The Scottish Empty Homes Partnership has announced the first exciting names set to speak at the annual Scottish Empty Homes Conference 2022, to be held on the 1st February 2022.
The 11th Scottish Empty Homes Conference promises to deliver an insightful and valuable tapestry of experience and expertise on the issue of empty homes across Scotland.
The event will begin with a keynote speech by Shona Robison, Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing, and Local Government.
Professor Ken Gibb, Director of the UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence at the University of Glasgow, is also set to speak. He said:
“I am delighted to be speaking at the 11th annual Empty Homes Conference on February 1st, discussing the relationship between affordable supply, empty homes, and the national performance framework.”
Professor Gibb has extensive expertise in housing and social issues, producing many publications, working for the Scottish Parliament’s Housing Reform Committee, and having provided evidence to the Finance, Local Government, and Social Security Committees.
Neighbours with lived experience in dealing with an empty home in the community will have the chance to tell their story and share their perspectives from a local point of view.
Representatives from Scottish Borders Council and North Lanarkshire Council will also be facilitating breakout sessions.
Scottish Empty Homes Partnership National Project Manager Shaheena Din said:
“Celebrating success and coming together to address the issue of empty homes across Scotland is at the centre of the conference, ‘From Empty Spaces to Thriving Places’.
Communities, local groups, charities, academics, and elected representatives all work incredibly hard to address empty homes in Scotland. The conference presents a unique chance to reflect and move forward as we continue to tackle Scotland’s 47,000 empty homes and revitalise local economies.”
The Scottish Empty Homes Conference 2022 will be a hybrid event for the first time, allowing participants to attend digitally or in person at the COSLA Events Centre.
SEHP hope that the hybrid nature of the event will allow them to build on the success of last year’s digital conference. It is expected that widening access to the event in this way and providing people with a choice in how they would like to attend will broaden the insights and perspectives to be shared.
This year’s conference will focus on how initiatives to return empty homes back to use can help to create thriving places, boost local economies, and tackle poverty. People and communities will be at the heart of discussions and workshops on all aspects of transforming empty homes back into valuable community assets.
Best practice and insights touching on all aspects of empty homes work will be shared, from how local authorities can use innovative tactics to bring back empty homes to the role of empty homes in addressing Scotland’s housing crisis.
In-person tickets are offered at an early bird price of £30 while digital tickets are priced at £18. Tickets are available to buy online through Eventbrite. Early bird rates will be available until 24th December.
A limited number of sponsorship opportunities are still available. Organisations interested in sponsorship opportunities can contact paul_stewart@shelter.org for further information and a copy of sponsorship packages.
———————————————————————————————————-
Notes to Editors
For more information, please contact Niamh Coffey on 07468515685 or niamh.coffey@orbit.scot.
About Scottish Empty Homes Partnership
The Scottish Empty Homes Partnership is funded by the Scottish Government and hosted by Shelter Scotland. We exist to encourage Scotland’s approximately 47,000 privately-owned long-term empty homes back into use. At a time of a housing emergency we know that every home matters.
The partnership was first formed in 2010, after the review of the private rented sector identified that empty homes can play an important part in meeting our housing challenges. Our aim is to bring as many privately-owned empty homes back into use as possible by meeting our four objectives:
- Encourage every council in Scotland to have a dedicated Empty Homes Officer
- Support the national network of Empty Homes Officers
- Encourage registered social landlords, community groups and other private bodies to engage in empty homes work
- Encourage councils to mainstream empty homes work
About Scottish Empty Homes Conference
The annual Scottish Empty Homes Conference has been running for 11 consecutive years. The event brings together a range of organisations and individuals on the issue of empty homes and housing in Scotland.
Last year, the conference moved online and included speakers such as Kevin Stewart MSP, then Minister for Local Government, Housing, and Planning; and representatives from National Property Auctions, Hull Women’s Network, and ALACHO.