Starts at Home Day is a day when housing associations up and down the country celebrate supported housing and the positive impact it makes on thousands of lives. This day of action is central to the Starts at Home campaign, which has a simple but important aim – to ensure that people who need extra support will always have a safe home that meets their needs. There are lots of ways for you to support the campaign ranging from social media actions to inviting your local MP or councillor to visit your scheme.
In the lead up to Friday 2 September, there are lots of ways you can get involved. Plan your activities and invite your local politicians to celebrate Starts at Home Day with you. Then share your support and stories on social media on the day of action using the hashtag #StartsAtHome.
It’s vital that our elected representatives understand and appreciate the vital role of supported housing. The best way to ensure this happens is by inviting them to see your work first hand and meet your team and residents. As Sara explains, inviting your MP or local councillor is the best possible way to support the Starts at Home campaign this year. To help you to organise your visit, we have put together some resources and templates for you to adapt and use.
To create the biggest splash on Starts at Home Day, we need as many visits as possible to take place on or before the day itself (Friday 2 September 2022) so photos or videos from the visits can all be shared at the same time. But of course a visit from an MP or councillor is worthwhile at any time.
If you are organising a visit with a MP or a councillor then we want to hear about. Get in touch with our team to let them know about your plans and order your very own supporter board to use in photos with your residents, staff and your local representative on the day.
Resources
Organising a visit is not the only way you can support Starts at Home Day. This year, there are several ways you can show your support and join in online . Here’s what you can do now to prepare:
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There is huge value in demonstrating just what supported housing is, and showcasing its positive impact on thousands of lives. One of the most powerful ways to do this is to help residents talk about what supported housing means to them.
This could be a photo and a quote or a video shared on Twitter. Use our guidance on how to create and share your own blog or video for social media. Or share one of our inspiring stories.
