HLINks Weekly: Housing, Health, and Social Care Latest News

Resource roundup

HAPPI Hour Webinar recording now live - Housing LIN Scotland Presents

Last week’s HAPPI Hour webinar explored housing for older people in Scotland, and we’re pleased to share the recording, which offers an overview of the Scottish context, emerging practices, and a discussion on what supportive, sustainable housing looks like now and in the future.

A big thank you to Angela Currie (Hanover Scotland), Gavin Wright (Bield Housing & Care) and Dr Carla Reséndiz-Villaseñor (Norscot) for delivering very insightful presentations. 

• Watch recording

News highlights

Share your experience: Help shape age-friendly built environments

The Housing LIN and ARUP, in partnership with the Centre for Ageing Better, are developing a series of Quick Guides to help make our built environment more age-friendly.

We need examples of successful initiatives to feature. Please share your experience by completing the short survey by Wednesday 3rd December, 5pm.

• Share your experience

Gain Insight for Your 2026 Digital Strategy & Win £50 John Lewis voucher

With the January 2027 digital switchover deadline rapidly approaching, the need for clear, data-driven strategy in telecare and digital technology has never been more critical.

To help the sector benchmark its readiness and align strategy, Appello and the Housing LIN invite you to participate in our essential industry survey: The Digital Technology Housing Strategy Barometer.

• Have your say by 10th December

The Casey Commission holds an evidence session on the interface between housing and care

Our CEO, Jeremy Porteus, was honoured to join Professor Julienne Meyer (Chair of the Older People’s Housing Taskforce), people with lived experience, and a selection of industry leaders - including several members of the Housing & Ageing Alliance - to ‘think big’ at last week's Casey Commission evidence session in Westminster.

• Find out more

We are pleased to welcome Norscot as a sponsor of Housing LIN Scotland

Last week, we were thrilled to announce Norscot as our new sponsor of Housing LIN Scotland, marking an exciting step forward in our commitment to advancing inclusive housing and care solutions for older people across Scotland.

We were delighted to be joined by Dr Carla Reséndiz-Villaseñor, Product Development Manager at Norscot, in last week's HAPPI Hour webinar exploring the evolving landscape of housing for older people in Scotland. 

• Read full story and watch the webinar recording here

HAPPI Awareness Week set for December as award-winning schemes take centre stage

With December’s HAPPI Awareness Week (w/c 15th) approaching, excitement is growing — especially after last year’s winner, United St Saviour’s Charity’s Appleby Blue, earned multiple RIBA awards, including the Stirling Prize.

Submit your HAPPI-inspired scheme by 8 December: send a 60-word description, name, location, and image to info@housinglin.org.uk for a chance to be featured!

• Find out more and get involved

Housing LIN contributes to national discussion on improving housing choice for people with a learning disability

Ian Copeman, Housing LIN Business Director, spoke at the National Children and Adult Services Conference (NCASC) 2025 on improving housing choice for people with learning disabilities.

He drew attention to the findings from the Best Practice and Insights Report on Improving Housing Choice for People with a Learning Disability, published by the Local Government Association and developed by Housing LIN for Partners in Care and Health.

• Read the report

Specialist/supported housing and an intergenerational living scheme winners at Inside Housing Development Awards

Congratulations to Elim Housing, Populo Living & Newham Council, Sanctuary Group, and Phoenix Community Housing for winning 2025 Inside Housing Development Awards for outstanding supported, retirement, and intergenerational living schemes at last week's London gala.

• Learn more about the 2025 winners

Are you applying for the NIHR Disabled Facilities Grants review?

The NIHR Policy Research Programme are inviting applications for a single research project to evaluate the Disabled Facilities Grant. The deadline for Stage One submissions is 10 December. 

Are you considering applying? If so, the Housing LIN would be interested in hearing from you and to explore how we can be involved as a non-academic partner. To set up a conversation, email us at consultancy@housinglin.org.uk

• Apply today

Expert Insights

One Year On: What’s Happened to the Older People’s Housing Taskforce Report?

This new Housing LIN guest blog, written by Professor Julienne Meyer CBE PhD, Taskforce chair, provides a one year on reflection on the progress of the Older People’s Housing Taskforce following its 2024 report.

Read on to find out how, while new programmes and guidance offer hope, the sector now waits and hopes that the government will finally advance the Taskforce’s well-researched proposals.

• Read Julienne's blog

What else caught our interest...

• Almshouse Association case study: Margaret Hyde Almshouses – a Case Study
• Chartered Institute of Housing item: CIH responds to the 2025 Autumn Budget | Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH)
• Erosh: CIH Level 3 Qualification (Independent Living Pathway)
• Habinteg: Flora Butler: Time doesn’t stop for Motor Neurone Disease – so why does the Disabled Facilities Grant?
• Knight Frank research: Seniors Housing Trading Performance Review
• Motor Neurone Disease Association: Unlock the door: Delivering accessible homes for people with MND
• Scottish Housing News: Bield urges Scottish Government to develop National Independent Living Strategy
• Social Care Today article: We keep talking personalisation, but when will it become reality?
• THIIS: Comment: Taskforce report “lacks strategy” for creating accessible housing for disabled people

Dates for your diary

Autumn/Winter HAPPI Hour webinars

We’re now eight sessions into our exciting HAPPI Hour webinar series, and there’s still so much more to come! Join expert-led discussions on key topics in housing and ageing. Don’t miss your chance to be part of it!

Browse the full programme and register your free place today:

• What the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act means for supported and specialist housing on 2nd December 2025, 4pm - 5pm
• Just added: Using data and AI to transform future housing and care at home on 4th December 2025, 10am - 11am
• Exploring designs for new dementia-friendly housing and services to adapt our existing homes on 9th December 2025, 4pm - 5pm
• Designing for Tomorrow: Future-Proof, Age-Friendly Homes on 16th December 2025, 4pm - 5pm, to coincide with HAPPI Awareness Week 2025. 

Want to know what we're working on?

From cutting-edge research with universities to creating tools that shape organisational policy and practice, we’re driving innovation in the sector. Find out more!

We also offer tailored support to help you navigate today’s complex challenges, whether strategic or operational.

Let’s work together! Please email us at consultancy@housinglin.org.uk or explore our award-winning Research and Advisory Services to learn more.