Loconomy selected for national Social Housing Innovation Fund project

We’re pleased to have been selected as a delivery partner for the government’s Social Housing Innovation Fund (SHIF), supporting a new project, Hidden Voices to be Heard.

The project is one of 20 being delivered across England to test new ways of strengthening tenants’ voices and improving how housing services respond to residents’ needs.

Through Hidden Voices to be Heard, tenants in Castle Vale, Druids Heath and Frankley will co-design a digital tool that enables them to safely share their lived experiences and influence how services are designed and delivered. The aim is to ensure that insights lead to real decisions and meaningful action by landlords.

We will be working closely with The Pioneer Group in Castle Vale and Birmingham City Council Housing Department in Druids Heath and Frankley to support tenants through this process.

Fiona Hughes, Chair of Loconomy, said:

“Loconomy is really pleased to be part of the Social Housing Innovation Fund and to support the development of Hidden Voices to be Heard. This project is about giving tenants a stronger voice in decisions that affect their homes and communities.

Too often, those with the most direct experience have the least influence over the systems around them. Hidden Voices is a step towards changing that, helping ensure residents’ insights are not just heard, but acted on.”

Simon Wilson, CEO, The Pioneer Group, said:

“We’re pleased to be working with Loconomy on this project. Castle Vale has a strong history of tenant leadership, and this gives us an opportunity to build on that in a digital context.

We’re looking forward to co-designing a tool that helps ensure tenants’ experiences directly inform how services are delivered.”

Naomi Morris, Birmingham City Council Housing Department, said:

“We welcome the opportunity to be part of Hidden Voices to be Heard through SHIF. Supporting tenants in Druids Heath and Frankley to share their experiences safely and confidently is an important part of improving how we work.

We’re pleased to be collaborating with Loconomy to ensure tenant insight informs ongoing service improvement.”

This project reflects a wider national effort to strengthen tenant voice, particularly for those who are less likely to be heard through traditional engagement routes.

We’ll be sharing updates as the project develops.

You can read the full government announcement here: Press release