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Herefordshire Supported Housing for Young People Project (SHYPP), which is part of West Mercia Housing Group, is celebrating after it won a Midlands Tenant Participation Advisory Service (TPAS) Supporting People award.
The organisation, which, to date, has helped more than 3,000 young people avoid homelessness, prison and debt, was named winner at an awards ceremony on Thursday, March 18.
SHYPP helps young people in Herefordshire aged 16 – 25 who are experiencing difficulties living independently. It provides wide-ranging services, including accommodation (in Ross, Hereford and Leominster) which offers both a home and training and employment assistance.
The team also provides an outreach support for young people throughout Herefordshire, helping them to maintain their tenancies, improve their personal and social development and gain access to training and employment.
Other schemes include a project to help young parents maintain a home and access training and employment opportunities, and a service which provides immediate safe, temporary accommodation where needed.
Sam Pratley, head of SHYPP, said: “We were so pleased to receive this award. Since 2001 our staff and volunteers have worked tirelessly to help vulnerable young people make a success of their lives and know that they can make a positive contribution to their local communities. The nature of the work means that many staff and volunteers go above and beyond to help our service users, and I’m so glad that they have received recognition for their caring and expertise.
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Also attending the awards ceremony was Lisa Woodcock, 16, who has been a SHYPP client since July 2009. She said: “The awards event was fantastic.
Me and two other young people went up to receive the award. It felt like being at the Oscars or the Brits. “It’s really, really great that SHYPP won. SHYPP turned my life around. They gave me accommodation and the support I needed to get back on track with my life. Thanks to SHYPP I’m now studying and have a life plan, and most importantly I’ve got the confidence to put it into action.”
Sarah Webb, chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Housing and one of the judges, said: “In this award the judges were looking for examples of where the provision of services or service user involvement has made a significant difference to the lives of diverse and often traditionally excluded groups.
“The judges were impressed with the large range of services and support given by the Herefordshire Supported Housing for Young People Project.
Service user involvement was particularly strong and the judges felt a real sense of a proactive and positive approach to improving services.”
The SHYPP award entry will now go forward to compete in the national finals, which takes place in August.
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