The winners were announced at an awards ceremony, hosted by comedian Fred MacAulay, at the Golden Jubilee Hotel on 20 June. In total, 13 prizes were awarded.

Waverly Housing won the Good Practice in Widening Participation Award. This award, sponsored by Bield Housing and Care, recognises a social landlord that is actively investing in and supporting its tenants and communities.

Waverly Housing secured the award for its Making Memories initiative, which provides access to venues and experiences for families who are struggling financially. The initiative also helped the organisation to re-engage with its tenants.

Jacqueline Norwood, TPAS Scotland executive director, said: “We were very impressed with Waverly Housing’s Making Memories initiative. It is a very clever way of helping tenants which has worked as a ‘key’ to unlocking and widening tenant participation.”

Liz McKnockiter, of Moray Council’s Tenants’ Forum, won the Tenant of the Year – the Alan Ferguson Award. The award, sponsored by the Scottish Government, recognises a social housing tenant who has made a significant contribution to tenant participation. It is dedicated to the late Alan Ferguson, former Director of CIH Scotland and SHARE, who was passionate about empowering tenants and giving them a voice as well as being a supporter of TPAS Scotland’s work.

Liz was described by Moray Council as “the heart of the tenant community” who has transformed tenant participation in Moray, championing rural voices and inspiring others to get involved.

Jacqueline Norwood said: “Liz is an inspiring example of a tenant who works tirelessly, with passion and dedication, to help others and her local community.

“It is clear Liz is held in very high regard by tenants, staff and elected representatives alike, and she’s a very worthy winner of the title of ‘tenant of the year’.”

West Dunbartonshire Tenants and Residents’ Organisation, an umbrella organisation for all tenants and tenant groups in West Dunbartonshire, claimed two awards. It won the Tenant Group of the Year Award which recognises a group of tenants that works to ensure tenants’ voices are heard in order to shape housing services and influence their landlord’s decisions.

It was named winner for its many achievements and work, including as part of West Dunbartonshire Council’s Joint Rent Group which was said to have “significantly benefited all tenants”.

The awards’ judges said they were impressed with the group’s “tireless dedication to improving the lives of other tenants and residents”.

West Dunbartonshire Tenants and Residents’ Organisation also took home the Outstanding Achievement Award.

Jacqueline Norwood said: “West Dunbartonshire Tenants and Residents’ Organisation’s submission exceeded our judging criteria, scoring full points. It is an exceptional example of a tenant and residents’ group and deserving of the Outstanding Achievement Award.

“Every year, we are amazed by the strength of the entries that we receive for the National Good Practice Awards. The passion, dedication and enthusiasm that our winners and runners up have shown towards helping improve the lives of tenants and giving them a voice is astounding.  

“Many congratulations to our winners and runners-up.” 

The other winners and runners-up are as follows: 

• Tenant Voice Award – Whiteinch and Scotstoun Housing Association 
• Good Practice in Involving Tenants to Shape and Improve Services Award, sponsored by Cunningham Housing Association – Wheatley Housing Group 
• Community Involvement Award Winner – Muirhouse Housing Association 
• Youth Involvement Award, sponsored by Cairn Housing Association – Bryony O’Donell, Falkirk Council  
• Community Environmental Award Winner – Growing Beardmore Registered Tenant Organisation 
• Good Practice in Communicating with Tenants and Residents Award – Link Group 
• Good Practice in Involving Tenants in a Current Issue Award – Castlemilk Housing and Human Rights Lived Experience Board 
• Tenant of the Year – the Alan Ferguson Award – Runner-up Award – Harley Thana, Blue Triangle 
• Tenant Group of the Year – Runner-up Award – Scottish Borders Tenants’ Organisation