a consistently positive impression on their team colleagues and the
wider organisation.
Key category questions:
1 Please list the outstanding achievements of the apprentice, both in the workplace
and at their place of study, and describe how they have positively impacted on their
team, the ALMO and/or the wider community. (350 words)
2. What personal qualities or actions make the nominated apprentice stand out?
(200 words)
3. Please provide an image or photograph to support your entry (max 3 high
resolution images)
Guidance notes
Identify the elements that make your project unique and innovative, and what you
see as being the critical success factors. Be sure to describe clearly the positive
outcomes that have been achieved. Judges will be looking for clear evidence of
outcomes (for both the ALMO, and tenants and communities) that link directly to the
projects specified aims and objectives.
Before completing your entry think about what makes your project a winner – show
imagination, vision and enthusiasm in your submission. Your entry needs to catch
the attention of the judges, and stand out from the other submissions.
Please supply a supporting image or photograph for each entry (max 3 high
resolution images). These will be used to promote the finalist and winning entries,
and may be used in future NFA publications and on the NFA website to illustrate
winning projects.
Please do not exceed the word limit; words over and above the stated allowances
will be excluded from the judging process.
Deadline for all completed entries is 12 noon on 8 MAY 2015
Please email completed entry forms in WORD format to Patrick Grace at
patrick.grace@cih.org
Any images provided need to be high resolution photographs or pictures suitable
for reprint
If you have any queries please contact Patrick on 024 76851 722.