The Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) is introducing a new scheme developed to help more disabled people work in the housing sector.

Over the next five years CIH wants to help place and train 120 disabled people with some of the sector's most progressive housing organisations.

CIH has spent the past 18 months researching some of the issues and challenges facing disabled people entering the sector. The work has found some excellent examples of good practice across the UK. CIH now wants to build on this work and help the sector push on to another level.

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Over the next five years, the £480,000 scheme will provide intensive support to both trainees and organisations. The service will offer a mix of high level training and mentoring for individuals, alongside support to help organisations adapt, learn and benefit from the talent on offer from disabled people.

CIH's Manager for the project, Richard Warrington said: "Disabled people are over-represented in social housing as a proportion of the population and under-represented as the employees of housing organisations. Our research shows that housing organisations recognise the business and social action case for employing more disabled people, and there is unmet demand for a scheme to support disabled people through a structured professional training programme.

"The scheme is a significant undertaking for CIH and an excellent opportunity for the sector to make more progress on this important issue. Recruitment will be underway shortly and CIH wants to work with as many organisations as possible to ensure the sector stays at the cutting edge of equality and diversity strategy."

(CD/JM)