WISH Summer Newsletter 2025: Summertime - A Season to Flourish

Welcome, everyone, to our WISH Summer newsletter! 'Summertime - the season to bloom and grow'

And it is indeed a 'warm' hello to all our members and readers. I hope you've been able to enjoy some of the recent good weather we've been having across the regions. I'd like to start by saying a huge thank you for the warmest of welcomes you have given me over the last couple of months since joining WISH and taking the baton from the wonderful Lucy Malarkey at the end of April. I'm sure you will all join be in thanking Lucy for her dedication, support and loyal service to WISH over the past 3 or so years. We wish Lucy all the very best for her future and no doubt we will be keeping in touch and hope to see her across WISH networks in the months ahead.

Having stepped away from the social housing sector in my previous role, it's been wonderful for me to step back in and to rekindle working relationships with former colleagues and trusted partner organisations. I've returned to the sector having spent the past 6 years with Local Trust (a national charity funded by the National Lottery Community Fund), some of you may be familiar with, heading up the support offer across 150 Big Local areas across England, and delivered locally by inspirational volunteer led-partnerships. It was a genuine privilege to be part of such a forward-thinking programme which puts residents at the heart of community decision-making. 

Speaking of incredible volunteers, I've had the most amazing first few weeks with WISH, and such great opportunities to meet colleagues old and new, including a number of our dedicated regional chairs and boards. I'm not sure I've spent a better Monday morning in my whole career than recently going along to the inaugural joint event bringing together our North Wales and North West regions at Chester Zoo. What a turn out with well over 80 women attending to hear from the wonderful Molly Harvey. You can read more about it over the page. 

For those of you who attended our Manchester event at Dear Sailor last month, you will have heard from Crystal Hicks as our President, as she launched her Presidential Campaign - #SeeHer. There's a role for us all to play in shining a spotlight on the key aspects of gender inequality that Crystal's campaign draws our attention to. You can read more about Crystal's campaign over the page

July also sees the launch of 'Year 2' of our Mentoring Programme, thanks to our delivery partner Page Executive. You can read more from those who took part in the first year's programme here

As in the previous year, the demand for places was high and this year's cohort of mentees have now been matched with their mentors.  A big thank you to everyone involved in making this happen. 

And if, after reading about all the wonderful connections made this Summer by our WISH members you are now suffering from FOMO, fear not! If you are not already a member, we'd be delighted to welcome you on board, so you can enjoy all the benefits and experiences on offer to the rest of our network.

Contact Gill Cook on 07568 080959, or at [email protected] for details.

As the summer holiday period rapidly approaches, I hope you are able to take some time to rest and recharge and take a reset on the life-work balance...and recalling valuable words of wisdom from Molly at our recent event and her reminder for us all to 'slow down, to pause and to be present.' 

On that note, a fond quotation to remember at this busy time of year for many of us...

'Always take time to smell the flowers' 

Read the full WISH Summer 2025 Newsletter here!

Jayne Entwistle, WISH Managing Director