HLINks Weekly: Housing, Health, and Social Care Latest News
HLINks Weekly: Housing, Health, and Social Care Latest News
31 March 2025
Last week, we were thrilled to host over 200 delegates at The Building Centre in London for our Annual Conference - A Festival of Ideas, reconnecting with so many passionate network members. It was refreshing to meet in person again, marking our second major in-person event since the pandemic (the first was just three weeks ago in Leeds). A big thank you to everyone involved!
The conference was inspired by groundbreaking reports focusing on the latest developments in planning, designing, and managing Age-Friendly Homes and Connected Communities. We explored advancements in housing, age-inclusive design, and technology, gaining valuable insights into shaping a better future for housing for an ageing population.
We were delighted to be joined by a great cast of speakers, including Kate Markey (CEO, Nationwide Foundation), Shahi Islam (Director of Affordable Homes, Homes England) and Lord Richard Best (Co-Chair, All-Party Parliamentary Group on Housing and Care for Older People).
And, following an exciting announcement by Susan Kay (Chief Executive) about a long-term strategic partnership between The Dunhill Medical Trust and Housing LIN, we’re now even better positioned to support sector learning and improvement. Read more about this here.
A huge thank you to our headline sponsors, UK Research and Innovation and Inspired Villages, and our associate sponsors, Housing 21, The Guinness Partnership, and PRP, for making this event possible. Your support made all the difference!
Presentation slides, session summaries, and official photos will soon be available on the Housing LIN website.
We hope this week’s HLINks newsletter provides you with useful insights and inspiration. Read on for the latest sector news, resources and events.
Best wishes,
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The Housing LIN Team |
Sector News and Announcements
Call Out For Your Best Practices for Age-Friendly Homes and Connected Communities
With our recent Older People’s Housing Preferences report revealing that a quarter of the UK’s population is projected to be aged 65 or older by 2043, it is evident that there is an urgent need for innovative housing policies and solutions to address the challenges posed by an ageing society.
That's why we are excited to invite contributions on age-friendly homes and connected communities, and we look forward to showcasing your work!
First APPG Inquiry session takes place in Westminster
Chaired by Lord Best, the opening session of the new All-Party Parliamentary Group on Housing and Care for Older People Inquiry on Creating Intergenerational Communities took place on Tuesday, 25 March, in Westminster.
Sponsored by Riverside and Places for People, the Housing LIN is proud to be the Secretariat to this year-long Inquiry and to host the Inquiry’s webpages.
Expert Insights
New blog Reflects on Building Homes for an Ageing Population with Design and Technology
This blog, written by Susan Kay, Chief Executive of the Dunhill Medical Trust, delves into the challenges of creating homes and communities that cater to an ageing population.
Keep reading for an exciting announcement and to learn more about how these principles can shape housing to address the needs of an ageing society, along with the importance of community-driven solutions for the future.
New Blog Shares How Storytelling Fuels Leadership and Embraces the "Squiggly Career"
This blog by Gurjeet Nagra, Design Manager at Inspired Villages, delves into the concept of the "squiggly career," highlighting how career paths are increasingly unpredictable and non-linear.
Gurjeet reflects on her time in the Housing LIN's Future Leaders Programme, where she had the opportunity to engage with inspiring leaders who shared their diverse and unique career journeys.
Housing LIN Future Leaders Programme Sparks New Insights and Community Building Ideas
This blog highlights Rachel Butterworth and Albert Sinfield's experience with the Housing LIN's Future Leaders Programme, where they were encouraged to step beyond their roles in Integrated Retirement Communities and explore the wider housing sector.
Through the programme, they had the opportunity to connect with other leaders and strengthen their efforts in community building.
What else caught our interest...
- BBC series: Rose Ayling-Ellis: Old Hands, New Tricks
- Care Talk awards: Nominate – The National Housing with Care Awards
- Centre for Ageing Better: The State of Ageing 2025 report
- Chartered Institute of Housing report: UK Housing Review 2025 Executive Summary
- HM Government: Spring Statement 2025 speech
- Housing Digital: Pennycook announces £20m boost for community-led housing
- MHCLG announcement: £2 billion new investment to support biggest boost in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation
- Reading University survey: Could Virtual Reality Enhance User Satisfaction? The Impact of Virtual Reality on Designers in the Adaptive Home Design Process
- Red Brick blog: A ten-year plan for community-led housing
- Taylor & Francis article: Avoiding ‘bungalow legs’: active ageing and the built environment
Dates For Your Diary
We're busy planning our Spring/Summer series of HAPPI Hour webinars, starting on 6th May 2025. We will annouce the programme next week. In the meantime, you can watch all previous HAPPI Hour webinar recordings here.
Curious about the various projects the Housing LIN is engaged in? These range from pioneering research partnerships with universities to the development of innovative tools and resources aimed at influencing policy and practice. Learn more here!
Events supported by the Housing LIN
- Property Week’s Later Living Conference - London, 2 April 2025
Housing LIN Research and Advisory Services
Building on our highly-prized learning and improvement ethos, the Housing LIN can help you and your organisation underpin your progress in a changing and challenging work environment.
Let's Work Together! To find out how we can support your operational and/or strategic plans, contact us at consultancy@housinglin.org.uk or visit our Research and Advisory Services.