Golden Gates win top award at Housing Excellence Awards

WARRINGTON based Golden Gates Housing Trust’s (GGHT) Employment Initiatives Team is celebrating after picking up a top employability award at the Housing Excellence Awards 2015.
The team won the award for the ‘Best Tenant Employment/Training Programme’ at the prestigious event held in Manchester.
The award, which was presented to GGHT Chair, Roy Smith and Communications & Regeneration Manager, Neil Martin, celebrates housing organisations which have helped people back into employment and schemes that have been successful in improving residents’ prospects, from CV writing and practical workshops to supporting people to apply for jobs.
Since its launch in 2012, GGHT’s Employment Team has supported over 500 residents into employment through its innovative Positive Change programme, working in partnership with local businesses and training providers to deliver a range of effective interventions including one-to-one support, training and tailored trainee and apprenticeship opportunities.
GGHT was also shortlisted in the ‘Best IT System or APP’ for its Housing Support Pro system in partnership with Footprint Solutions. Not stopping there its Alder Green project also received two nominations including ‘Best Regeneration Scheme’ and  ‘Sustainable Housing Scheme of the Year’.
GGHT Chair Roy Smith said: “We are so proud to have won this award and I’m delighted the teams success has been recognised. It recognises our commitment to residents that we are there to support them into employment or training in today’s challenging job markets and our ability to quickly to react to ensure people are supported to access current opportunities.”
The award for the ‘Best Tenant Employment/Training Programme’ underlines the significant achievements made by the GGHT Employment Team, in supporting more than 500 local residents into employment.
Commenting on GGHT’s success, Torus group chief executive Rob Young said: “Creating opportunities and improving life chances is a primary focus for Torus. The North West is a fast developing economic hotspot and we’re poised to help our customers take advantage of that fact.
As individual housing associations, Helena and GGHT have already achieved impressive results, as this award demonstrates, but as Torus we can – and will – do so much more.”
The Housing Excellence Awards is the industry event of the year and highlights and rewards those who are leading the way in the social housing sector.
Anyone who lives in one of GGHT’s properties and would like additional support getting into employment, training or volunteering can register on Positive Change. The programme has already helped over 500 local people into work over the last 3 years. For more information visit GGHT’s Employment and Volunteering Support website page at www.gght.org.uk/positivechange