CHC One Big Conference 2025: Our Place

As Wales heads towards a pivotal election, the role of social housing has never been more important. Wales is our place. It’s the communities we work with, the homes we look after, and the people we support to live well in their homes.

This conference brings together professionals from across the housing sector—development professionals shaping the future, asset managers ensuring homes remain safe and sustainable, and tenant support teams making a real difference in people’s lives.

Housing plays a vital role in building a fairer, more prosperous Wales, and as professionals in the sector, we drive lasting change for the people who depend on us.

Together, we will celebrate the sector’s vital role in Wales today and the future, recognising the positive impact it makes, the opportunities ahead, and the challenges we are overcoming together. By building on innovation and best practices, we will continue to drive meaningful progress in an evolving political landscape.

Stay tuned for the full agenda, and be sure to save the date – an inspiring conference awaits!

Day 1 - Thursday 3 July

8.45am Registration, networking and exhibition viewing

09.30am Introduction to Day One - Chair’s Welcome - Sian Lloyd

09.40am Welcome and Scene Setting: Looking ahead to the 2026 Senedd elections: What does this mean for 'our place'?

Rhea Stevens, Director of Policy & External Affairs, CHC

10.10am Keynote: What does a socially cohesive Wales look like?

10.40am Panel session: How can we drive positive change and resilience in our communities in the face of social cohesion challenges?

Confirmed panellists
Gerraint Oakley, Chair, Community Housing Cymru
Alicja Zalesinska, Chief Executive, Tai Pawb

11.10am Coffee Break/Exhibition Viewing/Networking

11.50am Workshops:

1) Striking the balance between developing at pace and placemaking
Jen Heal, Design Commission for Wales

2) The Net Zero Hwb
Ronan Doyle, Energy Savings Trust

3) Health & housing
Dan Bowers and Owain Jones, University of South Wales

4) Talking with communities about regeneration and developmenT
Natalie Tate, Talking about Homes, JRF

12.50pm Lunch/Networking/Exhibition Viewing

2.00pm Panel: Green skills

2.45pm Workshops:

1) Procurement
Jackie Leonard (CHIC) and Carl Thomas (Welsh Government)

2) Bridging the green skills gap
Menna Lewis, All Wales Net Zero Carbon Hwb

3) Growth for Good
Valleys to Coast, Tai Calon and SamKat

4) To be confirmed

4.10pm Keynote: How society is built, the people it leaves behind, and what we can do about it.
Dr Faiza Shaheen

4.40pm End of Day 1 - Chair’s reflections

5.00pm Drinks reception and Dinner

Day 2 - Friday 4 July

8.45am Registration, networking and exhibition viewing

09.30am Introduction to Day Two - Chair’s Welcome - Sian Lloyd

09.40am Keynote: Reflections and takeaways from the Affordable Homes Taskforce
Lee Waters MS

In November 2024, Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government Jane Bryant MS established the Affordable Homes Taskforce to expedite the delivery of homes within the Government’s current build programme and make recommendations to streamline the delivery of more homes for social rent in the long term.

Lee Waters MS, formerly deputy minister for climate change and lead of the taskforce, will join us to talk through the findings, recommendations and what they mean for housing associations.

10.10am Panel session

Confirmed panellists:

Caroline O'Flaherty, Hugh James
Craig Sparrow, ClwydAlyn Housing

10.40am Coffee Break/Exhibition Viewing/Networking

11.10am Workshops

1) Building at pace
Hugh James and Welsh Government

2) Getting benefits from the procurement processes
Barcud Shared Services and Merthyr Valleys Homes

3) Trivallis' journey to transforming the housing management model and building a ‘team around the tenant’

4) Tai Ffres; an innovative, alternative housing pathway for young people

Tai Ffres is a youth housing service by United Welsh and Llamau where young people are offered a genuinely affordable home, with support if they want it. This is a bespoke and innovative service for those who do not meet the threshold for homelessness services, or where traditional supported accommodation services would not be appropriate.

In this workshop, you will learn about:

• ● The roadmap to ending youth homelessness in Wales and young people’s views on the forthcoming homelessness legislation.
  ● The origin and operations of Tai Ffres
  ● Insights gathered by Cardiff University from young people on the impact Tai Ffres the services have had.
  ● How insights are being used to develop further and tailor services.

12.10pm Lunch/Exhibition Viewing/Networking

1.10pm Keynote on homelessness

1.50pm Workshops

1) Prisoners building homes
Sophie Baker

2) Addressing overcrowding via loft conversion
LoftPro and Taff Housing

3) Culturally Appropriate Accommodation - There and Back Again
There and Back Again is a community interest company that holds roles for the Senedd's Cross Party Group for Gypsies and Travellers. This session will provide an open and honest conversation about the needs and experiences of this marginalised group, as well as ongoing work with Tai Pawb to pilot more appropriate accommodation.

4) To be confirmed

15.00pm Closing keynote

15.40pm Chair’s reflections and conference close

Accommodation

Please note CHC will not be arranging hotel room bookings. However, we have secured an allocation of rooms at discounted rates at the Metropole.

To book your rooms, please call the Metropole on 01597 823 700 and quote the reference G:2203.