"If I was getting it for nothing, I wouldn't mind"

I watched the harrowing Netflix documentary about the Grenfell tragedy this week, Grenfell Uncovered.

It is exceptionally difficult to watch, as it splices heart-wrenching memories and testimony from survivors and firefighters with the piecing together of the many elements of negligence and incompetence that came together to create the circumstances that led to the devastating events on 14 June 2017 and the loss of 72 lives, many of them young children.

One quote really stood out.

"If I was getting it for nothing, I wouldn't mind."

This was something one of the contractors fitting the lethal combustible cladding said to one of the residents who raised concerns.

The disdain summed up in this statement, that people renting council-owned property shouldn't complain, shouldn't expect good treatment, shouldn't raise safety concerns is part of what led to a series of people in leadership positions making a series of decisions which ultimately caused the disaster: installing cladding to make the block look "better", choosing the cheapest possible cladding, continuing to market and sell cladding that was dangerously flammable, not learning the lessons learned from the Lakanal House fire in 2009, trumpeting the removal of building safety regulations as a badge of some kind of honour.

It's hard not to watch this series of misjudgments without wondering how they could have been avoided. In each case the wrong path wasn't just taken by one person, these were collective decisions, and they failed the residents that they served. At what point could someone in a meeting or an email chain have stood up and said no and been heard?

It is the duty of people in leadership positions in public service, particularly politicians, to retain a sense of curiosity, to always ask why - and listen to the answer, to look at decisions from multiple angles, to challenge orthodoxy, and to always remember who they have been employed or elected to serve.

A technique I have always used, as a politician myself and as a charity leader, is to imagine the residents or service users that will be affected by your decisions are right there in the room with you listening to your discussion, if they can't be there in person.

It would be very hard to say "I wouldn't mind if I was getting it for free" if they were listening.

Day of the Week 📆

More than two-thirds of the public think there’s no age limit to having fun at Glastonbury.

The other third will think there's no age limit to having fun at Glastonbury when they get to my age.

What am I reading? 📚

If you haven't read the journalist Peter Apps' book about Grenfell, "Show Me The Bodies - How We Let Grenfell Happen" then I really recommend it.

In fact, it's so good, I think I've recommended it before.

Especially for politicians.

Official told safety campaigner to ‘show me the bodies’ when warned of tower block fire disaster, inquiry hears

A trusted source of up-to-date news for social housing professionals – the only place to get comprehensive coverage of all the big topics.

Inside HousingPeter Apps

What am I watching? 👀

Last night I got to attend the premiere of Sarah Chaundler's moving and sensitive film about dangerous driving on Birmingham's streets.

Having moved here from London three years ago, I've been shocked at driver behaviour here. Drivers mounting the pavement you're walking along to park, not stopping when you're on a zebra crossing, jumping red lights when you're crossing on a green man. All these things have happened to me in the last few months.

I've joined the committee of Better Streets for Birmingham and am also supporting Roadpeace, two of the many campaign groups working for change, and supporting bereaved and traumatised families.

What am I listening to?👂

JB Priestley's Postscripts were hugely popular and uplifting broadcasts during the Second World War. I listened to a fascinating account of how and why they came about and why they were taken off air.

Joy-giving things 😍

Lucy was lured back with a bell and her favourite foods

Next week's newsletter might be a bit delayed as I've got some busy days ahead. Let's see what happens!

Have a great weekend

Lucy

I write this newsletter because I believe in sharing progressive ideas that help us work towards a truly equal world.

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Thank you!

ChangeOut is created by Lucy Caldicott. You can find more about my work at ChangeOut.org. If you’re looking to have a chat about culture, leadership, purpose, equity, or a facilitated team discussion about any of those things, get in touch. You can also find me on Bluesky, Instagram, and, LinkedIn.

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