Amar Bari, Amar Jibon research team hold consultative event hosted by the Deputy Mayor of London at City Hall
With thanks to Tom Copley, Deputy Mayor of London for Housing and Residential Development, for hosting the ‘Amar Bari, Amar Jibon’ (My Home, My Life) consultative event on Wednesday, 16 July 2025, with guests at City Hall.
The Open University (OU) led research, in partnership with Bangla Housing Association and the Housing LIN, shared insights with around 80 guests into the Vivensa Foundation three-year funded project into the Bangladeshi ‘probin’ community (who identify as Muslim) in 4 East London boroughs.
Guests - who included a mix of national, regional and local policymakers, social housing providers, health and social care practitioners, architects and crucially representatives from the Bangladeshi community – watched a fantastic animated film as part of the project of personal stories about issues which need to be addressed:
- inadequate existing housing conditions in many homes
- the lack of new housing choices in later life
- and the poor understanding of the needs and cultural and faith-related requirements of older people
These helped inform discussions on the emerging findings to be co-produced. They also provided useful information to guide the project team on how best to shape potential recommendations in relation to future housing and area-based policies, procedures and practice. The final report will be available this autumn.
More about the ‘Amar Bari, Amar Jibon’ project can be found on the dedicated microsite hosted by the Housing LIN here.
And, if you found this of interest, join us at our final HAPPI Hour webinar of the current series on Tuesday, 22 July, when we will be taking a wider look at the housing needs of older ethnic minority communities.