Alongside other housing associations across the country, Linstone continues to combat the devastating effects of the pandemic on local lives. That was the positive message from Linstone’s AGM held remotely and which set out how the association responded quickly to the challenge.

Community-based housing providers like Linstone were ideally placed, with their unrivalled local knowledge, to swing into action - demonstrating their pivotal role in Scotland’s communities, the meeting heard.

Importantly, Linstone was recognised as a ‘community anchor’ by the Scottish Government for the distribution of funding from the Supporting Communities Fund which provided immediate cash injections to Renfrewshire neighbourhoods.

Members were told:

• Linstone’s Estates Team continue to work on-site to manage and maintain closes and estates
• Tenants receive wellbeing calls offering support
• The Association continues to accept and process housing applications
• Letting houses continues on a contactless basis
• In common with other housing providers, emergency repairs are still carried out.

Linstone said that it would embark on a membership drive later in the year to encourage people to come forward to support their community by joining Linstone.

Adele Fraser, Linstone’s chief executive, praised the Association’s tenants for their “patience and remarkable fortitude” as they endured months of restrictions and sacrifice.

She said: “These have been exceptionally difficult months for so many of our tenants but this pandemic has shown us all what a critical role housing associations play in our communities.

“We want to thank our tenants for their patience, resilience and understanding as we continue to deliver as many services as we can and await government advice as to when we can return to a more normal way of working.

“However this is done, our tenants can be assured that their wellbeing will always be our top priority.”