Celebrating Diversity & Embracing Difference
To understand and meet the needs of our customers we know how important it is that we maintain an inclusive and diverse organisation and that our workforce is representative of our customer base.
We are committed to promoting equality of opportunity, as well as creating communities and working environments that are inclusive and free from discrimination or harassment.
We value diversity and recognise the benefits of employing a diverse workforce. As an employer we continue to invest in this area, and through our work in providing homes and services, we help ensure fair treatment for all members of the community regardless of race, ethnic origin, nationality, gender, disability, religion, marital status, maternity, sexual orientation, or age.
As an organisation we work with the following organisations to support us in our commitment to diversity and inclusion:
Onward are also proud members of the HouseProud Pledge scheme. You can read more on them below:
HouseProud’s History
The HouseProud Pledge was first created in 2019 by the network group HouseProud. The Pledge followed the No Place Like Home research conducted by the University of Surrey and HouseProud, which looked at the experiences of LGBTQ+ social housing residents, and the impact residents that their housing provider had on them. The report showed themes such as a lack of safety or a sense of belonging, and that LGBTQ+ were often forgotten about, indirectly discriminated against and often treated differently to other residents. Change was needed in the sector for all LGBTQ+ people. The Pledge was created with clear ideas and actions for social housing providers to enact, making their organisations better inside and out. It is a flexible framework for organisations of any size, scale or geographical location, who are looking to show genuine commitment to their LGBTQ+ residents. In 2023 the HouseProud Pledge was looking for an implementation partner and appointed Stonewall Housing to do this. Decisions about the Pledge are made through the Advisory Board which is made up of LGBTQ+ colleagues and residents from across the sector.
Change of name:
The HouseProud Pledge has changed its name to the LGBTQ+ Housing Pledge, by HouseProud and Stonewall Housing.
We recognise that housing is bigger than just housing associations, we also wanted to maximise visibility of the project. The Pledge needs to be impactful to residents so that they can visibly understand its purpose without having to do further research. We wanted clarity and impact for residents and to acknowledge the partnership behind the Pledge.