Initial reflections on the research symposium
By Andrew van Doorn, Chief Executive, HACT
Thank you to everyone who attended our first research symposium event in Manchester yesterday (18 July). It was an excellent, insightful and stimulating day.
We heard a lot about the different drivers in higher education research and in community investment to start to build new understanding and relationships. Much of the focus was on the need to develop new collaborations that deliver impact in research.
People were keen for the Centre to be a place that brokers relationships, helps researchers and community investment professionals to connect and collaborate. There was also a call for the Centre to help housing providers collaborate with each other around shared research agendas.
We’re keen to explore how housing associations adopt common methodologies to demonstrate impact, building on the pioneering work of HACT around social value.
Delegates were also keen for the Centre to champion not just the value of community investment, but also the value of research and evidence, so it becomes a more common part of the way we work.
We will be developing the Centre’s research strategy: if people want to be involved, please get in touch!
News & views
What happened across the networks in August & September
Across Our Networks – September and August 2022 If you want to receive a copy of any of the presentations listed below, or be put in touch with the speaker, please contact adam.chester@hact.org.uk Join our new opportunities Basecamp here...
Free training for housing association staff about fuel poverty
The cost of living crisis and fuel poverty remains high on everyone’s agenda, and community investment professionals in many of our networks want to know how best to support their residents at the moment. We at the Centre have been speaking to National Energy Action...
New Skills Academy – Tackling the challenge of scalable upskilling as part of a HA community investment programme
PWC recently ran a poll of 4,000 people who cited their lack of relevant skills as their biggest barrier to success and social mobility. Housing Associations have been focused on how to address this need for accessible and engaging upskilling for some time. However, the challenge has been in finding a scalable solution given the resources constraints experienced by most HA community investment teams.