On the steps of the Titanic receiving the awards: Front Row - Eilish Doherty: Apex Housing Manager, Muriel Sands: Apex Housing & Care Service Manager, Siobhan Porter: Apex Architect, Teresa McCloskey: Apex Quality & Improvement Manager & Margaret Cunningham representing the Pink Panthers.
Back row: Ray Forbes: Apex Director of Development & Procurement, John Nash: Pink Panthers, Roderick Canning: Apex Director of Finance, Patrick Downey: Senior Support worker at the House in the Wells Great success at the 2017 Chartered Institute of Housing Awards
Apex is celebrating after receiving two awards at the CIH awards held in the Titanic Centre in February. Apex had three entries short-listed, winning two categories and being highly commended in the third.
The first award, in the category entitled “Sustainable Development”, reflected Apex’s extensive work in the delivery of new bespoke accommodation throughout Northern Ireland for families with complex needs. In each case the Occupational Therapist assesses the physical needs of the individual but it is up to Apex to translate this into homes that work for all the family. To allow for speed of delivery Apex has developed a series of bespoke house types to meet all circumstances. Once approved, the dwellings are then built as part of a larger development or as a single house or bungalow within an existing community.
“a purpose built home is a transforming experience”
Many families, through ageing or illness, live in unsuitable accommodation where stairs and narrow hallways and rooms create insurmountable barriers to normal, everyday life. Moving into a purpose built house within their own neighbourhood can be a transforming experience for all the family members, both physically and emotionally.
The second award was for “Working Together”. Here Apex was acknowledged for its efforts in setting up the Foyle Foodbank as a not-for-profit company with committee representation from private companies and the voluntary sector. The Foodbank is located within the Apex Living Centre in Springtown, Derry~Londonderry in accommodation that has been extensively refurbished to provide an operational area for the bulk handling and storage of food along with a warm and welcoming café area for clients to avail of. It is a sad reflection that Foyle Foodbank has become the largest distributor of emergency food in Northern Ireland.
The highly commended award was for the ongoing work within Apex’s homeless hostel for men with addiction issues at The House St Columb’s Wells, Derry~ Londonderry. The staff in the scheme joined forces with local cancer charity, the Pink Panthers, to forge a relationship promoting awareness of cancer and the need for screening and engagement with primary care services. The collaboration came about following the death of two residents from cancer within a short period of time which had an unsettling effect on the other men living there.
Staff representing the three short-listed projects were present at the ceremony. It was therefore great to see their hard work and commitment acknowledged on such an auspicious occasion.
