Riverside has been awarded Pledge Pioneer status in the LGBTQ+ Housing Pledge by HouseProud and Stonewall Housing.

The scheme is designed to ensure lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans residents are able to enjoy their homes without fear of discrimination.

Our Pledge Pioneer status recognises the steps we’ve taken to make sure LGBTQ+ customers are visible and have a voice at the highest level of our organisation.

HouseProud, the professional network for LGBTQ+ people in housing, launched the LGBTQ+ Housing Pledge after commissioning the University of Surrey to research LGBTQ+ experiences of social housing.

We were proud to have supported the study No Place Like Home which found that despite more than 10 years of equality in legislation, LGBTQ+ residents continue to experience discrimination in their everyday lives, in some cases in relation to housing.

In response, the LGBTQ+ Housing Pledge scheme was developed with input from residents, staff members and sector leaders from across the country to empower social housing providers to improve services for LGBTQ+ residents and ensure consistent promotion of inclusivity.

Now delivered in partnership with Stonewall Housing, the scheme offers practical frameworks for support and inclusion, and is free for all providers to join.

Find out more about the LGBTQ+ Housing Pledge here.