Trust Celebrates Community Spirit in Trafford
28 September 2009
Trafford Housing Trust presented tenants with trophies to reward
exceptional community spirit in the borough.
The housing association held a special ceremony on Thursday 24th
September to honour tenants and residents who have put something
back into their communities.
Gongs were awarded by the Worshipful Mayor of Trafford, David
Higgins, at the event held at St Hugh of Lincoln Primary School, in
Stretford.
The awards recognise some of the most inspirational Trust
tenants and Trafford residents, who were nominated by their
neighbours and friends for their selfless and exceptional
commitment to others.
The award categories included:
- The Community Involvement Award
- The Children and Young Peoples Award
- The Older Peoples Award
- The Community Development Award
- The Inspiration Award and
- The Outstanding Contribution Award
The Community Involvement Award went to Trafford residents Petra
and Anita Morrison, from Sale Moor. The sisters were nominated
because they have made an outstanding contribution to their
community, improving community spirit and getting people involved.
Their trademark is making it fun! They have led the Sale Moor
Events Group to organise days out for local residents and families
including trips to Chester Zoo and the Blue Planet Aquarium and
recently organised the Sale Moor Kite Festival.
Teenager Detroit Wain, who lives in a Trust property with his
family in Stretford, was honoured with the Children and Young
People Award. At just 16-years-of-age, Detroit has already made a
real difference to his community. Following concerns raised about
youth nuisance, Detroit and his friends conducted a survey on their
estate, asking young people about their aspirations for their
neighbourhood. This helped identify some key issues, which could be
addressed.
The group also organised a funding application which provided
money for diversionary activities such as trips to Blackpool and
Alton Towers. Detroit was also invited to speak at the National
Housing Federation Conference in September last year, where along
with some colleagues, he delivered a thought provoking presentation
about the feelings of young people to an audience of housing
professionals.
The Older People's Award was presented to Trafford resident
Arthur Sadler, from Altrincham. He gave his time freely to
transform the garden areas at the Trust's Leverett Close even
though he doesn't live there. He helps out at functions and trips
and is always ready to help anyone in need. He is described as a
'true gentleman'.
The Community Development Award winner Doris Everratt, (70), a
Trust tenant from Pavillion Lodge, in Stretford, made a real
difference to the Sheltered Housing Scheme where she lives by
giving her time generously to work in the communal garden, where
she designed a patio area. She also works inter-generationally
spending her time working in craft sessions with young people in
the area.
The winner of the Inspiration Award, Trust tenant Josephine
Priestnall, (43), is a well-known face around the Tamworth Estate,
in Old Trafford, because she is always out and about keeping the
area clean and tidy. She picks up litter, empties bins and
generally takes responsibility to ensure the environment where she
lives is presentable. She is a role model and an inspiration. Not
only does her work contribute to making Tamworth a brighter and
better place to live for herself and others but her positive 'can
do' attitude is an inspiration for all.
The final gong, the Outstanding Contribution Award, was
presented to Daniel Lowe, (69), from Sale. Daniel is considered to
be a very special person and was nominated by more than one person.
Some of the comments that have been made about him include: "he is
always there for you", "anything that wants doing, he does right
away", "He is the only person in our community we can rely on",
"nothing is too much trouble for him".
Matthew Gardiner, Chief Executive of Trafford Housing Trust
said: "These awards were created with one aim, to recognise those
people within the Trafford community who consistently go the extra
mile when it comes to making their neighbourhoods better places to
live.
"It's our way of saying 'thank you' to those generous and truly
inspirational individuals who go out of their way to make a real
difference. Without their efforts, commitment and enterprise
our communities would be significantly less blessed. We would also
like to say a big 'thank you' to those people who took the time and
trouble to nominate them."