Bedfordshire BME Housing and Communities Forum

A two-year study into the housing needs of local black and minority ethnic (BME) groups was carried out by De Montfort University, Leicester, and concluded in December 2003. The aim was to:

• Identify communities and raise awareness within them about the range of services provided by housing associations and local authorities operating in the county.
• Identify unmet housing needs and estimate future demand.
• Work with community groups to give them a new voice in their future.
• Develop closer links between community groups and housing providers.

Partly funded by the Housing Corporation and supported by Bedfordshire’s local authorities and housing associations including Aragon, the study was one of the first of its kind to be carried out in Britain and has since influenced studies in other rural areas across the country.

The findings of the research were discussed at a conference. Afterwards, representatives from Bedfordshire's local authorities and housing associations met to discuss the setting up of a forum, as recommended in the report. The Bedfordshire BME Housing & Communities Forum has been in existence ever since and enjoys a wide membership. Details can be found in the attached minutes.

The Forum has managed to meet one of the main recommendations from the study and has jointly funded the employment of a part-time BME Community Development Officer. The main aim of this role is to liaise with BME community groups and individuals across the Bedfordshire sub-region to ensure they receive the appropriate assistance in order to meet their needs.

For further details please contact Gill Cook at Aragon Housing Association on 01767 685850 or email:gill@aragon-housing.co.uk