See below for details of each of the winners

Foreword by Howard Farrand, president of the Chartered Institute of Housing, and Caroline Thorpe, assistant editor at Inside Housing

U-shaped, Y-shaped, W or even Z-shaped. From politicians to pundits, differing predictions about the trajectory of the UK recession as we head towards 2010 come thick and fast.

And that’s not the only uncertainty on the horizon. In six months’ time Britain will have a new government. Until then speculation in the face of political posturing is the name of the game.

But away from the soundbites and opinion pages there is the very real task of providing the housing services people and communities deserve.

The downturn and looming political change have made that job more vital than ever. Never is the need for a safe place to live keener than when individuals are struggling to make ends meet and unsure what the future may bring.

So here’s the good news: the economy could throw an entire alphabet of recessions at the housing sector; the journey to the ballot box could prove bumpier than ever. But - as the outstanding entries to this year’s UK Housing Awards attest - it will continue to be business as usual for the nation’s housing providers.

Discover this for yourself by reading this special supplement, which profiles the finalists and winners from this year’s entries. In the words of England’s housing minister John Healey, ‘all the finalists in different ways are showing the industry the path for the future’. 

The awards, now in their 13th year and organised by the Chartered Institute of Housing and Inside Housing, celebrate all that is great about housing. This year some categories have been tweaked to capture the breadth and diversity of the sector as it continues to adapt to difficult times.

That they have done with aplomb. The judges were bowled over by the achievements of this year’s entries: exemplar regeneration schemes, inspirational staff and incredible efforts to equip people from all walks of life to face the challenges ahead. Thanks, as always, to our judges and sponsors. Your support continues to provide the stage for housing providers to shine and inspire.

Take succour: the sector will rise to tomorrow’s challenges - whatever shape they take.

The winners

Click on each heading for a full profile

Raising the standards of customer services

Birmingham Council: South Lozells housing regeneration consultation project

Sponsored by Morrison

Creating better places to live by regenerating communities

Fabrick: Trinity Development, North Ormesby, Middlesbrough

Sponsored by United House

Meeting the needs of vulnerable people

Birmingham Council: Supporting People - lay assessors

Sponsored by the Communities and Local Government department

Delivering better accountability and resident involvement

Bron Afon Community Housing

Sponsored by PH Jones

Encouraging innovation and efficiency

Sovereign Housing Group (on behalf of Sovereign Development Consortium): Innovation, delivery, efficiency

Sponsored by the Chartered Institute of Housing

Creating integrated and safe places to live

Liverpool Housing Trust: Learning lessons from the past: A JIGSAW youth squad project

Sponsored by Hays

Contributing to housing and health

The Extra Care Charitable Trust: Well-being project

Sponsored by Inside Housing

Contributing to housing and education

Bournemouth Churches HA: Learning 744

Sponsored by CIH Conference 2010

Meeting housing needs and aspirations in a changing market

East Thames - Grand Union Place

Sponsored by the Homes and Communities Agency

Inspirational colleague award

Darren Wilkinson, Guinness Northern Counties

Sponsored by EMA

Outstanding achievement in housing in Northern Ireland

Clanmil Housing Association: A shared future at Causeway Meadows

Sponsored by the Department for Social Development

Outstanding achievement in housing in Wales

Rhondda Housing Association: Together we can

Sponsored by the Welsh Assembly Government

Outstanding achievement in housing in Scotland

Link Group: Older persons’ advice project

Sponsored by the Scottish Government

Outstanding achievement in housing in England

Fabrick: Trinity Development, North Ormesby, Middlesbrough

Sponsored by the Communities and Local Government department

Outstanding achievement in housing in the UK

OVERALL WINNER - Clanmil Housing Association: A shared future at Causeway Meadows

Sponsored by NHBC

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