The National Housing Federation
What We Are Proud Of Awards 2009 East Midlands
Runners Up in Second Place - The Bethany Project, Leicester
Earlier this year I read about the National Housing Federation’s ‘What We Are Proud Of Awards 2009’ and instantly wanted to write about how
proud, we as a team, are of the residents at the Bethany Project.
What we, at the Bethany Project, are most proud of is the level of participation and involvement our residents do to make their time in the
Project as enjoyable and positive as possible.
The level of resident involvement has exceeded all expectations by not only contributing to the local community and other providers but also at
national level within Adullam Homes Housing Association Ltd.
As our Bethany Residents User Involvement Worker I was once asked by a resident to define my job satisfaction, to which I replied; “Happiness.
The happiness you give makes you happier than the happiness you receive”. I then asked her to define her time at Bethany, now that she was
ready to move on to independent living, to which she replied; “Bethany brings a Rainbow after Rain”.
This inspired me to write an entry and title it A Rainbow after Rain. The entry was shortlisted down to 3 housing associations out of 16 and
I was invited to present my entry at the East Midlands Regional finals on Thursday 9th July 2009.
When I told Bethany residents about the awards they all expressed a huge desire to become actively involved with the structure and design of
the presentation. Firstly residents wished to nominate a resident to take part in the overall speeches and presentation. Natalie Lacey was
nominated to represent Bethany residents and wrote her own brave, accomplished and inspiring speech.
With only a strict 15 minutes time slot we wanted to get across as much information about our residents achievements as possible. Between us
during a Resident Involvement Group meeting we agreed that a slide show of photographs against a piece of music would be fitting. The end
result was wonderful.
Sadly we did not win overall to be shortlisted into the national finals but we are proud to be runners up in the East Midlands region. I owe
the opportunity of representing Adullam Homes Housing Association Ltd at the awards evening to the residents of the Bethany Project. Many of,
for the first time; have regained the confidence and self esteem to be able to say that they are proud of themselves.
Kirstie Norman
User Involvement Worker
Bethany Project, Leicester
