Judges were impressed by Colin’s dedication to the work surrounding social housing and his level of involvement in tenant participation with Castlehill Registered Tenants Organisation (CaRTO). He is also a member of North East Tenants, Residents and Landlords Together (NETRALT), The Regional Networks and carries out other voluntary work outside of social housing in the wider community.

Castlehill Housing Association said Colin’s hard work on behalf of tenants makes him a worthy winner.

Colin received his award from two stars of long-running Scottish sitcom Still Game; Mark Cox who plays skinflint Tam, and Jane McCarry a.k.a. Craiglang’s resident busybody, Isa. A thrilled Colin said: “I’m delighted to receive this award, it is great encouragement to continue the hard work. I would like to thank all those that have worked alongside me in different projects that have resulted in positive changes and improvements to people’s lives.”

Castlehill tenant participation officer, Catherine Coutts, was shortlisted for the final for the Tenant Participation Champion – Staff category for her work with tenants and groups in the North East, and was delighted to have been nominated saying: “It is great to see the hard work of everyone being recognised in this way. We need our tenants’ input to enable us to provide the best service we can, and I am especially proud of Colin’s achievement, he’s a real peoples’ champion.”

More success on the night came for the Association, with local partner group NETRALT being runners-up in the Best Practice in Involving Customers in Services category for the mystery shopping project that Colin and tenants from other landlords undertook earlier this year.