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Social Housing Anti-Racism Pledge (SHARP)

We are proud to have signed up to SHARP - a commitment to take action against racism.

Find more about SHARP and what it means for residents below.

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What is SHARP?

The Social Housing Anti-Racism Pledge (SHARP) is a project focused on building inclusive and fair communities in the social housing sector. By signing up to SHARP in 2024, Brighter Places committed to take action against racism. Our goal is to create a safe and supportive environment for everyone, no matter what their background is.

SHARP helps housing organisations fight racism. It involves setting clear goals, working with residents and other groups, and creating a welcoming culture where everyone feels like they belong. Brighter Places is currently working with suppliers, contractors, colleagues, and residents to encourage open discussions about race and build a more inclusive environment. You can read more about the SHARP project here.

What does the SHARP mean for residents?

It means that Brighter Places offer fair and free from bias services to people from every walk of life. In addition, we hope that SHARP will also deliver:

  • Inclusive Communities – We are dedicated to building communities where diversity is celebrated, making sure everyone feels valued and respected.
  • Improved Safety and Well-being – We have a zero-tolerance policy against racism, so all residents can live without fear of discrimination. This makes the community safer and improves the quality of life for everyone.
  • Empowerment and Engagement –SHARP encourages us to involve residents in decision-making, giving you a voice in how your community is shaped.
  • Access to Resources – We offer resources like workshops and educational materials to help you understand and fight racism.
  • Inclusive Policies and Practices – We are reviewing our policies to make sure they treat everyone fairly, giving equal opportunities to all residents. We have developed an Anti-Racism Policy, as well as an Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Policy at Brighter Places.
  • Community Engagement – We will listen to you and understand your needs, making sure your voices are heard in our decisions. We have a resident Engagement Panel that helps us do this.  We also ask for your feedback in regular surveys, and  via our newsletters.
  • Cultural Awareness and Education – We will help raise awareness about cultural history and promote anti-racist practices. In the Brighter Places office in 2024 we celebrated Black History Month and held lived-experience workshops, as well as a cultural picnic and talks from local community event leaders, including St Pauls Carnival.
  • Accountability and Transparency – We will regularly update you on our progress and hold ourselves accountable for upholding anti-racist standards.

SHARP is not just a promise; it’s a step towards creating stronger, more inclusive communities. By taking this pledge, Brighter Places aims to combat racism and help build a better community for everyone.

What we have done so far

Find out what we have done since we signed up to SHARP in 2024.

  • SHARP Action Group

    We have created a SHARP Action Group led by an Executive Sponsor, which is driving change and helping us stay accountable.

  • Regular updates

    We received regular updates from our SHARP Action Group on our action plan to help us stay engaged and informed.

  • Self-assessment

    We conducted a self-assessment, shared the results openly, and established what we already do and what we need to do to ensure we are creating an anti-racist organisation.

  • SHARP online

    Launched an online SHARP space with all the latest EDI resources and updates.

  • Ensuring fairness at Brighter Places

    Taken a closer look at key areas like recruitment, promotions, and grievances to ensure fairness and remove any barriers.

  • Celebrated our community

    Celebrated our community, hosting a Brighter Places Cultural Picnic and events for Black History Month, bringing colleagues together to celebrate the incredible diversity in our organisation.

  • Anti-Racism policy

    Developed an Anti-Racism policy and created an action tracker to hold ourselves accountable.

What we are planning to do next!

Learn about our plans for the next 12 months.

  • Anti-Racism policy and plan

    We have created and launched a clear Anti-Racism policy and have developed an action plan for the next 12 months to identify ways we can combat racism and make sure our efforts are effective.

  • Reviewing Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

    We will continue to review our KPIs in areas like recruitment and promotions to ensure fairness and address any issues.

  • Understanding resident needs

    We will gather data from residents to better understand your needs and improve our services.

  • Promoting anti-racist practices

    We will encourage and support anti-racist actions within our community and organisation.

    We have incorporated EDI based questions and values into our recruitment process, offer in-house training to colleagues and have included an EDI accountability statement into every colleague’s job role profile.

    We also have a clear internal reporting process for when people see racist behaviour or incidents.

  • Raising cultural awareness

    We will educate about cultural history and its role in creating an inclusive community. We are planning further activities and events to support this, including EDI training for colleagues.

  • Sharing resources and messages

    We will share resources and messages about anti-racism both inside and outside our organisation. Keep an eye here on our website and in our resident newsletter for updates.

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Further information and support

Here are some links to organisations that offer help and advice.

Brighter Places is working hard to build a community where everyone feels respected and valued. Thank you for your support as we work towards these goals.

Report racist incidents and anti-social behaviour

Reporting racist incidents, hate crime and anti-social behaviour is the first step to stopping it.

 

  • Report racist incidents, hate crime and anti-social behaviour

    Reporting anti-social behaviour and hate crime is the first step to stopping it.

    You can report it 24 hours a day below, or by emailing us at info@brighterplaces.co.uk or by using the noise app.

    If a crime is being committed you should call 999 for the police or report non-urgent matters to 101

    How you can report a hate crime, racist incident or anti-social behaviour:

    • Complete the form below
    • Call us on 0117 942 4600.  You will be put in contact with a housing officer who can offer advice and refer you to our ASB team who are specialists in managing hate crimes and racist incidents
    • Email us on info@brighterplaces.co.uk
    • Come to our office at Eden House and talk to the duty officer.  You can also arrange to meet one of our officers at Eden House if you prefer.
    • We can arrange a home visit with you
    • Or we can meet you at another venue suitable for you and our officers
    • You can report on your own if you prefer.  Or you can ask a family member or support agency to come with you.
    • In an emergency, please always dial 999 for the police.