Hounslow Homes:

• believes that the diversity of the local community enriches the borough and contributes to its social and economic prosperity.
• is committed to the principle that all people have a right to equality of opportunity and equity in the way they are treated and in the services they need, want and receive – taking full account of colour, race, nationality, gender, gender identity, disability, ethnicity, religion, age, or sexual orientation.
• recognises the effects of heterosexism, homophobia and transphobia within our society.
• recognise that expected stereotypical convention of relationship status and domestic arrangements reinforce discrimination and harassment.
• recognises that mis-information and ignorance with regards to gender identity issues and conditions, leads to prejudice, harassment and discrimination.
• Recognises that LGBT tenants and residents can be African, African Caribbean, Asian, Chinese, Irish or other ethic origin, disabled people, christians, sikhs, muslims, catholics or other faiths, young and older people and economically disadvantaged people, and that they experience further discrimination because of their sexuality or gender identity.

In striving to deliver our strategic vision for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans gender equality within the borough, there are some aspects of everyday life of our tenants and residents that deserve particular attention. Our work will need to focus on effective working in partnerships with other key agencies to address inequalities and adverse impact in:

• access to services, resources, opportunities and funding streams.
• success in employment and career development.
• arrangements to meet the requirements of legislation
• consultation
• workforce diversity and training and development
• personal safety and the unacceptability of homophobia, hetereosexism and transphobia

Hounslow Homes LGBT Working Group and action plan provide the vehicle for change in this area. For further details, please call Radiya Kaderbhai on 0208 583 4011 or e-mail to radiya.kaderbhai@hounslowhomes.org.uk

Get Involved

LGBT Working group

Made up of officers from Hounslow Homes, local police, members of Outwest, tenants and leaseholders and other support services, the LGBT working group meets quarterly at St Catherine's House, 2 Hanworth Road Feltham. If you would like to attend the next meeting please contact Radiya Kaderbhai on 020 8583 4011 or e-mail to radiya.kaderbhai@hounslowhomes.org.uk

Volunteering opportunities in West London

The West London LGBT development project seeks to set up LGBT groups, lobby for improved services and provide training to volunteer involving organisations.

If you would like to use your spare time well (anything from 2 and 15 hours a week) and would like to volunteer your skills, experience and enthusiasm in an LGBT friendly environment, contact an adviser in your area. The specialist adviser will help you choose what sort of volunteering is best for you. Call 020 8280 2286 or e-mail peter@ealingcvs.org.uk or visit www.ealingcvs.org.uk/lgbt

You can also get more information from the LGBT Development Project leaflet.

West London Online LGBT Forum

The forum aims to bring together west london LGBT residents who want to be consulted by service providers. If you have something to say about LBGT issues, want better services and to help influence change for LGBT people in west london, log on today and register for the forum to put forward your views.

You will need to register to use the forum. If you need help and/or support to use the forum or set up an e-mail account, contact Peter Vittles on 020 8280 2286 or e-mail peter@ealingcvs.org.uk. You can also complete the registration form by visiting www.ealingcvs.org.uk/lgbt