Women in Housing and Housing Heroes awards 2021: the winners

The winner of the joint Women in Housing/Housing Heroes award

North Star Housing

• North East-based North Star has been serving its communities for more than 40 years
• Its approach to staff well-being throughout the pandemic has been exemplary
• Creativity, innovation and confidence have grown throughout the organisation as a result

North Star Housing has been developing and managing both urban and rural housing for over 40 years. Its stock is concentrated in Teesside and south-west Durham.

North Star had to adapt over the past 18 months. Offices remained available in the pandemic – a lifeline to isolated or struggling staff. This has been managed safely, giving staff choice and control, keeping people resilient and well. Absence levels are around 1.5%, and halved in the past year.

The pandemic inevitably affected the business, staff and tenants negatively. But it was also a catalyst for creativity and innovation, such as completing a project to refinance and collapse the group structure, enabling it to build more homes while maintaining levels of investment in existing stock; installing internet and devices to alleviate isolation for customers in supported housing; and converting a community hub into a food distribution and support centre.

Creativity and innovation have increased; staff have more confidence to try new things. By working to maintain strong relationships on a personal, team and organisational level, staff have kept North Star going strong.

The judges said:
“North Star Housing is building on a platform of practice that is already great. They have gone several extra miles to get the engagement that they have achieved through the pandemic”

This category was judged by:
Aileen Evans, group chief executive, Grand Union Housing Group
Stacey Dingwall, policy lead, Scottish Federation of Housing Associations

Highly commended
Nottingham City Homes

A list of winners from the Women in Housing Awards

Charmaine Simei, Longhurst Group

• Charmaine is director of community investment at Longhurst Group
• Described by colleagues as inspirational, inclusive, enthusiastic and a role model
• Her work for Longhurst has measurably improved lives, even during the pandemic

Inspirational, inclusive, enthusiastic and a fantastic role model – just a few ways to describe Charmaine Simei, director of community investment at Longhurst Group, according to those who know her. She introduced tenancy sustainment officers who offer holistic support to customers, and launched the Improving Lives Hardship Fund, which offered vital financial support to those most in need during an incredibly tough time.

Charmaine has also overseen the launch of the Community Grants Fund, which allowed charities and not-for-profit organisations in Longhurst’s communities to bid for a share of £50,000 to broaden their work. Perhaps her biggest achievement has been leading the continuation of her organisation’s community investment function during the pandemic.

“Charmaine inspires me by example,” says Sue Crask, community investment lead at Longhurst. “She really believes in the ethos of our service and the difference this can make to our customers and communities.

“Charmaine’s a great leader for us as a team and a positive advocate for the organisation. She strives to promote our services at every opportunity.”

The judges said:
“Charmaine has exceeded her role as a housing professional. Her application demonstrates the impact of a woman who has... gone above and beyond to influence across the sector”

This category was judged by:
Sasha Deepwell, chief executive, Irwell Valley
Olu Olanrewaju, co-founder, Leadership 2025

Sponsored by:

Judith Bolton, Mears

• Judith is general manager for Mears’ key contract with Exeter City Council
• Well respected among peers and colleagues, she is proud of her team and their achievements
• Personal investment in creating opportunities for disadvantaged people shines through her work

Judith Bolton is the general manager for Mears’ key contract with Exeter City Council. She is very well respected among peers and colleagues. She is proud of her team and their achievements. Judith has worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic to win and mobilise this contract and the client relationship she has developed is testament to this.

Judith cares deeply about creating opportunities for local people, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds. This can be seen best in the work she has been involved in with a local student who had been struggling with his education. He suffers from dyslexia and other learning difficulties, but had expressed an interest in building work. The school approached Judith to help provide practical assistance to back up his functional skills studies in maths, English and bricklaying.

Since being involved with Judith and her team, he has gone from being a reluctant student, suffering badly with mental health issues, to becoming a proactive member of the groundwork team. He has not found his apprenticeship easy, but with a bit of focus and support from Judith, he now has a bright future.

