Ever feel overwhelmed or frustrated by your DPO role and the challenges it brings?
It can be lonely, especially when it feels like you’re the only one experiencing this.
Which is why this community was created; you are not alone.
Welcome to the DiSH network – especially for those working in Data in Social Housing.
Together we grow in confidence, knowledge and impact.
Who is this community for?
The DiSH is for you if this type of feedback resonates with you, that we frequently get from the Hive Online sessions, and is what encouraged us to launch The DiSH, so we can provide even more support:
Another really useful session. Time is precious to us all and I’m never disappointed with the Hive sessions.
Data Protection Officer, Housing Association
Being a data protection apprentice it can sometimes feel like you’re a tiny fish in a huge ocean and it can feel like you don’t know which way to turn. Attending the [Hive Online] session today and getting to meet and listen to people made me realise I am not alone and we are all feeling the same way. Thanks again!
Nicole, Data Protection Apprentice, Housing Association
This is your safe space to share and learn together, network and make valuable connections, and have some fun along the way.
✅ The DiSH Membership is for you if you:
- Feel lonely in your data role and want the reassurance of a community of supportive professionals to bounce ideas off.
- Suspect that your colleagues see you as a blocker and you want to build on and enhance the value you bring to your organisation.
- Are sometimes overwhelmed by a seemingly never-ending to-do list and need help to focus on actions that will have the biggest impact for your organisation or clients.
- Staying up to date with news related to data and social housing is taking up far too much of your time and you want to have the latest news to hand when you need it.
- Want to feel confident, supported, knowledgeable and contagiously enthusiastic about data in social housing and beyond.
- Need all this at a price that represents amazing value for money, saving you time and resources every month.
❌ But the DiSH is not for you if you:
- Are looking to cut corners in compliance and find ways to “get away” with misusing personal data to increase only your bottom line – we can help you become more efficient and improve your customer relations, but only by doing the right thing, not by just paying lip service.
- See Data Protection as a tick-box exercise that you want to get over and done with, without any real consideration for the people you work for and with – data protection is about purpose, and when it’s seen as red-tape, it’s being misunderstood.
- Expect a quick and easy transformation of yourself or your organisation – learning to handle personal data in a way that fulfils your purpose and builds trust with your people takes commitment and hard work, but it’s worth it.
Inside the DiSH:
Join live Q&A sessions every month, and access recordings of previous sessions.
Chat to fellow members in the Forum and talk through tricky topics with people who just “get it”.
Access case studies that help explain the risks and benefits related to data use.
Find all the news & updates on data and housing quickly in one easy-to-access place.
Grow your network, build your confidence, and increase your knowledge.
Monthly membership is £36 (inc. VAT) No contract; cancel any time.
- Join live Q&A sessions every month, and access recordings of previous sessions.
- Chat to fellow members in the Forum and talk through those tricky topics with people who just “get it”.
- Access case studies that help explain the risks and benefits related to data use.
- Find all the news & updates on data and housing quickly in one easy-to-access place.
- Grow your network, build your confidence, and increase your knowledge.
Why was the DiSH network created?
With almost two decades of experience in the social housing sector, our director Clare realised that the complex areas of data protection, information governance, and data security are becoming more challenging than ever before. Especially with the introduction of the new Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023 and the often conflicting (sometimes problematic) recommendations made by various bodies in the sector.
Clare’s book, ‘A Practical Guide to Data Protection in Social Housing’, was published by Law Brief Publishing Ltd at the end of 2023, and it addressed the issues faced by housing providers wanting to understand and comply with data protection law. However, we were aware there’s a need for something more interactive than a book. The free Hive Online sessions are popular, but there’s only so far we can go with free sessions.
So we surveyed people working in the housing sector, asking what they wanted from a paid membership…then we built what was asked for! The survey asked about the features that would be most useful, and those that scored highest made the cut.
In the same way as Clare’s book is the one she wished she’d had when she was working in-house in data protection, the DiSH is shaping up to be the network she would have loved to join. Read more about Clare and the rest of the CP Data Protection team, who host the DiSH, on the About Us page (and you can read the full story of how CP Data Protection was born, inside the DiSH!)
Community | Collaboration | Continued learning
What people say about our approach
The sessions are great. It’s a friendly, well ran, safe space for data protection professionals to come together and learn from one another.
Laura, Data Protection Officer
Met up with Clare at her book launch a really interesting session and looking forward to getting a copy of the book. It was also a great opportunity to network, sharing experience and knowledge.
Chris Chapman, Futures Housing Group
Always interesting content and good discussions follow. Always worth my time.
Tony, Social Housing Professional
Monthly membership is £36 (inc. VAT) No contract.
For Founding Members (24 people) the first 3 months are only £24 (inc. VAT) in total.
What if it’s not for me?
If you join the DiSH Membership and find it doesn’t suit you, no worries at all – you can cancel at any time, no problem. In your account you’ll see a link for cancelling/requesting a refund for any of the memberships or online toolkits you’ve purchased.
What’s in it for organisations?
Some employers and clients see data protection as a box-ticking exercise, as red-tape, and even as a blocker to getting the “real work” done. And sadly, it can be all of those things, when it’s not implemented well.
On the other hand, when the true value of data protection is built into an organisation, through plain English and easy-to-understand guidance, policy documents, and training, you can be confident that:
- not only are you complying with the law without over-engineering processes,
- you are also building trust with your colleagues and customers, and
- helping to protect your people and the organisation against the potential damage that can be caused by a cyber-attack or similar data breach incident.
The DiSH provides, and signposts towards, the tools and guidance needed to build compliance, trust and protection without over-complicating things, or having to pay external advisors every time a query is raised, saving time and resources.
Apply today!
Spaces are limited at this launch stage of the DiSH Membership, as we want to carefully test the way it works, and be able to give everyone as much attention as needs be while we all settle in. Only 24 Founding Member spaces are being released (in July 2024), and we want to ensure we have the best mix of experience represented in this first phase. Please apply using this form or click the button below, and we will be in touch very soon with more details!
Still got questions? Drop us a line – Clare@cpdataprotection.com or Vikki@cpdataprotection.com – and we’ll be happy to help.