Future Leaders Alumni gather at Stirling prize-winning Appleby Blue for inspiring Housing LIN event

Housing LIN’s Future Leaders Alumni came together this week for an energising in-person event hosted at the award-winning Appleby Blue almshouse in Bermondsey, this year’s RIBA Stirling Prize winner! 

Supported by United St Saviour’s Charity, the gathering brought together past and present Future Leaders for an afternoon of reflection, inspiration, and thought-provoking discussion.

Attendees heard from guest speaker Carly Dickson of Arup, who co-authored the newly published Age-Friendly Town and Parish Guide alongside former Future Leader Lois Beech of Housing LIN. The guide, released last week in partnership with the Centre for Ageing Better and Housing LIN, offers practical insights for creating communities that support healthy and connected later lives. 

The event also welcomed former Future Leader Faye Sanders for the second screening of her new Housing and Health film, which premiered earlier this month. Adding to the programme, current cohort member Phoebe Newton delivered an engaging session on residents’ voice and social impact, highlighting the importance of co-production and community-led approaches in housing design and management.

Delegates enjoyed a tour of the Appleby Blue development from Lizzie Lynch, Communications & Influence Lead at United St Saviour’s Charity, gaining insights into the design principles behind this pioneering later-living scheme.

Housing LIN extended special thanks to Sovereign Network Group for sponsoring the Future Leaders programme. Looking ahead, organisers expressed enthusiasm for continuing this partnership into 2026/27 and for further collaboration through the upcoming UK Vivensa SHAPE leadership programme.

The event celebrated the achievements of an impressive network of emerging leaders and underscored the sector’s commitment to age-friendly, socially impactful housing.