Scottish Borders Housing Association’s tenant participation manager was named a Tenants’ Champion at the weekend’s annual Tenant Participation Advisory Service (TPAS) Scotland Conference Awards.

Alison Notman, who has worked with SBHA and its tenant organisation, Scottish Borders Tenants Organisation (SBTO) for ten years, picked up the award for Tenant Participation Champion of the Year (Individual Employee), in recognition of her work to involve tenants in decision making.

Alison has supported tenants to become involved in many different ways, including workshops, door-to-door visits, pop-up shops, visits to and from other housing associations and membership of scrutiny panels, which review specific areas of SBHA’s service against agreed criteria. She has worked with senior staff to encourage consultation, ensuring that tenants’ voices are heard.

Alison has also championed the campaign for SBHA to be out and about in the Borders, giving tenants the opportunity to engage with SBHA staff in different ways, whether on a walk around their estate, at a community event or over the phone.

Alison said: “I’m thrilled to have received this recognition, but this award reflects the efforts of a lot of people. I work with an enthusiastic group of Tenants, and it’s great to be able to help them channel that.”

SBHA’s chief executive, Julia Mulloy, said: “We are delighted that Alison has won this award, which is fitting recognition of her years of hard work. SBHA is committed to Tenant involvement – Tenants play a key role in our decision making, and Alison’s work with and support of SBTO has been absolutely vital to this.”

SBTO founding member, Marlen Jones, added: “Alison is very, very good. She is just a very special person. She treats everybody the same. She goes out of her way to help members of the Board of Management, as well and members of SBTO. If anyone needs her, Alison is always at the end of the phone.”

Alison attended the TPAS conference at the weekend with several members of SBTO, who hosted a workshop at the conference on decision making.