A TRAFFORD Housing Trust sheltered accommodation scheme in Old Trafford has won a prestigious National Housing for Older People gold award after its tenants took hold of the reins.

Pavilion Lodge, in Edgbaston Drive, scooped the accolade thanks to the votes of its own tenants, who took part in an innovative consultation exercise designed as a card game.

As a result of this process, Pavilion Lodge was assessed by the Elderly Accommodation Counsel (EAC) as being the top scoring scheme within the 50 flats or more category.

In the awards report, the EAC described Pavilion Lodge as being ‘truly at the heart of the local community’ and having ‘inspirational staff and service provision'.

Rodger Cairns, managing director of Trafford Housing Trust’s Independent Living division, said: “As these are the only awards for retirement schemes based on honest opinions from customers I’m delighted that Pavilion Lodge has taken a gold award.

“Our residents gave us top marks across all of the EAC’s main categories, including the standards of the apartments, our services and overall quality of life. This is a fantastic testament to the work of everyone at Pavilion Lodge and a great honour for Trafford Housing Trust.”

Residents score their housing scheme or care home on a variety of statements relating to both the quality of the property and the care, support and general sense of wellbeing.

The statements are written on cards, allowing the residents to form small groups and play a card game, while actually scoring their housing and contributing to the awards process.

Residents evaluate their accommodation on the basis of location, building quality, their own apartments or rooms, services and lifestyle.

Liz Smart, scheme manager at Pavilion Lodge, said: “The card game was a great way to get residents together and to talk openly about life at Pavilion Lodge and in itself it was a fantastic social activity which they really enjoyed taking part in.

“I’m also incredibly proud that their true feelings about how much they enjoy their surroundings, the levels of care we offer and the lifestyle we have helped to create, have been captured, analysed and reflected in this prestigious award.”