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Event Details
We are delighted to host our fourth annual Autumn Conference in Birmingham, this year to be held on the 3rd of October 2024.
This is a must-attend event for everyone in the housing sector. This year we will focus on the equality implications of the emerging issues of regulation, complaints, inspection and vulnerabilities.
Our conference aims to equip those in the housing sector with the tools and insights needed to embed inclusion and equity at the heart of their service delivery. This isn't just about EDI professionals โ it's about ensuring every aspect of housing services meets the diverse needs of all residents.
Key Focus Areas:
- Navigating new regulatory requirements through the equality lens.
- Understanding and meeting the needs of diverse resident populations.
- Designing inclusive and responsive services.
- The aftermath of the riots and implications for the housing sector
- Learning from key stakeholders, industry leaders, and regulatory bodies.
- Networking and sharing best practices with peers across the country.
The social housing landscape has undergone significant changes following Grenfell, culminating in the Social Housing Regulation Act (2023). From April 2024, new consumer standards and an expanded inspection regime will be in place, placing greater emphasis on safety, transparency, accountability, and tenant engagement. Our conference will delve into these new standards and the implications for housing providers.
Unique Venues Birmingham
The Rep
Centenary Square,
B1 2EP
Birmingham, England, United Kingdom
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Tickets
- HDN Member
This ticket is only for staff, executive or director of an organisation who is a member of Housing Diversity Network
- ยฃ200
- General
This ticket is for anyone who is not a member of Housing Diversity Network
- ยฃ350
Speakers
Dewbien Plummer
Co-Chair at HouseProud
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Kate Dodsworth
Chief of Regulatory Engagement at Regulator of Social Housing
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Alys Exley-Smith
Community Engagement Professional at Lewisham Council
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Amanda Newton
CEO of Rochdale Boroughwide Housing
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Vanessa Belleau
Founder of High Fifteen
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Polly Cox
Sector Learning & Development Manager at Housing Ombudsman Service
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Emma Gilpin
National Consultancy Manager at Tpas
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Tracey Gore
Director of Steve Biko Housing Association
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Jamie Hickling
Head of Community at Strides Community Housing Association
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Kai Jackson
Associate at TPAS
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Connie Jennings
Director of Stronger Communities at Walsall Housing Group Ltd
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Matt Johnson
Head of Research at The Runnymede Trust
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Mushtaq Khan
Chief Executive at Housing Diversity Network
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Kush May-Chahal
Senior Research Fellow at Birmingham City University, Trainer for Stop Hate UK, HDN Associate Consultant
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Gillian McLaren
National Consultancy Manager at Tpas
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Marie Porter
MMP Consultancy
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Matthew Scott
Policy and Practice Officer at Chartered Institute of Housing
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Kanika Selvan
Managing Director of Beetroot Consulting
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Pamela Sinnott
Diversity and Inclusion Business Partner at Certitude
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Rosalyn Springer
Networking Lead at UNIFY Network
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Luke Stanley
Organisational Development Lead at Futures Housing Group
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Sharon Thandi
Senior Associate at Devonshires Solicitors LLP
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Kelly Thomas
Social Value and Fundraising Manager at Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing
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Lilianna Vetter
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Specialist at Wythenshawe Community Housing Group
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Agenda
- Main Schedule
- 09:15 - 09:45Registration & refreshments
- 09:45 - 09:55Welcome
Dewbien Plummer
Co-Chair at HouseProud
- 09:55 - 10:25Spotlight on 'Relationship of Equals'• Understand key recommendations from Spotlight Report on Attitudes, Respect and Rights - Relationship of Equals (ARR RoE)
• Hear examples of how other social landlords are tackling the challenges of implementing the recommendations from ARR RoE report.
