Abbeyfield Living Society signs the LGBTQ+ Housing Pledge

Our commitment to inclusion in housing and care

We are proud to share that Abbeyfield Living Society has signed up to the LGBTQ+ Housing Pledge, a national commitment to strengthening inclusion, visibility and support for LGBTQ+ residents across housing and care services.

At Abbeyfield, we believe that everyone deserves to feel safe, respected and at home. Signing the pledge reinforces our commitment to ensuring that our houses and care homes are welcoming environments for people of all backgrounds, identities and life experiences.

Why this matters

Older LGBTQ+ people can face unique challenges. Many have lived through periods where being open about their identity was difficult or unsafe. Some may still feel unsure about whether they can truly be themselves in later life settings.
We want to be clear: at Abbeyfield, everyone should feel able to live authentically and with dignity.

Although we serve hundreds of residents across the country, LGBTQ+ identities are often invisible in later life housing and care. By signing the pledge, we are taking proactive steps to ensure our culture, policies and everyday practice support inclusion - not just in words, but in action.

What the Pledge involves

The LGBTQ+ Housing Pledge supports organisations to:

• Review policies and procedures through an inclusion lens
• Provide appropriate training for colleagues
• Strengthen how we listen to LGBTQ+ residents and allies
• Increase visibility and awareness across our services
• Evidence good practice through a structured submission process

There is no one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, the pledge offers a framework to help us reflect, learn and improve over time.

What happens next

Signing up is the beginning of a journey. Over the coming months, we will:

• Work alongside our Learning & Development team to embed inclusive training
• Engage residents through our Resident Panel and wider engagement activity
• Review our communications and visibility
• Gather evidence of good practice across housing and care

We are fortunate to have residents who are already supportive of this work and who recognise the importance of ensuring Abbeyfield continues to reflect the diverse society we serve.

A commitment to inclusion

Inclusion is not about labels - it is about belonging. It is about ensuring that every resident, whether openly LGBTQ+ or not, feels safe, valued and respected.

Signing the LGBTQ+ Housing Pledge aligns with our wider commitment to resident voice, equality and high-quality service delivery. It strengthens our regulatory readiness, supports our reputation, and most importantly, reflects our values.

We look forward to sharing updates on our progress.