GHA Press

Glasgow Housing Association Board Member Kate Willis has won a top national award for her tireless commitment to improving her community.

Kate, from Castlemilk, was named Inspirational Board Member of the Year at the 2010 Housing Heroes Awards, run by Inside Housing and the Chartered Institute of Housing.

She has campaigned for more than a decade to improve the quality of housing and the lives of the people of Castlemilk.

Kate has served on the committee of Castlemilk Tenants’ Housing Association – the Local Housing Organisation (LHO) which looks after homes in the area on behalf of GHA – since stock transfer in 2003. She became Chair of CTHA in 2008 and went on to become a GHA Board member in 2009.

Recently her passion, commitment and energy helped light up the sky with the Castlemilk Lighting Project, a system which brings colour via LED lights to three tower blocks and helps residents forecast the weather at the same time.

Kate, 59, who has lived in Castlemilk for 52 years, began attending various groups and committees in 1999 to help improve the area.

She helped set up a group dedicated to creating a windpark in 2001 – named the Castlemilk and Carmunnock Windpark Trust. Kate was elected treasurer and the group continues to campaign.

Seven years ago, Kate was involved in setting up the Castlemilk Timebank – a project where residents share skills and time. Someone might spend two hours cleaning a resident’s windows and then use their two hours’ credit to get help with their decorating. The scheme has seen increased neighbourliness and has won several awards.

Adventurer and TV presenter Ben Fogle, who hosted the awards in London, said: “All of the finalists were great, but in the end Kate edged it because of the impact she has had. The Castlemilk area has been transformed by her efforts.”

Kate said: “I was really surprised to win the award but I must admit I’m over the moon. I certainly don’t do what I do at GHA or in Castlemilk to win awards. I have just always wanted to do my bit to help the people in my community. My reward comes when I actually see things getting better like people’s homes being improved or new community projects starting.”

GHA Chief Executive Martin Armstrong said: “This is a very well-deserved award for Kate. Her work in Castlemilk and for GHA is absolutely tremendous. She is a true tenants’ champion – and it is thanks to people like Kate that GHA is constantly focused on improving homes and housing services in communities across the city.”

The Editor of Inside Housing, Stuart Macdonald, said: “The housing sector is characterised by the commitment, passion and flair of the people who work in it. That’s why we run these awards – to shine the spotlight on those ‘unsung heroes’ so others can learn from them. I was amazed by the number of entries we received this year – more than 300 – and the overall calibre. The standard was really high.”