Erosh 30th Anniversary Update
Celebrating 30 years of erosh: three decades of connection, learning and progress
A wonderful anniversary celebration, a chance to reflect on how far we've come, hear how providers are improving housing and services for older people, and contribute to what 2027 and beyond could look like for erosh.
Wednesday, 21st October 2026 was a very special day for erosh as members, colleagues, friends and supporters came together at the beautiful Trinity Hospital in Greenwich to celebrate our 30th anniversary.
Thirty years is quite a milestone, and there was plenty to celebrate! From our beginnings in 1996 to the organisation we are today, erosh has grown through the dedication, knowledge and generosity of people who care deeply about improving housing and services for older people.
Our anniversary event, kindly supported by The Mercers' Company, gave us an opportunity to celebrate that shared history, recognise the people who have helped shape erosh and explore the challenges and opportunities that will influence our sector in the years ahead.
It was also a chance to do something that has always been central to erosh: bring people together to share experiences, learn from one another and strengthen the connections that make our sector so special.
A fitting setting for a special occasion
We couldn't have asked for a more appropriate setting than Trinity Hospital, the historic almshouse in Greenwich, where guests had the opportunity to learn more about the building and its longstanding connection with housing and community.
Our celebrations began with networking, refreshments and an optional tour, followed by a welcome from Mr Roddy Graham, Chairman of The Mercers' Company, and our own Chair, Ainsley Forbes MBE.
It was a lovely opportunity to reconnect with familiar faces, welcome newer members and recognise the breadth of experience and commitment represented in the room.
Remembering where it all began
One of the most special parts of the anniversary programme was hearing from erosh founder Imogen Parry, who took us back to the early years of the organisation.
As one of our original founders, Imogen has played an important part in championing sheltered housing and the people who live and work within it. Her contribution to the anniversary was a reminder of the determination and shared purpose that led to erosh being established in 1996.
The housing landscape has changed enormously over the past three decades. The expectations of residents, the responsibilities of providers, the regulatory environment and the ways services are delivered have all evolved.
Yet the principles that brought people together to establish erosh remain just as relevant today: supporting good practice, sharing specialist knowledge, representing the interests of the sector and helping organisations deliver the best possible services for older people.
Our anniversary was an opportunity to recognise everyone who has contributed to that work, including our founders, past and present trustees, staff, members, partners and the many professionals who have shared their expertise over the years.
Celebrating erosh in 2026
Our Chief Executive, Steve Rafferty, reflected on a year of change, challenges and progress for erosh.
Today, we are proud to have 125 members, representing an incredibly diverse range of organisations and individuals. Our membership includes national housing associations, local authorities, smaller housing providers, ALMOs, almshouses, Abbeyfield societies and individual professionals.
That breadth of membership is one of our greatest strengths. It gives us access to an enormous range of experiences, perspectives and expertise, while helping us understand the different pressures and opportunities facing services across the country.
During 2026, we've continued to develop our support for members through good practice guides, policy and legal updates, networking opportunities, training, qualifications, consultancy and sector events.
We've also welcomed new trustees and changes within the team, bringing fresh perspectives and opportunities to build on our existing work.
Strengthening our networks
Our regional networks continue to provide valuable opportunities for members to connect, share ideas and discuss the issues affecting their services.
With networks spanning the North West, West of England, South Wales, Midlands, Sussex and Kent, London and Northern Ireland, we're proud to support conversations and professional relationships across a wide geographical area.
These connections are particularly important in a sector where services can sometimes feel quite specialised, and where learning from the experiences of others can make a real difference.
Developing learning and professional standards
Training and professional development have remained a major focus throughout 2026.
Our programme includes open-access and in-house training, alongside free monthly Bitesize sessions for members, providing accessible opportunities to develop knowledge and explore emerging issues.
We're particularly proud of our partnership with Kingdom Academy, through which we're delivering specialist housing qualifications for professionals working in independent living services.
With new Level 4 and Level 3 programmes starting in January and February 2027 respectively, we're looking forward to helping even more colleagues develop their skills and gain professional recognition.
It was also wonderful to be nominated in the Working in Partnership category at the CIH Welsh Housing Awards 2026, recognising the value of this collaboration.
Raising our profile and sharing knowledge
This year has also seen the development of our new website and a renewed focus on communications, helping us make our resources, activities and expertise more accessible.
Our good practice guides, information updates and events continue to support members with both the everyday realities of delivering services and the wider changes affecting older people's housing.
From digital switchover and fire safety to changing resident needs, challenging behaviour and workforce development, we are committed to providing practical, relevant support that reflects the issues our members are managing.
Learning from the sector: the conversations shaping our future
Our anniversary wasn't solely about looking back. We were delighted to welcome an excellent group of speakers who shared their knowledge, experience and perspectives on some of the most important issues facing older people's housing.
The afternoon provided plenty of food for thought, with contributions covering regulation, the changing needs of residents, future service models and the opportunities offered by technology.
Lessons from housing regulation
Alistair McIntosh, Chief Executive of HQN, explored the lessons emerging from housing regulation and what they mean for providers.
His presentation highlighted the growing focus on individual tenants and the importance of looking beyond headline satisfaction figures to understand people's actual experiences.
Safety, the condition of individual homes, reliable repairs and the quality and culture of staff were among the key areas discussed.