The judges said:
“Judith has shown a real dedication to her role. She has shown a commitment to helping local students and youths who may not otherwise have an obvious route through”

This category was judged by:
Sophie White, director of infrastructure grant, Homes England
Melanie Leech, chief executive, British Property Federation

Sponsored by:

Amy Smith, BCHA

• Amy is a full-time refuge support worker at Bournemouth Women’s Refuge
• Launched a tailored outreach service to support LGBTQ+ survivors of domestic abuse
• Spends her own time improving the refuge. Routinely goes above and beyond

Amy Smith (pictured above, right) is a full-time refuge support worker at BCHA’s Bournemouth Women’s Refuge, and has been its LGBTQ+ outreach lead since December 2019.

LGBTQ+ people experience domestic abuse differently to heterosexual couples – potentially because of their sexuality or gender identity, or whether they are ‘out’ to friends and family. Cases of abuse can be missed as a result. Amy launched a tailored outreach service to LGBTQ+ survivors of domestic abuse, to provide practical
support, safety planning and emotional support. Survivors using the service said they are grateful to have a specific service for LGBTQ+ people; they feel more comfortable coming forward knowing there is a service just for them that will understand their needs. Amy has done this in addition to her duties as a support worker at the refuge, and continues to support the families on site while providing outreach services to the LGBTQ+ community.

Amy gives her free time to remodelling and renovating the refuge building into a modern, psychologically-informed environment.

The judges said:
“Amy goes way above her role as a support worker, commits her spare time and works tirelessly... to make a real difference to the lives of domestic abuse survivors”

This category was judged by:
Alison Fisher, non-executive director, The Wrekin Housing Group
Colette McKune, group chief executive, ForViva
Charlotte Norman, group chief executive, Mosscare St Vincent’s Housing Group

Sponsored by:

Yasmin Bakali, Lancaster West Neighbourhood Team

• Yasmin is an assistant project manager for Lancaster West Neighbourhood Team, London
• She has played a pivotal role on the estate tackling furniture poverty
• Deserves recognition for delivering the first low-energy council home in Kensington and Chelsea

Yasmin Bakali is an assistant project manager for the Lancaster West Neighbourhood Team, and is playing a pivotal role in delivering energy-efficient housing. In 2018, she approached the team as a graduate architect, looking to get work experience in the sector. As a local resident living just metres from Grenfell Tower, Yasmin’s passion and commitment to developing her skills to serve the wider community have been exemplary.

She has played key roles in a number of projects on the estate, including tackling furniture poverty.

Yasmin warrants wider recognition for her pivotal role in delivering the first low-energy council home, a retrofit, in Kensington and Chelsea.

This three-bedroom home, built in 1980, now includes a range of energy-efficient measures, such as solar panels and an air-source heat pump providing heating and hot water.

The judges said:
“Yasmin’s positive attitude, technical expertise, commitment to the neighbourhood in which she lives and works and her resilience make her a worthy winner”

This category was judged by:
Alison Inman, chair, Broadland Housing Association
Debi Marriott-Lavery, group executive director – affordable housing, Places for People

Highly commended
Emily King, WHG

Sponsored by:

Stella Young, Hyde Group

• Stella is a Hyde tenant and a member of Hyde Group’s housing services board
• A principled, passionate and pragmatic committee member, dedicated to improving lives
• Meticulous and analytical, she also mentors other members and residents. An inspiration

Stella is a Hyde tenant and resident volunteer. She is a member of Hyde’s housing services board, a sub-committee of the group’s main board. She is also vice-chair of Hyde’s strategic, co-regulatory decision-making group, Customer Voice, and chair of the resident inspection team.

Stella is a principled, passionate and pragmatic committee member. She is meticulous and analytical in her approach to performance information. She openly voices challenges, especially if concerned that a decision might affect vulnerable people adversely.

In her local tenants’ and residents’ association, Stella’s passion, tenacity and dedication were essential in highlighting and resolving issues, including drug use, which were causing fear and intimidation.
She worked hard to build effective partnerships between residents, Hyde and the local authority to develop solutions for criminal activity.

