Trust Housing Association is part of an award-winning partnership focusing equality initiatives with two other Scottish national housing associations, Hanover (Scotland) and Bield.
In 1999, the three Associations commissioned research to examine the very low take up of housing, care and support services in Scotland by older people from Black and Minority Ethnic communities. The research confirmed that, while a demand for these services exists, a multitude of barriers has resulted in a dramatically less take up of these services, or indeed information about them. Such barriers include difficulties with language, literacy, culture, age, isolation, health and frailty. As a result, the Equal Opportunities Programme was created.
The remit of the programme is to promote fairness, equality and social inclusion for Scotland’s Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) communities, particularly “hard to reach” groups such as older people. Its founding objectives are to:
- Encourage take up of services by BME older people
- Develop policy and procedures which promote positive action and which reflect current legislation
- Develop initiatives and promotional and marketing campaigns to raise awareness about the needs of BME older people and communities
- Encourage BME communities to seek Employment with the Associations, and to work in partnership with other agencies to develop equal opportunity practices in employment.
- Train staff on equality issues
Trust, Hanover (Scotland) and Bield have been recognised for the work of their Equal Opportunities Programme :
- The Chartered Institute of Housing in Scotland’s “Equal Opportunities Good Practice Award” (sponsored by the Scottish Executive) – In March 2001, the Associations were the first recipients of this award in recognition of the positive actions taken by the Associations to promote equal opportunities and compliance with equality legislation.
- The Scottish Federation of Housing Associations” Excellence in Innovation” – In November 2004, Rohini Sharma, Housing Equal Opportunities Manager was awarded for innovation in developing the Equal Opportunities Programme for the Associations.
- British Diversity Award 2005 – winner of “Diversity in Public Service Champion Award”
- The UK Housing Awards 2005 – the Associations “Housing Equal Opportunities Programme” was selected as a finalist in the category of “Outstanding Achievement in the Social Housing in Scotland.”
- RaceActionNet 2005 – received “Highly Recommended “certificate for the Happy to Translate Logo initiative. Communities Scotland nominated the initiative as a member organisation of RaceActionNet.
- Get up & Go Award 2006 – received for “Equal Opportunities Programme” in the category of Ensuring Inclusion of Older People in Edinburgh.
- The Guardian Public Services Awards 2006 – Runner up in category of Service delivery, care of older people.
- Good Practice in Participation Awards 2007 by Tenant Participation Advisory Services– winner of Participation with Difficult to reach groups category award.
- Federation of Housing Organisations- Finalist “Outstanding Commitment to Vulnerable Communities” category Award
- UKHA 08 –short listed for awards in two categories “Contributing to wider community agendas” and “Outstanding achievement in housing in Scotland”
- Guardian Public Service Awards- Finalist “Care for Older People” category.
- Get up + Go Award 2009 – highly recommended for its contribution to “Encouraging the Participation of Older People within the City of Edinburgh”.
- Scottish Minority Ethnic Achievement Award 2010 – winner of Community Champions - Housing category award.
