At Housing 21 we believe passionately in equality. We have built solid foundations to this end via our respect and inclusion agenda.
Tahir Idris, Housing 21's Respect and Inclusion Partner, talks about why respect and inclusion is a real priority for Housing 21 and the steps that are being taken to Make A Difference Everyday.
Tahir's thoughts:
"Our Respect and Inclusion approach has taken a number of years to build and roll out across all of our sites and offices. It is a sustainable and authentic strategy designed to reflect how, here at Housing 21, we aim to do ‘the right thing.’
"We recognise that, too often, warm words are as much as some organisations deliver in this regard; our approach is to bring to life our ambitions through impactful actions which create a tangible sense of inclusion, so that all of us – colleagues and residents – can thrive, whoever we are. We are making inclusion ‘REAL.’
"Not only does this four letter acronym encase our Respect and Inclusion Charter principles of...
- Respect
- Environment
- All
- Learning
... it also applies as a powerful adjective.
"So we mean that we will remain 'REAL' by:
- Being authentic to our overall values and ethos, not treating inclusion as an add on
- Reflecting our communities- reflecting reality
- Listening to voices that may have been missed
- Being realistic- not promising the earth as failure to deliver damages the inclusion agenda
- Making actions impactful, so people can feel inclusion and not just hear about it
"Already we have introduced initiatives such as workplace adjustment passports, which provide workplace adjustments or equipment to colleagues without stigma, friction or judgment. We have also introduced colleague affinity groups, leadership role modelling and even bespoke schemes built on a cohousing basis with minority communities on inner city sites.
"So, we have instigated numerous, sometimes simple, often arduous, changes to our ways of working to embed and demonstrate those values of equity and inclusion. We are equipping every member of our workforce with the tools to Make A Difference Every day, which ultimately creates the culture we are seeking- one where inclusion and a sense of belonging applies to every one of us. "