Trident triumphs! |
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Over 60 partnerships competed for the prestigious national award which was judged by a panel of expert regeneration professionals.
Bradford Trident’s ground breaking anti-crime work, environmental and housing improvements, unique education and community programmes and support to business together with its pioneering Neighbourhood Management work are all factors that led to winning the award, promoted by Regeneration and Renewal magazine.
Overjoyed Chair of the Bradford Trident Board, Councillor Ian Greenwood, said, ‘I am delighted that Bradford Trident has received this award. It is a tribute to the hard work of the board and partners, the support of all our residents and the commitment of the staff. The area has improved hugely over the past eight years and will continue to do so in times to come. Our programme is about lasting change that tangibly improves life for all in our communities. Winning this award is confirmation that our innovative approach is a nationally recognised success.’
Chief Executive of Bradford Council, Tony Reeves, echoed these sentiments saying, ‘Regeneration Partnership of the Year is a well deserved accolade. Bradford Trident delivers results, showing the way forward for physical, social and economic regeneration in the district. We very much value the work of Bradford Trident as both a partner and as a beacon of good practice. I am sure we will continue our positive relationship in the years to come. At a time when so much focus is on city centre landmark projects it’s really important that we get things right in our neighbourhoods and this award demonstrates that Bradford Trident is doing that.’
Bradford Trident, part of the New Deal for Communities programme, was launched seven years ago. In that time the area has changed beyond recognition. GCSE pass rates have more than doubled, crime rates have dropped to the national average and unemployment has halved. Perhaps most importantly, surveys of local residents show they’ve really noticed the difference, reporting significant improvements in quality of life and satisfaction with the area. Other notable achievements include the building of a network of neighbourhood centres, improvements to hundreds of homes and a popular Neighbourhood Warden scheme.
Chair of the judging panel Heather Hancock, partner at consultancy Deloitte MCS says, ‘What impressed us was the cohesiveness of the approach that had been taken, and the way communities had been brought together under strong leadership.’
Fellow judge David Marlow, Chief Executive of the East of England Development Agency adds, ‘Bradford Trident illustrates that regeneration has to be for the long haul and involve the community in a sustained manner over a number of years. It developed a programme and saw it through to implementation while involving the community along the way.’