Belgrave Neighbourhood Co-operative Housing Association (BNCHA) is the largest tenant-led housing co-operative in the UK, managing nearly 400 homes in Leicester. Based in the heart of Belgrave… a culturally rich but historically underserved area. BNCHA exists to provide secure, affordable housing while fostering a strong, inclusive community where everyone belongs.
BNCHA is built on co-operative values: democratic governance, shared ownership, and member empowerment. But just a few years ago, the organisation was in crisis. Governance had broken down, long-standing repairs were unresolved, community trust was eroded, and tenant involvement was at an all-time low.
What followed was a remarkable turnaround. Under new leadership, BNCHA undertook a ground-up transformation driven by inclusivity, transparency, and grassroots participation. Governance structures were redesigned to be more representative and accessible. Long-neglected services were reformed. A new culture of listening, learning, and co-creating solutions with tenants took root.
BNCHA doesn’t just house people… it actively builds community. We serve a diverse membership of working families, elderly residents, single parents, and vulnerable individuals many of whom are from Black, Asian and other minority ethnic backgrounds. Our inclusive approach ensures that tenants are not just service users but active members who shape the direction of the co-op.
In recent years, BNCHA has launched several initiatives to strengthen inclusion and wellbeing across our community:
• The Belgrave Community Food Hub, launched in 2023, supports over 200 families a week with affordable food and free access to advice and support services. It’s the first and only project of its kind in Belgrave, designed to meet the unique needs of the local community.
• The EKTA wellbeing sessions, meaning “unity” in several South Asian languages, were co-designed with older, often isolated residents in our community. These sessions offer social connection, mental health support, and culturally sensitive wellbeing activities.
• Our community garden brings together residents of all ages and backgrounds to grow food, share knowledge, and strengthen neighbourly bonds.
We’ve also embedded digital inclusion by modernising communications, supported residents through energy and water advice referrals, and strengthened partnerships with a wide range of organisations including Cambridge and Counties Bank, Groundwork UK, Leicestershire Cares, Reaching People, Severn Trent, and Leicester City Council, helping us to support tenants beyond housing needs.
BNCHA’s Active Membership Strategy has been nationally recognised for promoting inclusive governance. It enables more women, young people, and those from underrepresented backgrounds to take part in shaping the co-op’s future, ensuring lived experience drives decision-making. Our co-op now runs the Good Neighbour Awards, including a Young Person’s Award, celebrating unsung local heroes and building civic pride.
BNCHA’s transformation is an example of what inclusive leadership and co-operative principles can achieve when genuinely embedded in practice. We are a small organisation with limited resources but our impact is wide-reaching and deep-rooted. We continue to advocate for tenant-led, inclusive housing models that prioritise dignity, representation, and community-led change.
This nomination reflects a collective journey one of resilience, co-operation, and a firm belief that everyone deserves not just a home, but a voice.
