WISH South West: The Power of Community

This summer’s newsletter invites us to consider what happens when we stop trying to control every step of the journey and instead learn to trust the path as it unfolds. 

Our WISH South West team has been quietly growing in the background, with new board members joining this spring/summer season. We had an exciting summer party and have a brilliant lineup of future events for the remainder of the year. 

When our summer party location had to be rethought at the last minute, due to health, safety and accessibility concerns, the board team worked together to navigate the unexpected challenge by finding a new venue at short notice. What struck me from this was the resilience and ability to work as a team, collectively trying to find a solution. 

What this did show us is that leaning into the power of community, of engaging with our network, is key to building resilience and ultimately being more ‘prepared’ to face the unknown path ahead, knowing that we are not alone. 

Being part of the community, of the wider network of women working in the sector, doesn’t mean it will be the solution to all challenges coming our way; however, every conversation, mentoring relationship, event and word of encouragement is a ‘flower’ planted along the path. We may not always notice them in the moment, but when uncertainty appears, they remind us how much support surrounds us. 

Celebrating small wins along the way can help shift the focus to a more balanced overview of our path ahead. We are trained to default to seeking and thinking of the negatives as a way of self-preservation and survival. But what happens when we allow ourselves to notice and admire all the flowers that we have been seeding and growing along the way? It might shine a light and reinforce our enjoyment of ‘gardening’, or, in our case, the fun we have at each of our events and being able to create a small moment for our network to enjoy. 

We were also reminded of the importance of celebrating our own milestones. While we may not all have been taking home trophies at the Housing Heroes and Women in Housing Awards in Manchester, we were celebrating something equally meaningful: the collective effort, energy and commitment that continues to grow our South West network.

If you’re reading this and wondering whether to get involved, perhaps this is your sign. The path ahead may not always be clear, but none of us has to walk it alone. Visit our regional page, or join your local WISH network, connect with the community around you, and help us continue planting flowers along the way.

WISH South West