Curo and LiveWest’s diversity networking event brought together colleagues from across housing associations and related sectors to celebrate Black History Month and discuss how organisations can improve race equality.
Guests at the event, at Curo’s headquarters, The Maltings in Bath, heard from three speakers:
· Lara Oyedele, President of the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) and an ambassador of the Social Housing Anti-Racism Pledge (SHARP) initiative.
· Khalid Mair, BME Housing Association Chair and coordinator for BME London Landlords, which, with support from BME National and Housing Diversity Network, created SHARP.
· Victor da Cunha, Chief Exec of Curo and Chair of the National Housing Federation (NHF) Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) group.
Khalid told guests how the SHARP initiative aims to tackle structural racism in the sector. “The SHARP Pledge is a collective framework for housing organisations to commit to take the action needed to develop an inclusive culture and combat racism,” he said. The initiative started in London and the NHF is now encouraging housing associations across the country to sign up to the pledge.
Victor said that it’s up to leaders in the sector to make sure that their boards and senior teams better reflect the communities that housing associations serve. Victor said: “The NHF EDI group’s goal is to have truly diverse leadership across the sector by 2025. It’s an ambitious objective, but we have to aim high. The NHF believes the issue of inclusion is so important that it is one its five key priorities.”
Lara spoke about her own journey to become a sector leader. “I was homeless, I lived in social housing and then I worked my way up within the sector.” She had some advice for aspiring leaders: “Apply yourself and try to be the best you can. Never stop learning and always put yourself forward. I’m only president of the CIH because I applied – don’t worry about rejection. Be confident in your skills and don’t underestimate them – own your space. And surround yourself with positive people. If you’re the smartest person in the room, go into another room!”
Curo and LiveWest received such a positive response to the event that they are already planning the next one. Judith Forde, Business Analyst/Project Manager at Curo, said: “This really was a first: it was the first event Curo and LiveWest's race equality networks had organised and the first time – in the 25 years I have worked in housing – that ethnically diverse colleagues from different organisations had come together to talk openly about race and the actions needed to improve opportunities and representation. However, it won't be the last. I loved seeing the passion for change in the room and meeting old and new friends.”
Qamar Khan, Estates Manager for LiveWest, said: “It was really good to attend an event where I could network with colleagues who have been through similar journeys and challenges in their professional lives in housing. We need to organise similar events on a regular basis, where we can invite senior management to share their ideas and also to listen to the challenges that BME colleagues face.”
Shipa Begum, HR Recruitment Business Partner at Curo, said: “It was fantastic to see so many colleagues from across the sector get together with a common goal: improving race equality. We’ve started a conversation that should have begun a long time ago.”