Westferry resident Tom Madden wins Tenant Lifetime Contribution Award
Tom Madden, a resident of the Westferry Estate on the Isle of Dogs, won the Tenant Lifetime Contribution category at the recent national Housing Heroes Awards.
The awards are organised by the Chartered Institute of Housing and Inside Housing to showcase the people that help housing organisations do the vital work they do.
Tom, who is 88 and has volunteered for his estate for over four decades, beat off stiff competition with entries received from housing associations across the UK. The judges noted Tom’s commitment to improve social housing for the good of his whole community and in particular his work to support community cohesion and bring investment into his area.
Tom was nominated for the awards by EastendHomes. Our Managing Director John Henderson said:
Whether you ask a resident, politician, housing officer or chief executive about Tom’s contribution to social housing, you’ll always receive the same glowing response. Tom Madden is considered a legend. A selfless pioneer of resident engagement for whom nothing was too much trouble, a passionate, inspiring individual who believes in the right and power of social housing. He is a worthy recipient of this Housing Heroes Award.
When presented with his award Tom was asked the secret of his success. He said:
It is all about partnerships and co-operation. Our estate has changed 101%, the improvements are for all to see. That’s because we have worked together with respect for one another to get to where we want to go. It feels very good to be part of that.