A Wirral-based housing association that provides accommodation for older people has won a prestigious national award.
Alpha Living won an Affordable Housing Award in Manchester, where it was judged by a panel of residents and housing experts as 'the best provider of affordable housing for people aged over 55 in the UK'.
The judging panel highlighted how close the Alpha Living team is to its customers, working with communities across the North to deliver first class services for the over 55s.
In their comments, judges said: "Alpha Living’s service for older people most impressed the judges because of its compassion.
"Alpha's values do not just exist on paper but clearly sit at the heart of the way they serve their residents, providing the best possible environment for people to grow old in."
Graeme Foster, the association's chief executive, said: "We are so proud to have won this award for providing outstanding levels of service shaped around the needs of our residents.
"Over the last year, our team has taken even greater strides to support our residents throughout the Cost-of-Living Crisis, continuing to deliver our compassionate service.
"There’s a genuine shared passion at Alpha Living. As we are a small housing association, we know all of our residents personally and care deeply about them."
In a bid to tackle the cost-of-living-crisis, after engaging with residents, Alpha Living developed a LivingWell fund to ensure its most vulnerable customers can access support for higher energy costs, food and other day-to-day essentials.
The company also partnered with health and education organisations to enable residents to better communicate with relatives and friends and to combat loneliness by improving their digital skills.
Alpha teamed up with Wirral Community NHS Foundation Trust and Wirral Met College to arrange for groups of students aged from 16 to 17 to teach iPad, Skype and smart phone skills.
Dr Joanne Chwalko, chief executive of Wirral Community Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust, said: "It was fantastic to see how much the young people got out of the activity too.
"As they built relationships and shared knowledge there was a real sense of pride and compassion, and the young people soon realised that the residents have a wealth of knowledge and experience to share too."
Commenting on being an Alpha Living resident, Pat Gerrard said: "The best thing about Alpha is that I have my independence and the property is ideal for people like me with mobility issues, as there are flat surfaces and it's spacious."
Steve Eaves, chair of Alpha Living, said: "Compassion is at the heart of everything Alpha Living does. I am so proud of this thoroughly deserved national recognition which we have won alongside our residents, who we rightly cherish as an integral part of our Alpha Living team.
"It's been a privilege to see first-hand how dedicated Alpha Living colleagues go above and beyond to support residents in their homes."
Alpha Living opened the doors to its £13.5m flagship scheme Poppyfields, its first extra care development and Wirral’s largest extra care scheme, in 2021.
The development includes 78 self-contained apartments for over 55s.
Planning permission has recently been granted for the association's next extra care development of 81 self-contained apartments.
