Let’s create the future of social housing together
Blog by Lorna Wilson, Innovation and Future Thinking Lead, SFHA.
“When I look into the future, it’s so bright it burns my eyes” (Oprah Winfrey).
I am an eternal optimist, but it can sometimes be hard to envisage the future quite as positively as Oprah.
Many people across Scotland face struggles just to get through each day, which means that they can’t think about or plan for their futures. Those of us in social housing work every day to change this; creating opportunities for customers and communities to fully reach their potential.
Times and conditions change so quickly that we must keep focused on the future – although it is often difficult to find the time and space for this, and none of us have the answers alone.
I’m excited to be joining SFHA on a 12-month secondment as Innovation and Future Thinking Lead – to create this space for innovation and bring the sector together to envisage and help build a bright future for our customers, communities and the housing sector.
SFHA members, a broad and diverse range of housing organisations, have direct and practical experience of current challenges and opportunities, and an incredible combined pool of energy, talent and passion. My job is to bring this together with the latest evidence, research and development; finding new ideas and solutions to some of the key issues facing housing in Scotland.
Some of the potential areas of focus include the impact of digital technology on service provision; innovation in design, construction and maintenance; measuring and evidencing the sector’s social value; identifying and maximising housing’s contribution to tackling poverty and achieving inclusive growth; and what will be the social purpose of housing in 2025?
Are you particularly passionate about one of these areas? This is a chance for you to explore your creative side, connect with others from across sector and beyond, and directly influence future policy. I believe in experimenting and in work being fun, so expect some new and different approaches to sharing and creating ideas together.
At the end of the year, the housing association sector will have collectively and proactively created innovative solutions and proposals to feed into discussions with government on future policy.
Join me in creating a new future:
- Contact lwilson@sfha.co.uk if you’d like to receive updates on our new housing innovation community
- Follow on twitter @LornaSFHA and share your thoughts and ideas