A Middlesbrough-based charity dedicated to addressing homelessness, social exclusion, and complex needs has won one of five coveted awards at Homeless Link’s national Excellence Awards 2025.
Community Ventures (Middlesbrough) Ltd (CVL) secured the ‘Unlocking Housing Supply’ title for its work sourcing void properties and turning them into stable homes, while building community integration and enhancing wellbeing and social mobility. Over the past 12 months, the community anchor organisation has purchased and refurbished 38 void properties, significantly boosting local housing supply.
This work has not only created homes for people in urgent need but also generated employment. It was selected from 115 entries to the Excellence Awards across the five categories, 29 of which were shortlisted.
As a result of its success, CVL will now receive support from Homeless Link to raise the profile of its work among key stakeholders and will be able to use the accolade to assist in building partnerships and securing funding. “This is a well-deserved reward for all the hard work put in by our entire team, including staff, volunteers, trustees and, not forgetting the countless homeless and insecurely housed women and men who placed their trust in us and helped shape our approach,” explained Mike Milen, CEO of CVL.
“We’d also like to give a shout out to those without whom this would have been significantly more challenging, including the teams at Resonance, Logic Architecture, SRC, Thirteen Housing and all at the Ballinger Charitable Trust.” Homeless Link is the national membership charity for frontline homelessness organisations, and its annual awards recognise the innovative and impactful work happening across the sector to support people experiencing homelessness and rough sleeping in England.
The judging panel – comprising five experts from across the sector - commended CVL for its innovative housing solutions and collaboration with local authorities, charities, businesses, and community stakeholders, as well as the provision of employment opportunities. The organisation’s focus on building pride and ownership amongst a community who feel undervalued was also praised.
Mike went on to add: “A home provides individuals with more freedom to take ownership of their lives and gives them confidence to rebuild themselves, make new friends and help others, who have been in a similar position by continuing to work with the organisation.” Rick Henderson, Chief Executive of Homeless Link, concluded: “Our annual Excellence Awards highlight the innovative, impactful and dedicated work happening across the country to ensure that people have a place to call home and the support they need to keep it.
“CVL is addressing the critical shortage of affordable and suitable housing in an innovative way in the North East. The holistic tailored support that they offer people is building lasting independence and resilience and significantly reducing the risk of repeat homelessness. We congratulate it on receiving this award.”
Community Ventures (Middlesbrough) Limited (CVL) is a community anchor organisation in the heart of East Middlesbrough. Established in 1989, they are a specialist community support provider creating safe spaces and building more connected communities. Through a range of programmes, services, and initiatives, they aim to build a stronger, more resilient community where every individual has the opportunity to thrive.
They are committed to removing barriers and making a meaningful difference in the lives of those we serve, through educational support, employment assistance, cultural enrichment, and community development projects. Using their peer support model, they work collaboratively with local stakeholders, residents, businesses, and government agencies to address key issues, promote positive change, and enhance the overall quality of life in our community.
Homeless Link is the national membership charity for frontline homelessness services, representing around 800 organisations across England. They work to improve services through research, guidance and learning, and campaign for policy change that will ensure that everyone has a place to call home and the support they need to keep it.
