SH4M Coalition Terms of Reference

Aims 

1. To continue to build a collaborative movement for housing justice in the City of Manchester 

2. To significantly increase the amount of zero carbon-ready social housing being created in the City of Manchester

3. To scale up into a Greater Manchester-wide movement for housing justice.

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Working objectives 

Our objectives are updated regularly as our action unfolds. They are currently awaiting a six month review by the Steering Group in June 2026.

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Shared values 

• We work together for the pursuit of social justice and put social justice principles into practice in the way we work together: equity, diversity, inclusion, fairness.

• We use plain English and engage in inclusive dialogue and discussion.

• We are ambitious, imaginative, and hopeful.

• We speak truth to power while seeking to work with power holders in respectful partnership to achieve our objectives.

• We work through co-production with the people affected by housing crisis to amplify their voices and priorities.

 

Organising principles 

 

Social Homes for Manchester Steering Group membership

We organise through the Social Homes for Manchester coalition Steering Group that meets monthly (“the Steering Group”) either in person or online.

All partners to this collaboration agreement have representation on the Steering Group. 

Any organisation whose application for membership of the Social Homes for Manchester coalition is approved can request to have representation on the Steering Group. This request will be taken to a Steering Group meeting for approval and access to representation on the Steering Group will not be unreasonably denied.

The Community Team has a standing invitation to send two representatives to each Steering Group meeting.

 

Steering Group decision-making and ways of working

The Steering Group makes decisions by attempting to reach a consensus among those present at a meeting. If a consensus cannot be reached, we move to majority vote by email of all members with representation in the Steering Group. If a majority decision can’t be reached, the decision doesn’t carry.

Partners with representation on the Steering Group commit to:

• Regular attendance at monthly Steering Group meetings to review progress, share ideas, information and influencing networks and make collective decisions (either online or in person).

• Sending at least one and not more than three representatives to Steering Group meetings and sending apologies when unable to attend.

• Sending consistent representatives to meetings where possible and ensuring representatives are equipped to contribute. 

• Completing and feeding back on action points. 

• Taking on a fair share of the labour in relation to available resources, capacity, and expertise.

• Taking personal responsibility for ensuring there is no gender inequality in the agreed division of labour as our work together develops. 

• Ensuring effective direct community representation and information sharing with our networks and movements.

• Recognising and celebrating each other’s contributions and achievements internally and externally.

• Occasional contribution to publications/resources/toolkits e.g. contributing content, offering to read and give comments etc.

• Occasional participation in workshops/events/panel discussions where this relates to a particular organisation’s/individual’s strengths and expertise.

• Communications support e.g. maintaining an awareness of new blog posts and social media content and liking, reposting, circulating through your own networks to maximise impact and take up.

• Maintaining an awareness of campaign progress and actions and offering suggestions for channels for influence or communities that may be interested and willing to engage in the process.

 

Social Homes for Manchester Steering Group Secretariat

As Lead Partner from January 2026, CLASS has been the Secretariat for the Social Homes for Manchester Steering Group with lead responsibility to:

• Agree and circulate an agenda and an updated action log.

• Book a suitable venue and refreshments for up to 15 people using whatever organisational budget is available to you in your own setting.

• Take minutes of Steering Group meetings.

• Write up and circulate minutes including a summary of all action points within one week of the meeting.

• Manage the socialhomes4mcr@gmail.com account including email and G:drive.

• Manage an effective GDPR-compliant coalition membership and mailing list system including membership/sign up forms.

• Coordinate with the Community Team to encourage and support participation in our activities and events.