She has shared her passion and expertise, too, by mentoring new committee members and encouraging other residents to get involved. One such individual described her as “inspirational” – and the judges agree.

The judges said:
“Numerous positive tangible outcomes – Ms Young’s passion for involvement, improvement and collaborative working comes across strongly”

This category was judged by:
Alison Fisher, non-executive director, The Wrekin Housing Group
Colette McKune, group chief executive, ForViva
Charlotte Norman, group chief executive, Mosscare St Vincent’s Housing Group

Sponsored by:

Hannah Morris, Stevenage Borough Council

• Hannah is operations manager, providing homes at Stevenage Borough Council
• She is dedicated, passionate, empathetic and caring, with an inclusive approach
• She has ensured support reaches the borough’s rough sleepers and other vulnerable groups

Hannah joined Stevenage Borough Council in 2018 in the new role of operations manager, providing homes. Her role covers all local authority activities up to the point a customer collects their keys to their new home.

Hannah’s contribution is exceptional: she has delivered this work at a fast pace and kept up with the changing landscape.

Hannah has secured nearly £2m in government grants to support those sleeping rough in the borough. She has accelerated the delivery of the council’s homelessness and rough sleeper strategy, securing accommodation and services to support the most vulnerable.

The team has had a high turnover of staff over the past 18 months, and Hannah’s leadership has kept them going. Her colleagues have enjoyed watching her grow in confidence and expertise as she has led the team through this difficult period. She has an inclusive approach and this has helped the team cope with the uncertainty of the past year or so. Her team describes her as empathetic, caring, driven and inspirational. She is a whirlwind of energy, and dedicated and passionate about the work she does.

The judges said:
“Hannah’s commitment to further improving her ability to support and develop colleagues demonstrates that she is a great role model”

This category was judged by:
Evie Copland, chair, CIH Futures
Karen Armitage, former chief executive, Stafford and Rural Homes
Danielle Oum, chair, WHG

Violet Pugh, SO Resi

• Violet is a passionate advocate for women and diversity in the housing sector
• Determined to ensure women have the support and career opportunities they deserve
• Leading by example, she works to drive changes in her organisation and across the industry

Violet Pugh epitomises advocacy for women and diversity in the housing sector, managing a team of eight women and ensuring access to equal opportunities. She has an unrivalled record of supporting, encouraging and inspiring those around her.

From resetting working norms and showing a flexible approach to working patterns, particularly for working mothers, to making a concerted effort to give her team as much exposure to opportunities as possible, Violet shows a determination to ensure that the women around her feel supported and have the opportunity to further their careers.

Violet is passionate about promoting and amplifying cultural awareness and dialogue that particularly affect ethnic minority employees, including women of colour, who are more likely to be excluded from development opportunities in the workplace.

She is an inspiration, going above and beyond the job description and supporting the women around her in their personal and professional development. Violet is an ambassador for women in housing, leading by example and championing female colleagues. She works to drive changes within her organisation and across the housing industry.

The judges said:
“Violet is passionate, she speaks truth to power and she’s not afraid to challenge. She has dedicated herself to not only delivering in her own role, but also to inspiring other women”

This category was judged by:
Sasha Deepwell, chief executive, Irwell Valley
Olu Olanrewaju, co-founder, Leadership 2025

Ella Corbett, Platform Housing Group

• Ella is chair of Platform’s customer experience panel, which reviews service delivery
• Unassuming, warm and dedicated – a perfect chair for both organisation and residents
• Regularly goes above and beyond to improve tenants’ lives, in what is a voluntary role

Ella Corbett is chair of Platform Housing Group’s customer experience panel, a voluntary group of residents who meet board members and senior colleagues every six weeks to review how the organisation delivers services.

Her unassuming nature and warm personality have made her the perfect chair, both as a point of liaison for the organisation and to represent tenants.

She has embraced the essence of the panel and encouraged others to follow. This has increased the strength of the panel. Where it was previously hard to fill positions, they are now all taken.

Ella cares passionately about the panel’s future. She has introduced succession planning off her own back, to train members and to influence the induction process.

