Community housing association strikes gold with equality award

A County Durham housing association has received a gold award in recognition of its high levels of equality and diversity in the workplace.

Cestria Community Housing has become the first housing association to be upgraded to The Equality Standard ‘Gold’ Award’ following a reassessment.

Based in Chester-le-Street, Cestria manage and own 4,200 properties in the area and have established an Equality and Diversity Working Group.

The group is made up of staff, tenants and board members who aid Cestria in decision making around policy-making, service delivery and employment.

Cestria, a registered social landlord, achieved the Equality Standard in 2010 after implementing a range of initiatives to meet the diverse needs of its customers.

The Equality Standard ‘Gold Award’ is relevant to organisations of all sizes and from all sectors who wish to visibly demonstrate that they lead the field in their approach to equality and diversity.

It was awarded to Cestria by Liz Reay, Chief Executive Officer from Equality North East.

She said: “I am delighted to present the Equality Standard Gold Award to Cestria Community Housing who is the first housing organisation to have achieved the award.

“Once again they have shown they are leading the field in equality with their pioneering attitude to embedding equality in everything they do.”

The award comes in the wake of Cestria being shortlisted in the equality and diversity category of the Northern Tenant Participation Advisory Service (TPAS) awards..

It will now compete against other housing associations from the North at the regional final in May.

Cestria’s Corporate Services Officer Arshia Bhatti, said: “This accreditation is testament to our commitment to equality and diversity practices within the organisation and I am extremely pleased as we have not just retained the standard, which we achieved in 2010, but we have been upgraded to the Gold award.

“The TPAS awards are very high profile and we are very proud to make the shortlist.

“We are looking forward to attending the regional final in Manchester.”