HLINks Weekly: Housing, Health and Social Care Latest News
HLINks Weekly: Housing, Health and Social Care Latest News
2 November 2026
Welcome to today's HLINks! We begin by shining a spotlight on last week's launch of the £3m SHAPE Challenge Fund, now open for applications!
We marked the launch with a special HAPPI Hour webinar, introducing the ambition behind the Suitable Housing for an Ageing Population Evidence Exchange (SHAPE), a five-year programme funded by the Vivensa Foundation and delivered by the Housing LIN. If you missed the session, you can now watch the recording and download the slides, or visit the SHAPE site to find out more about the programme and how to apply.
We would also like to invite you to join us at tomorrow’s HAPPI Hour webinar, From caring places to neighbourhood health, when our speakers will explore how housing, care and community can work together at neighbourhood level to support health and wellbeing. Book your place now.
Also in this week’s newsletter:
- Chancellor’s Budget announces an extra £1.5 billion for social and affordable housebuilding
- Welsh Government publishes its Affordable Homes Provision in Wales 2025-2026 statistics
- Two new Housing LIN guest blogs, on age-friendly cities and communities in Spain, and on cohousing in South-West England
- Socialudo wins Social Enterprise Scotland’s Social Innovation of the Year award
- Appello guide on what almshouses must do about the digital switchover
- UK Cohousing Network paper on Charles Durrett’s UK tour, Building the Neighbourhoods We Need
- Brunelcare seeks a new Chief Executive to lead its 2030 Strategy
And lots more that caught our interest!
Thank you for joining us each week and being part of our learning community
|
Best wishes, The Housing LIN Team |
News Highlights
£3m SHAPE Challenge Fund now open for applications
The £3 million SHAPE Challenge Fund is now open, inviting local partnerships across the UK to turn evidence on housing and ageing into practical action.
Launched last week at a special Housing LIN HAPPI Hour, the Fund forms part of the five-year Suitable Housing for an Ageing Population Evidence Exchange (SHAPE), funded by the Vivensa Foundation and delivered by the Housing LIN. Applications now open.
Budget announces extra £1.5 billion for social and affordable housebuilding
The Chancellor’s Budget announced an additional £1.5 billion to boost council housing/affordable homes development. The money will be allocated via the 2026-2036 Social and Affordable Homes Programme raising the total capital pot over the next 10 years to over £40 billion.
Affordable Homes Provision in Wales 2025-2026
The Welsh Government have published a statistical return providing data that a total of 3,865 new affordable homes were delivered in Wales last year, of which 2,859 were developed by Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) from a variety of capital funding routes, including the Welsh Social Housing Grant and Housing with Care Fund programme.
Socialudo wins Scottish Enterprise Innovation of the Year 2026 award
Congratulations to Socialudo and the team out of the University of Stirling for winning Social Enterprise Scotland’s Social Innovation of the Year award. For more about their ‘A serious game’, check out the report we produced in partnership with SCIE and United St Saviour’s Charity, funded by the Vivensa Foundation.
Brunelcare seeks new Chief Executive to lead its 2030 Strategy
Our Bristol office hosts and friends at Brunelcare are looking for an inspiring leader to become their next Chief Executive.
The deadline for applications is Sunday 29 November 2026.
Resource Roundup
Webinar recording now available - SHAPE Challenge Fund Launch – the shape of things to come
Last week’s special SHAPE HAPPI Hour introduced the ambition behind the programme and Challenge Fund, including what we are looking for from potential SHAPE sites, the eligibility criteria, application process, key dates and delivery arrangements.
If you were unable to join us live, you can now watch the webinar recording and view the presentations from the event.
What Almshouses must do about the digital switchover
This guide by Appello is essential reading for those who manage this precious resource for older and vulnerable people and/or offer technology-enabled care and support to residents in their schemes, especially ahead of the 31 January 2027 digital switchover deadline.
Building the Neighbourhoods We Need: Chuck Durrett's UK Cohousing Tour
This paper by the UK Cohousing Network (UKCN) puts the spotlight on the pioneering American architect and cohousing guru, Charles ‘Chuck’ Durrett, covering his recent visit to England and Wales. Two recent blogs have covered the UKCN event he spoke at in Bristol, including a new guest blog from Christine Coonan, listed below, and one from Barefoot Architects' Founding Director Sam Goss.
Expert Insights
An international perspective on age-friendly cities and communities – lessons from the San Sebastián conference
Ahead of her appearance at our HAPPI Hour webinar tomorrow, architect and urban researcher Dr Elisa Pozo Menéndez looks back on the 3rd International Conference on Age-Friendly Cities and Communities in San Sebastián and a roundtable on intergenerational housing in Spain.
Book now to hear Elisa speak at our event, ‘From caring places to neighbourhood health’, on 3 November, 4-5pm.
Cohousing: Building the Neighbourhoods We Need in the South-West
Christine Coonan of Horizon Cohousing Group reflects on a recent event co-hosted by UK Cohousing Network (UKCN) and Barefoot Architects. She highlights cohousing’s social and financial benefits, design that fosters neighbourliness, and calls for planning policy to give cohousing the same privileged status as rural exception sites.
What else caught our interest...
- Ageing Issues article: Where will the Next Generation of Gerontologists come from?
- BBC news item: Landline switchover could cut people off in emergency, minister warned
- Boomer & Beyond report: Confidence to move
- Healthwatch news item: Healthwatch England and local Healthwatch organisations to be retained
- ILC-UK report: Inequality Street – What the UK Better Lives Index tells us about social care in England
- Manchester Metropolitan University report: Digital Lifeline Research: Key Findings and Recommendations
- Prosper UK report: Solving the Housing Crisis: A Plan to Make Homes More Affordable in Every Postcode
- UCL Bartlett School report: Investigating Potential Health Impacts Of Planning Deregulation: The Case Of Permitted Development In England
- US Aging briefing: AAA Housing Navigation Services
- World Economic Forum report: The Longevity Dividend: The Business Case for Linking Health and Wealth
Dates for your diary
HAPPI Hour webinars
- From caring places to neighbourhood health – Inspiring a new vision for adult social care on 3rd November 2026, from 4pm - 5:15pm
- Residential Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans and fire safety – taking responsibility in specialist/supported housing on 10th November 2026, from 4pm - 5pm
- Technology unplugged - Delivering digital solutions on 17th November 2026, from 4pm - 5:15pm
- Housing storeys - Planning for accessibility and adaptations on 1st December 2026, from 4pm - 5pm
- HAPPI Awareness Week showcase event on 15th December 2026, from 4pm - 5:15pm
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.
Other Events supported by the Housing LIN
Navigating the Winter Surge: Workforce Readiness in Telecare Monitoring
by Appello
18th November 2026, from 2pm - 3pm
Looking for trusted housing, care and support expertise?
Our award-winning consultancy, research and advisory services help local authorities, housing providers, charities and sector partners plan, review and improve housing, care and support services.
From needs assessments and strategy development to research, evaluation and service improvement, we provide tailored support grounded in evidence, policy insight and practical experience to shape your strategic and operational plans.
To discuss how we can help, please email consultancy@housinglin.org.uk or find out more about our Research and Advisory Services.