Search is on for people who make a difference to thier community

A major new awards scheme is looking for inspirational leaders who are making a real difference to communities.



The National Housing Federationís prestigious iNbiz Awards programme includes two awards especially for people who are dedicated to improving their neighbourhoods: the Leadership Award and the Customer Frontline Award.

For both awards, the judging panel - which includes more than 60 residents of not-for-profit housing associations - will be looking for people who have worked tirelessly to make their neighbourhood a better place to live.

The winners will be announced by the comedian and actress Ruby Wax at a gala ceremony at Birminghamís ICC on Thursday 15 September.

Margaret Halfpenny won last yearís iNbiz Leadership Award. As a tenant of West Kent Housing Association, she has been a volunteer working to represent her community for the last nine years. In the last year she has worked closely with West Kent to form a new charitable company called West Kent Extra, which extends services provided by the housing association to the whole community.

Last yearís iNbiz Customer Frontline winner was Karen Dean, Community Safety Officer for Bromford Housing Group, whose outstanding work includes her support to the residents of Exeter Street, Stafford. Together, they recently won a national award for standing up to their nuisance neighbours after two years of harassment.

The iNbiz Awards are held by the National Housing Federation as part of its
iN business for neighbourhoods programme, which aims to raise the profile and improve the performance of housing associations.

The 15 Awards cover a range of categories including Best Neighbour, Neighbourhood Improvement and Peaceful Neighbourhood. This yearís overall sponsor is RSM Robson Rhodes.

Full details of this yearís Awards and last yearís winners can be found on the iN business for neighbourhoods website at