Her dedication is admirable for a voluntary position. The role asks for around two hours a week; Ella is putting in an average of almost 17. This includes preparing for meetings, speaking with the panel, agenda setting and attending other Platform and sector-wide events.

The judges said:
“Ella has demonstrated real selflessness – taking on a tough role, on a voluntary basis, and going out of her way to ensure her contribution makes a difference. Brave and inspirational”

This category was judged by:
Sue Shirt, executive director – customer experience, Stonewater
Julie Layton, chief executive, Advance Housing and Support

Sponsored by:

A list of winners from the Housing Heroes Awards

Charlotte Hughes, The Wrekin Housing Group

• Charlotte joined Wrekin as an apprentice in the HR team just over a year ago
• She has made a hugely impressive impact in a short period of time
• She helped organise a new team during the pandemic – all while studying at Telford College

Charlotte Hughes joined Wrekin Housing Group as an apprentice in the HR team just over 12 months ago – and the impact she has made during that time has been huge.

During the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic, there was a request to pull together a central administrative team to help with the volume of queries.

Despite being new to Wrekin, Charlotte put herself forward to help lead and organise the team. Her leadership and desire to pick up and run with this inspired loyalty and confidence from her peers.

Joining a new place of work is always daunting, and even harder for people who have to settle in via Teams or Zoom. Charlotte was quick to pick up on this, and undertook a thorough review of Wrekin’s induction process. She used her own initiative to create an in-person, COVID-safe induction session for new starters at Wrekin’s head office. The feedback from staff who have undertaken the induction has been universally positive – with Charlotte’s warm and down-to-earth style singled out for praise.

She has achieved all of this while studying at Telford College. A true rising star.

The judges said:
“Charlotte is an ambassador for apprenticeships. She has committed to her own studies while supporting others in their own development, and we see her as a future leader”

This category was judged by:
Vanessa Howell, head of professional standards, Chartered Institute of Housing
James Ballantyne, vice-chair, CIH Futures

Highly commended
Gethin Elsam, Cambria Maintenance Services, part of Wales & West Housing

Sponsored by:

In-house repairs team, Loreburn Housing Association

This repairs team was brought in-house by Loreburn Housing Association in 2019

• It has been a tower of strength during the pandemic, full of friendly faces that could be relied upon
• The team found funds for a disabled resident to get a powered wheelchair

Loreburn’s repairs team, which was brought in-house in 2019, has been on a journey of change that has resulted in a strengthened commitment to deliver great results. Many regularly go the extra mile to help and support residents.

The pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on the organisation’s work, especially for repairs and services delivered in people’s homes. The team responded by diversifying. They delivered food parcels and medications to residents, checked on their welfare and well-being, and became friendly faces that could be relied upon.

Recently the team attended a ramp installation for a disabled resident. The poor gradient meant a ramp was not feasible and this would have left the customer housebound.

The team realised a powered wheelchair would enable access, but these are costly, and there were no grants available from the local authority.

The team approached Loreburn with a successful bid for funds from the sponsorship budget – and the customer was ecstatic at her new-found freedom.

The judges said:
“The judges were particularly caught by their thinking-outside-the-box approach in terms of disabled customers and their very impressive level of customer support”

This category was judged by:
Sophie White, director of infrastructure grant, Homes England
Melanie Leech, chief executive, British Property Federation

Sponsored by:

Housing management team, Northampton Partnership Homes

• This team has worked hard to ensure continuation of essential services and support
• They made more than 21,000 welfare calls and distributed 700 food parcels during the pandemic
• Helped tenants claim £275,000 in benefits they didn’t know they were entitled to

From the beginning of the pandemic, the members of Northampton Partnership Homes’ (NPH) housing management team put aside individual worries and the impact of this event on their own lives. They pulled together and adapted to ensure essential services could continue and that activity to support vulnerable residents was stepped up.

They made more than 21,000 welfare calls to identify residents’ support needs and to let isolated tenants know someone was looking out for them. Over 700 food parcels were packed at the NPH office and delivered to those needing them most. Regular charitable food deliveries were secured from local supermarkets and added to staff donations for tenants in need of basic supplies.

