Belonging & Difference - Richard Wilkinson

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Richard was born to a single parent in Bradford in the 1950s, and experienced social housing for the first time when he moved into a council house on the newly built Thorpe Edge estate at the age of 3. He later trained as a teacher and worked in education for 36 years, becoming deputy head of a large Bradford comprehensive school. Richard has continued to champion the interests of others, serving on several boards in social housing, the NHS, and the university sector. He is currently a board member at Railway Housing Association.

Richard joins Hannah and Stephen to discuss the complex relationship we all have with the idea of home, drawing on stories and reflections from his varied and interesting life. We discuss social attitudes throughout the post-war period, and the challenges of home creation for people who find themselves outside the norm. We consider how experiences of difference may be essential to understanding others' needs.

We learn about the indignities of council-issued underpants, and Hannah speculates on the emergence of a superhero from these inauspicious beginnings. We each admit secret anxieties about the belated discovery of ancient misdemeanours when we hear our names being called out.
Belonging & Difference - Richard Wilkinson
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