Thanet council took highly commended places for two isle schemes at the 2018 MJ Local Government Achievement Awards ceremony last night (June 27)
Thanet Winter Shelter and Live Margate were selected as examples of best practice in their sector. They both show how Thanet District Council works in partnership with local organisations.
In its first year, Thanet’s Winter Shelter saw a total of 42 guests given food and a safe place to sleep. In total, it offered 1,350 beds and 2,768 meals. Of the 25 guests who engaged with the team, 23 were in long term accommodation by the end.
In its second year the scheme was extended beyond its planned closure in February to run into March due to severe weather conditions.
Live Margate, now in its sixth year, is an ambitious programme led by Thanet District Council, which involves buying existing properties in Margate and turning them into quality family homes.
By refurbishing empty and derelict buildings in Cliftonville, the council is providing isle people with affordable homes to rent and preserving the architectural heritage of some of the UK’s oldest housing stock.
The most recent completed project on the scheme is 40-46 Sweyn Road which has been refurbished to provide 6 new family homes.
Cllr Lesley Ann Game, Cabinet Member for Housing and Safer Neighbourhoods, said: “The MJ awards are a highly prestigious national award and to have been highly commended for our work is an enormous achievement.
“We are delivering best in class solutions in areas where we really make a difference for the people of Thanet and to have that recognised is something we can all been extremely proud of the housing team put their all into the work they do and they deserve this accolade.”