Business as usual, however, did not stop. Allocations officers continued to let 696 homes. Welfare and support officers carried out doorstep visits if they were unable to make telephone contact with vulnerable tenants, or if they had concerns when speaking to them. They also helped to claim over £275,000 in benefits that tenants didn’t know they were entitled to. In other words, this team really cares, puts tenants first and looks after each other.

The judges said:
“This team has delivered wide-ranging and effective services. The judges like the focus on well-being for both customers and the team – and the joy that came across in the application”

This category was judged by:
Chloe Fletcher, policy director, National Federation of ALMOs
Linda Wallace, chief executive, CDS Co-operatives

Sponsored by:

Supported housing team, Providence Row Housing Association

• PRHA provides supported housing to those who are homeless in east London
• This team has worked tirelessly to provide a non-stop service to its clients during the pandemic
• Their work has saved and improved the lives of many vulnerable people

Providence Row Housing Association (PRHA) has been helping homeless people in east London since 1860. Today, it provides supported housing to those who are homeless or recovering from problems around substance misuse or mental health.

PRHA’s frontline supported housing team has worked tirelessly to deliver a 24/7 service throughout 2020-21. They had to adapt almost overnight to a totally different way of working to support residents’ survival. They have consistently delivered a person-centred service, keeping 330 residents safe and engaged and ensuring their complex addiction and mental health needs are met. They also introduced facilities to support rough sleepers previously not in PRHA’s care.

A week before the lockdown began, the team worked quickly to introduce new health and safety procedures across all areas of PRHA’s work and to make sure its residents were safe and well. The challenges involved everything from securing enough PPE, to reassuring residents with complex mental health needs, addressing loneliness, and providing food and essential supplies to those in isolation.

The team responded brilliantly, working in partnership with many agencies.

The judges said:
“The work they have carried out for the people they serve has been nothing short of incredible – saving lives and delivering an exceptional service”

This category was judged by:
Evie Copland, chair, CIH Futures
Karen Armitage, former chief executive, Stafford and Rural Homes
Danielle Oum, chair, WHG

Matthew Pinning, Ashfield District Council

• Matthew began working at the council as a young joiner, but had to quit due to health concerns
• Undaunted, he retrained and sought out other ways to use his skills
• He is putting his joinery experience to use in the repairs and maintenance team

Matthew Pinning began working at the council as a young joiner and was extremely passionate about his role. However, things took a turn for the worse when he was diagnosed with a condition that risked leaving him paralysed from the waist down. Following successful surgery, Matthew was advised that he could not return to his joiner role, as the risk of further damage to his back was too great. Matthew is also dyslexic, making the thought of having to retrain even more daunting.

Matthew saw this as an opportunity to seek other ways to keep in touch with the trade he loved, and investigated what alternative skills would allow him to apply for positions where he could still put his joinery knowledge to use. He applied for a role elsewhere in the council that gave him the opportunity to reskill and become proficient in office and IT systems.

Matthew eventually returned to the response and voids maintenance team as a principal officer, where he was able to work with and develop not only the joinery team, but the general building and voids trade team, too.

All this, and he has just turned 30. It has been an astonishing turnaround by a young man who should be proud of his endeavours.

The judges said:
“Despite facing huge challenges, Matthew has gone on to transform his career with perseverance and determination. He has become a role model to inspire and lead others”

This category was judged by:
Sue Shirt, executive director – customer experience, Stonewater
Julie Layton, chief executive, Advance Housing and Support

Natasha Beresford, Dacorum Borough Council

• Natasha is a supportive and inspirational manager with a fierce dedication to her role
• She has worked tirelessly to support the borough’s homeless people throughout the pandemic
• She has also been a source of ever-present support to her staff and colleagues

Natasha joined the council in 1997 as an administration officer. Since 2015 she has worked as the homeless prevention team leader. Natasha is an incredibly supportive and inspirational manager, with a passion
and dedication to her role that is second to none. However, over the past year-and-a-half, she has excelled in meeting the challenges of the pandemic, despite having to shield at home.

