The devastating fire at Grenfell Tower has cost at least 80 lives, destroyed livelihoods and traumatised survivors. It has exposed the stark inequality in housing provision in Britain, with Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic groups and migrants bearing the brunt of this injustice. Holding those responsible to account is vital.
The ROTA Group and Bramley House Residents Association (BHRA) has put forward a submission to the inquiry, outlining what it thinks should be included in the terms of reference to help shape the inquiry. Now the ROTA Group and BHRA seek joint Core Participant status and has submitted an application to the inquiry. The ROTA Group includes voluntary and community sector organisations, academics, housing experts and lawyers. The ROTA Group and BHRA are able to offer the inquiry a broad range of expertise as well as expert representation on a broad range of equalities issues, in particular the protected characteristics of race and ethnicity, gender, age, and disability, as well as socio-economic disadvantage that cuts across these protected characteristics in the context of social housing.
If you wish to join the ROTA Group please email Poornima@rota.org.uk.
The ROTA Group includes the following residents (tenants and leaseholders), their representatives and organisations and experts advising them:
Elizabeth Mary Harington Stravoravdis – Committee Member of Kensington Residents' Alliance.
Gordon Futter – Campden Houses, Peel Street resident.
Joe Delaney – Lancaster West resident.
Juan Blanco – Markland House resident.
Race on the Agenda – Race on the Agenda (ROTA) is one of Britain's leading social policy think-tanks focusing on issues that affect Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities.
Age UK London – Age UK London is a regional charity working closely with local Age UKs and Age Concerns in each of the London boroughs and the national organisation Age UK.
Black Training and Enterprise Group (BTEG) – BTEG supports BAME civil society organisations by providing a national voice and promoting equality, inclusion, collaboration and entrepreneurship in BAME communities.
HEAR Network – HEAR is a pan-equality network of London equality and human rights voluntary and community sector organisations.
Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants – Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI) is an independent national charity which exists to campaign for justice in immigration, nationality and refugee law and policy.
Just Fair – Just Fair is a leading social, economic and cultural rights movement in England. Through their work with charities, local community groups, and academic institutions they raise civil society awareness on ESR and build momentum behind the movement ensuring justice for all.
Just Space – Just Space is an informal alliance of community groups, campaigns and concerned independent organisation and was formed to act as a voice for Londoners at grass-roots level during the formulation of London’s major planning strategy.
London Tenants Federation – LTF provides a strong regional policy: voice for tenants of social housing providers in the context of London’s high land and property values, lack of affordability, high levels of housing need and widening income polarisation.
Migrants Rights Network – MRN brings together migrant activists and support organisations, think tanks, academics, faith groups and public sector representatives to advocate for a rights-based approach towards migration in the UK.
Positively Aging in London – Positive Ageing in London brings together London-wide and local organisations from both the voluntary and statutory sectors to consider age issues in London and agree common solutions.
Race Equality Foundation – The Race Equality Foundation promotes race equality in social support and public services.
Runnymede Trust – Runnymede is an independent race equality think tank. It generates intelligence for a multi-ethnic Britain through research, network building, leading debate, and policy engagement.
Women's Budget Group – The Women’s Budget Group is at the forefront of scrutinising government policy from a gender perspective. They are a network of leading feminist economist, researchers, policy experts and campaigners committed to achieving a more gender equal future.
Voice4Change England – Voice4Change England is a national advocate for the Black and Minority Ethnic voluntary and community sector
Dr Nigel de Noronha – Warwick University.
Dr Richard Stone – Panel member of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry.
Dr Stuart Hodgkinson – University of Leeds.
Jhangir Mahmood – Solicitor and Director of Bishop Lloyd Jackson Solicitors, representing some of the families living in Grenfell Tower at the time of the fire.
Kwabena Owusu – Counsel.
Manjit Gill QC – No5 Chambers.
Sue Lukes – Housing consultant.