Why I’m looking forward to SFHA Annual Conference

Having been with SFHA since the start of March, I can see why our Annual Conference is important. I’ve been meeting members at forums and in their local offices and am looking forward to meeting delegates to talk through how we work together to deliver success in the future.

It’s the chance for members to network, engage in debates, to showcase and learn from best practice across the country.

It’s the chance to hear, and then reflect, on the Scottish Government Housing Minister’s keynote speech on the importance of the work of housing associations. Throughout the year, we run forums and network with partner organisations.These discussions  help inform what we focus on at our annual conference.

We know that housing associations have never been more important. But we need to persuade decision makers to deliver sustained funding at the right levels if we are to secure the benefits to our economy and health in the future.

It’s a chance for us collectively to put housing associations on the agenda.

The funding for housing associations to build our share of 50,000 affordable homes in Scotland was partly delivered through SFHA campaigning and research, justifying £3 billion of investment from the Scottish Government. Making sure the design of those homes will meet the needs of future tenants in terms of accessibility, affordable warmth and quality will be key issues discussed at conference.

But ensuring tenants have the support they need to live fulfilled, successful lives is not just determined by the quality and appropriateness of their housing in physical terms, it’s also about the support they receive from housing association staff or care workers brought in to enable them to live independently. At the conference, we’ll be discussing how we invest in new technology to improve tenants’ experiences and progress to date on health and social care partnerships. Making the most of new legislation and local funding to develop our communities and ensure that housing associations play their full role in helping tenants get involved in developing and supporting community assets is also on the agenda.

There will also be the chance to think about how we raise the opportunities of getting involved in the governance of housing associations with a new generation of younger people.

I’m particularly looking forward to meeting our SFHA apprentices and hearing about the experiences that they’ve had starting their careers in the apprenticeships they’ve chosen.  

When we asked SFHA members their views on Brexit, they identified the risks to finance and availability of labour in the building and social care sectors. However, members also highlighted the opportunity of giving people in disadvantaged communities a real chance to gain skills and employment. We’ll be launching a national plan for apprenticeships at conference and want all of our members to get involved.

The backdrop to this year’s conference is the General Election, so at SFHA, we’ve focused on five key asks, and we’ve been raising these with the political parties to secure the future of tenants and the services they depend on. 

We’ll have our election stand with briefings highlighting our key asks and a request to raise our asks with local candidates before the elections and to continue to help us make the case for investment in social security for the future.

We’ve identified our top issues as a result of members’ experiences and the research we’ve carried out on the problems created by welfare changes. We hope you will work with us to raise the profile of our asks in the months ahead.

Book your place today by visiting the SFHA website.