TIS National Housing Conference and Exhibition 2024

Please note, this programme is subject to change and TIS reserve the right to make alterations and substitutions as necessary.

09:00 – 10:00am Luggage drop-off
If you have secured a full conference, residential package information on where to drop your overnight luggage will be provided

09:00 – 10:00am Registration and workshop or study visit selection
Register and collect your name badge and conference pack, and tailor your conference package and select workshops or study visits that matter most to you.

09:00 – 10:00am Exhibition and refreshments
Please enjoy tea and coffee refreshments, whilst making your way around the exhibition.

Ilene Campbell – Chief Executive of TIS

10:15 – 11:15am The big debate live panel session
Pennie Taylor – Award winning Journalist and Broadcaster

The live panel session invites leaders from across the sector to share facts, offer opinions, discuss and challenge how will we deliver the Scottish Government’s ambitious social housing plans amidst the current financial and housing crisis, and consider other socio-economic inequalities that shadow the sector.

• Sally Thomas – Chief Executive at the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA)
• Deborah Hay – Senior Policy Adviser (Scotland) at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation
• Brian Gannon – Chief Executive at West of Scotland Housing Association
• Harry Woodward – Member of Edinburgh Tenants Federation

Find out more

11:15 – 11:45am Refreshment break

11:45 – 12:30pm Fighting poverty and hunger with dignity
Angela Moohan – Founder and Chief Executive at the Larder

The Larder is committed to creating a more equal and just Scotland through the alternative economic model of social enterprise and calling for a Scotland without poverty, where everyone has the opportunity to achieve their full potential and the right to food is enshrined in Scots law. Their mission is to empower the most disadvantaged children, young people, adults and communities to improve their life chances, through access to learning and good food.

Find out more

12:30 – 1:30pm Lunch

1:30 – 3:30pm Workshop or study visit
At registration each day, you have the opportunity to tailor your conference package, and select workshops or study visit that matter most to you. Options listed are within the “Workshops and Study Visits” tab.

Delegates have the opportunity to attend either:

• One study visit (1:30 – 3:30pm) or;
• Two workshops (1:30 – 2:20pm and 2:40 – 3:30pm)

2:20 – 2:40pm Refreshment break

2:40 – 3:30pm Workshop or study visit

3:30 – 4:30pm Turning Pain into Power
Vicki Appleby – Contracts and Commercial Advisor at Xodus and in partnership with Grampian Women’s Aid

“Workplaces should provide safe support for people experiencing domestic abuse like I did”.

Vicki Appleby is a survivor of domestic abuse helping to raise awareness of domestic abuse and highlighting organisations’ part to play in addressing the global issue of violence against women and girls. Working independently by participating in campaigns for change, Vicki provides insight from her personal experience as guidance and is an advocate for organisations to take on board their part to provide a safety net to victim-survivors through the duty of care.

This important and impactful keynote will equip people to identify signs of domestic abuse and provide support to their colleagues to change and save lives.

Find out more

The window to pre-book your study visit, or workshop is now closed. If you have not pre-booked, you will be able to do so at registration on each day.

At registration each day, you have the opportunity to tailor your conference package, and select workshops or study visit that matter most to you. Delegates have the opportunity to attend either:

• One study visit (1:30 – 3:30pm) or;
• Two workshops (1:30 – 2:20pm and 2:40 – 3:30pm)

Study visit option (1:30 – 3:30pm)

Study visit: The Barclays’ campus rooted in rooted in the local community and economy

In October 2022, Barclays completed its new campus in Tradeston, Glasgow. Home to 5,000 staff, the multi award winning campus comprises 500,000 sq. ft of sustainable office, training, wellness and community amenity space across three new buildings and two renovated listed buildings on the south bank of the River Clyde. It has transformed a historic brownfield site into a stimulating and attractive environment for people to work, live and play. This once neglected part of the waterfront has been reshaped into a new landmark business district, once again placing the River Clyde at the heart of the city’s economic and cultural regeneration.

