Ready to confidently lead in your role and contribute to stronger, compliant governance?
Our programme is designed to equip new Board or Committee Members of a social housing provider in England, Wales or Scotland with the knowledge and confidence to make informed decisions from their very first day.
Dive into our core sessions to lay a strong foundation in governance, then choose from optional modules to sharpen your skills in budgeting, accounts, risk and auditing. These are the tools you need for effective oversight and real impact.
Core Modules
As a new Board or Committee Member, this session is designed to give you a clear and comprehensive overview of the sector’s rich history, core objectives, and its current influence on the communities we serve. It will also help you understand how the social housing sector has evolved, especially in response to recent social, economic, and regulatory changes. You will also learn about the key challenges facing social housing providers today, such as disrepair, tenant safety, and regulatory compliance.
To make effective, well-informed decisions as a new Board or customer committee member, you need a clear understanding of your organisation’s governance framework as well as the specific standards set by the social housing regulator. This knowledge influences the organisation’s approach to compliance, governance, and ethical decision-making. Members should understand key governance concepts, such as the Code of Governance and Code of Conduct (as defined in your area) and how these principles should inform Board or Committee decision-making.
Within your role, you will need to confidently express your ideas, thoughts and concerns, such as developing the skills to challenge executives appropriately, particularly in areas where tenant viewpoints may differ from those of senior management. We will provide you with tips to help you read reports and identify trends, inconsistencies, and areas that need further investigation with a focus on making decisions that meet tenant needs and business goals.
Regulators now expect housing association Board Members to have a deeper understanding of operational details, and often Committees are tasked with looking in more depth at operational topics. But then how much is too much?
This session will show you how to align strategic planning with operational risk assessments using real-time data. You will leave with an understanding of the level of operational detail required for good governance, practical approaches to addressing compliance and performance at the board level, and strategies for maintaining focus on your organisation’s strategic objectives without becoming mired in day-to-day matters.
As a new Board or Committee Member, this session is designed to give you a clear and comprehensive overview of the sector’s rich history, core objectives, and its current influence on the communities we serve. It will also help you understand how the social housing sector has evolved, especially in response to recent social, economic, and regulatory changes. You will also learn about the key challenges facing social housing providers today, such as disrepair, tenant safety, and regulatory compliance.
Optional Modules - for Board Members:
Delve into the financial health of a social housing organisation. This session focuses on providing training for Board Members, equipping them with the knowledge and skills necessary for effective financial oversight. Participants will engage in discussions about the organisation’s financial health, ensuring that the social housing provider remains sustainable while delivering high-quality services to its tenants.
What you will learn:
- Understand the components of financial statements, including income, expenses, assets, and liabilities.
- Clarifying financial terminology and identifying the elements of financial accounts that are most relevant to governance and oversight.
- The importance of budgeting, business planning, and understanding how financial information should be tracked and monitored.
Review the regulatory and legal requirements for a robust risk and assurance framework. It will provide a solid foundation in risk assessment, risk mitigation, and how members can confirm that risks are being managed and controls are being implemented. Understanding and managing risk is a crucial component of any business, and all social landlords are required by their regulators to do so.
What you will learn:
- Understand the fundamental roles and responsibilities of the Audit Risk Committee and explore how it contributes to overall, governance, risk management, and accountability.
- The relationships between Audit Committees and internal and external audit functions. Learn about risk assessment, control evaluation, and assurance delivery.
- How the Audit Committee manages internal and external audits and provides the Board with the assurance it needs.
Fees and further details
The four core topics will be just £650 (plus VAT).
The optional sessions for Board are £140 (plus VAT) for each session. If you book the core topics plus an additional targeting topic get 10% of the total for that member.
Mentoring program:
In addition to the 5-week training program, we are offering a mentoring element to support participants learning. The package will include:
- access to all live and recorded webinar sessions – details here
- three hours of drop-in “surgery” with other participants, to support learning, clarify understanding and answer questions.
- a personal session with one of the trainers to ensure individual understanding, complete a skills assessment and advise on further development.
The mentoring package is just £250 (plus VAT)
Dates of sessions (all sessions will be recorded and hosted on our website for participants only to access)
Core topics:
- Introduction to Social Housing | Deborah Walthorne | 29 January 2026
- Governance, Regulation and Compliance | Alice Pearce | 5 February 2026
- Understanding Reports & Challenging the Executive Constructively | Deborah Walthorne | 12 February 2026
- How do Boards and Committees get the balance right between Strategic and Operational focus | Bill Gill | 26 February 2026
- Influencing effectively (without resorting to power) | Catriona Hudson | 19 March 2026
Optional topics for Boards:
- Introduction to Finance, Budgets and Accounting | Bill Gill | 5 March 2026
- Introduction to Audit and Risk | Bill Gill | 12 March 2026
All sessions will be online and run from 4.00 – 6.00pm. The sessions will be recorded
- Upcoming sessions – 29 January 2026, running through February till 19 March 2026
- Next sessions will be run in the summer of 2026
Contact us to express an interest or book