SSH win awards for excellence in ‘supporting people at home' national competition
1 September 2004

South Somerset Homes has won 2 awards at the excellence in supporting people at home national competition. The competition is organised by EROSH, the National Consortium for Sheltered Housing and aims to highlight and celebrate good practice within sheltered housing.

Monmouth Road Sheltered Housing Scheme won 1 st prize in the ‘Sense of well being' category for their Healthy Eating Co-op winning £500. It was set up to overcome some of the obstacles that older people face preventing them from living a healthy lifestyle.

The Yeovil Healthy Opportunity Programme and Healthy Promotion Service established the Food Co-op. It involves finding local farmers and wholesalers who are prepared to provide their produce at wholesale prices to community centres and schools making food fresher and cheaper.

Residents of Monmouth Road scheme weigh the produce and put it into the bags ready to sale. They successfully run the food co-op with 3 main residents leading the production line of packing, promoting and welcoming members of the outside community into the communal lounge at Monmouth Road. People can buy a mixed bag of fruit and vegetables for just £2.50. The Yeovil Healthy Food Co-op has recently expanded due to its success at Monmouth Road and there are now ten Food Co-ops in Yeovil.

Gordon with his award and Kay Dodds (Brand Manager for Eurocamp who donated the project prize).

Gordon Walcott who is a resident at Burrells House in West Coker won 1 st prize in the ‘Community Spirit' category for the work that he does within the community where he lives. Gordon is a voluntary driver for South Somerset Cars (CVS), he also arranges social activities at Burrells House, helps with all the fund raising activities in the village, takes many of the residents to their hospital appointments and once a month him and his wife cook a roast dinner for the residents of the scheme and some residents of the village. He also represents the residents on the South Somerset Homes Area Tenant Panel and Area Board.

Gordon said, “I do as much as I can to help them and I am always there if they need me.”

Sue Andrews, Scheme Manager at Burrells House who nominated Gordon for this award said, “Gordon is one of the most genuine people I have ever had the honour to meet. He can always see good in people around him and is always ready to support them no matter what.”

Darrell Jackson, Head of Community Services said, “We are absolutely delighted for Monmouth Road and in particular Sue Gordon, the Scheme Manager, who has organised and co-ordinated the wonderful healthy eating initiative. We are also thrilled for Gordon who without doubt really does make a real difference to many tenants' lives.”

Sue Gordon, Gordon Walcott and Margaret Atkins, who is also a tenant at Monmouth Road, attended a presentation at the House of Commons where they were presented with a plaque and their prize.