This study visit will provide an opportunity to tour the campus, and explore:

• How the site is embedded within the community, and the regeneration and renewal for that part of Glasgow.
• The site’s “sustainability centre” and moving towards Barclays’ ambition of being a net zero bank by 2050, working with local materials and all the new technology on the market like air source heat pumps.
• Barclays aim to make it their most accessible and inclusive campus, including an Autism Working Group, and prioritising employee wellbeing.
• An insight into their work within local communities and schools, providing resources, and digital and life skills.

Advice note: Please be mindful that study visits are largely walking tours and sensible footwear, and clothing is advised. Please also consider your level of mobility if choosing a study visit.

Workshop options (1:30 – 2:20pm)

Option 1: Implementing a domestic abuse policy
.Michelle Harrow – Service Manager – Housing (Neighbourhood Services) at Dundee City Council

The workshop will provide context on the domestic abuse position in Dundee, focusing on policy development with examples of how it’s worked in practice. Michelle will highlight good practice examples, as well as lessons learned and the next steps going forward.

Option 2: Housing regulation in Scotland
Michael Cameron – Chief Executive at the Scottish Housing Regulator

The Scottish Housing Regulator (SHR) oversees the performance of social landlords to ensure they provide high-quality housing and services. It protects the interests of tenants and service users by monitoring compliance with regulatory standards and the Scottish Social Housing Charter.

During this session, Michael Cameron – Chief Executive at the Scottish Housing Regulator (SHR) will provide a comprehensive overview of the SHR’s role in regulating social housing and the process of reviewing the Annual Return on the Charter (ARC) during 2024/25. To support this review, the Regulator has established advisory groups to work with it to consider the current ARC indicators and help it to develop appropriate and meaningful indicators on tenant and resident safety, including new indicators on damp and mould.

Option 3: Scrutiny of value for money
Christina Johnstone – Housing Manager at Horizon Housing

Horizon Housing Association will lead an interactive workshop focused on Value for Money and what this means to tenants and landlords. Following on from the Association’s Resident Improvement Group’s most recent scrutiny project, the session will explore the work of the tenant members of the group in assessing and understanding what value for money means to tenants and landlords, the organisations financial information and how this is communicated to tenants.

Christina will also provide details of the group’s findings and recommendations and in particular the recommendation to develop new ways of ensuring information is more open and transparent to support tenants to increase participation in rent setting reviews and inform the association of their key expenditure priorities.

Option 4: Progressive housing framework
Claire Frew – Strategy Co-ordinator; and
Alison McCallum – Strategy and Policy Officer at South Lanarkshire Council

South Lanarkshire Council has introduced a Progressive Housing Framework, developed jointly between Housing and Technical Resources and the Health and Social Care Partnership, which aims to respond to people’s changing housing, support and care needs over the course of their lives and promote independent living. This workshop will outline the three key outcomes set out in the Progressive Housing Framework and provide examples of how it is being implemented locally.

Workshop options (2:40 – 3:30pm)

Option 1: Improving housing and wider services in Newmilns
Renee Stirrat – Treasurer at Gilfoot Tenants and Residents Action Group

Members of the Gilfoot Tenants and Residents Action Group invite you share their journey from the initial set up as a Facebook Group during the Covid-19 Pandemic, to becoming a hugely successful Registered Tenant Organisation.

Come along to find out about the group’s successes and challenges and how its members are working together to improve housing and other services within this community in Newmilns, East Ayrshire. As well as finding out about the group’s increased influence with housing, police, fire services and others, the group members will demonstrate its community benefit achievements and how this work has made the area a positive place to live, with other people now wanting to move to the area.

Option 2: All in for Glasgow
Grant Campbell – Head of Partnerships and Consulting at Homeless Network

The ‘All in For Glasgow’ programme of change, that will focus on the support people need during a housing and cost-of-living crisis. This includes street outreach services for people sleeping rough, drop-in support at city-centre locations, and at-home support for people after an experience of homelessness.

Option 3: Creating a positive impact through art since 1994
Fiona Doring – Chief Executive at Impact Arts
Sarah Barr – Development and Fundraising Officer at Impact Arts

Impact Arts transform people’s lives through participation in creative activities and use creative engagement to build people’s confidence and empower them to achieve their potential. They specialise in using the arts to tackle inequalities, improve health and as a way to excite, involve and create meaningful impacts for the people and communities they work with. Established in 1994, Impact Arts have engaged across 30 of Scotland’s 32 local authorities and with over 300,000 people.

