Women in Social Housing (WISH), the support network for women working in the affordable housing and construction sectors, has extended its reach to the North East
The new region is the eighth for WISH, which has grown organically since it was set up in 1998, with regional boards across the UK. It now has 500 members and up to 3,000 other women and men who support it and attend events.
“We are delighted to welcome another network to WISH,” said the organisation’s executive director and founder Nicola Dibb.
“The industry’s gender complexion now is very different to when WISH was set up 20 years ago and it is proud to be part of that legacy of change but there is still work to be done if we are to truly combat inequality and break down the barriers that are holding women back. The addition of a new network will help us to reach out to more women working within housing and construction and to make changes from within the sectors,” she added.
Chair of the WISH North East board Caroline Gitsham has been involved in social housing for over 30 years, having started her career on a YTS and working her way up to executive director of vision and culture at Gentoo.
Caroline was inspired to set up the WISH North East region after seeing Twitter activity around the Women in Housing Awards, which is supported by WISH. She recognised one of the North West network members and got in touch to find out more. After putting a post on LinkedIn to assess whether there was an appetite for a network in the region, she contacted Nicola Dibb and started the ball rolling.
“We have some incredible women in the North East blazing a trail in the housing world and we’re delighted to be able to set up this new WISH network in our region,” said Caroline.
The foundations of the WISH vision are to encourage more women to choose careers in housing and construction and to address career progression for women within the sectors, challenging stereotypes and barriers and encouraging successful behaviour.
WISH’s ‘Change the Face of Housing’ initiative introduces girls still in education to the diverse career opportunities available, while its new mentoring scheme will support women at all stages of their career, helping them to progress through the ranks.
Through networking WISH gives women the opportunity to engage with their peers and to share knowledge, creating safe spaces for making new connections, exploration and learning.
“I feel it is important to have diversity throughout organisations but even more so at board and executive level as it lends itself to better policy and decision making and service delivery,” said Caroline.
“With a real lack of diversity at the top of North East housing sector, we think it’s more important now than ever to provide a network that creates an environment which encourages, inspires and develops women in housing both personally and professionally.
“I am keen for this not just to be a professional network but also accessible to those women who live in social housing who are actively involved, however that may be, in residents’ associations, the various organisations that sustain communities, scrutiny committees and the like.”
The board is developing a programme of events for the region, which will begin in the near future.
Anyone interested in joining WISH North East should contact Crystal Hicks at northeast@wishgb.co.uk.