• Where things go wrongPolly Cox
Sector Learning & Development Manager at Housing Ombudsman Service
- 10:25 - 11:00Learning from ChallengeRBH Chief Executive Amanda has now been in post for 12 months and will share how she has led change following the inquest into the death of Awaab Ishak. She will share how the delivery of RBH's recovery plan has helped the organisation to provide more inclusive and responsive services, and how a shift in culture has helped RBH to better understand the voices of the diverse range of people who work for RBH and live in their homes. The key takeaways will include leading in adversity, driving and embedding change to deliver great outcomes for customers and building back trust.
Amanda Newton
CEO of Rochdale Boroughwide Housing
- 11:00 - 11:15Break
- 11:20 - 12:15Leading for Inclusion: EDI as a Core Boardroom ValueThis session will explore the crucial role that boards play in leading and fostering inclusive high performing cultures within organisations. Panellists will engage with key questions about the moral and regulatory imperatives for embracing inclusive practices, the need for inclusive leadership in driving EDI initiatives, and the key roadblocks to overcome.
Key topics include board accountability and transparency in EDI efforts, the sector’s progress in embracing EDI, the need for improved EDI training, and the importance of residents' representation and engagement in board discussions.Vanessa Belleau
Founder of High Fifteen
Kanika Selvan
Managing Director of Beetroot Consulting
Luke Stanley
Organisational Development Lead at Futures Housing Group
Sharon Thandi
Senior Associate at Devonshires Solicitors LLP
- 12:20 - 13:00Breakout Sessions
- 13:00 - 13:45Lunch
- 13:45 - 14:35Inclusive excellence: embedding EDI into regulation and leadershipKeynote Session Sponsor - The Riverside Group
This keynote will explore the critical role of equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in providing better services to tenants.
Kate Dodsworth, Chief of Regulatory Engagement, will provide an in-depth look at how the Regulator of Social Housing takes forward its new remit in this area. Delegates will gain valuable insights into the responsibilities of boards and leadership teams in seeking their own assurances that they’re providing inclusive services, ensuring that all residents are fairly represented and supported. Additionally, the session will highlight key findings from recent inspection work by the Regulator, offering practical takeaways for driving EDI initiatives within their organisations.Kate Dodsworth
Chief of Regulatory Engagement at Regulator of Social Housing
- 14:40 - 15:20Breakout Sessions
- 15:20 - 15:35Break
- 15:35 - 16:15Riots and Reflection: Where Do We Go From Here?Join our panel as we discuss the repercussions of the racist and Islamophobic riots across the UK, and what the sector can do to prevent these happening again. The panel may discuss themes such as:
• How the housing sector has responded to the riots in our communities.
• The impact of socio-economic inequalities, especially in marginalised communities including the lack of housing.
• The challenges and opportunities for fostering greater social cohesion and mutual understanding post-riots.
• Responses and long-term solutions - assessing whether the measures taken address the root causes or if they risk further marginalising already disadvantaged groups.
• Representation and voice - exploring the extent to which the voices and concerns of minority groups are represented in political and public discourse
• Media representation and stereotyping - how we have got here? How has the media portrayed people in terms of race and class?Tracey Gore
Director of Steve Biko Housing Association
Kush May-Chahal
Senior Research Fellow at Birmingham City University, Trainer for Stop Hate UK, HDN Associate Consultant
Mushtaq Khan
Chief Executive at Housing Diversity Network
Matt Johnson
Head of Research at The Runnymede Trust
- 16:15 - 16:50The Power of Lived ExperienceThe solution to some of the challenges we currently face in social housing can be addressed by the people who live in our homes .
The session will provide an overview of whg’s Community Champion model which has been our foundation for connecting with our customers who are furthest away and require the most support . Recruitment is based upon their lived experience which they are trained to use as their superpower .
The session will provide delegates with a lift and shift model which within whg has enabled us to ensure whg customers have equity in their access to opportunities and experiences . We will demonstrate that low investment yields high impact and that our workforce is representative of our customer base .Connie Jennings
Director of Stronger Communities at Walsall Housing Group Ltd
- 16:50 - 17:00Graduation Ceremony for HDN Board Trainees and Closing Remarks
Dewbien Plummer
Co-Chair at HouseProud
- Breakout A
- 12:20 - 13:00Critical friends: strengthening your staff networks and securing senior buy-inAn insightful session that will explore the lifecycle of staff networks within organisations (sometimes called employee resource groups – ERGs). Our speakers will emphasise the critical importance of identifying and engaging key stakeholders who can drive meaningful change.
