Lee Bloomfield, Chief Executive, Manningham Housing Association

 I recently had the privilege of addressing the NHC Northern Housing Summit on the role housing associations can play in advancing the Pride in Place agenda. 

 Launched by the Prime Minister in September, the £5 billion programme will allocate £2 million to 169 areas every year for a decade, “giving long-overlooked communities the certainty and control they need to plan for the future.”  A further 95 areas are receiving £1.5 million to upgrade public spaces.   

 The Government announcement added: “This is about choosing a future where communities are empowered to come together, rather than be divided, and where renewal is chosen over decline.”  

 It is not a new concept.  Indeed, I would humbly suggest that Manningham Housing Association (MHA) has been delivering the ethos of Pride of Place since 2021 when we secured almost £2500,000 from MHCLG to deliver our Building Bridges Bradford project. The grant was added to the £200,000 we had already earmarked, making it a £450,000 scheme.  

 The initiative sought to bolster community resilience, enhance societal awareness across diverse cultural/faith/ethnic communities, and challenge racism, prejudices and community division through a range of social action activities.  It was delivered across Bradford but specifically targeted at 32 wards ranked in the top 3% most deprived in the country.  Two of these – Ravenscliffe and Holme Wood – are now recipients of Pride in Place funds 

 Over the period of Building Bridges Bradford, the team engaged 2240 beneficiaries, with more than half receiving direct support by attending multiple wellbeing sessions and over 65% reporting personal improvement to their mental health. 

 Other tangible outcomes included 40 service users receiving support to enter employment, 39 black and Asian women benefitting from online business coaching with six setting up a business, several hundred people reporting improved physical health, and 275 service users – including those from marginalised groups (LGBTQ, refugees and disabilities) – taking part in community conversations and good neighbours day sessions, with over 56% reporting improved community relations, a better understanding of hate/race crime and healthy cultural friendships with fellow participants. 

 Given the success of the project and the desire of our Board to ensure continuity of some of these initiatives, since 2022 we have allocated 2% of our annual turnover to community investment.  

With 1,500 homes, MHA is the sole BME association in Bradford district which, according to the 2025 Index of Multiple Deprivation, is ranked 11th out of 296 local authorities with 37% of neighbourhoods classed as highly deprived. In England as a whole, this figure is 10%.  With more 15% of housing stock in Bradford and Keighley owned by housing associations, the role we play is therefore critical if schemes such as Pride in Place are to succeed.    

Communities thrive when there are strong connections between people from all walks of life.  These connections are the foundation on which community cohesion, resilience, integration, safety, trust and belonging are built.  

 But such bonds are not formed by accident or wishful thinking.  They must be nurtured and, yes, properly funded, even in the current climate of scarce financial resources.    

 Social cohesion is about building a society where people feel they belong and are accepted; there is trust between individuals, groups, and institutions; there is equality of opportunity; people participate in civic and community life; and differences are respected and celebrated rather than regarded as causes for division. 

 There are clearly societal challenges to achieving these ends.  Discrimination and unequal opportunities remain all too common, not helped by regional divides which successive Governments have failed to tackle. Almost ten years on from the Brexit referendum, polarisation in politics and identity shows few signs of diminishing.  And online misinformation and social media abuse continues to be rife.      

 But, by seeking to overcome these hurdles and aspiring to achieve the vital elements of social cohesion, the rewards for local communities can be great. 

 Research shows that high social cohesion is linked to numerous positive aspects of everyday life such as lower crime rates, better mental health and wellbeing, and higher public trust in how we are governed.   It also boosts economic performance in communities, creating jobs and opportunities to improve lives.  

 Pride in Place is about building stronger communities, and it is not just down to local councils to deliver the programme.  Working alongside them and other key partners, I believe housing associations are ideally equipped to help deliver the programme’s objectives.  

 We must invest in the spaces and structures that bring people together and restore a sense of pride in the places we live.  Pride in Place can become a significant step in the right direction.  

