At the southern finals of the TPAS (Tenant Participation Advisory Service) awards on Friday, against much larger organisations, our Community House based in East Worthing won the Excellence in Community Action Award.
The TPAS awards showcase the compelling and inspirational stories and successes of tenants, landlords and contractors working together which the Community House prides itself on.
The Community House model is based on early-intervention, prevention and continued, user-led, individual and intensive support. It provides wide-ranging group activities and one-to-one support/advice for children, young people and financially and socially excluded adults
The house has over 600 separate usages per week, currently spanning 17 different activities, including group work and individual casework
Service users are empowered and encouraged to be actively involved in the running of the house, making collective decisions about what services it provides. The Community House is continually evolving, responding to community needs and improving community cohesion. Initiatives are based on how the house can make the biggest impact by providing trusted, intensive, personalised, support.
Simon Anderson, resident services manager, said: “The Community House is a unique project Worthing Homes is very proud of and we are delighted to win this prestigious award.
This award is testament to the dedication and hard work of the staff and volunteers who make the house the haven that it is; where people of all ages and abilities can drop in to make new friends, learn new skills and receive help and support to increase their life chances.”
With strong partnership networks the house has become an established ‘non-institutional’ resource, firmly rooted in the community, making a difference to the lives of marginalised groups, as well as the wider neighbourhood.
