Elinam Attipoe was keen to become a board member of a housing association. But although he works for an association, he felt he’d need extra skills to do the job properly. Thanks to the Black on Board project, he got the help he was after.

The project, run by community investment organisation Olmec, is designed to encourage black people to join housing association boards. It came about when the South East London Housing Association Partnership studied the figures and realised how few boards reflect the communities they serve.

Elinam is one of 84 people who have taken the course, which is backed by funding from the Innovation and Good Practice grant programme. The course allows participants to do hands-on activities, case studies, debates, presentations and a mock committee meeting. Issues such as confidentiality, company law and finance are also covered.

Halfway through it, Elinam felt so confident that he applied to become a board member. “A small housing association was recruiting so I decided to try,” he says.

He was interviewed and then appointed. “I feel now that I am fully contributing,” he says.

The course was invaluable, he says. “You get such an insight into organisations and it’s a chance to meet people and share ideas.”