In the latest episode of the SfH podcast, Sarah Forster, CEO of the Good Economy and Secretariat at Sustainability for Housing, is joined by Fayann Simpson OBE, Group Board and Senior Independent Director at L&Q and a SfH Board member.
Fayann joined L&Q’s Group Board in 2018 and has devoted nearly 20 years working as an involved resident to drive improvement in the quality of homes and services.
Following the Grenfell tragedy, Fayann joined Dame Judith Hackitt’s Industry Safety Steering Group. She regularly participates in high-profile debates with stakeholders and industry experts.
During this edition, Sarah and Fayann discuss how ESG can be made more meaningful to residents, resident involvement in ESG strategies, communicating effectively with residents, post-Grenfell fire and building safety, and the sector’s approach to ESG in the future.
Below are some of the key takeaways…
Making ESG and the SRS more meaningful to residents
Fayann notes that many residents directly engage with different themes within the Sustainability Reporting Standard for Social Housing (SRS) like climate change, resident voice and placemaking.
To make ESG and the SRS more meaningful to residents, Fayann highlights that it’s essential to tap into the “so what” and the value that it can add to their lives. ESG framing often focuses on the financial investment, however, Fayann said: “We need to think about the benefit and purpose to residents’ homes and that wider environment if we’re going to really get that connection.”
Resident involvement in shaping ESG Strategy
Resident involvement can be key to an effective ESG strategy. As an L&Q resident for over two decades, Fayann highlights the importance of resident voice.
“Engaging with residents is about that active participation. Engagement without action is meaningless. So, I think these themes in ESG are really important as it’s another opportunity to really positively engage with residents.”
Ultimately, the organisation must proactively seek diverse voices across the resident base, which means creating multiple avenues for participation to ensure all voices are heard.
How should organisations effectively communicate with residents?
When asked about what good communication looks like, Fayann said: “I think that communication never ends, you have to accept that it’s going to be an ongoing path.”
She highlights how sharing resident stories are a powerful way to illustrate the impact of works that have taken place, in a way that published reports may not be able to. A strong feedback loop is also important; organisations must show that resident feedback matters and it leads to tangible change.
Building safety and resident trust post-Grenfell Tower fire
Fayann discusses how the Grenfell fire highlights the consequences of ignoring resident voices. Rebuilding trust requires organisations to actively listen and take the views of residents onboard.
When discussing building safety, decarbonisation and fire safety, Fayann said: “I think rather than seeing them as competing forces, I think they are part of building a safer future and building safer homes.”
The sector’s approach to ESG in the future
Fayann notes that the social housing sector should recognise the value of people’s lived experiences and engage with residents more to understand them.
“Residents are telling us all the time in different ways that these things matter to them. So, I think it’s about how we draw on that insight.”
Organisations should avoid assumptions, be transparent about limitations, and approach ESG with both boldness and humility to engage with others and solve those questions. To find out more, listen to the podcast here.
