Women's Support Service - AWARD WINNERS!
Celebrating the Award Win!
Date: 10/06/2009
Endeavour Housing Association has won the North East Region What we are Proud Of Award 2009 for its Hestia Project
The Hestia project has beaten several other contenders to be shortlisted in the North East category of the National Housing Federations What We Are Proud of Awards 2009.
Hestia was started in Middlesbrough in 1998 to give women who had a series of failed tenancies, a chance to move forward with their lives.
Hestia gives these women tenancies and motivates them into keeping hold of their properties. They have access to highly trained support staff who can help to break patterns in behaviour that may see them ‘go off the rails’.
Before Hestia most of these women would constantly be admitted to A & E, be in and out of homeless hostels, and be involved in offending behaviour.
The Department of Health described the project as as a ‘highly efficient service’ because of its estimated annual reductions of £250,000 to the public purse. Currently ten people are being supported by the project across Middlesbrough and five in Hartlepool.
Hestia’s first ever tenant, Irene Nimmo, 42, has praised the scheme saying that it has turned her life around.
She said: “I would still be living on the streets if it wasn’t for the Hestia project; they have given me a structured lifestyle which has helped me move forward over the last eleven years.
“I can now look after a home which I couldn’t have done before. My life before was very chaotic but because of the intensive support I got when I first joined Hestia, I don’t need as much help now and can deal with most things on my own.
“I have been given a voice through Hestia; I sit on a number of Endeavour boards and have an input into how they work with tenants.
“Hestia has really changed my life, I didn’t think I was going to make it and never thought I would be where I am now.”
Head of Supported Housing Carole Richardson said: “It’s always good to be recognised for the positive impacts that can come out of a project like Hestia. The women are the people that make Hestia what it is and without their dedication and willingness to adapt, the service wouldn’t be as successful. To win the national award would be excellent but to us we are awarded everyday by being reminded of how we have turned lives around.”
A celebration event for those shortlisted takes place on Saturday 6th June with regional winners announced on 14th July. The overall winner will be announced at a ceremony in Birmingham on 23rd September.
A massive THANK YOU to all staff who have been involved in developing and delivering the Hestia Service
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