Orwell retains LGBTQ+ Housing Pledge Pioneer Status

We’re delighted to share that Orwell has retained Pledge Pioneer Status, recognising the continued progress we’re making in improving LGBTQ+ inclusion across our housing and care and support services.

This achievement reflects the practical steps we’ve taken to ensure LGBTQ+ customers have a voice and feel safer, respected and supported in their homes and communities. We are incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished so far and remain committed to building on this success in the future.

About the Pledge

The LGBTQ+ Housing Pledge is an accreditation programme developed by HouseProud and delivered by Stonewall Housing.

The initiative helps housing organisations demonstrate their commitment to supporting LGBTQ+ customers and creating inclusive communities where everyone feels valued, represented and able to be themselves.

What we’ve done so far

Since achieving the Pledge Pioneer Status in 2024, we’ve taken a number of positive steps to strengthen LGBTQ+ inclusion across Orwell, including:

Inviting speakers from the LGBTQ+ community to share their experiences and help educate colleagues.
Continuing to deliver equality, diversity and inclusion training to all colleagues
Attending LGBTQ+ events and engaging with local communities.
Creating opportunities for customers and colleagues to share feedback and experiences.
Continuing to review our services and practices to ensure they are inclusive and accessible for everyone.

These actions have helped us create a greater understanding of LGBTQ+ experiences and reinforce our commitment to providing safe, welcoming and inclusive services for all customers.

“We are committed to putting our customers at the heart of everything we do and foster inclusive communities where everyone can thrive. We strive to provide inclusive housing, care and support services for all our customers. I’m delighted that this commitment has been recognised in retaining our Pledge Pioneer Status. I’d like to thank the contribution of our LGBTQ+ customers and colleagues, who are working with us to help us better understand their needs, and lived experiences, so we can continue to make our communities safe and welcoming for all.” – Helen Roberts, Orwell’s EDI Co-ordinator

We want to hear from you

While we’re proud of this recognition, we know there’s always more to do.

We’d love to hear from you if you:

Are part of the LGBTQ+ community
Are an ally or have LGBTQ+ friends or family members
Are passionate about equality, diversity and inclusion

Getting involved is a great opportunity to share your views, influence priorities and help make sure everyone feels welcome and supported.

Please contact us by email at EDI@orwell-housing.co.uk or via your Housing Officer or Service Manager

We look forward to continuing our journey with the LGBTQ+ Housing Pledge and identifying new ways to champion equality, diversity and inclusion across Orwell and the communities we serve.

For more information about our commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion, please visit: Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at Orwell – Orwell Housing