Two national accolades for Soha Housing

Soha Housing, landlord to around 6,700 households across South Oxfordshire and surrounding areas, including Thame, is among the best providers of housing for older persons in the country, according to judges of the UK Housing Awards, held yesterday, May 1.

This came in the same week that the Centre for Housing and Support, part of the Chartered Institute of Housing, rated Soha’s Independent Living service as “outstanding”.

Soha was shortlisted for the quality of its homes and services to older people. In a statement, Soha said: “The housing association offers homes to rent or buy from self-contained retirement apartments and bungalows to individual flats in the community or in the very popular Extra Care schemes. It makes sure its housing services are responsive and meet individual needs. The Independent Living team visit everyone over 70 regardless of where they live and help them access wider services.”

Resident Val Kir, Chair of Soha’s Seniors’ Group, has supported the initiative this year to become a dementia-friendly organisation, creating over 100 Alzheimer’s Society dementia friends, as well as the partnership working with Oxfordshire County Council’s Adult Social Care to embed an Occupational Therapy service in Soha. Mrs Kir said: “Soha really cares about its older residents and their independence, and as a mutual organisation – where residents can become shareholding members if they wish – residents are the real judge of their services.”

Maureen Adams, Director of Customer Service and Operations at Soha, added: “I’m thrilled that the hard work of residents, partners and our great team has been recognised nationally. We work with customers to make a difference to the quality of life for present and future residents.”

The UK Best Older Persons’ Housing Provider was Connexus of the West Midlands.

Image: Rachel Dredge with an elderly Soha resident