The London Housing Panel is recruiting two new member organisations. The intention is that new members enhance the collective expertise and experience of the Panel, ensuring it is inclusive of all Londoners.
Currently seeking applications from organisations that can bring the perspectives of:
- Deaf and Disabled people in housing
- Race equality in housing
APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED
The London Housing Panel ('the Panel') was set up in 2019 to enable London’s voluntary and community sector to influence the capital’s housing policies and practices. Trust for London and the Mayor jointly fund and support the Panel’s work and recently committed to continuing to provide funding till March 2025.
The Panel provides the voluntary and community sector (VCS) with a structured way of engaging with the GLA, and ensures the GLA has a clear mechanism for its engagement with the sector in relation to housing policy. There are currently 13 Panel member organisations drawn from a diverse range of voluntary and community organisations.
In March 2020 the Panel published its Priorities for the Mayor, and in June 2020 the Mayor responded in a letter. During the pandemic the Panel continued to meet and work with the GLA, including co-hosting a roundtable on temporary accommodation, the outcomes of which it continues to develop with the GLA; and working with the GLA on how to embed Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in the Affordable Homes Programme.
Membership of the Panel is held by organisations, rather than individuals. The Panel can have up to 16 member organisations, who cover a range of perspectives.
The Panel meets quarterly, and taking into account preparation time, each meeting lasts up to a half-day. Panel members also join at least one working group (frequency varies, but may meet monthly), and attend a small number of other meetings on specific topics, as well as responding to consultations as required.
Members are required to:
- ensure that London voices feed into and out of the Panel’s thinking and actions
- engage with their own communities and networks for consultation, feedback and raising new issues
- negotiate a balance between their own specialisms/ communities of interest and the collective view of the Panel
- bring their own passions and perspectives as individuals.
The Panel is gradually moving from meeting online to in-person or hybrid meetings. In person meetings take place at the Trust for London. Meeting papers are normally made available two weeks in advance of full Panel meetings. We will make arrangements to support accessibility.
Panel member organisations, especially those who are smaller, have more limited resources and would not otherwise be able to participate in the Panel’s work, can claim an annual fee of £1,000.
We are seeking two new member organisations to bring the perspectives of Deaf and Disabled people in housing, and race equality in housing into the Panel’s work.
Member organisations must:
- be based and operate in London
- provide services, representation or carry out advocacy (in the sense of policy, research or campaigning) work to improve the situation of Londoners and especially those on low incomes
- have a proven commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and promoting the voices of people directly affected by housing issues
- be able to demonstrate a track record of working collaboratively with other organisations, acting accountably and transparently with others
- not be affiliated to a party-political organisation.
We prefer to support organisations run by the people they serve. For Deaf and Disabled people and communities experiencing racial injustice, this means organisations that have a majority of their governing body, and at least half their staff members being Deaf and/or Disabled or with experience of racial injustice.
If you are unsure about whether or not your organisation might be suitable to apply please contact us.
If you would like to apply, please:
- submit an application using the online application form. This should set out why the organisation wants to become a member of the Panel, and why it would be suitable to bring the perspectives of Deaf and Disabled people and housing, or race equality and housing, and provide one reference
- complete the equal opportunities form (within the online application).
Key dates
Monday 15 August 2022, 12pm Deadline for expressions of interest
Tuesday 6 September 2022 Online interview with the chair and up to three others
Tuesday 20 September 2022 Next London Housing Panel meeting
Please get in touch with Susie Dye (susie@trustforlondon.org.uk) Grants Manager, if you would like to discuss the membership roles or need any assistance.