For Natasha, there are no barriers to delivering an excellent service – merely a need to find the right solution to every problem. Homelessness approaches doubled as the pressure of coronavirus on jobs began to tighten. Undaunted, Natasha worked with other teams to redesignate empty homes as temporary accommodation, ensuring that even those suffering the worst possible circumstances, such as fleeing domestic violence, had a safe roof over their heads.

Despite remaining driven no matter how intense the demands upon the service, she never wavered in supporting those who struggled. Her ability to make every staff member feel valued and supported has kept the team afloat, with a belief that “we will get through this – together”.

The judges said:
“Working her way up from an entry-level role, Natasha has fought hard for the people she serves and... been the strength and support that has allowed her team to thrive”

This category was judged by:
Evie Copland, chair, CIH Futures
Karen Armitage, former chief executive, Stafford and Rural Homes
Danielle Oum, chair, WHG

Tansy Crowley-Sweet, WHG

• Tansy has made a huge impact on colleagues and customers in her two-and-a-half years at WHG
• Her infectious drive, passion and enthusiasm have been invaluable over the past 18 months
• Despite the pandemic’s challenges, WHG’s arrears have fallen under her leadership

Tansy Crowley-Sweet is income and residential property manager at WHG. Despite only joining just under two-and-a-half years ago, Tansy has made a huge impact on colleagues, customers and the business, particularly over this past challenging year.

She has an infectious drive, passion and enthusiasm for what she does, along with a clear vision of what needs to be achieved, and fantastic people management skills.

Tansy has inspired and motivated her 40-strong team to pull together at a time of unprecedented change, delivering impressive business performance, while providing sometimes life-saving support to customers.

Lockdown led to seven months’ worth of Universal Credit claims being made in two weeks. This could have overwhelmed the team but, thanks to Tansy’s leadership and the digital projects she implemented, colleagues rose to the challenge. While rent arrears have been rising across the sector, WHG’s have fallen since August.

Tansy is highly respected within the sector and is regularly sought out by fellow housing providers for advice.

The judges said:
“Tansy has made a huge impact in a relatively short amount of time. The entry conveys her sense of drive and passion, as well as her ability to bring others with her”

This category was judged by:
Chloe Fletcher, policy director, National Federation of ALMOs
Linda Wallace, chief executive, CDS Co-operatives

Highly commended
Wendy Evans-Hendrick, Orwell Housing

Sponsored by:

Communications team, Citizen

• This team has been instrumental in keeping colleagues and residents engaged over the past 18 months
• They delivered a programme of staff engagement, and kept communication with tenants open
• They have shown that clear and engaging communications are at the heart of great services

Citizen’s communications team has excelled in keeping colleagues and customers engaged, informed and inspired during an extraordinary year.

The team of six co-ordinated, planned and executed a massive and crucial workload.

A wide-ranging programme of staff engagement included a well-being programme, regular change communications, the launch of a new business strategy and the co-ordination and delivery of a first-class virtual awards ceremony for 1,000 colleagues.

Award-winning communications to customers in Citizen’s 30,000 homes included pandemic communications and a pioneering fire safety animation for tower block customers, as well as the creation of the Comms Clinic – a best-practice community and webinar for professionals, to which 120 sector-wide colleagues signed up.

Communications can sometimes be a low priority compared with the ‘bread and butter’ of housing. But over the past year, it has become apparent that clear, honest and engaging communication sits at the heart of providing great services.

The judges said:
“As well as delivering a superb comms function during the pandemic... it was obvious that diversity and inclusion go through this team like a stick of rock”

This category was judged by:
Alison Inman, chair, Broadland Housing Association
Debi Marriott-Lavery, group executive director – affordable housing, Places for People

Highly commended
Centre for Accessible Environments (CAE), Habinteg

Sponsored by:

Eunice Rowley, Bolton at Home

• Eunice has been a volunteer at Bolton at Home for almost 40 years
• She has been a tireless champion for her fellow residents over that time
• Eunice has also encouraged and mentored others to volunteer their time

Eunice has volunteered for nearly 40 years. She has been selfless in giving her time, skills and considerable experience to making housing better for tenants in Bolton. She has never been afraid to hold Bolton at Home to account, and always with the aim of getting a positive outcome for residents.

