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Date: Thursday, 10th September 2026
Venue: Hays Recruitment, Birmingham
Here is a round-up of the main discussions and developments from September’s SEA Forum meeting.
Chaired by Jamie Pearson and supported by vice-chair Kerry Ewers, the meeting focused on housing need, homelessness prevention, anti-social behaviour, quality standards and helping residents towards employment.
Understanding Birmingham’s Housing Needs
Birmingham’s Supported Housing Needs Assessment was a key topic, particularly the number of SEA providers operating across the city and the current surplus of empty rooms.
The discussion highlighted the need to better understand what supported housing Birmingham needs, where it is needed and the level of support required.
The assessment will also include residents’ lived experiences, with representatives involved in the research expected to attend October’s meeting.
Homelessness Prevention and ASB
Birmingham City Council representatives discussed homelessness reduction priorities and how SEA providers can play their part. The Forum agreed to work with the Council towards a practical homelessness reduction policy that providers could adopt.
The Forum also discussed progress on a proposed Birmingham-wide ASB Pledge, bringing SEA providers together with the Council, community safety partners, West Midlands Police and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner.
Quality and SEAQAS
The Forum reinforced its role in promoting Birmingham’s Supported Exempt Accommodation Assurance Quality Standards (SEAQAS) and encouraging more providers to engage with them.
BVSC will also repromote the standards across Birmingham, helping raise awareness of good practice and quality within the sector.
Helping Residents into Employment
Attendees discussed how providers can support more residents towards employment, including examples of good practice already being shared between Forum members.
Attendees also discussed upcoming Housing Benefit changes from 5th October and how they could help ensure SEA residents moving into employment are better off in work.
Natalie Cartmell MBE will present the changes at the next meeting.
Looking Ahead
The next SEA Forum meeting will take place on Thursday 22nd October 2026, with the venue to be confirmed.
The meeting will include further discussion around Birmingham’s Supported Housing Needs Assessment, including the role of residents’ lived experience.
Join Us
For further updates, including meeting locations, visit our LinkedIn channel.
To express your interest, confirm attendance for October’s meeting, or find out more, please contact us at info@TheSEAForum.org.uk