Please note, this programme is subject to change and TIS reserve the right to make alterations and substitutions as necessary.

07:30 – 09:30am Breakfast
If you have secured a full conference, residential package please enjoy breakfast in the Tempus Restaurant of the hotel.

09:00 – 10:00am Luggage drop-off
If you have secured a full conference, residential package please bring your overnight luggage to the “Entresol” level of the hotel, where it will be stored safely until departure.

09:00 – 10:00am Registration and workshop or study visit selection
Register and collect your name badge and conference pack, and tailor your conference package and select workshops or study visits that matter most to you.

09:00 – 10:00am Exhibition and refreshments
Please enjoy tea and coffee refreshments, whilst making your way around the exhibition.

10:00 – 10:45am Why the housing crisis is also a public health emergency
Ruth Glassborow – Director of Population Health and Wellbeing at Public Health Scotland

Find out more

10:45 – 11:15am Refreshment break

11:15 – 12:00pm International perspectives
Marie Linder – President at the Swedish Union of Tenants

The Swedish Union of Tenants (SUT) is an organisation devoted to making sure everyone has the right to good housing at an affordable cost. Marie, will share an international perspective and outline the inspiring work of the SUT and their vision, as one of Sweden’s largest popular movements, to fight for a society where tenants have the opportunity to create their own home, in a safe place, surrounded by fair rules and reasonable conditions.

Find out more

12:00 – 1:00pm Lunch

1:00 – 1:50pm Workshop or study visit
At registration each day, you have the opportunity to tailor your conference package, and select workshops or study visit that matter most to you. Options listed within the “Workshops and Study Visits” tab.

Delegates have the opportunity to attend either:

• One study visit (1:00 – 3:00pm) or;
• Two workshops (1:00 – 1:50pm and 2:10 – 3:00pm)

1:50 – 2:10pm Refreshment break

2:10 – 3:00pm Workshop or study visit

The window to pre-book your study visit, or workshop is now closed. If you have not pre-booked, you will be able to do so at registration on each day.

At registration each day, you have the opportunity to tailor your conference package, and select workshops or study visit that matter most to you. Delegates have the opportunity to attend either:

• One study visit (1:00 – 3:00pm) or;
• Two workshops (1:00 – 1:50pm and 2:10 – 3:00pm)

Study visit option (1:00 – 3:00pm)

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Study visit: Queens Cross Housing Association – Hamiltonhill Development

The Hamiltonhill Development is Queens Cross Housing Association’s contribution to the Glasgow Canal Regeneration Partnership, which is a partnership between Glasgow City Council, Scottish Canals and other local agencies to deliver the Canal Action Plan, a new vision of the north west of Glasgow.

The Hamiltonhill Development will see around 670 new homes built, providing a mix of low-rise flats and terraced housing, with over 350 for sale and 320 for social rent spread through the neighbourhood. These new homes range in size from one-bedroom flats to larger family houses with up to four bedrooms.  Three new local parks will be created, bringing attractive open, green spaces and play parks to the area.

Advice note: Please be mindful that study visits are largely walking tours and sensible footwear, and clothing is advised. Please also consider your level of mobility if choosing a study visit.

Workshop options (1:00 – 1:50pm)

Option 1:  Brighter Futures
Bryan Dando – Community Investment Manager at Barrhead Housing Association

Brighter Futures is an innovative approach, led by Barrhead Housing Association’s community investment team focused on delivering projects that support its tenants and communities. The team aims to tackle poverty and inequality for local families with its coordinated partners and community volunteering approach. Across the area, they have supported the delivery of cooking, exercise, and craft workshops, employability workshops, and supported people through the cost-of-living crisis, to work towards a brighter future.