Eunice has made an exceptional contribution to performance management, having a good grasp of complex information and supporting other representatives and the organisation in making performance information and reporting accessible and understandable to residents. She has supported residents to get involved in governance and resident involvement roles and taken time to act as a buddy, explaining issues and assisting in making challenges. She has encouraged and mentored individuals from the community to volunteer with Bolton at Home and other organisations, some of whom have gone on to be included in the landlord’s governance structure.

The New Bury Estate, where Eunice lives, is considered one of the most disadvantaged in the borough. Despite this, she manages time and again to bring people together to create significant opportunities for her neighbours.

The judges said:
“We were particularly impressed by the sheer breadth and length of Eunice’s contribution, and the way she has adapted during the pandemic”

This category was judged by:
Aileen Evans, group chief executive, Grand Union Housing Group
Stacey Dingwall, policy lead, Scottish Federation of Housing Associations

Highly commended
Sue Stevenson, Nottingham City Homes

Sponsored by:

Janet Goode, Housing Plus Group

• Janet’s energy and passion made her a formidable advocate for the communities she served
• She is renowned for championing and mentoring new talent in the sector
• Her leadership was pivotal in two successful mergers that secured jobs for 1,000 people

In March 2021, Janet Goode retired as the executive director of neighbourhoods at Housing Plus Group. Her unshakeable focus on customer service, boundless energy and passion for social housing made her a formidable advocate for vulnerable people in the communities she served.

As the first member of the group’s executive team to have risen through the ranks, Janet went on to develop a new generation of housing professionals. Nine current directors and heads of service at Housing Plus Group have been mentored and inspired by her, with still more in senior roles across the sector.

Janet’s central tenet is fairness. She believes that affordable housing is fundamental to a fair society, and her ‘fair landlord’ approach to rent collection, repairs, complaints and home improvements redefined the relationship between landlord and tenant. She supported vocational learning projects in the most deprived areas, working with The Prince’s Trust and local colleges to reach those furthest from employment.

Janet played a central role in two successful mergers. The mergers took the group from 6,000 to 18,000 homes, securing employment for almost 1,000 people.

The judges said:

“Janet focuses on developing the next generation and keeping the customer at the heart of what Housing Plus Group does. She has made a... lasting impact on thousands of residents”

This category was judged by:
Vanessa Howell, head of professional standards, Chartered Institute of Housing
James Ballantyne, vice-chair, CIH Futures

Highly commended
Morag Bailey, The Wrekin Housing Group

Highly commended
Shaun Simms, Ottawa Community Housing Corporation

Karen Armitage
Former chief executive, Stafford and Rural Homes

James Ballantyne
Vice-chair, CIH Futures

Evie Copland
Chair, CIH Futures

Sasha Deepwell
Chief executive, Irwell Valley

Stacey Dingwall
Policy lead, Scottish Federation of Housing Associations

Aileen Evans
Group chief executive, Grand Union Housing Group

Alison Fisher
Non-executive director, The Wrekin Housing Group

Chloe Fletcher
Policy director, National Federation of ALMOs

Vanessa Howell
Head of professional standards, Chartered Institute of Housing

Alison Inman
Chair, Broadland Housing Association

Julie Layton
Chief executive, Advance Housing and Support

Melanie Leech
Chief executive, British Property Federation

Debi Marriott-Lavery
Group executive director – affordable housing, Places for People

Colette McKune
Group chief executive, ForViva

Charlotte Norman
Group chief executive, Mosscare St Vincent’s Housing Group

Olu Olanrewaju
Co-founder, Leadership 2025

Danielle Oum
Chair, WHG

Sue Shirt
Executive director – customer experience, Stonewater

Linda Wallace
Chief executive, CDS Co-operatives

Sophie White
Director of infrastructure grant, Homes England