At BME National, we know that a safe, secure home is the foundation for a good quality of life. That is why we are pleased to see Islington & Shoreditch Housing Association (ISHA) taking proactive steps to truly understand the diverse communities they serve in North London through their Neighbourhood Knock initiative.
This innovative programme ensures that every ISHA staff member takes part in direct, meaningful engagement with residents, knocking on doors, having real conversations, and listening to the lived experiences behind them. The goal is simple but powerful: to better understand residents’ needs, improve services, and ensure that equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) are at the heart of decision-making. By gathering valuable insights, ISHA can tailor its services to reflect and respect the communities they serve.
What makes Neighbourhood Knock stand out is its co-designed approach. From the very beginning, residents helped shape the process to ensure visits were conducted with respect and cultural sensitivity. A dedicated resident, passionate about diversity and inclusion, played a key role in training ISHA staff, helping them take a trauma-informed and person-centred approach. The result was that residents welcomed the visits, appreciating the opportunity to share their concerns, aspirations, and ideas for improving services.
From discussing repairs and safety concerns to enhancing communication, ISHA has shown a real commitment to listening and acting on feedback. They have followed up with residents to share key themes and outline steps for improvement, ensuring transparency and accountability.
BME National fully supports this approach and welcomes ISHA’s commitment to meaningful resident engagement. As Neighbourhood Knock continues, we look forward to seeing how these conversations help shape more inclusive and responsive housing services.
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