Option 2:  Young People in Glasgow
  John Gilfillan – Community Services Officer (Youth) at Glasgow Youth Council supported by Glasgow Life

Glasgow Youth Council are a group of young people aged 12-25 who live, work, volunteer or go to school/college/university in Glasgow. They are made up of young Glaswegians, who want to improve the lives of young people, including the 16 MSYPs who represent Glasgow, and are are supported by Glasgow Life and Glasgow City Council in their work. The Council seek to represent the interests of Glasgow’s Young People in the City’s Decision-Making Process and work with fellow youth councils, committees and the Scottish Youth Parliament in securing the best deal for Young People in Glasgow and across Scotland.

Option 3:  Te Whare Tapa Wha (The four-sided house) – A Māori Model of Health & Wellbeing
Gail Fotheringham – Community Development Practitioner at Kaipara District Council

You are invited to participate in a workshop to explore a model of health and wellbeing, developed in Aotearoa (New Zealand) to promote a greater understanding of how all aspects of our lives impact on our health- our connections, our environment, our beliefs, and our actions. As volunteers and workers, we are often guilty of putting ourselves last and not paying enough attention to our own wellbeing. Hectic schedules, long days, juggling priorities on our time… the list goes on. This workshop introduces a simple and effective health promotion tool that can easily fit into your routine, whatever that looks like for you.

Once the model has been introduced, including a brief summary of why this way of thinking of health was developed from a Māori perspective you will spend time creating your own action plan. Come along, say Kia Ora, learn some Te Reo Māori (Māori language) and take a little time to take care of yourself.

Option 4: .Mentoring people out of poverty
Ann Nye – Partnership Executive; and
Heather Coulthard – Partnership Executive; and
Christina Brown –  Operations manager at the Wise Group

The Wise Group is a leading social enterprise working to lift people out of poverty, who build bridges to opportunity for the most vulnerable in our society. Their team do this through mentoring support, employment, skills, and energy advice.

Workshop options (2:10 – 3:00pm)

Option 1:  Scotland’s tenant participation and engagement network
Colin Stewart – Chairperson and Shona Gorman – Vice Chairperson at Tenants Together

Tenants Together is a national network of tenants committed to empowering the tenants of today and tomorrow, ensuring their voices are heard and influence decisions within the Scottish social housing sector, to protect tenants rights and make a difference.

We believe in the power of working together and true collaboration runs through our organisation. We work in partnership with the Scottish Government and key decision makers, tenants, service users, RSLs and local authorities, across the sector, to achieve a collective goal – to improve the lives and wellbeing of tenants.

Option 2: The benefit of a trauma-informed approach for tenants and staff
  Colette Lowe – Service Delivery Manager at Link Living

Link Living is a trauma-informed Scottish health and wellbeing charity that supports people of all ages to overcome the negative impacts of trauma, mental health, inequality, and isolation.

In these unprecedented times, the pressures facing individuals and communities are immense. The word crisis is now commonly used to describe many aspects of life – the cost of living crisis, the housing crisis and the sustainability crisis, to name a few.

The complex nature of challenge within communities requires the need for responsive organisational approaches that best support the needs of community and which reduces barriers for people to access support. This workshop will explore the trauma-informed approach and how it can be implemented across organisations and services for the benefit of tenants and organisational staff.

Option 3: People have a right to a home
George Provan – Head of Services; and
Chris Fitzgerald – Head of Services at Simon Community

Housing First operates on the principle that housing and support should not be separated and flexible support is provided for as long as it’s needed. The Simon Community team work with people for as long as they are needed. They bring empathy and understanding, advocacy and assistance, and opportunities for community connection to those who may have faced multiple barriers throughout their lives. Their approach is tailored to the needs of each person; it flexes and develops as they do, though always trauma-informed, with a harm reduction mindset.

Option 4: Delivering positive outcomes for communities
Patsy King – Development Officer at TIS; and
Sue Cairns – Outreach Officer at TIS; and
Deborah Piner – Service Development Officer at East Lothian Council

Sue, Deborah and Patsy will deliver a workshop focusing on successful partnership working. They will provide examples of how the East Lothian Tenants & Residents Panel (ELTRP), the executive committee, local groups and East Lothian Council (ELC) have worked together to delivered positive outcomes for communities. Some examples include: the issue of Anti-social behaviour (ASB) and the methods used to solve the problem, ELTRP events and how they deliver successful events and rent consultations, as well as how they work together to deliver consultation to get the best returns.