The reach of Agudas Israel Housing Association Ltd was extended further north in February with the inauguration of its first housing project in Gateshead. The new development, constructed by homebuilders Vistry, comprises 20 new large affordable family homes tailored for the Gateshead Jewish community, under a new partnership between Agudas Israel Housing Association (AIHA) and Adler Housing. The ribbon cutting ceremony was conducted by Mark Ferguson, MP for Gateshead Central

BME National are signatories to this letter to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. The letter is from a coalition of organisations, working across mental health, racial justice and violence against women and girls (VAWG) sectors, to call on you to take action to address the gaps in mental health support for Black and minoritised victim-survivors of VAWG. Below is the complete letter along with the other signatories.

Manningham Housing Association (MHA) has officially launched its new  Corporate Strategy for 2026–2029 , setting out a clear vision for the future of housing and community development in Bradford and beyond. The strategy outlines how MHA will continue delivering high-quality homes while strengthening communities, improving services, and embracing innovation over the next three years. At the heart of the strategy is MHA’s vision to provide quality homes, empower BME and other

Pine Court Housing Association celebrated the start of the Lunar New Year with customers, colleagues, partners and friends on 18 February 2026, with events both in the community and at the Head Office of parent company The Sovini Group. Established in 1986, Pine Court is a registered provider of social housing with a long-standing commitment to providing quality homes and inclusive services, supporting a vision of creating a better future. Today, it continues its mission of c

Written by Ulfat Hussain, CEO of Arawak Housing. Last week’s events at Manchester Central Mosque were deeply unsettling. During evening prayers in the holy month of Ramadan, when around 2,000 worshippers had gathered in peace, a man entered the mosque carrying weapons including an axe and a knife. Thanks to the calm, courageous and responsible actions of mosque volunteers, no one was hurt. That fact should never distract from how serious and frightening this incident was for

By Bashir Uddin, CEO, Bangla Housing Association For many years, the housing and health realities facing   many long established older Bangladeshi residents in East London have remained largely invisible in mainstream research and policy. Yet behind closed doors, families have been quietly navigating overcrowded homes, inaccessible spaces, and complex multi-generational living arrangements that shape their daily lives. That is why the Amar bari, amar jibon (My home, my life)

Written by Chloe Tilford, Head of Training & Consultancy at Housing Diversity Network I recently had the opportunity to attend the launch of "Amar Bari, Amar Jibon" (My Home, My Life) at the House of Lords, kindly hosted by Lord Best. This three-year research project explores the housing needs and experiences of older Bangladeshi adults in East London, and it's a piece of work that really deserves wider attention across the housing sector. The research was co-produced by Bang

Between October 2025 and January 2026, Manningham Housing Association piloted a six-week Soul Sisters Wellbeing Project  in Keighley – and discovered how much can be achieved for women’s mental health with a modest budget, culturally rooted practice and a safe space to simply be . Led by Community Development Officer, Eyarun Nessa , with support from practitioner Cath Bacon , Soul Sisters brought together a group of 8–12 women each week at Keighley Civic Centre and Keighley C

The chief executive of Manningham Housing Association (MHA) has spoken of his hopes for 2026 as the BME organisation gets ready in September to celebrate 40 years of delivering homes and services to communities in Bradford and Keighley.   In a New Year message, Lee Bloomfield reflected on another 12 months of achievement for MHA in 2025.   He said:   “We found out just before Christmas that we have retained the highest possible grades of G1, V1 from the Regulator of Social Ho

BME National has today submitted evidence to the inquiry into Black homelessness held by the Women and Equalities Committee of the UK Parliament. Black people in the UK are significantly more likely to experience homelessness and housing insecurity than the population s a whole. This is not accidental, nor is it simply the result of individual circumstances. It is the outcome of long-standing structural inequalities in housing, employment and public services that continue to

Manningham Housing Association, a proud member of BME National, recently brought residents and partners together for its Halloween Mela, an event designed to celebrate culture and strengthen community connections. Families enjoyed a safe and welcoming environment where children took part in seasonal activities and adults had the chance to meet staff in an informal setting. The event highlighted the role BME housing associations play in creating inclusive spaces that respect c

The gathering at the New Art Exchange on Saturday, 22 November brought together community members for an afternoon of reflection with the Windrush Commissioner, Rev Clive Foster MBE. Chaired by Barrington Billings, Director of Operations at Tuntum Housing Association and Chair of BME National, the event created space for open dialogue and thoughtful listening. Attendees shared personal stories and reflections that highlighted the lasting impact of the Windrush generation in N

As the UK population grows older, the gap between need and supply in later life housing is becoming harder to ignore. Household growth over the coming decades is expected to be led largely by people aged 65 and over, yet the number of suitable homes being built each year remains relatively small. Abdul, part of the executive team at BME National, highlights that this shortfall is felt even more sharply within ethnic minority communities, where older residents often face addit

ABAJ team with Susan Kay, CEO, Vivensa Foundation, and Tom Copley, Deputy Mayor, at the City Hall – 16 May 2025. Bangla Housing Association (BHA), in partnership with The Open University and the Housing Learning and Improvement Network (Housing LIN), has recently completed a pioneering three-year research project examining the persistent housing and health inequalities experienced by Bangladeshi elders, aged 50 years and over in East London. Funded by the Vivensa Foundation,

The Rt Hon Shabana Mahmood MP Secretary of State for the Home Department  and  Chief Constable Gavin Stephens QPM Chair of the National Police Chiefs’ Council ‍ 21st November 2025 ‍ Dear Secretary of State and Chief Constable, We are writing as a coalition of racial justice, migrants’ rights, and civil society organisations, who have watched with increasing concern the damage being caused by the interim guidance issued by the National Police Chiefs’ Council on 13th August 202

So much of the current treatment of migrant and ethnic minority groups in the UK is ugly and unacceptable racism. We call this out because it is obstructing our purpose as a social housing provider in London. Innisfree Housing Association was founded to provide decent affordable homes for Irish people who faced huge disadvantages in the housing market. We stood alongside other housing associations that were founded by and for minority communities, supporting each other to pro

Black History Month is both remembrance and resolve: a moment to honour the generations who built, organised, and led movements for change and to recommit to the unfinished work before us. In housing, that work is clear: close the gaps in safety, quality, access, and opportunity that still disproportionately affect Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) communities. Standing firm in power and pride  means pairing history’s lessons with today’s urgency and tomorrow’s ambition. Our pa

Steve Biko Housing Association has announced the appointment of its next Chief Executive Officer, Mr Abdul Malik-Ahad Abdul Malik-Ahad succeeds Tracey Gore as Chief Executive in November 2025.  Abdul has a wealth of experience in both the social housing and community development sectors, and has a passion for racial justice. The association believes that Abdul is well placed to lead Steve Biko Housing Association. Abdul has previously held roles in some of the region’s larges

Manningham Housing Association has been announced as a finalist in three categories at the prestigious Housing Executive Awards,...

Pine Court Housing Association  successfully hosted its annual Pine Court Community Cup , bringing together local communities for a day...