social housing
Through my own experience, and that of my wife, who works in social housing management, I have seen the importance of tackling poverty and inequality and of providing decent, affordable homes.
2019, we brought the General Synod motion “to have a loving, worshipping, serving Christian community on every significant social housing estate in England” which was unanimously supported.
I took this opportunity to raise issues around ordinand finance and ensuring that candidates from social housing, both young and old are afforded the same opportunities as those who have finance from previous careers or inherited wealth.
Allow me introduce myself: I have been a worshipping member of St Andrew’s Community Church on Foxhill, Bath for about 8 years - a growing congregation comprising a very diverse crowd largely drawn from the social housing estate where it is located.
In employment over almost 40 years, I have worked mainly in the social housing sector (delivery front line management services, then supporting colleagues with policy, strategy, performance and compliance roles).
Before ordination, I worked in the social housing sector for over four and a half years, serving in a variety of roles ranging from Housing Management Apprentice to Resident Liaison Officer in Salford.
Outside of the church, I am a board member for a social housing and care provider, trustee of a money advice charity, and community governor at a local secondary school.
As one of General Synod's most active supporters of the Church's work on housing, my particular interest is increasing good rented social housing while exploring how long-term endowments can support the Church's mission.
- Work, through London Citizens, to advocate for social housing reform
I am also a charity lawyer, a non- executive director in social housing, a trustee of St Augustine’s Theological Education Institute and a supporter of Christian environmental charities.
My legal work, social-housing experience and environmental commitments have convinced me that the Church must speak and act credibly on poverty, insecure housing, discrimination and the climate and ecological crisis.
Life Outside the Collar: I come from a working-class background and grew up in social housing.
Having grown up in social housing, I have a deep passion for estates and underserved communities.
I have lived experienced of exclusion through my neurodivergency & various life experiences (growing up on a social housing estate, homelessness, mental health & in other ways too).
Poverty, of course, is not limited to social housing estates, and having witnessed first hand the challenges facing those living in ‘hidden deprivation’ in both rural and coastal areas I commit to bring awareness and missional- focus to those living in poverty of all kinds in our Diocese, be that financial, food or infrastructure based.
I believe the Church of England is called to be a Church for everyone and I passionately support “The Estates Project,” which seeks to see a church on every significant social housing estate of the country.