Discover strategies to broaden and diversify your engagement efforts beyond the usual suspects, ensuring a more effective approach. With their significant collective experience of both organisational and national networks, our speakers will also share practical tips on how to pitch your ideas to those with influence to maximising chances of success.
Whether you're looking to enhance your internal networks or drive new initiatives, this session will provide you with the tools and insights needed to make things happen.Pamela Sinnott
Diversity and Inclusion Business Partner at Certitude
Lilianna Vetter
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Specialist at Wythenshawe Community Housing Group
Rosalyn Springer
Networking Lead at UNIFY Network
- 14:40 - 15:20Critical friends: strengthening your staff networks and securing senior buy-inAn insightful session that will explore the lifecycle of staff networks within organisations (sometimes called employee resource groups – ERGs). Our speakers will emphasise the critical importance of identifying and engaging key stakeholders who can drive meaningful change.
Discover strategies to broaden and diversify your engagement efforts beyond the usual suspects, ensuring a more effective approach. With their significant collective experience of both organisational and national networks, our speakers will also share practical tips on how to pitch your ideas to those with influence to maximising chances of success.
Whether you're looking to enhance your internal networks or drive new initiatives, this session will provide you with the tools and insights needed to make things happen.Rosalyn Springer
Networking Lead at UNIFY Network
Lilianna Vetter
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Specialist at Wythenshawe Community Housing Group
Jamie Hickling
Head of Community at Strides Community Housing Association
- Breakout B
- 12:20 - 13:00Building Inclusive, Empowering and Accountable Scrutiny ModelsA great session for housing professionals looking to enhance tenant involvement and accountability!
Our panel will delve into the essential components of effective tenant scrutiny guided by Tpas’ National Tenant Engagement Standards. They will explore innovative models for engaging a broader range of tenants and share how Behavioural Insights can help attract and empower tenants from all backgrounds. Discover best practices to ensure diversity, equity, and meaningful participation, driving more impactful and inclusive scrutiny processesAlys Exley-Smith
Community Engagement Professional at Lewisham Council
Emma Gilpin
National Consultancy Manager at Tpas
Gillian McLaren
National Consultancy Manager at Tpas
- 14:40 - 15:20Building Inclusive, Empowering and Accountable Scrutiny ModelsA great session for housing professionals looking to enhance tenant involvement and accountability!
Our panel will delve into the essential components of effective tenant scrutiny guided by Tpas’ National Tenant Engagement Standards. They will explore innovative models for engaging a broader range of tenants and share how Behavioural Insights can help attract and empower tenants from all backgrounds. Discover best practices to ensure diversity, equity, and meaningful participation, driving more impactful and inclusive scrutiny processesAlys Exley-Smith
Community Engagement Professional at Lewisham Council
Emma Gilpin
National Consultancy Manager at Tpas
Gillian McLaren
National Consultancy Manager at Tpas
- Breakout C
- 12:20 - 13:00Striving for a collaborative and inclusive repairs & maintenance serviceExplore how housing providers can transform repairs and maintenance services with a focus on EDI. This panel will dive into the findings of the Better Social Housing Review, highlighting how organisations can collaborate with a diverse range of residents and supply chain partners to improve service delivery.
Kai Jackson
Associate at TPAS
Matthew Scott
Policy and Practice Officer at Chartered Institute of Housing
Kelly Thomas
Social Value and Fundraising Manager at Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing
- 14:40 - 15:20Building a Learning LegacyWhat do organisations need to think about in preparing to successfully implement the
requirement for professional qualifications? Learn about Marie’s work with residents and learners from the housing sector, including the challenges these organisations face.
Understand what the competence and conduct standard for what housing
means for residents.Marie Porter
MMP Consultancy
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