VODG Blog

Linda Bryant, Chief Executive of Together for Mental Wellbeing shares her reflections from the 2026 Together Henry Hawkins Lecture on the importance of lived experience in mental health.

For years, health leaders have talked about moving care out of hospital and closer to home. The Government’s 10 Year Health Plan now makes that shift. This is a major change for the NHS. But for supported housing providers, working in neighbourhoods is not new.

After 22 reviews in 22 years, social care doesn't need another promise. It needs a settlement. As government launches a national conversation on the future of care, the question is simple: will this finally deliver lasting change for disabled people, or become another missed opportunity?

Chief Executive at Sussex’ largest not-for-profit housing, care and support provider, Neil Blanchard, reflects on a quarter of a century of change across the housing, health and care sectors.

Laurence Guinness of Variety, the Children's Charity, shares insights from Variety’s research highlighting 21,000 children the housing system has decided not to see.

To a procurement person, a “lot” is a convenient way to divide a contract. But to those of us who advocate for the dignity of the people we support, the word is a dehumanising put-down that needs to stay in the auction house and out of social care.

It’s not controversial to say that care and support leadership belongs on the frontline. But do we as leaders really know what goes on at 'grass roots' level in our organisations?

Bringing two organisations together is easy on paper; preserving person‑centred care through change is the real leadership test.

Kindness is not a soft skill. It’s a leadership strategy. Jo Land shares why generosity and collaboration — not competition — are what truly strengthen social care.

We are inviting CEOs from across the VODG membership to submit their own articles. Your leadership insights, stories, data and sector priorities are vital to this space — and we would love to feature your voice.