An internal census of members has revealed that the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) is apparently practising what it preaches when it comes to diversity and inclusion.
The organisation has published its latest EDI census data as part of an ongoing effort to improve equality, diversity, and inclusion through the CIH, and the wider housing sector as a whole.
By all accounts the housing sector’s professional body is sailing ahead, though it still has some work to do when it comes to disability.
According to its 2024 data, 63% of the CIH’s membership is female, compared to 51% of the UK population as a while. Meanwhile, 13% of its membership is BAME, compared to an average 9% of the population.
However, 13.3% of CIH members have a disability compared to 20.9% at population level.
Ria Bailes, managing director of Bailes Partners Consulting, CIH trustee, and governing board link to the new CIH EDI Board said: “We are delighted that so many CIH members have completed the survey in the last year.
“This reflects a greater awareness of the importance of EDI data in making us accountable, but also how we are improving the way that we engage with our membership and reflect who we are.
“We can continue to build from this year’s EDI census report, and from increasing engagement with our membership to maintain representation as a fundamental issue in the housing sector, ensuring that we reflect the needs of all those who contribute to and benefit from the work that we do.”
The census, which launched in 2022, is designed to inform how the membership reflects, and is representative of, the wider UK population.
The annual data gathered from the census is used to consider how CIH can make its membership, and more broadly access to the housing sector as a professional network, as inclusive as possible.
Among the other key findings from the survey:
- 13% of CIH membership is LGBTQIA+ compared to approximately 3% at UK population level
- CIH membership is older than the general population. Its largest age group is 45-54 whereas the median age for the UK population is 40.7
- 55.2% of CIH members are married or in a civil partnership compared to 45% at population level
- 11% of CIH members speaks, read or can write Cymraeg, Gaelic, Irish or Scots
The 2024 EDI Census was prepared from data collected from the launch of the census in 2022 up to and including 31 July 2024.
To date, 1,491 CIH members have completed the EDI census, including 846 new completions of the census in 2024.
In addition to launching the EDI census report in 2022, CIH says it has also reviewed and updated its Diversity Charter initially published in 2012, and signed up to an independent race equality code so that “we are better employers and have a clear focus on race equality, EDI talent development and recruitment as core priorities in our organisation”.
The EDI Group that was established in 2022 to steer the organisation’s commitment to equalities and diversity work has now been developed into a new EDI Board, which will officially launch later this year.
Image credit: Andrey_Popov – Shutterstock
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