On 26 September, I had the privilege of speaking as part of a panel at the Housing and Social Care Accessibility Summit in Dundee. Organised by Scottish Housing News and Horizon Housing Association, under the expert leadership of Lorna Cameron, the event provided a fantastic platform for discussing an issue close to my heart - creating accessible homes in Scotland.

First, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to Lorna and her team for organising such an important and impactful event. The line-up of speakers was exceptional, with each one sharing valuable insights and real-life experiences of the challenges and importance of delivering accessible housing. The combination of personal stories and professional expertise helped shine a bright light on the role we all need to play to improve housing accessibility for those in our society who need it most.

As I listened to the speakers, I couldn’t help but reflect on my own experiences. My sister was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) 30 years ago, she requires additional support and facilities every day at home to live comfortably. This personal connection fuels my belief in the need for accessible homes, and it was reassuring to see that the event reinforced everything I stand for. The stories shared on that day, the lived experiences of those affected, were not just compelling; they were a call to action. Accessible housing has the power to profoundly change people’s lives, allowing them to stay in their own homes longer, take pressure off social care services, and ultimately, ease the burden on the NHS.

Social care and accessible homes must go hand in hand. One without the other simply won’t work if we are serious about overcoming the challenges that people with disabilities face in their daily lives. At Campion Homes, we are committed to playing our part in this, but it’s clear that working collectively - across sectors - is the only way to deliver real change.

This summit came at a perfect time for Campion Homes. Just the day before, we handed over the first homes in our new Charleston development in Dundee. This project will deliver 66 new homes in partnership with Blackwood Homes and Care, Bield Housing & Care, and Hillcrest. These homes are part of our ongoing commitment to creating better, more accessible living environments that meet the needs of people of all abilities. Seeing these homes come to fruition only reinforced my optimism about the future and what can be achieved when we put accessibility front and centre.

That said, we still face significant challenges, not least when it comes to resources and finances. I believe that some of the current government policies, particularly the push towards Scottish Passivhaus standards, may not be channelling resources in the right direction. While energy efficiency is crucial, we must also prioritise accessibility. The stringent standards of Passivhaus will present hurdles that we, as a sector, need to be ready to overcome without losing sight of the importance of building homes that are truly accessible.

The human stories we heard at the summit make one thing clear: proper, accessible housing is life-changing. We cannot ignore the impact it has, and we should let these stories guide our efforts. The summit was a powerful reminder that when we come together, we can tackle the obstacles ahead, but it’s going to take a united effort across the housing and social care sectors.

Looking ahead, I remain optimistic. The Housing and Social Care Accessibility Summit showed me that the momentum is building, and there is real enthusiasm across the board for making accessible homes a reality. Together, we can and will deliver homes that enable people to live more independently, for longer, and with dignity. Our sector has the expertise to construct future properties which can help reduce fuel poverty with a fabric first approach. Collectively we can deliver housing that is fit for purpose and at a level that is affordable.

The future of accessible housing in Scotland is in our hands, and I am more determined than ever to keep pushing for positive change.