Latest News

Freebridge Leads the Way on Diversity

Freebridge Community Housing, the largest Social Landlord in West Norfolk, is the first Housing Association in the East of England to become a Stonewall Diversity Champion.

Stonewall's Diversity Champions programme is the employers' forum on sexual orientation issues in the Workplace.  The programme assists members to ensure their workplace culture, policies, procedure and practices are fully inclusive of their lesbian, gay and bisexual staff.  Freebridge Community Housing is the second organisation in Norfolk to become a Diversity Champion, the other being Aviva (previously Norwich Union), Throughout the UK there are over 450 organisations from both the public and private sector signed up to promote best practice in the work place for all staff whatever their sexual orientation.

Why is sexual orientation at work important, surely it is a private matter?  Well, one thing we all have in common is that we all have a sexual orientation and it’s not something we can leave at the workplace door on a Monday morning and pick up again at the end of the week.  Sexual orientation has therefore always been part of workplaces, it’s just that traditionally it has been a heterosexual norm.  Organising workplaces solely on these terms can therefore exclude lesbian, gay and bisexual people and potentially be discriminatory. 

Executive Director (Resources) Sean Kent said “Freebridge wants to attract and retain the best staff from all sections of the community to ensure we provide the best service we can to our tenants”.  Freebridge has recently been awarded the accreditation “Positive About Disabled People” and will be able to display the two ticks symbol on job adverts.  The symbol is a recognition given by Jobcentre Plus to employers who have agreed to make certain positive commitments regarding the employment, retention, training and career development of disabled people.

As well as striving to be one of the best employers in the area, Freebridge Community Housing, aims to provide all its tenants with the best possible services. 

Freebridge is currently in the process of collecting information through a 'Getting to Know You survey' to ensure information about tenants such as their ethnic background, needs and preferences is as up to date as possible. 

Better understanding of the diversity of tenants will enable Freebridge to tailor its services to ensure their needs are met both now and in the future.www.stonewall.org.uk