European Award for Shepherd's Bush Housing Group

Chiswick based charity's Big Conversation wins good governance prize

Shepherd's Bush Housing Group's (SBHG) innovative Big Conversation has won the European ‘ Good governance and fair relations with stakeholders' award.

The European Responsible Housing Awards look for examples of best practice which build sustainable communities. The jury were impressed by the significant increase in resident satisfaction that came out of the Big Conversation – now in its tenth year - and that it had already been replicated elsewhere in Europe.

Jane Sheehan with the award

Each year SBHG hires a camper van to visit locations across west London and call on residents in its 5,000 homes. The conversations shape services and let SBHG offer support to its more vulnerable residents.

One of the judges Sander Scheurwater, from the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, said: “What the US elections and Brexit have shown is that votes were split almost 50/50. We've stopped listening to each other and when you stop listening, you stop finding solutions.”

Big Conversation co-ordinator Jane Sheehan said,“Big Conversation creates face to face conversations. Every member of staff gets involved. We go out, listen to residents in their homes and act on what they tell us. We ask them about their homes and our services but we also find out about the role they play in their neighbourhood. Almost one third do something extra in their community like volunteering. This is what helps build strong communities that are so much part of London's character.”

SBHG tenant Ms Fraser said: “The Big Conversation works for tenants because of the commitment and genuine interest to understand the issues that concern tenants, on the part of staff. It is all down to the staff.” 

Jury chair Barbara Steenbergen, from the International Union of Tenants, said: “Confronted with growing economic, social and environmental challenges, housing organisations are enhancing and demonstrating their capacity to innovate and meet diverse needs. Providing affordable, good quality housing and services responding to the variety of needs and thus contribute to sustainable local communities, to the residents' well-being, to their quality of life and their empowerment, this is the core of responsible housing.”

November 27, 2016