It was a double win for Grampian Housing Association at this year's Chartered Institute of Housing Scotland Awards Cermony.  Our new Heat and Eat initiative was announced the winner of the Excellence in Health and Wellbeing category.  There was also success for the Association's Chief Executive who won the Lifetime Achievement Award.  

The Heat and Eat initiative was launched earlier this year to address soaring energy bills and the cost of living crisis which is severely affecting many of the our tenants. With funding of £166,000 from the Scottish Government’s Social Housing Fuel Support Fund energy top-up payments of £245 were awarded to over 600 tenants.

An additional £20,000 was secured from The National Lottery Community Fund. This enabled slow cookers, air fryers, heated throws, winter duvets and warm clothing to be supplied to tenants. Fresh food packs were also distributed in partnership with CFINE (Community Food Initiatives in North East Scotland), a local organisation tackling poverty.

Rachel Byiers, Support Services Manager at Grampian said:- “We recognise the financial stress many of our tenants are experiencing and the tough choices they sometimes have to make between eating and heating.

"Through our money advice, housing support and energy advice projects we will continue to support our tenants in any way we can. We want to encourage our tenants to speak to us if they require any assistance. Thank you to our tenancy sustainment team for the work they do to support our tenants.

“By addressing the practical needs of tenants, Grampian is helping to reduce the anxiety associated with debt and fuel poverty which in turn helps to improve the health and wellbeing of tenants.”

The CIH Scotland Housing Awards recognise the creativity, passion and innovation of housing organisations and individuals across the sector. This year’s awards received over a hundred nominations across 19 categories.  The Association's zero emission heating project at Mackenzie Gardens, Turriff was shortlisted in the Net Zero in Housing category.  Margaret Waddell, former Business Improvement Manager was also shortlisted for the in the Lifetime Achievement which was won by Craig Stirrat, Grampian's Chief Executive.