Yorkshire Housing’s Selby Home Improvement Agency (HIA) received a commendation at the national Home Improvement Agency and Handyperson Service Awards held at the House of Lords.
This award in the HIA Service of the Year category marks Yorkshire Housing’s HIA as one of the top three agencies in England.
Organised by Foundations – the national body for HIAs – and sponsored by AKW, the annual awards recognise the efforts of England’s 200 agencies to offer a wide range of home support to disabled and older or vulnerable people on low incomes.
Yorkshire Housing’s HIA was commended for its innovative service. This includes reducing the amount of people time people spend in hospital by adapting patient’s homes so they can return safely.
The agency supports people to live at home, independently by fitting adaptations, from grab rails to level access showers; providing a handy person service and offering advice on funding, energy efficiency and much more. It operates across the Harrogate region and across North Yorkshire, delivering the services which are not-for-profit.
Yorkshire Housing’s Senior HIA manager Kate Haley said:
I am extremely proud our work has been recognised with this award. Our team work hard to deliver a service that is tailored to the needs of our customers. I’m thrilled to receive a commendation that appreciates the value of the small interventions and adaptations that help change vulnerable peoples’ lives.
The awards were hosted by Lord Best at a ceremony held in the House of Lords attended by senior representatives from the housing and health sectors including Care and Repair England CEO Sue Adams, Jeremy Porteus of Housing LIN and Carl Petrokofsky from Public Health England.
Among the winners and commended entries were HIAs based within local authorities, housing associations and independent charities.
Lord Best said:
The quality of the entries to this year’s awards underlines the valuable contribution being made by home improvement agencies up and down the country to support the most vulnerable in society.
They are very much on the frontline of on-going efforts to join up health, housing and social care and enable people to live healthy, independent lives.
Vince Moorton, from leading accessible bathroom and kitchen manufacturer AKW, said:
These award winners are demonstrating the vital role of practical, tailored support in the home. They are not only making a huge difference to people’s lives but are also relieving pressure on acute services.
You can find out more information about Yorkshire Housing’s Home Improvement Agencies at www.yorkshirehousing.co.uk/home-improvement
