Crystal Hicks: Organic Growth Doesn't Happen in Neat Rows

There is something beautiful yet unsettling about the idea of rewilding. Growth doesn't happen in neat rows or according to carefully laid plans.

Sometimes it emerges unexpectedly, through resilience, connection and the courage to embrace uncertainty.

Learning to embrace the path unknown feels particularly relevant to the world we find ourselves navigating. Across housing, politics and society, uncertainty has become a constant companion. Change is arriving faster than many of us can comfortably process, and the future often feels less certain than we would like.

Yet perhaps rewilding offers us a different perspective. Instead of asking how we regain control, we might ask how we create the conditions for people, ideas and communities to flourish. How do we trust the process while remaining purposeful? And how do we plant flowers along the way so that others find hope, encouragement and opportunity wherever the path leads?

This philosophy speaks to the heart of what WISH is - a network that enables everyone to flourish, even in uncertainty. 

My See Her campaign continues to gather momentum because it is rooted in a simple but powerful belief: women should be seen, heard and valued in our workplaces and in how we design our homes and services. Visibility matters. Representation matters. Being Seen and Heard matters now - in a world where the certainty we had around freedom, equality and progress is suddenly disappearing. 

One of the highlights of the season was launching the See Her Toolkit at our wonderful event at Jesmond Dene House in Newcastle. It was a fitting setting to introduce a practical resource designed to help organisations move from good intentions to meaningful action. My sincere thanks go to Trust Social, whose generous sponsorship made the toolkit possible. Their support demonstrates what genuine partnership looks like—investing not only in a resource, but in the culture change it can help create.

The toolkit is designed to be practical, accessible and immediately useful for organisations committed to creating workplaces where women can thrive. I encourage everyone to download it, share it with colleagues and, most importantly, use it. Small actions, repeated consistently, often create the biggest change. You can download the toolkit here.

Of course, creating equity is never the responsibility of women alone.

One of the developments I'm super excited about is the launch of the Here Come the Boys series within our If I Had One WISH podcast. The conversations reminded me building equity requires everyone to be part of the journey.

It was a privilege to speak with guests including Dan Hewitt, Richard Blakeway, Lee Chambers, Ian Wright and others about what active allyship really means. These weren't conversations about being perfect. They were conversations about curiosity, humility and action. About listening more than speaking. About recognising privilege without defensiveness. About using influence to create opportunities for others.

Active allyship isn't a badge; it's a practice. It means choosing to notice who isn't in the room, whose voice hasn't been heard and whose potential hasn't yet been recognised. It means understanding that equity benefits everyone, not because it is fashionable, but because diverse perspectives make stronger organisations, stronger communities and better decisions.

Those conversations reinforced something I have always believed: lasting change happens collectively.

No single campaign will transform our sector overnight. No single toolkit will eliminate barriers. No single leader has all the answers. But together, through countless conversations, courageous decisions and acts of allyship, we begin to reshape the landscape.

Perhaps that is what rewilding really teaches us.

In nature, progress is rarely linear. Growth can appear slow, invisible even. Seeds lie dormant before breaking through the soil. New ecosystems take time to establish. From the outside, it can sometimes feel messy or uncertain. Yet beneath the surface, roots are forming, networks are strengthening and life is quietly finding its way.

The same is true for culture change.

Sometimes we don't immediately see the impact of mentoring one person, challenging one assumption or creating one opportunity. We don't always witness the confidence that grows after someone feels genuinely seen for the first time. But those moments matter. They create ripples that travel much further than we realise.

As President of WISH, I continue to be inspired by our members across the country. Every event, every mentoring conversation, every regional initiative and every campaign reminds me that our strength lies in our community. We are a network of women - and increasingly allies - who choose to lift one another, challenge one another and celebrate one another.

That gives me enormous hope.

So wherever the path leads next, I hope we continue to embrace a little more uncertainty with confidence. I hope we remain brave enough to try new ideas, generous enough to support one another and determined enough to keep pushing for a more equitable housing sector.

And as we navigate whatever lies ahead, let's remember to plant flowers along the way.

A kind conversation. A word of encouragement. An opportunity shared. A door held open. A platform offered to someone whose voice deserves to be heard.

Those small acts may seem insignificant in the moment, but together they create the landscape we all want to live and work in.

Here's to trusting the journey, embracing the unknown and continuing to grow - together.

Crystal Hicks, WISH President