KHT tenant is TPAS winner

A tenant of Knowsley Housing Trust (KHT) who has spent 42 years helping her community has been named Tenant of the Year at the TPAS (Tenant Participation Advisory Service) awards for the North West.

The awards recognise and celebrate tenants who go the extra mile, making communities safer and more desirable places to live.

Christine Doyle, 69, was put forward by the housing association for her dedication over the last four decades.

She has been a champion for local residents, setting up community groups and organising activities. She sits on KHT’s Area Board for her area and was Mayor of Whiston in 2002.

She is also a member of the Four Seasons Resident Association in Prescot which received the prize for Resident Association of the Year at KHT’s Community Impact Awards in September.

One of her biggest achievements was to take 90 disadvantaged children on holiday with lottery funding nine years ago, after her third bid for money was accepted.

And she recently trained as an Eco Champion with help from KHT and can now advise other tenants on the best utility tariffs that could save them money.

She said: “If you really want something you have got to go out and get it. If someone tells you something can’t be done and you accept it, then you shouldn’t be a volunteer. It’s about proving them wrong.

“Working with KHT has been fantastic. They have provided training and support for everything I do. The KHT officers work so hard for the community, they deserve recognition as well.”

She will now head to London for the national finals in July.

Terry Bonner, operational director of landlord services at KHT, said: “It is through the efforts of residents like Christine that our streets and houses become communities and considering there are many thousands of social housing tenants in the North West, this is some accolade.

“Christine deserves this recognition for all she has done over a long period of time and we hope she inspires others to get involved in their local area. Every neighbourhood needs a Christine!”