Sue Grief, Communications Manager at housing and support provider Adullam, shares how meaningful tenant involvement through the Excellence & Inclusion Awards is boosting self-esteem, building trust, and improving outcomes.
Making everyone feel welcome and included are central to the success of Adullam Homes and our work to help people gain the confidence, knowledge, and skills to move on to live independently. Those we support include asylum seekers, ex-offenders, people with mental health issues, recovering addicts, survivors of domestic abuse, those homeless, and young people leaving care. Many arrive distrustful of service providers, low in confidence, and lacking self-esteem. Overcoming these feelings is critical to enabling independence.
In our Coproduction, Inclusion and Engagement Action Plan for 2024/25, one of the target outcomes was: “Establish annual recognition and award event for tenants.” The resulting Adullam Excellence & Inclusion Awards were designed to involve tenants, residents and service users (TRS) and boost self-esteem by praising progress over the year. They achieved much more. TRS were, and continue to be, involved in every aspect of planning and delivery.
Adullam’s Communications Team leads on the events which are divided into one for the North West and Wales, one for the North East and Midlands, and one for young people’s services. They are all based on the same principles and organisational model, with high calibre external judges and speakers. Award categories – including the Act of Kindness Award and Service Above Self Award – were chosen through coproduction, and both staff and residents are invited to nominate.
TRS also help select food, coproduce table favours, decorate the rooms, and take part in entertainment. Last year the young people’s event opened with a moving performance by Callum, from our Salford home, who later auditioned for Britain’s Got Talent and gained an internship at The Lowry Theatre. This year, at the August event, a young man from our High Peak home recited a welcome poem he had written – first in English, then in his first language, Persian.
The events have encouraged more coproduction and engagement. Some nominees from last year are now members of our Tenant Scrutiny Panel, while many who had never participated before now take part in activities. This year’s Tenant Satisfaction Measures survey showed increased satisfaction in every measure, including a 12% increase in listens to views, 8% in keeps informed, and 8% in treated with respect (86.64% total). Adullam believes extensive tenant involvement in the awards contributed to these results. External verification by judges was clearly meaningful to TRS – an important lesson learned.
Shining Star Award winner Tyler commented: “It was so good to hear that people have looked at my situation and chose me.” Karo, who was highly commended in the same category, said: “Winning was a special moment for me, it gave me more confidence. The event helped me feel more connected with other residents and the community.”
Another lesson from the awards is to allow TRS to engage at a level they feel comfortable with. Making people feel included, even in small ways, increases willingness to engage overall.
Going back to the original target outcome, the awards do achieve recognition, but deliver much more – including a sense of belonging. Everybody leaves with a positive mindset and a smile on their face.
