Toddler’s family call on RBH board to quit
‘While they remain there is ever present risk to tenants’
THE family of Awaab Ishak has called on all board members at Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) to resign following their toddler’s death.
RBH has been under huge scrutiny following Awaab’s inquest earlier this month, which heard the two-year-old died after prolonged exposure to mould at his home on the Freehold estate.
Chief executive Gareth Swarbrick was ousted from his role in the aftermath of the inquest - but a statement issued just two days earlier insisted that he had the full support of the RBH board.
Following a meeting with housing secretary Michael Gove, the family urged other members of the board to consider their roles.
The statement, read out by the family’s barrister Christian Weaver, said: “The family would also like to take this moment to make their thoughts clear in relation to RBH’S leadership. The family have no confidence in RBH’S board.
“They call for the board’s resignation and believe that, while the current board remains, there is an ever-present risk and danger to RBH tenants.
“The family are struggling to grapple with the fact that, while grieving the loss of their child, RBH were expressing confidence in their CEO.
“They also cannot understand why it took so long for RBH to, in any way, acknowledge that it was wrong for them to have made ‘assumptions’ about the lifestyle of Mr Abdullah and Ms Amin particularly given the Coroner’s findings.
“RBH have immediate and urgent issues that need to be addressed to ensure the safety of their tenants.
“The family do not feel this board has the competence or credibility to do the job. This is a view that has been expressed by many.”
RBH issued a statement earlier this week admitting it had made ‘assumptions about lifestyle’ relating to Awaab’s family and apologised, insisting it ‘abhors racism in any shape or form.’
Mr Gove was among the figures to have called out RBH over ‘prejudice’ following evidence heard at Awaab’s inquest.
In their statement, the family confirmed Mr Gove had provided his backing to ensuring the Social Housing Regulation Bill passes through Parliament and the changes being called for in our sister paper the Manchester Evening News’s campaign for Awaab’s Law.
Mr Gove has also promised to keep the family and public informed of progress and to return to Rochdale in six months, the family’s statement said, while he is also set to deal with the matters raised in the coroner’s Prevention of Future Deaths report.
The statement continued: “The family are encouraged by Michael Gove’s remarks, however are keen for what took place in the meeting to be read out in public.
“This is in an effort to assure not only others living in social housing, but also the public, are able to hold the Secretary of State and the Government, to account.”
It added: “The family once again, wish to express their thanks for the love and support that has been shown. They felt ignored by RBH, but feel warmed that the public are listening.
“They would also encourage the public to go to change.org and sign the petition for an Awaab’s Law.”