HLINks Weekly: Housing, Health, and Social Care Latest News
HLINks Weekly: Housing, Health, and Social Care Latest News
27 April 2026
Welcome back to HLINks, your weekly round-up of housing, health and social care updates from the past week.
Last week, we were excited to launch the sixth intake of our Future Leaders Programme, sponsored by Sovereign Network Group.
The free initiative supports early-career professionals with up to three years’ experience across housing, health and care sectors. Bringing together 15–20 participants, the programme focuses on improving housing options for an ageing population.
Applications close on 25 May 2026, with successful candidates gaining training, networking opportunities and a final recognition ceremony at the House of Lords in July 2027.
To find out more and apply today, click here.
Also in today's newsletter:
- Age Irrelevance's Future-Ready Homes report on how a new Housing Strategy can play a pivotal role in shaping the UK’s future economy
- Housing LIN sponsor PROCare now stocking stylish grab rails at Dunelm, helping redefine inclusive design
- Two new Housing LIN guest blogs from this year’s Future Leaders Programme cohort:
- Sarah Mitton (Sovereign Network group), on developing emerging talent across housing, health and social care
- Lizzie Lynch (United St Saviour's Charity) on the value of person-centred housing
- A further guest blog from John Glenton (The Riverside Group) on championing intergenerational communities at Parliament
- Upcoming events for your diary, including tomorrow's HAPPI Hour webinar chaired by Lord Best on intergenerational communities
- And lots more that caught our interest!
Thank you for joining us each week and being part of our learning community.
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Best wishes, Housing LIN Team |
News highlights
Now Open: Applications for the 2026/27 Future Leaders Programme
We’re excited to launch the sixth intake of the Future Leaders Programme, sponsored by Sovereign Network Group.
It’s designed for early-career professionals (up to three years’ experience in housing and related sectors) to support their leadership development.
Applications close Monday, 25 May 2026.
Stylish grab rails redefine inclusive design – now available at Dunelm
We are delighted to see that stylish grab rails developed by PROCare (sponsor of Housing LIN and parent company of Invisible Creations) are helping to redefine inclusive design in the home and are now available at high street retailer, Dunelm.
At the Housing LIN Annual Conference in Newcastle, Laura Wood, Founder of Invisible Creations, highlighted the gap between policy, funding, and delivery of housing adaptations, showing how delays and fragmentation impact residents. Presentation slides and overview are available here.
Housing LIN supports Global Intergenerational Week 2026
We are proud to support Global Intergenerational Week 2026, now in its sixth year, continuing to champion and celebrate meaningful connections between generations across the world.
We have highlighted a week of events and resources focused on strengthening connections between generations through housing, design and community practice to improve wellbeing and reduce isolation.
2026 Annual Symposium: Collaboration and inclusion in action
Last week, the Vivensa Foundation hosted its Annual Symposium at the IET in London. Chief Executive Katy Saunders highlighted two core values (collaboration and inclusion), urging delegates to carry them forward, even when the work feels challenging.
This ethos underpins the SHAPE Exchange, a five-year programme led by Housing LIN and funded by the Vivensa Foundation, bringing together partners across housing, health and social care with older people and communities to co-create age-friendly homes across the UK.
Resource Roundup
Future-Ready Homes
Age Irrelevance's report demonstrates how a new Housing Strategy can play a pivotal role in shaping the UK’s future economy.
The report sets out a practical, economically sound blueprint for housebuilders, governments and investors.
We look forward to exploring why age-friendly design matters to the UK housing market and economy with Age Irrelevance founder Kay Allen at our HAPPI Hour webinar on 9 June. Register here.
Expert insights
Reflections on an Inspiring Year with the Housing LIN Future Leaders Network
In this new Housing LIN guest blog, Sarah Mitton, Head of Customer Engagement at Sovereign Network group, explores the impact of the Future Leaders Programme and its role in shaping emerging talent across housing, health, and social care.
She reflects on her own experience in the inaugural cohort and highlights the programme’s ability to inspire collaboration and innovation.
Changing the World for One Person Can Change it for Many
Continuing the leadership theme, Lizzie Lynch, Communications & Influence Lead at United St Saviour's Charity, shares a powerful reflection on the value of person-centred housing.
Drawing on her experience at Appleby Blue and insights from the Future Leaders Programme, she challenges the sector’s focus on scale alone, highlighting the transformative impact of getting it right for individuals.
Championing Intergenerational Communities at Parliament
In this new Housing LIN guest blog, John Glenton, Executive Director, Care and Support Services at The Riverside Group, shares insights from the launch of the APPG on Housing and Care for Older People inquiry report into intergenerational communities.
We’re pleased to welcome John to tomorrow's (28/04 at 4pm) HAPPI Hour webinar, chaired by Lord Best, exploring how housing, neighbourhood design and community practice can bring generations together, drawing on the Inquiry’s evidence and recommendations.
Find out more and register your place here.
What else caught our interest...
- Age UK campaign Act Now, Age Better
- Cooperative Party report Yes In Our Backyard
- Emmaus report Rebuilding Lives: Emmaus UK launches report into Supported Housing Act
- Taylor and Francis: An intergenerational perspective of measuring age-friendliness across UK communities using an international measure
- UK Parliament Committee hearing Built Environment Committee, Tuesday 21 April 2026
Dates for your diary
HAPPI Hour webinars
We are pleased to share 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
- 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
Want to know what we're working on at Housing LIN?
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Let’s work together! Please email us at consultancy@housinglin.org.uk or explore our award-winning Research and Advisory Services to learn more.