UK housing provider earns LGBTQ+ recognition for work supporting thousands of residents

Manningham Housing Association, Bradford, West Yorkshire has earned LGBTQ+ Housing Pledge Pioneer status following an assessment of its work to improve the experience of LGBTQ+ residents across Bradford and Keighley.

The recognition, announced on September 23, comes through the LGBTQ+ Housing Pledge delivered by Stonewall Housing in partnership with HouseProud. Manningham provides more than 1,400 homes for over 6,000 people, with the new accreditation recognising practical steps taken within its housing services.

To achieve Pioneer status, Manningham was assessed across three areas covering LGBTQ+ resident involvement, visibility and staff training. The housing provider demonstrated how residents are being given opportunities to influence decisions while also showing the work being done to improve understanding of LGBTQ+ experiences among employees.

That has included specialist training looking at the experiences of young LGBTQ+ people within their homes and the challenges they can face. Manningham has also been involved with HouseProud North, which brings housing organisations together to share knowledge and improve services for LGBTQ+ residents across the region.

The Housing Pledge was created to encourage social housing providers to look closely at the experiences LGBTQ+ people have in their homes and communities, with organisations progressing through different levels as they demonstrate their work.

For Manningham, achieving Pioneer status provides recognition of the measures already introduced while also giving the organisation a framework for developing them further.

The accreditation will remain in place until 2028, meaning the focus now moves towards continuing that work and ensuring LGBTQ+ residents remain involved in how services develop over the coming years.

Image credit: Manningham Housing Association.