bpha has won a national award for helping young people transform their local community into a place to be proud of.

The Tenants Participation Advisory Service (TPAS) recognised bpha in the National Final of the TPAS Awards 2011 in the category of ‘Best Practice in Youth Involvement’ for a youth art initiative that saw a group of young people – adopting the name ‘Pure Graf’ – transform a rundown and neglected multi-use games area in Offa Road, Bedford.

bpha previously won the regional award for this category back in April but were named the overall winner at a ceremony held at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole Hotel last night.

Supported by bpha, the youngsters successfully applied for £38,500 to add to the £70,000 pledged by Bedford Borough Council to turn the games area into a stunning new facility.

In addition, ‘Pure Graf’ worked with a local artist to teach them legal graffiti to create boards to decorate and personalise the renovated games area. ‘Pure Graf’s’ commitment and dedication to this project has seen members of the group go on to gain further training and improve their employment prospects.

Karen Nicholson, Youth Participation Co-ordinator for bpha, said: “I am ecstatic that we’ve won! ‘Pure Graf’ was a fantastic project but there were other great entries from all parts of the country so we were up against some stiff competition.

“For our entry to have been named the best youth project in the UK is an outstanding achievement and credit must go to all the young people involved. They all showed tremendous commitment and really wanted to do everything they could to transform the games area into a place they could take pride in.

“I’m really proud of all of them.”

One of the members of ‘Pure Graf’, Nicheala Endersby, added: “I never thought we would win and when they called ‘Pure Graf’ I was so proud and happy. To be a winner is one thing, but knowing that the community development team at bpha put us all on the right track is what matters the most.”