Pictured above: Whitefriars staff and residents and staff
from Coventry City Council celebrate cleaning up a hat-trick of
awards at the National Housing Federation's 'What we are proud of'
awards for the Mossdale Improvement Project
A Coventry estate has proved it has cleaned up its act after
scooping a hat-trick of prestigious awards for transforming the
lives of people living in the neighbourhood.
The Mossdale Improvement Project was named the winner of three
categories of the National Housing Federation (NHF) west midlands
'What we are Proud of' awards on June 15. The project was also
named the regional overall winner and goes through to the national
finals to be judged in September.
At the awards ceremony, held in Sutton Coldfield, the project
scooped 'Best Impact on Residents', 'Best Contribution to the Local
Community' and Mossdale Close resident Vanessa Mitchell clinched
the title of 'Outstanding Individual'.
The partnership project has seen residents of Mossdale Close and
Bulwer Road in Radford join forces with staff at Whitefriars
Housing, Coventry City Council's Neighbourhood Action Service and
the police to reduce anti-social behaviour on the estate by 94 per
cent.
Since it was launched in 2009, the project has tackled problems
in the area, which was classed as an anti-social behaviour hotspot,
including fly-tipping, criminal damage, intimidation and a lack of
community spirit.
The project included engaging with residents by holding
activities, such as games, arts and citizenship sessions for
children and using these as an opportunity to talk to parents
dropping their children off. There was also a monthly estate
improvement sessions and assistance for troublesome families.
Youngsters have been encouraged to take pride in the
neighbourhood by setting up the 'Mossdale Rangers', which is a
group of young people who take part in regular activities to
benefit the neighbourhood, such as helping tidy the estate, helping
people in the gardens and planting flowers in community
planters.
Vanessa Mitchell, who was named 'Outstanding Individual', said:
"The project has really made a difference to everyone's lives,
young and old. For me, getting involved in the project has allowed
me to build my confidence and gain skills. I have just started a
new job and I have to say the time I have spent working on the
project helped me to achieve this.
"It is great news for everyone involved in the project that we
have won these awards and shows how far we have come."
Director of housing services at Whitefriars Housing, Rachel
Hobbs, said: ""We are delighted to have won the awards but the
success of this project is down to the hard work of residents and
partners working together. The council's neighbourhood action
service, the police, residents and Whitefriars' staff have been
committed to making lasting improvements that have had a real
impact on people's lives.
"Special praise does go to our resident Vanessa Mitchell who was
named 'Most Outstanding Individual'. Vanessa has shown so much
commitment to the improvement project and has given up a lot of her
own time to make a difference to her community. The success of the
Mossdale project is testament to all the residents' hard work."
Sarah Crawley, community connections co-ordinator at Coventry
City Council's neighbourhood action service, said: "Working on
Mossdale has been a fulfilling challenge for all of the partners
and the residents. We have learnt a lot about each other and trying
out new ways of working. It is this shared vision and partnership
with the community that has made Mossdale so exceptional and
hopefully leaves a lasting legacy of a cohesive and empowered
community."