Everybody needs good neighbours!

03 December 2019

image: Optivo resident Anne scoops 2019 award

An inspirational neighbour, who cooks Christmas dinner every year for her fellow residents, has been recognised with a community award.

Anne Bhyrodin, from Bexhill, takes residents to hospital appointments and makes home-made cakes to cheer others up.

She won our ‘Brian Morris Award’, which was set up to celebrate residents who are dedicated to making a difference and having a positive impact on their community.

We had amazing nominees from across London and Surrey, Kent, Sussex and the Midlands, but Anne beat stiff competition to win the accolade.

Anne said: “I was absolutely gobsmacked and chuffed to bits to have won. I live in a nice little community and it’s a very humbling feeling to have received this award. It’s lovely that everybody thinks so well of me.”

Anne, who lives in independent living scheme Alexander Court, drives residents to get their shopping or does it for them if it’s too cold to go outside. She also cooks meals for people living on their own or for those who’ve just got out of hospital.

Holly Paterson, Resident Involvement Officer, said: “We had some amazing nominees from all our regions. Anne really embodies community spirit and goes above and beyond to help others out. She is so modest and selfless, and is a truly deserving winner.”

Anne picked up the award at our residents’ conference held at London Zoo on Saturday 23 November.

The event was run in partnership with the National Housing Federation (NHF) under the banner of their Together With Tenants campaign. We asked residents what our future resident involvement approach should look like during a day filled with thought-provoking discussion and great ideas.