The social value of housing within communities

A jointly organised conference by HACT and the Northern Housing Consortium for community investment professionals.

14 March 2013

York Racecourse, York, YO23 1EX [view on google maps]

9.00am – 5.00pm

The housing sector is facing the biggest challenges since its re-founding in the 1960s. The social, economic and political context in which housing providers operate is changing. In particular providers face: changes in government subsidy for new homes; an end to top-down regulation; radical welfare reforms; the emergence of localism; and direct competition from the private sector. How the sector responds to this new environment will be critical in determining the future of our most disadvantaged communities.

As value-driven businesses committed to their communities and tenants, social housing providers need to be ready to proactively respond and show leadership. Undoubtedly housing providers are at their most successful when they value and engage with their communities, harness the energy and enthusiasm of local people and actively seek to identify and meet the needs of those most at the  margins. Therefore HACT and the Northern Housing Consortium are co-hosting a conference to look at these important issues.

By attending this conference you will: 

  • Hear from inspirational speakers from the sector and also from key thinkers from wider civil society with an expertise in localism, neighbourhood, community and place;
  • Gain an insight from sector examples of strategic approaches to community investment and evidence based interventions that achieve greater social value;
  • Have an opportunity to engage with the latest economic and social impact research from HACT and Northern Housing Consortium

Chaired by Jon Lord, Chief Executive at Bolton at Home, our speakers include:

  • Ben Llewellyn, Deputy Director, Big Society and Community Rights, Department of Communities and Local Government
  • Matt Leach, Chief Executive, HACT
  • Jo Boaden, Chief Executive, Northern Housing Consortium
  • Lisa Denison, Community Investment Director, Sovereign
  • Tony Powell, Executive Director of Neighbourhoods, New Charter Housing Trust Group
  • Elizabeth Cox, Senior Manager, New Economics Foundation
  • Laura Gardiner, Labour Market Researcher, Centre for Economic and Social Inclusion (CLEI)
  • Sally Thomas, Head of Community Investment, North Star HG
  • Tom Smith, Chief Executive, Oxford Consultants for Social Inclusion (OCSI)
  • Paul Smith, Head of Enterprise and Intelligence, Aster Group
  • Dawn Francis, Group GIS Manager, Greensquare

In particular the conference will explore the:

  • rationale and opportunities for a new strategic approach to community investment;
  • social and economic value and impact of the housing sector;
  • evidence base needed to inform community investment spending decisions;
  • opportunities for using data to inform community investment;
  • challenge of measuring impact and the new environment post the Social Value Act; and
  • external challenges of welfare reform, unemployment and financial inclusion.

Who should attend?

The conference is designed for decision-makers, and those leading service delivery, that are looking at how they can transform their approaches to neighbourhood investment. The conference is aimed at those working in community development, regeneration, policy and research, and will also be of interest to tenant representatives and tenant board members, as well as community development professionals in the wider public, voluntary and community sectors.

 

Book your place online now