Promoting inclusion and diversity

Promoting inclusion and diversity

In the past year we have been very aware of the impact that the pandemic has been having on our diverse customer groups.

In August 2020, along with our partners at Houseproud North West, we launched ‘Rainbow Roofs’, our new monthly LGBT+ customer forum that provides opportunities for our LGBT+ customers to share their experiences with us, and to network with other customers across the North West.

Our customers also actively participated in our first ever virtual Pride and awareness-raising project ‘Back in the Closet’. This project was delivered across five different housing organisations, with local artists working with customers to explore their experiences and raise awareness of the issues that older LGBT+ communities are facing when moving into retirement living. Two Great Places customers took part in the project, and the films they produced are now published on the LGBT Foundation website.

Rainbow Roofs had their first in person meeting in November, joining Houseproud NW members for a planning day at the People’s History Museum in Manchester. Key priorities for 2022 including training and awareness raising on hate crime, and (fingers crossed) taking part in Manchester Pride and Sparkle. We also had some lovely feedback from customers about how the group has really helped them during a difficult time of isolation. We are proud to have been able to support them and we are really excited to be working together again in the year ahead.

If you would like to get involved with Rainbow Roofs please contact Great Places EDI Specialist, Tara Kelly, or check out the group on Twitter @RoofsRainbow and Instagram at RoofsRainbow.