Residents of a Saundersfoot housing estate have picked up two awards at a ceremony in Cardiff. The Vineyard Vale Community Group scooped the honours at the 2008 Tenant Participation Advisory Service (TPAS) Cymru Annual Awards 2008, which was held recently at the capital's Angel Hotel. The awards, which are now in their fifth year, aim to recognise the outstanding work achieved by tenants and social landlords who work together to make improvements to services and neighbourhoods, and this year saw 55 entries in nine different categories. Representatives from the Vineyard Vale Community Group, including chairman Colin Andrews and his wife Dee, were joined by representatives of Pembrokeshire Housing for the ceremony, which was attended by tenants and representatives of social landlords from the length and breadth of Wales. The group came out top in both its nominated categories, the Tenant Participation Project Category, for its Play Park Project, which had taken two years to fulfill and had seen fund-raising efforts total £80,000, and also, the Tenant Participation in a Rural Area Category. Peter Maggs, chief executive, PHA, said: "This is the third time that Vineyard Vale Community Group has entered the TPAS Cymru Awards and each time they have won first prize. This really is an outstanding achievement and our congratulations go to all the tenants involved in the group and all their helpers and supporters for all the hard work they continuously put in, which helps to make Vineyard Vale a fantastic place to live. "We realise that there are other groups at our developments throughout Pembrokeshire who also put in sterling work and would hope that next year, when the awards are held in Llandudno, that Pembrokeshire Housing tenants could be celebrating even more awards." Colin Andrews, chairman, Vineyard Vale Community Group, said: "It's a fantastic honour to be able to collect these awards on behalf of Vineyard Vale Community Group. Everyone who has been involved in not only the Play Park Project, but all our other activities also, has helped to make a difference to the lives of all residents and can be justifiably proud of these awards." John Drysdale, director, TPAS Cymru, said: "It's great to be able to celebrate success. Winners of TPAS Cymru Participation Awards are always hugely pleased to have their effort and their achievements recognised and they are right to be proud because their work is having a real beneficial impact in their communities. The Participation Awards enable TPAS to find good examples and worthwhile lessons and to share them so that standards are raised throughout Wales." • Formed in 1981, Pembrokeshire Housing is the largest housing association in the county with more than 1,600 homes for rent to families, single people and those with special needs. Its properties cover an area from St. David's in the north-west of the county to Saundersfoot in the south-east. Contrary to many people's expectations of an affordable housing development, its largest scheme, in Haverfordwest, comprises just 62 houses and flats.
