A COMMUNITY housing project has been shortlisted as a finalist for a national housing award.

West Oxfordshire’s ‘Our House’, which is run by Cottsway Housing in partnership with West Oxfordshire District Council (WODC), has been shortlisted in the Tpas Awards.

Our House supports single, under-35s who are in housing and employment need.

They join Our House as ‘trainees’ and are given support to get back into employment, education or training.

The Tpas Awards recognise excellent tenant engagement and best practice in the housing sector and winners will be revealed at a ceremony taking place on March 27.

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Our House started in 2018 and already has two shared houses in Witney, supporting seven trainees, with a third house on the way this year.

Sam Stronach, Cottsway’s Our House project co-ordinator, said: “We have worked really hard to make sure that Our House is about much more than just putting a roof over heads.

“We’re absolutely thrilled to have been shortlisted for this award, especially because there were many entries.”

Councillor Steve Good, cabinet member for communities and housing at WODC, said: “This is a truly innovative joint venture scheme which continues to make a life-changing difference to a growing number of young people in the district.”