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Haworth tenant, Brenda Everett will be honoured on Dec 4 for her tireless work representing and helping local residents.

Brenda will be presented with the Gerry Pickersgill Award 2007 which is made annually by the Bradford District Federation of Tenants and Residents in memory of a dedicated Area Housing Manager.

Gerry Pickersgill, who died in December 2000, was such a popular figure with tenants and staff that he was known as ‘Mr Keighley’.

His widow, Janet Pickersgill and Geraldine Howley, Chief Executive of the Bradford Community Housing Trust Group, will present Brenda Everett with an engraved trophy on behalf of the District Federation.

Local tenants groups and area federations around the district were asked to nominate people who had shown outstanding tenant involvement and helped people in their neighbourhood. These were judged by a panel of housing representatives.

Brenda, who lives at BCHT’s Heathcliff sheltered scheme in Haworth, is chair of the local residents association. She is also an active member of the Aire-Wharfe Alliance representing over 20 local tenant groups and sits on the housing trust’s customer panel for the repairs service.

Brenda recently raised funds for some new seating at Heathcliff. Brenda has also previously set up a Neighbourhood Watch and successfully campaigned for more external lighting and dropped pavements to benefit residents.

Arthur Goff, Chair of the Bradford District Federation of Tenants and Residents said:  “The nominations for the 2007 Gerry Pickersgill Award have again been of a very high standard and it’s been difficult deciding on an outright winner but everyone was very impressed with Brenda Everett’s contribution on behalf of tenants.

“Brenda is committed to helping others and making a difference to peoples’ lives. She does a tremendous job at Heathcliff and is also a very capable tenant representative for the Aire-Wharfe Alliance.”

The District Federation will also present three tenants from St Peters Court in Keighley with a special recognition award and flowers. Brenda Cox, Lesley Gibson and Maureen Lodge impressed the judging panel with their commitment to making their sheltered scheme such a welcoming and friendly place.

Their terrific contribution includes holding events and coffee mornings, arranging colourful displays of flowers, spending time talking to residents and representing them at tenant group meetings.

Geraldine Howley, Chief Executive of the Bradford Community Housing Trust Group, said: “Every year, the Gerry Pickersgill Award celebrates the contribution of special people in our neighbourhoods.

“Congratulations to Brenda Everett who gives countless hours of her time to helping residents at Heathcliff and representing the work of local tenant groups. Brenda fills many roles from being an ‘agony aunt’ for neighbours to representing tenants in the Aire-Wharfe area.

“Well done also to Brenda Cox, Lesley Gibson and Maureen Lodge who together put a lot of work and love into enriching the lives of residents at St Peters Court.”

Seven residents in all were nominated for the 2007 Gerry Pickersgill Award and each will receive certificates of recognition.