BSHP appoints new chair!

Birmingham Social Housing Partnership (BSHP) has announced the appointment of Friendship’s Managing Director, Jonathan Driffill as its new Chair.

Jonathan, delighted to be taking over at the helm said  “I’m committed to the collaborative working partnership between the City Council, The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) and Housing Associations and ensuring that the housing associations are closely involved in the development and implementation of Birmingham’s Investment Plan. I will also focus on developing similar forms of partnership working and make sure good open channels of communication continue between our members.”

BSHP’s Housing Associations are significant economic players in Birmingham.  Not only do they provide direct employment for around 4000 people in the area, but create jobs indirectly through contracts awarded to other businesses, particularly repairs and maintenance work.   At a time of crisis for the construction industry, housing associations are continuing to build new homes, with over 800 new homes to be built in Birmingham during 2009/10. 

BSHP’s members actively invest in local communities including:

• the regeneration of local neighbourhoods;
• working together to pioneer  a new Government funded service to support local people improve their career prospects;
• provide support and  advice to local people who are facing financial difficulties;
• pro-active in supporting those struggling to meet their mortgage;
• provide a range of locally based accessible childcare facilities and activities for children and families.

Birmingham Social Housing Partnership (BSHP)

BSHP is the representative organisation for housing associations that operate in Birmingham.   The 43 housing associations in BSHP are also members of the National Housing Federation (NHF), the trade body for housing association in England.

Housing Associations have existed in Birmingham for almost 100 years and play a key role in neighbourhoods across the City.  There are now around 85 associations and co-ops operating in Birmingham.

Set up as independent social businesses, BSHP own 40,000 properties in the City, which accounts for a third of all social housing in Birmingham and house around 812,000 people.