Posted on 02 December 2022
We recently attended the Kickstart Housing Partnership Awards, which celebrated and recognised the wonderful achievements of Kickstarters across a consortium led by Clarion Housing Group.
The special event was held at Chelsea FC on 30 November, and organised by Kickstarters for Kickstarters. Competition was tough as our consortium includes 500 Kickstarters across 80 organisations, including 58 in the housing sector.
Our very own Kickstarter, Janis Gomez, was one of three finalists in the Rising Star award (she was just pipped to the post in winning the award by a Kickstarter from PA Housing).
Janis was nominated by Estate Services Contract Manager, Ayo Akinwale, who said: “Janis demonstrates a level of maturity and commitment that really does position her as a future leader. She has been able to effect change within Hyde when it came to the retention of Kickstarters within the business.”
Janis has now secured a role as Housing Officer at Partners for Islington.
Taseef Younas, who manages Hyde’s Kickstart programme said: “A huge congratulations to Janis on not only being a finalist in the awards, but securing a role at Hyde. Janis is a Hyde resident in Stockwell and only found out about the Kickstart programme by a chance conversation with her neighbour! I’m sure the next stage of her career will be as exciting and rewarding as her first.”
And, celebrating more career success at the awards were Kieyarna Graham-Bell, who was on our Kickstart programme but has now become an Business Admin Apprentice in Hyde Foundation, along with Lucy Sullivan who was a Kickstarter at the Ringcross Centre and is now doing an apprenticeship with Hyde New Homes.
Judges of the awards included: Lynsey Sweeney, MD of Communities that Work; Patrick Hughes, Clarion Futures Board Director; and Lord Gavin Barwell, Chair of Clarion Futures Board.
The government’s Kickstart scheme has now ended. Its aim was to help young people who were at risk of long term unemployment.