Engaging with Under Represented Groups

The West Midlands Voluntary and Community Housing
Network (Housing Network) recognises that it is vital
that it is fully reflective of the diverse voluntary and
community sector, if it is to be a credible network, and
well placed to influence strategic regional and subregional
decision-makers.

The Network identified that certain groups are currently
under-represented within the Network; in particular,
black and minority ethnic groups, rural groups and small
voluntary and community sector groups. The key aims
of this study are to identify in relation to these groups: -
• The capacity for engagement
• The barriers to engagement (including those
which go beyond the issues of capacity and
resources)
• The information and communication needs
and preferred communication/feedback
routes, for example, partnering buddy
arrangements, face to face contact,
newsletter, IT, via existing networks, via topic
based meetings (issues or location focus) or
via community media
• To make recommendations in terms of how to
overcome these barriers to engagement and
facilitate the involvement of underrepresented
groups in the work of the West
Midlands Housing Network and in housing
strategy and policy development.





Engaging_with_under_rep_groups_LB_report.pdf