Better Lives Awards 2023

This year, to mark our 50th anniversary, we recognised some of our colleagues and customers who have achieved great things.

Our ten amazing award winners are:

• Community Hero Award – Helen, a resident from Southwell
• Innovation Award – Property Services Apprenticeship Working Group
• Supportive Colleague Award – Chloe Green, Customer Experience Team Leader
• Customer Champion Award – Keeley Pogmore, Support Worker from PST North
• Outstanding Team Award – Derbyshire WISH
• Impact on our Homes and Buildings Award – Lisa Raine, Project Manager in Development
• Community Group Award – Steeple Leas resident group
• Inspirational Leader Award – Lesley Rawlinson, Project Manager at Ashland Road West
• Customer Journey Award – Tiffany, formerly of Bridge Street.

Person of the Year Award - Carla Williams

Our final award was the Person of the Award. This award was voted for by colleagues and the results were incredibly close right up to the end, when it was won by Carla Williams, Support Worker from our Homelessness Prevention Service!

Carla is well known and loved across NCHA for combining her role as a Support Worker, with being a Unison steward and a diversity champion too. She was nominated for always going the extra mile, for colleagues and service users. She was described as dedicated, passionate, enthusiastic and supportive.

As one colleague put it: “If you ever need anything Carla will always put her hand up to help, she is caring and kind always has a smile on her face.”

Community Hero Award – Helen from Southwell

Helen was described as being a force of nature for her community at Mayhill, Southwell. She has worked on a voluntary basis with her neighbours, the local authority, grounds contractors and us to create a beautiful wildflower meadow in their neighbourhood, which hosts a wide variety of natural wildlife. Without Helen's efforts this place would have been an unloved strip of grass, but it is now a living breathing habitat bringing colour and joy to the neighbourhood.

Thanks to Helen this initiative is being rolled out in many other areas and the judging panel said: “Helen’s tenacity and forward thinking will not just benefit her immediate community, but all NCHA communities for generations to come.”

Community Group Award – Steeple Leas residents

Steeple Leas is one of our independent living for older people schemes and is situated in Grantham. After losing some well-regarded residents, a group there took it upon themselves to fundraise to buy a defibrillator. They worked together as a team and achieved their goal earlier this year. The potentially life-saving machine is now located on the wall outside so it can be accessed by the local community if required too.

Customer Journey Award - Tiffany, Bridge Street

This Award was won by Tiffany, who used to live at our Bridge Street project in Shepshed, Leicestershire. Tiffany has completely turned her life around. She has engaged in support to aid her recovery, she has learnt many new skills and is now living independently in her own flat, close to family. All of the team at Bridge Street are incredibly proud of what she has achieved and the judging panel said: “She has been on a huge journey, and she embodied the essence of this award.”