HLINks Weekly: Housing, Health, and Social Care Latest News
HLINks Weekly: Housing, Health, and Social Care Latest News
20 April 2026
Welcome back to HLINks, your weekly round-up of housing, health and social care updates from the past week.
Last week, in partnership with HCR Law, we published a new Summary of Guidance under the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023, also SHROA. The paper provides a clear and concise overview of the statutory guidance relating to the Act, and has been specifically written for supported housing providers and local authority commissioners.
The Government has also published its response to the SHROA consultation. This should be read alongside the HCR Law/Housing LIN paper for a fuller understanding of the current policy position and guidance framework.
Also in today's newsletter:
- United for All Ages report featuring 26 intergenerational ideas for a better world for all ages
- The 2026 Housing Design Awards shortlist has been published.
- Nominations now open for the 2026 Housing with Care Awards.
- Three new Housing LIN guest blogs from this year’s Future Leaders Programme cohort:
- Gavin Wu (JDDK Architects) reflects on leadership in housing and architecture;
- Anisha Virk (London Borough of Hounslow) explores modern leadership in a changing world;
- and Jasmine Fong (Homes England) shares reflections on entering the sector and evolving into a more active leader.
- New HAPPI Hour webinars as part of our Spring/Summer series.
- And what else caught our interest, including further sector news and resources.
United for All Ages Changing the world together – Twenty six intergenerational ideas for a better world for all ages
Thank you for joining us each week and being part of our learning community.
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Best wishes, The Housing LIN Team |
Resource Roundup
Summary of Guidance under the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023
We are pleased to share a new briefing paper, developed in partnership with HCR Law and the Housing LIN, which provides a clear and concise overview of the guidance relating to the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023.
The paper has been specifically written for Supported Housing providers and local authority commissioners.
The government’s response to its Supported Housing regulation consultation
Following the Housing LIN and HCR Law jointly published briefing summarising the guidance accompanying the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023, the government published its formal response to the supported housing regulation consultation, setting out its confirmed proposals for the implementation of the licensing regime, the National Supported Housing Standards, and Housing Benefit changes.
Changing the world together – Twenty six intergenerational ideas for a better world for all ages
Released ahead of Global Intergenerational Week 2026, this report from United for All Ages pulls together 26 intergenerational projects that have inspired their supporters recently.
Read on for a concise directory of practical projects that can impact locally, nationally and globally. They are grouped under four themes; homes and communities, care and learning, culture and sport, and today for tomorrow.
News Highlights
The 2026 Housing Design Awards shortlist has been published
The shortlist for the 78th Housing Design Awards has been announced.
53 schemes have been selected from 94 entries this year, including several specialist or supported housing schemes and intergenerational developments, including Housing LIN Case study, Melfield Gardens, and Oakfield Village, a scheme cited in the APPG Inquiry report on creating intergenerational communities.
Nominations now open for the 2026 Housing with Care Awards
The Housing with Care Awards celebrate excellence and innovation across the housing with care sector, recognising the individuals, teams and organisations delivering outstanding accommodation and support services across integrated retirement communities, assisted living, extra care housing and supported living.
Nominations have now been extended until 24th April.
Expert Insights
Learning to Lead Through Change: Embracing Difference
Following his participation in the Housing LIN Future Leaders programme, Gavin Wu, Architect at JDDK Architects, shares reflections on leadership in housing and architecture.
He explores how policy shapes design and how personal experience of ageing and housing needs inspired his interest.
The Perimeter: Creating an environment where exploration never stops
In a separate reflective piece, Anisha Virk, Assistant Joint Commissioning Manager at the London Borough of Hounslow, draws on her experience from the Housing LIN Future Leaders programme to explore what modern leadership means in a rapidly changing world.
Learning Generously, Giving Generously
In our third and final Future Leaders Programme blog submission of the week, hear from Jasmine Fong, Project Management and Delivery Graduate, Enterprise Portfolio Management Office at Homes England, who shares her reflections on entering the housing sector and evolving from a self-described ‘sponge’ into a more active, responsible leader.
What else caught out interest...
- BANES Age UK news: Age UK Bath Age Friendly Community
- Centre for Ageing Better strategy: Action today for all our tomorrows: Our 2026-31 strategy
- Clarion Housing Group: Major new scholarships programme to open up careers in social housing
- MHCLG consultation response: Consultation outcome Supported Housing regulation: consultation - government response Updated 16 April 2026
- PPP roundtable write-up: Turning neighbourhood health from reform to reality
- UK Cohousing Network blog: Why It’s Time to Shift from Community-Led to Collaborative Housing
- University of Bristol: Webinar invitation: National launch of new UK analysis on Meals on Wheels provision, demand and unmet need
Dates for your diary
HAPPI Hour webinars
Last week, we were pleased to launch our Spring/Summer HAPPI Hour webinar series!
- Designing Intergenerational Communities for Wellbeing and Belonging on 28th April, 4pm - 5pm
- My Home, My Life: Housing, culture and wellbeing in later life — Insights from the Amar Bari Amar Jibon research on 5th May, 4pm - 5pm
- Strengthening mental wellbeing through housing for an ageing population in Wales on 12th May, 4pm - 5pm
- Housing: Still Rising to the Dementia Challenge – Dementia Friendly Fun on 19th May, 4pm - 5:15pm
- Designing for Everyone: Global Accessibility & Inclusive Design in Practice on 28th May, 4pm - 5pm
- SHAPE Exchange: Designing homes and communities that reduce isolation and build connection on 9th June, 4pm - 5pm
- Showcasing community-led housing projects – designing with community in mind on 30th June, 4pm - 5pm
- Technology-enabled, co-designed housing for better later living on 7th July, 4pm - 5pm
While free to attend for Housing LIN members, spaces are limited. Reserve your place today and join us for inspiring conversations, fresh insights and engaging ideas.
Events supported by the Housing LIN
- UK Cohousing Network: Inside a Cohousing Community: How It Works in Practice – Leeds Tickets, 25 April, from 1pm - 5pm
- Manchester Urban Ageing Research Group: Celebrating ten years of MUARG: Urban ageing research and action, 28th April, from 9:30am - 3:30pm
- UK Cohousing Network: Living in Cohousing: Is It for Me? – Evening Online Cohort Course, 27 May, from 7pm - 8:30pm
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