Brent Housing Partnership (BHP) gained national recognition for their work in the field of anti-social behaviour last week. The award for "most effective partnership" was presented by the National Federation of ALMOs (NFA) whose 70 member organisations oversee more than one million council owned properties across England. Supported by Lovell Partnerships, one of Britain's leading providers of affordable housing, the winners of the 2008 NFA Awards were announced at a ceremony at the Royal York Hotel, York (May 13).

Representatives from the 21 short-listed ALMOs (Arms Length Management Organisations) across the country all gathered for the award ceremony, hosted by Nik Wood of BBC TV's 'Working Lunch'. The audience of 350 viewed a filmed address from Rt Hon Iain Wright, MP, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, who praised the work of the ALMO movement saying that it was an important part of future housing provision and community development.

The ceremony, part of the NFA's annual two day conference and AGM, also featured an address by Clive Betts MP, chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for ALMOs, who praised the high quality of the award entries this year.

BHP was recognised as the 'Most Effective Partnership Project' for a successful collaboration between Brent Housing Partnership and local groups and organisations to tackle anti-social behaviour (ASB) and crime on the St Raphaels Estate.

Close to 200 ASB incidents were recorded on the estate between April and September 2006 including, robbery, loitering in shops, dangerous dogs, stolen mopeds and drug dealing.

Brent Housing Partnership felt that a multi-agency approach was needed to target the problem. They proposed a range of co-ordinated actions including

• agreeing Acceptable Behaviour Contracts with youths who were causing problems in Lilburn Walk
• membership of the Youth Consortium and regular meetings with youth leaders
• working with the Neighbourhood Renewal Project Officers, the local Police, youth providers and voluntary groups taking a multi-agency approach to the problems
• engaging B.A.R.K, Brent Action for Responsible K9s, a collaboration between BHP, the Police, the RSPCA, Brent Council and the Mayhew Animal home to educate people about responsible dog ownership, but also remove dogs that were being used to intimidate people or were being mistreated
• organising activities including, Tae Kwando classes, organised trips and football training (including the development of a Futsal league)
• regularly attending Neighbourhood Forums where young people and local residents met to discuss the issues that affected them in the area which proved helpful
• increased patrols by Neighbourhood wardens in the area, in particular responding to the hotspots identified in conjunction with the Police
• promoting an ASB hotline as a means for residents to report anti social behaviour. Calls were responded to by BHP's Neighbourhood Wardens.

A subsequent survey of the St Raphael's estate saw reported ASB reduce by 47%, a 49% reduction in phone calls from residents to the ASB hotline and a 52% reduction in calls resulting in call outs. Additionally, reported environmental crimes dropped by 52% with 100% of those involved in schemes not re-offending. As a result the planned dispersal order was dropped.

As well as devising one of the country's 'Most Effective Partnerships' one of BHP's residents, Joyce Baldy Gray, was "highly commended" as one of the country's 'Most Outstanding Residents' for her tireless work, including saving the St Raphaels estate's Heritage Nursery.

The awards were judged by an independent panel; Roy Irwin, the Chief Inspector of Housing at the Audit Commission Housing Inspectorate; Janet Dean, the Strategic Housing Advisor, for the Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA), Michael Gelling, Chairman of the Tenants and Residents Organisations of England (TAROE) and Steve Hale from Awards sponsors Lovell Partnerships.

Steve Hale of sponsor Lovell Partnerships Ltd, said: "BHP has forged some very positive and effective partnerships to make the community a better, cleaner, safer place to live. The partnership has demonstrated innovative thinking to produce some very positive results."

Dennis Rees, NFA Chair, said: "This project is reflective of the excellent work by ALMO members up and down the country. The 2008 NFA awards have received an overwhelming response and the quality of entry was excellent. The fact that the government has begun to recognise the quality of the ALMO framework and are extending the role of ALMOs, giving us broader responsibilities and functions is testament to the great work being done around the country."

Sandra Royer Director of Housing Management for BHP, added: "Naturally we were thrilled to win this award. It is a fitting tribute to our Anti Social Behaviour team, our Neighbourhood Wardens and all of our partners who were prepared to try this innovative approach to a persistent and difficult problem. Their hard work paid off and they fully deserve the recognition that the NFA award brings."

Designed to honour and credit the individuals and teams who do so much at ground level and beyond, the NFA awards have been developed to recognise and celebrate the hard work and achievements of the 68 live and two aspirant social housing organisations - which manage more than one million council homes, over half of all council housing in England.