Alistair also considered the pressures ahead, including financial resilience, the need to build new homes as well as maintain existing properties, and the importance of accountability.
These are significant considerations for all housing providers, but particularly for organisations delivering services to older people, where housing quality, personal safety and responsive support can have such a direct influence on independence and wellbeing.
Future-proofing older people's housing
Sam Williams and Antony Dixon from Nottingham City Council provided a fascinating insight into the council's review of retirement living provision and the changing needs of its communities.
Nottingham currently has 1,958 retirement living homes supporting approximately 2,100 residents, within a wider housing stock of around 24,000 council homes.
Their presentation demonstrated the importance of understanding both changing demographics and residents' experiences when reviewing how housing is allocated and services are delivered.
The council's engagement with residents, through surveys, focus groups, meetings and everyday interactions, helped identify important issues around community cohesion, anti-social behaviour, service expectations and the suitability of accommodation.
Notably, 38% of respondents reported being affected by anti-social behaviour.
The review has informed a range of changes, including revised eligibility criteria, dedicated retirement living lettings support and plans for improved property standards. Changing the name to Retirement Living and increasing the age criteria to 67 is a bold statement about the service and what residents can expect.
It was a valuable example of how organisations can use evidence and resident feedback to reconsider established approaches, while responding to changing demand and making the best use of available housing.
Cardiff's vision for older people's housing
We were also delighted to welcome Asmut Price from Cardiff Council, who brought extensive experience within the housing for older people's sector and in gerontology to the discussion.
Cardiff's contribution placed a welcome focus on the importance of housing that enables older people to age in place, retain their independence and enjoy a good quality of life.
Cardiff has made significant progress in developing a Community Living Programme that began in 2018 with independent research, a review of existing provision and consultation with residents and stakeholders. The vision and strategy are well underway, with all existing schemes having a makeover, modern new schemes being built and several more in the pipeline.
The new Gateway Model for matching people to appropriate accommodation is a vital part of this approach. Matching the right person to the right place supports better outcomes for residents and more effective use of housing resources.
As the population ages and expectations continue to change, developing housing that responds to people's needs, aspirations and circumstances will remain a major priority for the sector.
Technology and older people's housing
James Batchelor MBE, Founder and CEO of Alertacall, brought another important perspective to the afternoon, exploring the role technology can play in supporting older residents.
James has spent more than two decades developing technology designed to improve communication, safety and independence.
As digital solutions continue to evolve, the challenge for providers is to understand how technology can improve services while ensuring that the needs, preferences and experiences of residents remain central to decisions.
Technology offers exciting opportunities, but its value ultimately depends on how well it supports the people who use it.
Looking ahead: erosh in 2027 and beyond
An anniversary is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate achievements, but it's also an important moment to consider what comes next.
Emma Quansah and Steve Rafferty explained that erosh is developing a new business plan for 2027 to 2029 and would like to hear from members and partner agencies about what the priorities should be.
This work began at our trustees' away day in September and will continue through engagement with members and partner organisations.
We know that the sector is facing significant challenges. Changing demographics, evolving service models, increasing financial pressures, recruitment difficulties, regulatory expectations and technological developments all have implications for how older people's housing and support services will operate.
As an organisation, we want to make sure our priorities continue to reflect the needs of the people and services we represent.
One of the most valuable parts of the anniversary programme was therefore the opportunity for attendees to contribute directly to our thinking.
Through our 'One Big Thing' activity, guests were invited to discuss and identify the single issue they believe deserves particular attention from erosh over the next three years.
It was an opportunity to bring the experience and knowledge in the room into our planning process, and to encourage members to help shape the organisation's future.
We're looking forward to building on those contributions as we develop our next business plan.
A heartfelt thank you
An occasion like this is made special by the people who take part, and we have so many people to thank.
Firstly, our sincere thanks to The Mercers' Company for their generous support of our 30th anniversary celebration and for welcoming us to Trinity Hospital. It was a wonderful setting for such an important milestone in our history.
Thank you to our speakers, Alistair McIntosh, Asmut Price, Sam Williams, Antony Dixon and James Batchelor MBE, for sharing their expertise and contributing to such a varied and thought-provoking programme.
Our thanks also go to Imogen Parry for helping us revisit the early years of erosh, and to Ainsley Forbes MBE, Emma Quansah and Steve Rafferty for their contributions to the day and their continued commitment to the organisation.
We also want to recognise the many trustees, team members and volunteers, past and present, whose time, dedication and knowledge have helped erosh reach this milestone.
And, of course, a very special thank you to our members.
Whether you've been involved with erosh for decades or have only recently joined us, you are part of the reason we are celebrating 30 years. Your willingness to share knowledge, support colleagues, challenge thinking and contribute to better services is what makes our network so valuable.
Here's to the next chapter!
Thirty years of erosh represents an enormous amount of collective experience, commitment and progress.
There have been challenges, changes and achievements along the way, but our purpose remains clear: helping people and organisations deliver better housing and services for older people.
As we look towards 2027, we're excited about the opportunities to strengthen our networks, develop our resources, support professional learning and continue representing the interests of our members and the wider sector.
Our anniversary celebration was a lovely reminder of how much has been achieved through collaboration, and how much more we can accomplish by continuing to work together.
Thank you for being part of our first 30 years. We can't wait to see what the next chapter brings.
30 years of connection. 30 years of progress.
Better guidance. Stronger services. Better lives for older people.
