Top speakers announced for Housing & Social Care Accessibility Summit

Leaders from government, finance and construction will join health and social care experts and disability rights champions at the event to share insight and discuss new solutions to a chronic shortage of accessible housing in Scotland.

Lorna Cameron, chief executive of Horizon Housing, said: “We will be hearing from guest speakers and panellists with deep knowledge and extensive experience on critical issues that influence the housing sector.

“They will lead a much-needed fresh debate at a very challenging time. Our summit is a unique opportunity for leaders to come together and collaborate on a joined-up path towards a more inclusive and sustainable housing future.”

Scottish housing minister Paul McLennan will deliver a welcome address at the event. Speakers and panellists will include:

• Donna Bell, director of social care and National Care Service Development for the Scottish Government
• Katherine Crawford, chief executive, Age Scotland
• Jeremy Porteus, chief executive, The Housing Learning and Improvement Network
• Jacquie Pepper, chief officer, Perth & Kinross Health & Social Care Partnership
• Susan Campbell, director of place, Scottish National Investment Bank
• Pam Duncan-Glancy MSP, first permanent wheelchair user elected to the Scottish Parliament & deputy convener of Cross-Party Group on Disability
• Lucy Fraser, head of innovation, Albyn Housing
• Olga Clayton, interim head of housing & construction, Dundee City Council
• Rowena Statt, research & development director, Anderson Bell & Christie
• Dr Cate Pemble, DesHCA (Designing homes for healthy cognitive ageing) Stirling University
• Dougie Herd, joint managing director, Campion Homes
• Laura Wood, director & founder, Invisible Creations

The event is supported by Campion Homes, which won the Excellence in Accessibility and Inclusion award at the Scottish Home Awards 20024 along with partner Kingdom Housing for their new dementia-friendly development, Primrose Place in Alloa.

Dougie Herd, joint managing director of Campion Homes, said: “Building accessible homes goes beyond compliance – it’s about enriching lives and empowering communities. We hope to inspire other developers and stakeholders to join us in creating environments where everyone can thrive.”

Disability activist Chris Baird, who is on the board of Horizon Housing and Glasgow Centre for Inclusive Living, will share stories from people whose lives have been transformed by accessible social housing.

There will be three panel sessions with presentations. The first will focus on scope for greater partnership working between housing and social care and health service providers with a focus on prevention and early intervention.

The second will examine financial issues including how accessible design can ease the financial burden of delayed hospital discharges by making it easier and safer for people to live at home. The Scottish National Investment Bank, an impact investor whose portfolio includes social and affordable housing funds and projects, will also address partnership approaches to funding challenges.

A session on construction and design will look at how enlightened and inclusive design can benefit everyone in society. The summit will conclude with a plenary discussion bringing together session outputs to form the basis of a blueprint for change.

Tickets for the Housing & Social Care Accessibility Summit are available for £175 + booking fee via Eventbrite, or alternatively contact k.findlay@scottishnews.com to be invoiced for £145 + VAT directly from Scottish Housing News.

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