ERoSH and CSHS launch their 2006 awards

The 2006 search for inspired and dedicated estate and scheme managers and wardens has begun this week with the launch of the sheltered and retirement housing sector’s annual awards, 'Sheltered housing: a sure start to later life'.

ERoSH, the national consortium for sheltered housing, and the Centre for Sheltered Housing Studies (CSHS) are working together for the first time to organise and promote the awards.

About the awards

• In 2005: the 20/20 Project's partners published their manifesto, setting out their vision of sheltered housing schemes becoming the hub for local older people.
• In 2006: the government's focus turns to re-shaping services to become more preventative and announces its intention to establish community services for older people based on the Sure Start model for children and families.

Outside of the sector, sheltered and retirement housing has a case to prove that it is a 'preventative service'; enhancing the quality of life for hundreds of thousands of older people through better health and good social networks, and helping to delay or prevent their need for other, perhaps more costly services.

So in 2006, ERoSH and CSHS are working together to seek out inspired and dedicated estate and scheme managers and wardens to share their experiences with everyone in the sector – and beyond – to show how their support and dedication contribute to giving tenants and residents 'a sure start to later life'.

The awards are divided over six regions: Midlands, North of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, South of England and Wales. In addition to the six regional winners, there will be one overall winner, to be called 'Scheme Manager of the Year'.

The awards are part of ERoSH's 2006 campaign, 'Reshaping attitudes, lives and services', launched in April, the aim of which is to promote active-ageing through preventative living.

Lucy Cooper, ERoSH's Chair, explained: "There has been a significant policy shift during the last year within the health and social care agendas towards preventative services. In 2006, ERoSH and CSHS want to show that sheltered and retirement housing has always been a preventative environment. In addition to the range of services offered, such as healthy eating, exercise classes and social gatherings, hundreds of thousands of older tenants and residents also benefit from the setting itself, namely, the safety, the security and the support, while having their front door.

"Linking everything together, however, is the scheme manager, who represents their safety, security and support. This factor has an enormous beneficial impact upon the mental health and physical wellbeing of our tenants and residents."

Rebecca Mollart, Deputy Director CSHS, also endorsed the valuable contribution sheltered housing has always made to the achievement of the Government's objectives for preventative services as well as for choice and independence. She commented: "Sheltered housing is a positive choice for many older people who are able to live independently with the benefit of security support when they need it. The scheme manager's role is crucial to a supportive and empowering environment in which tenants and residents can truly achieve their sure start to later life."

The 'Sheltered housing: a sure start to later life' awards run from May to Friday 6 October 2006. Short-listed winners can look forward to a prestigious awards ceremony in late 2006: a prize of £500 will be given to the overall winner, 'Scheme Manager of the Year'.