Good neighbours, community-spirited children and an active residents’ group have been rewarded for their efforts to improve their areas at an awards ceremony by social landlord Barnet Homes.

The Barnet Homes 2011 Resident Awards, presented at its AGM on Tuesday 29 November, celebrated individuals and groups who have gone the extra mile to make their neighbourhoods better places to live.

The winners included a tenant who helps neighbours with gardening and who cleared paths during the heavy snow last winter, despite recovering from serious ill health, and a tenant who took it upon himself to care for a neighbour who had suffered a stroke.

Other award winners included two young brothers who volunteered to work non-stop during a Love where you live event held by Barnet Homes at the Dollis Valley Estate in September.

Barnet Homes Chief Executive, Tracey Lees, said: “We have some fantastic examples across our estates of residents and groups who go out of their way to help others and make their neighbourhoods places where people can feel proud to live.

“Our residents are the people who can turn a good estate into a great estate, and we work very hard to encourage our tenants and leaseholders to get involved and make a difference.

“It was a pleasure to meet the award winners and I hope their stories act as inspiration to others.”

The winners were:

Good neighbour of the Year: Brian Western, Layfield Close, NW4.

His nominator said: “Brian is a special neighbour to us all in the Close. He helps with gardening and any other small jobs he can do. Last winter through the very bad snow he went knocking on all the doors of the most feeble of us to get papers and shopping and clean paths. He had a serious operation at the end of last year and as soon as he felt better he continued as usual. He really is a very good person.”

Resident Group of the Year – The North Road Community Association, HA8

Their nominator said: “They are a lively, fun association that care so much for their community. They have put on Christmas bazaars, a street party when Prince William and Kate got married and many other events. I have never met a group of people with such open desire to work alongside others – a true reflection of community cohesion in the making. We value them dearly in the community and it would be uplifting for them to be recognised for all their hard work.”

Young person of the Year – Ahmet and Mehmet Ozyoruk, Dollis Valley Estate, EN5 (joint award)

Their nominator said: “I was so impressed with Ahmet and Mehmet at the Love where you live day. Almost as soon as we arrived at Dollis Valley they came forward to volunteer to help. They got involved with gardening and other environmental work throughout the day, and they were still there at the end helping to sweep and tidy up. At one stage I asked them if they wanted to take a break to enjoy some of the entertainment, but they turned me down! Their efforts were really impressive and I went up to their mother at the end of the day to tell her how proud she should be of her lads.”

Staff Choice Award – David Cullinan, Church Crescent, N3

His nominator said: “David is 24 years old. After moving into his flat in 2009 he spent most of his time attending to and caring for Mr Silverstone, a 79-year-old man who had suffered a stroke, and who found it difficult to speak and take care of himself. He had support teams in place but often he relied on David for a lot of his care needs. David also got his medication and rang doctors, and he was the one who found Mr Silverstone when he had collapsed and who rang the ambulance. David rang several times to find out if he was alright and was quite upset when he was told he had died in hospital. I think that although he didn’t have to do these things he took them on board as a good neighbour without complaint and filled in the gaps which Mr Silverstone’s support team couldn’t meet. I think this is a very deserving case.”

The Annual General Meeting also saw awards for the winners of Barnet Homes’ Finest Flowers competition, run over the summer to celebrate the gardening efforts of residents and groups, and the award of certificates for residents who have graduated from training courses.

The Leader of Barnet Council, Cllr Richard Cornelius, was guest speaker at the event.