Women in Social Housing (WISH) has launched a toolkit to help housing organisations uncover hidden inequalities and improve decision-making for women.
The See Her Toolkit was developed as part of WISH president Crystal Hicks’ See Her campaign and produced in partnership with Trust Solutions Group. It encourages organisations to look beyond headline figures and ask deeper questions of the data they already collect.
The toolkit explores how women can become invisible within data, policy and service design, and provides practical guidance to help housing providers and employers identify inequalities, improve decision-making and create workplaces and services that better reflect women’s experiences.
Drawing on research, lived experience and practical examples, it highlights how women can experience housing, employment and leadership differently, while offering actions organisations can take to build more equitable policies, services and environments.
Topics covered include workplace culture, hybrid working, trauma-informed housing services, inclusive design, data collection and co-production with women.
Hicks said: “The See Her campaign was created to ask an important question: what happens when we deliberately design our organisations, services and decisions with women in mind? This toolkit is designed to help organisations see women more clearly – not only in their workforce, but also in the homes and communities they serve.
“By applying a gender lens to the data we already hold, we can uncover inequalities that might otherwise remain hidden and make better-informed decisions for everyone.
“I hope it sparks conversations, challenges assumptions and gives housing professionals the confidence to ask different questions. If we can ensure women are seen, counted and considered in the decisions that shape our sector, we’ll create fairer workplaces, stronger services and better outcomes for all.”
WISH says it hopes the resource will encourage organisations across housing to embed a “gender-informed” approach into everyday practice, helping ensure women are “recognised, represented and reflected” in the decisions that matter most.
Jayne Entwistle, WISH managing director, said: “The See Her Toolkit demonstrates what can happen when we challenge ourselves to look beyond the headline figures. By helping organisations recognise where women may be invisible within data, policy and service design, this resource has the potential to create lasting, positive change across our sector.
“We are delighted to share it with the housing community and hope it becomes a catalyst for conversations that lead to more equitable workplaces and services for everyone.”
Main image: Crystal Hicks, president, Women in Social Housing
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