Challenging stigma together

We’ve opened up conversations, challenged assumptions and listened to stories that needed to be heard, as we began working with Stop Social Housing Stigma on a campaign aimed at restoring pride in social housing.

The campaign, which launched last year at the Housing Community Summit in Liverpool, by the tenant-led campaign group Stop Social Housing Stigma (SSHS), has developed a Tackling Stigma Journey Planner.

The journey planner has been put together in consultation with tenants and landlords, and sets out a framework to tackle stigma. It consists of train tickets – a set of commitments that will help the organisation to board and remain on the tackling stigma train.

Our customers have already played a vital role in helping to challenge stereotypes and shift mindsets. Some attended the Parliamentary Launch of the Stigma Journey Planner – a powerful and inspiring event, which brought together residents and sector leaders, who are focussed on driving change. We’ve set up our new stigma customer group, made up of six customers and colleagues.

They’re looking at how stigma affects our customers and what can be done to make a difference. They’ll be using our Involvement Framework covering areas such as the consumer standards to assess the extent to which customers are already involved in decision making and where improvements can be made.

We’ll continue to work closely with the SSHS group as well as other housing associations, organisations, such as contractors, and tenants. We’re pleased to share insights from two of our involved customers, who are playing a key role in the group and helping to shape the conversation around stigma.

Hear from Katie

“This is something that really interested me, especially how stigma may affect customers and I wanted to be involved in helping make improvements. “I’ve had some great opportunities to contribute in a positive way. Tackling stigma is so important. We’ve seen national tragedies linked to stigma in social housing, and it’s vital we address it as a whole. Everyone should feel valued and respected as a customer.”

Hear from Jacqui

“While I don’t have a great deal of experience with stigma in social housing, I know people that do. “Being in an age group that can be stigmatised, and drawing on my work experience in mental health and learning disabilities, I want to help ensure that people in similar situations don’t face stigma either. I’m passionate about being a part of the solution.”

To support our journey with stigma please contact customer.engagement@thirteengroup.co.uk, call into one of our Touchpoint stores or call us on 0300 111 1000. 

You can read our latest customer annual report to find out more about our performance and the ways that our involved customers have continued to drive service improvements.