Good health starts at home! Housing as a social determinant of wellbeing

11 January 2022

Cedi Frederick  is Chair Designate, Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board

When I was invited by the NHF to write a blog about how I saw the relationship between housing and health and wellbeing, I didn’t know where to start.

Why is it important for new board members to attend Board Member Academy?

14 December 2021

Alan Lewin is a Board Member for Hundred Houses

After the Christmas pies have been eaten and we have seen the New Year in, we shall be meeting virtually on Wednesday 26 January for this year’s Board Member Academy.

What are the key priorities for housing association boards for the year ahead?

7 December 2021

Sean Anstee is Group Chair at Trafford Housing

Successful housing associations have a golden thread running through them. Coherent, effective governance, diversity of thought and challenge, a genuine culture of resident engagement and a clearly defined strategy all being features of an approach that improves outcomes and delivers on our social mission.

Accountability for quality – how do you know it’s not you

23 November 2021

Alison Inman is a board member at Balkerne Gardens Trust, Saffron Housing Trust and Tpas.

I have vivid memories of the last ‘in-person’ Boards Excellence in Housing conference, held in London in February 2020, probably because it was the last event I attended before the world changed. I remember driving home, listening to the Radio Four news, hearing that the Chinese Doctor who first reported the new virus in Wuhan City had died in hospital.

Health and housing: a joined-up approach

17 December 2020

Danielle is chair of the Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust and whg.

My thoughts on the relationship between health and housing come from the privileged position I have been in as chair of both the Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust and whg housing association.

To address systemic racism, a shake-up in working practice and culture is required – and this starts with boards

27 November 2020

Althea is Chair of Metropolitan Thames Valley

2020 has shown us just how crucial good homes and strong communities are. As we emerge from the pandemic into a new environment, I was pleased to join fellow chairs and board members at the NHF’s Board Excellence Conference 2021 to discuss some of the key issues the sector is set to face as we look towards recovery from the coronavirus crisis.

A brave new workplace

20 October 2020

Ibby is Deputy Chair at Bolton at Home

To quote Charles Dickens, it may not be the best of times nor the worst of times but I think we can agree that 2020 has brought us the strangest of times. This year has without a doubt issued in some of the greatest changes to housing associations and the workplace that we have ever seen.

Climate change and our long-term wellbeing

27 January 2020

Richard Lupo is Managing Director of Suss Housing who deliver SHIFT environmental services for social landlords.

The latest UK statistics show that we emit over 350 million tonnes CO2 per year. That’s a very big number, but what does it mean?

What can housing associations learn from startups?

24 October 2019

Debbie is a Board Member and Tenant Plymouth Community Homes

Startups, once regarded as mere rugrats of the business world, have flourished to become true contenders in an ever increasingly complex, often volatile, marketplace. Today, these technologically savvy entities, known for their innovative thirst to solve a problem, insatiable hunger for growth and motivated by the cloak of uncertainty, are regarded by many as integral components to the nation’s economic success. Is it possible that we, in the social housing sector, could actually learn something from these agile actors?

How board members can harness and maximise tenants’ voices

21 October 2019

Peace is a Tenant Board Member at Phoenix Community Housing

There are many qualities needed in a housing association board member. They act as the reality check for the housing association’s ideas. They are there to help landlords meet challenges, ensure the best ideas are turned into reality and achieve value for money.

My journey from resident to board member

14 December 2018

Fayann Simpson is a resident board member for L&Q

I recently joined the board of my housing association, L&Q. I started attending meetings in April but became a full member in September. I am new to the board but I’m not new to L&Q as I’ve been a resident for over 20 years and an Involved Resident (an official resident representative) for over 15 years.

Resident engagement and board assurance

10 December 2018

Samantha Herelle is Operations Director for Mount Green Housing Association and Board Member at Optivo

For much of 2018, housing associations across the sector were eagerly anticipating the publication of the Government’s Social Housing Green Paper. Published in a year when ministerial resource has been focused on Brexit is quite remarkable. Even more remarkable is that the Government have placed social housing residents at the very centre of the debate.

‘Great Expectations’ of delivering value for money

5 December 2018

Gordon Perry works for ARK Consultancy

With the Charles Dickens classic ‘A Christmas Carol’ playing at many theatres this Christmas season, it's interesting to note that few are producing one of his other great works, ‘Great Expectations’, which illustrates the gross injustice of poverty and social inequality, and importantly the real value of caring for and supporting others.

How will we build truly affordable homes for people that need them?

18 January 2018

Neil Goulden is Chair of Clarion Housing Group.

Neil Goulden, Chairman at Clarion and speaker Board Members’ Conference 2018, explains opportunities developing from the organisation’s merger and the underlying mission driving Clarion through the emerging landscape.

Never has the strategic role of housing association boards been more important

26 January 2017

Peter Lakey is Chair of Flagship Group.

The questions for boards are many – and challenging. Where do we position ourselves? Do we ‘play’? Or risk being left behind? Are we acting in the very best interests of people in housing need?