Ballycastle and District Voluntary Housing Association scooped a major award to honour their governing board at an awards ceremony held at the ICSH National Social Housing Conference in Wexford last week.
They were announced as joint winners of the inaugural Governing Board Award which was sponsored by the Housing Agency.
This award recognises the positive contribution of the entire board of an approved housing body, such as, a strong commitment to good governance, board training and renewal, effective decision making, and the positive impact the boards work has had on the lives of the association’s tenants as well as local communities
The judging panel felt that the Board of Ballycastle and District demonstrated a very strong commitment to good governance, and displayed a mix of relevant skills amongst board members, a strong emphasis on training and succession planning, board performance and effective decision making, as well as on-going financial accountability, advice and financial planning for the future. The board also demonstrated a strong commitment to tenant satisfaction, input and engagement.
The association has had a hugely positive impact on the local community — the on site day centre is a hive of activity for the association’s tenants and the local community. The board has formed links with Safe Home programme, FAS, and the Rural Social Scheme. Ballycastle and District VHA have hosted recent local “gathering events”.
The judges believe the principles of good governance, accountability, dedication to tenants and the local community, as adhered to by the governing board of Ballycastle and District VHA, provide a template of excellence which is an example to all community/parish based associations nationally.
