Our LGBTQ+ Pledge Pioneer accreditation
We’ve been awarded LGBTQ+ Pledge Pioneer status by Stonewall Housing, as part of the HouseProud initiative.
This achievement recognises the work we’ve been doing to support LGBTQ+ customers, create inclusive communities, and ensure everyone feels heard, valued, and respected.
Some of the ways we've demonstrated our commitment include:
- Establishing a Customer Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Forum to make sure LGBTQ+ customer voices are heard.
- Delivering specialist training about LGBTQ+ allyship and hate crime to our frontline teams. We make sure intersectionality and inclusive behaviours are embedded in these learning programmes. Intersectionality recognises that people have multiple identities, and these can combine to shape their experiences and opportunities indifferent ways.
- Creating a working environment where colleagues aren’t afraid to speak up, share ideas, and be themselves.
- Reviewing policies through an Equality Analysis process. This helps us to think about LGBTQ+ customers and their needs when creating or updating policies.
- Encouraging the use of pronouns, allyship, and visible inclusion across our workplaces.
- Supporting and attending Essex Pride and Southend Pride.
- Empowering colleagues through our award-winning EDI Champions network.
- Creating opportunities forcustomersand colleagues to shape our inclusion journey together.
We’re really proud of this achievement and will keep championing inclusion, making sure everyone feels safe, supported, and free to be themselves.