Radius win Community Champions Award at Chartered Institute of Housing Awards 2026

We’re delighted to have won the Community Champions Award at this year’s Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) – Ireland Awards. 

This award recognises the outstanding impact of the Ballymena Schools Participatory Budgeting (PB) Programme an innovative, youth‑led initiative delivered in partnership with Hare’s Corner Co‑operative and five Ballymena secondary schools. Participatory Budgeting is a community development tool that brings decision-making power over public funding directly to those who will benefit. Across the schools, pupils came together, pitched ideas, and voted on how funding should best be used. This inclusive approach empowers pupils whose ideas may never previously have been considered in school decision-making. For many, this was their first experience of voting in a real election, complete with polling booths, ballot papers and proportional representation. 

To date, over 4,000 pupils and teaching staff have participated, bringing together a diverse range of backgrounds, faiths and cultures. The programme delivered tangible outcomes for both pupils and schools. Staff gained valuable insight into what truly matters to students in relation to wellbeing and school life, while pupils developed key life skills including leadership, budgeting, project development, communication, public speaking, mentoring and event management.  As the first PB programme ever delivered within schools in Northern Ireland, it has set a new benchmark for youth participation, inclusion and democratic engagement.

We were also proud to be recognised more widely on the night, with Radius named as finalists in six additional categories:
Working in Partnership, Housing Innovation, Housing Professional of the Year, Young Professional of the Year, Striving for Sustainability, and Beyond Housing.

A fantastic achievement for our teams, partners and the young people driving this work forward.