Manningham Housing Association (MHA) has been named an LGBTQ+ Housing Pledge Pioneer, recognising its work supporting LGBTQ+ residents across its Bradford and Keighley homes.
The accreditation, valid until 2028, follows a detailed evidence-gathering and assessment process examining how MHA is turning its commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion into practical action.
The LGBTQ+ Housing Pledge is delivered by Stonewall Housing in partnership with HouseProud and helps social housing providers improve the experiences of LGBTQ+ residents. To achieve Pledge Pioneer status, providers must demonstrate delivery against three core commitments: involving LGBTQ+ residents in decision-making, increasing LGBTQ+ visibility and providing relevant staff training.
Lee Bloomfield, MHA’s chief executive, said: “We are incredibly proud to have achieved LGBTQ+ Housing Pledge Pioneer status. For us, this is more than achieving an accreditation – it is about assuring our LGBTQ+ residents that they should feel safe, secure and supported as part of the MHA family. The accreditation also demonstrates that we are taking practical action, listening to our residents, and delivering high-quality services in communities where everyone can be themselves.”
MHA’s submission drew evidence from across the organisation, reflecting how inclusion is embedded within its strategies, policies, staff development, community engagement and wider partnership work. Rather than treating the pledge as a stand-alone initiative, MHA said it had sought to connect the work with its broader approach to creating safe, welcoming and inclusive services and communities.
The assessment panel described MHA’s submission as “rounded, thoughtfully considered and strong across several areas,” taking into account its size, geographical location and community context. It also highlighted MHA’s consideration of intersectionality and the ways in which different experiences of inequality can overlap and influence residents’ experiences.
The panel encouraged MHA to continue developing this work, including creating more opportunities for LGBTQ+ residents from minority communities to have their voices heard.
The assessment recognised MHA’s work creating resident-facing opportunities in partnership with organisations such as HouseProud North, as well as its wider support for LGBTQ+ charities and regional equality, diversity and inclusion activity. The panel also noted specialised LGBTQ+ training delivered to MHA staff, including work to better understand the experiences of young LGBTQ+ people in their homes.
Main image: Lee Bloomfield, chief executive, Manningham Housing Association
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