Tenant of the Year 2024 – Andy Walsh
With more than 22,000 customers, as I'm sure you can imagine, we have a fair few superstars amongst them.
Lots of our customers take on their own personal challenges every day, and many do good deeds for their neighbours and the local community.
This community spirit shines through in bucketloads with Woodside resident Andy Walsh.
Andy, who was recently presented with the accolade of Tenant of the Year at the 2024 Northern Housing Awards, is the definition of going over and above.
In 2010 Andy set up the Sandale Community Development Trust to offer the residents of Buttershaw support with food and wellbeing services, and also provide help with employment
Andy has also worked with Incommunities to mentor 11 people into work. With Andy’s support, all 11 people completed their work placements, and two became permanent employees at the Sandale Trust.
Andy has given the local community a collective voice, hosting fun days, meetings, open days, to bring all the support services into one place so they’re accessible for residents. He has worked with the youth services, police, charities, local Councillors and MPs to find solutions to the daily issues faced by families facing fuel and food poverty.
Andy shares his thoughts on the recent award win “I was really pleased when the team at Incommunities said that they wanted to nominate me for tenant of the year, and I couldn’t believe it when I then won the award!
“I just love my local community and have always wanted the best for the people who live there, and that’s where the concept for the Sandale Trust came from.”
Anne, who is a regular user of Sandale Trust, had this to say, “Without Andy and his team at Sandale I'd be very lonely as my family all work. He does home cooked meals three times weekly for the elderly where I can meet people my age with different abilities then another two days he does simple meals for anyone in the community. He sends flowers and cards for our birthdays and if we need any advice on how to contact other services he will help. Without this man there’d be a lot more lonely elderly people. He's a superstar”.
Mark Beach, Director of Customer Experience said: “We are proud to have Andy as an Incommunities customer. He is an integral part of the community and we’re delighted that his hard work and dedication has been recognised by the Northern Housing Awards.
“Andy has been an involved customer since 2007, starting as the voice of customers on the Community Trust Panel and he continues to be directly involved with the customer engagement team to this day.
“He continues to show his commitment to helping tenants and has made space available at the Sandale Centre for local residents to use to speak to their Neighbourhood Housing Officer.
“Andy is a superstar, a truly deserving Tenant of the Year 2024.”