Sian is distance learning student of the year

Sian Criddle, a neighbourhood housing officer at Westlea Housing, part of the GreenSquare Group, has received the prestigious Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) Distance Learning Student of the Year award.

Criddle, who is based in Chippenham in Wiltshire, achieved the highest marks of any CIH distance learning student while studying for the Postgraduate Diploma in Housing Studies. She is now due to complete the final year of an MSc in Housing.

She went into housing in 2002, following graduating in Politics & Sociology, because she thought that it would be interesting and rewarding as it involves working with people. Criddle continued working full-time throughout the three years of study and said: "It has been difficult at times as it has involved using my evenings and weekends. I have needed to become more organised and plan ahead. I am lucky as I felt very well supported by my tutor and work colleagues which helped me through the pressure of meeting deadlines."

She continued:"I have enjoyed the sense of achievement and the challenge and am looking forward to undertaking the dissertation stage this year."

CIH President Howard Farrand congratulated Criddle as she received a medal and a cheque for £200 at the CIH Presidential Dinner at the Natural History Museum in London on 10 February.

"I am very pleased to have been given this award, and am happy that my hard work has paid off. I would like to thank Westlea Housing for enabling me to take the course and achieve this award," added Criddle.

Jan Morse, neighbourhood housing team leader, said: "Westlea is committed to training and developing staff in order to provide an excellent service to our customers and to be an employer of choice. We are delighted that Sian's commitment to both her everyday work in the housing team and her professional studies, has resulted in this award in recognition of her hard work and achievement. Everyone at Westlea is very proud of her"