ARCH is supporting the Smashing
Silly Stereotypes campaign and is represented on the Campaign
Steering Group by Jenny Hill, chair of the ARCH Tenants' Group and
Carole Halfacre ARCH Tenants' Group co-ordinator.
Following the initial meetings held in London and Manchester in
Autumn last year the Steering Group has been analysing the feedback
from those meetings and have decided to focus on:
- Commissioning a piece of evidence based research to support the
campaign
- Recruiting more sponsors, and
- Ensuring that they have some good tenant speakers for events
and media work.
The research will focus on the source and impact of stigma for
social housing tenants. The campaign is talking to a researcher
from Leeds University and also getting additional quotes for this
work.
The aim is to have some findings ready for the Chartered
Institute of Housing conference in June and the organisers of the
conference have offered a slot on the conference fringe to talk
about this.
The idea is that the research will shape the campaign that
follows which is likely to include a visual element and a call to
action on social media.
Work is ongoing to raise the profile of the campaign and the
campaign co-ordinator, Catherine Little from SOHA Housing, was
pleased to be invited to talk to CIHNE about stereotyping of social
housing tenants with Rob Gershon (a tenant and blogger who tweets
as @simplicitly) and Martin Hilditch (deputy editor of Inside
Housing).
Both Inside Housing and 24 Housing have indicated that they want
to support and promote the campaign.
Jenny and Carole, as our representatives, will keep the ARCH
Board and Tenants' Group updated on progress.