Rochdale Boroughwide Housing to launch BAME employee network group

RBH Chief Executive Gareth Swarbrick

Mutual housing society Rochdale Boroughwide Housing is preparing to launch its own BAME (Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic) employee network group for this year’s National Inclusion Week.

National Inclusion Week, which runs this year from 27 September to 3 October, was created by Inclusive Employers who organise the campaign each year. The week aims to raise awareness of inclusion in the workplace.

Now in its ninth year, the 2021 theme for National Inclusion Week is “United For Inclusion.” It is about bringing people and organisations together to share learning and best practice to make inclusion an everyday reality.

RBH was the first full member of the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter from the Rochdale borough, and the first housing association in the UK to receive disability leader status.

Earlier this year, RBH took another pioneering step towards inclusion by publishing their ethnicity pay gap alongside their gender pay gap figures.

Last year over 2,000 organisations took part in National Inclusion Week and the combined activities connected with over 16 million people using the social media hashtag – this year the message will be #UnitedForInclusion.

A range of events are planned to enable RBH employees and tenants to come together to demonstrate their combined commitment to inclusion.

Gareth Swarbrick, RBH Chief Executive, said: “Our aim is to create places to live and work where everyone feels genuinely welcomed.

“To be the best employer we can be and provide the best services that we can, we need to continue to reflect the diversity of Rochdale Borough and all our communities. National Inclusion Week is a great opportunity to reflect on the work we have already done and reaffirming our commitment to continue to act.”

Rupert Moyne, Managing Director – Corporate Services, Inclusive Employers, said: “I’m delighted that RBH is joining employers around the world by taking part in National Inclusion Week 2021.

“The last year has really brought the need for inclusion into sharp focus. Many of us have spent the past twelve months working remotely and I therefore hope that United For Inclusion, the 2021 theme of National Inclusion Week, brings us closer to our colleagues and other organisations as we together celebrate, share and inspire inclusion practices.

“One area of focus for us during National Inclusion Week 2021 will be to inspire unity and action for anti-racism. We will be launching an anti-racist toolkit during this year’s Inclusion Week.

“RBH’s involvement in National Inclusion Week shows that they take building an inclusive workplace seriously and I welcome their commitment to do so.”