The Northern Housing Consortium’s 15th Annual Tenant Voice Conference brought together sector leaders and housing professionals with tenants for two days of discussion, learning, and collaboration all focused on one central theme: strong and impactful tenant engagement. 

Across both days, one message came through loud and clear: meaningful tenant voice is essential for building trust, tackling stigma, and driving the culture change our sector needs. 

Day One: Setting the Scene and Driving Standards 

The conference opened with Paul Fiddaman, Chief Executive of Karbon Homes, who set the tone by reflecting on the significant changes that are currently shaping social housing. Paul shared how Karbon embeds their values into everyday behaviours, with staff appraisals linked to demonstrating customer-centric service – a practical example of putting tenants at the heart of organisational culture. 

Tenants were active from the start, asking insightful questions about training and qualifications for housing staff and emphasising the importance of high standards in how tenants are treated. 

Kate Dodsworth, Chief of Regulatory Engagement at the Regulator of Social Housing, followed with an update on the regulator’s new powers and priorities. She stressed the importance of transparency, accountability, and tenant engagement in improving standards. Kate highlighted how tenant satisfaction measures can act as an early warning system for landlords and repeated her call for tenants to share their views as the regulator moves forward with its four-year programme. 

Richard Blakeway, Housing Ombudsman, then shared trends from the past year, including how complaints are now better resourced and recognised as vital for learning and culture change. His message was clear: complaints aren’t something to fear; they’re an opportunity to improve. Richard also addressed stigma in language and the Ombudsman’s outreach work, which now includes one explainer document that has been translated in 300 languages! 

The morning continued with Chloe Tilford from Housing Diversity Network, who led an interactive session on unconscious bias and how misinformation can derail community efforts. Her practical tips for spotting loaded language and challenging assumptions resonated strongly with delegates. 

Luke Baptiste from South Liverpool Homes showcased how they embed tenant voice through their Customer Committee and Scrutiny Panel, visiting hundreds of homes each month to understand residents’ needs and offer support. Their #LetsTalkFacts campaign to tackle misinformation around allocations was a standout example of transparency and two-way dialogue. 

The day closed with Andy McGrory from the Building Safety Regulator, who reinforced the importance of involving residents in decisions, not doing things to them, echoing lessons from Grenfell. 

Day One highlighted the importance of restoring trust, challenging stigma, fixing bias, and ensuring safety – all underpinned by the power of tenant voice. 

 

Day Two: Collaboration and Innovation 

Day Two began with our own Liam Gregson, Senior Engagement Manager at the NHC, introducing RENEW, our housing-led regeneration inquiry. Liam outlined why this work matters; learning from the past; sharing knowledge across power structures; and securing investment for social housing in the North. 

He was followed by representatives from Magenta Living, including Adam Costello, Customer Committee Member, who gave an inspiring talk on meeting tenants where they are – not just in town halls – and Mark Armstrong, Regeneration and Public Affairs Director, who reminded us that housing is about more than bricks and mortar. Magenta Living’s JobsPlus scheme is a great example of going beyond legal requirements to empower communities. 

Next, Amy Broadley from Sir Josiah Trust shared how they bring residents into the boardroom to ensure decisions reflect real voices. Working with Emma Wilson at YD Consultants, they’ve collaborated across six landlords to tackle complaints and co-create 17 practical recommendations – from clearer communication to valuing older residents’ skills. 

We then heard from Colchester Borough Homes, who challenged us to rethink language: it’s customers, not tenants, and it is housing first, not social housing. 

A quick-fire session followed, with six landlords showcasing innovative approaches to customer involvement. Huge thanks to Cobalt Housing, North Star, Berneslai Homes, Arches Housing, and Progress Housing for sharing their work. Big or small, every organisation acknowledged this is a continuous journey – and the destination is always evolving. Each landlord acknowledged that enacting culture change must be front and centre throughout. 

 

Looking Ahead 

Across both days, delegates asked great questions and engaged in lively discussions, reinforcing that tenant voice is not a tick-box exercise – it’s a long road of culture change. From tackling stigma and bias to embedding trust and safety, the sector is committed to making this journey together. 

