ERoSH says Take Another LOOK at Sheltered Housing
The 2005 search for best practice in the sheltered and retirement housing sector has begun with the launch of the ERoSH's annual national competition.
The competition, which is in its fifth year, promises to be a real eye-opener as residents and tenants, scheme and estate managers, and all frontline staff, are invited to encourage their communities to Take another LOOK at sheltered housing. Using photographs, videos, CDs or DVDs, entrants will capture the essence of every day life on a sheltered scheme or retirement estate.
The competition has six categories which seek to highlight excellence, dedication and best practice in sheltered and retirement housing. The competition recognises the contributions of housing professionals - within local authorities, registered social landlords and the private sector - towards improving services and quality of life for tenants and residents.
A healthy vision
This category is aimed at scheme level activities which are either directly targeted at good health issues, or one which helps people maintain good health through active participation. A wide range of activities could be eligible here: from formal classes to educational projects with local health service staff and other community partners, to informal activities such as gardening and dancing clubs.
Through the Ages
There are many schemes in which intergenerational activities take place regularly, including residents visiting local schools to hear the children read, or to tell stories about the good old days. On other schemes, younger and older people participate together in computer-related activities. This category is for those projects which rewarding the partnerships between the young and the old.
The Community Spirit sponsored by CSHS
Scheme managers and housing management officers regularly promote their schemes and estates actively within their local community and beyond, and often with the help of their tenants and residents. Playing an active role within communities, is a central part of ERoSH's vision for sheltered housing, and so this category aims to recognise those estates and schemes and the individuals therein who play an active part in their community's day-to-day life.
Scheme Manager of the Year sponsored by ARHM
Aimed at estate and scheme managers working within the retirement housing for sale sector, including leasehold, shared ownership and mixed tenure schemes. This category is the search for inspired and dedicated estate and scheme managers who may work on their own or within a close team that is making a difference to residents' lives. To win this award they will need to demonstrate insight into and understanding of their role, dedication and, very importantly, their desire to improve their own knowledge and practice in order to help their residents.
Support in focus
This category focuses on both the tangible and intangible support from which residents and tenants benefit daily living in sheltered and retirement housing. Entrants will take us through how their day may unfold, and how and where support fits in to the daily lives of their residents and tenants.
A day in the life
Entrants are invited to record 'a day in the life' of their sheltered or retirement housing estate on Thursday 30 June 2005. They will capture the essence of life on their estate or scheme, warts' an all, and help us celebrate the diversity of sheltered housing around the UK.
The competition is announced only a week after the launch of the major collaborative initiative, The 20/20 Project, of which ERoSH is a major partner.
The 20/20 Project has the support of nine sector organisations that believe the time is right for a joint and clear vision of the service options which should be made available to current and future generations of older people who want to remain independent; whether in their existing home, a new home or in a more communal setting.
Lucy Cooper, ERoSH Chair, said: 'The idea for the competition came from our involvement in The 20/20 Project which is about creating a future vision for older people's housing and care services. The Competition will allow us to take a very visual perspective of what is happening in sheltered and retirement housing today.
'The message from this, as always, is that there are many supportive, beneficial and preventative aspects to what sheltered and retirement housing offers and that it has a crucial role to play within local communities. In these days of Supporting People, we wanted to create the evidence of that taking place every day, and what better way than with a video camera.'
The competition runs from April to Friday 2 September 2005 and short-listed winners can look forward to a prestigious awards ceremony in late 2005: a prize of £500 is on offer for each category.
