The global ageing population, alongside a lack of accessible housing, is a key issue requiring action. There are many non-decent and inaccessible homes in the UK, making future-proofing a development priority.
Our serious game Hopetown supports more effective planning and collaboration amongst health, housing, and social care sectors.
In this game, players take on a role of policy maker, service provider, community group or property developer. Each role has a specific aim for the game to fulfil, but groups must work together if they wish to increase the wellbeing of the residents of ‘Hopetown’.
There are real-life changes made over time within the game, which can be played into 2030, or 2040, to see the consequences of decisions that have been made. In this way the game allows people to stand back from the ‘immediate chaos’ and think strategically into the future.
Hopetown brings people together to think creatively about planning for housing and ageing
Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) evaluation report
“The pilot demonstrated that Hopetown can help to bring together and support the development of a local housing partnership. Initial impact indicates that it can help strengthen and build relationships between organisations.
Hopetown provides an engaging and imaginative method of bringing people together, breaking down silos and enabling headspace for strategic thinking.”
Read the report here.
Planning for housing and healthy ageing
Hopetown emphasises the importance of several key ways of working:
partnership,
communication methods,
joint decision making,
information and advice,
and co-production.
The ‘ripple in the pond’ effect of planning for housing and ageing is clear, where working together to prepare for ageing and diverse health needs is critical to improve wellbeing and quality of life.