A huge thank you to all our speakers, delegates, and partners – especially Yvonne Davies of YD Consultants – for making this year’s conference such a success. The all the conversations across the conference have been eye-opening, inspiring, and a powerful reminder of why tenant voice matters. 

The publication of the English Indices of Deprivation (IoD) 2025 provides a detailed picture of deprivation across England. These indices measure relative disadvantage at a very local level, using seven domains: income, employment, education, health, crime, barriers to housing and services, and living environment. Together, they offer a comprehensive view of the social and economic challenges facing communities.

The latest findings confirm what many of us already know: deprivation in parts of the North is both deep and persistent. While deprivation has increased slightly across all regions since 2004, the North continues to experience the highest concentrations of disadvantage.

Persistent Deprivation Across the North

The report highlights that some areas have remained among the most deprived nationally for two decades. These include parts of Liverpool, Blackpool, Middlesbrough, Rochdale, and East Lancashire, where local neighbourhoods consistently rank in the top 1% most deprived in England. This persistence matters because it signals entrenched disadvantage that cannot be solved by short-term interventions. The latest figures show that 58% of the nation’s neighbourhood ranked in the top 10% for deprivation are in the North of England.

Regional Comparisons

The North East has the highest proportion of neighbourhoods in the most deprived decile nationally, with 32.1% of its Lower Layer Super Output Areas (LSOAs) falling into this category. The North West follows closely at 29%, and Yorkshire and the Humber at 26.5%. By contrast, the South East and South West have less than 12% of their areas in the most deprived decile. London sits in the middle, with significant deprivation in inner boroughs but offset by more affluent areas.

This means that deprivation in the North is not only more widespread but also more concentrated, affecting large sections of communities and neighbourhoods rather than isolated pockets.

Domain-Specific Challenges

Income and employment deprivation remain the most pressing issues in the North, particularly in towns such as Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, and Blackpool. Health deprivation is also severe, with Liverpool and Blackpool ranking among the worst nationally for health outcomes. Educational attainment continues to lag behind in places like Middlesbrough and Bradford, while crime rates are disproportionately high in urban centres such as Manchester and Middlesbrough.

These patterns show that deprivation is multi-dimensional. Poor housing conditions, low incomes, and poor health outcomes reinforce each other, creating a cycle that is difficult to break without coordinated action.

Housing and Living Environment in the North

The IMD 2025 shows that housing and living environment deprivation is a significant challenge across the North of England. These domains together account for 18.6% of the overall IMD score, with Barriers to Housing and Services weighted at 9.3% and Living Environment Deprivation also at 9.3%. More than 40% of the neighbourhoods ranked in the most deprived decile for living environment nationally are in the North, and rural areas in North Yorkshire and the North East record some of the highest scores for barriers to housing and services due to long distances to GPs, schools, and shops. Urban centres such as Liverpool, Manchester, and Bradford rank poorly for housing quality, reflecting older housing stock and higher rates of homes without central heating, while coastal towns like Blackpool and Hartlepool face severe issues linked to substandard housing and environmental hazards. These patterns underline the link between poor housing, health outcomes, and economic disadvantage, making housing quality and accessibility critical priorities for regeneration and policy intervention.

Change Over Time

Although all regions have seen slight increases in deprivation since 2004, the North remains disproportionately affected. Between 2019 and 2025, around 28–30% of neighbourhoods in the North East and North West moved into a more deprived decile, while only a small proportion improved. Across England, 51% of areas stayed in the same decile, underlining the persistence of disadvantage. London saw the largest improvement, with 30% of its areas moving to a less deprived decile, but this is not the case for the North.

In Conclusion

The IMDs show the challenge of persistent deprivation, including in many of the areas our members work in. They also highlight the importance of both housing supply and housing quality in tackling disadvantage. Government policy, including recent commitments to improve housing standards and increase supply, will hopefully begin to address these issues. However, the need for comprehensive regeneration remains urgent, as many communities continue to experience entrenched deprivation that short-term measures alone cannot resolve.