At a Glance
Positive About Inclusion was commissioned by Eden Housing Association to deliver a bespoke, two hour, EDI training session for members of their Resident’s Scrutiny Panel. Panel members had varying levels of EDI awareness and the brief was to focus in particular on appropriate language and behaviours alongside the critical role diversity considerations play in the context of scrutiny.
About the Client
Eden Housing Association is a successful small independent Registered Provider of affordable homes with a rural focus. Established in 1997 following the voluntary transfer of housing stock from Eden District Council, Eden operates chiefly across North Cumbria owning and/or managing around 2,000 homes for affordable rent or sale. In addition, Eden act as Managing Agents for Mitre Housing Association and Lyvennet Community Trust.
Challenges and Objectives
The training was required to be informative and engaging and to be delivered in a hybrid way. Some participants joined online from their homes, others joined online as a group located within one of Eden’s meeting rooms. The desire was to provide all participants with a greater understanding of the importance of equality, diversity and inclusion and to align the training to Eden’s values. Furthermore, Eden had requested that a particular focus be made to appropriate language and behaviours in the ever evolving world in which we live.
Solution
The session was designed in two parts. In the first half participants learnt what equality, diversity and inclusion are and why they matter, exploring the societal context and the role we all can play in really embedding EDI through the language we use and the behaviours we adopt. To embed the learning a game of ‘Language Spin the Wheel’ was played and having created a safe space for open discussion we maximised the learning opportunity gained through the sharing of first hand lived experience. The second part of the session was a collaborative workshop and in this interactive element participants considered how they could appreciate and value difference as part of future scrutiny activity and how the group would create an inclusive atmosphere in their meetings.
Impact
The impact was really positive. Attendees felt that they had learnt a lot which they will take with them when they complete future scrutiny activity. They enjoyed, in particular, the ‘Language Spin the Wheel’ game and the associated discussion around appropriate words and phrases.
“The session created some good discussion and encouraged some new thinking.”
Jenny Webb – Engagement and Insight Officer, Eden Housing Association
“In a fast changing society, it makes me more aware on how to address different groups, and how to tell people that maybe their comments are inappropriate and offensive.”
Eden Scrutiny Group Member
