THANK YOU COLIN

Colin Wilkie admits it took a bit of “arm twisting” to get him to agree to become the Chair of the Broadacres’ Board.

That’s largely because he had only attended two meetings as a regular Board member and was planning to ease himself into this new role when he was asked to make the step up.

He recalls: “I was totally new to housing at the time and although I had chaired other board/meetings in my career, I hadn’t expected or intended to be asked to be the Chair at Broadacres so quickly.

“I therefore needed to have my arm twisted but it all worked out well in the end!”

Having spent over 30 years working in the NHS, first as a nurse, clinical teacher and then going into senior management and serving within a number of NHS Trusts, Colin knew a “reasonable amount” about Broadacres having been part of the same local groups which looked at services to vulnerable and older people in our communities, as well as those with mental health issues and learning disabilities.

But the Broadacres he joined in 2014 was very different to the Broadacres he is leaving in 2020.

He explains: “Broadacres was going through a period of great challenge and required transformation when I became Chair and ultimately this resulted in the creation of whole new board and executive team.

“One of the most remarkable things during this time of great change was that so little impact was experienced by our customers and that is of course testament to the hard work and dedication of colleagues.”

Under his Chairmanship, Colin has helped steer Broadacres to some significant achievements, including the building of hundreds of new affordable homes across North Yorkshire, with a particular emphasis on making rural communities sustainable for future generations, and major investment in our existing properties via our affordable warmth programme and other innovative measures. In addition, we have strengthened the support we provide to customers, whether that’s via our money advice service, mental health team or community investment initiatives, to name just a few.

He says: “When I speak to people outside the sector, they are often surprised to learn how varied Broadacres’ services are and the impact these services have on so many people.

“We used to have a slogan that said it was not just about the bricks and while in a way this sums up what Broadacres is about, we are about employing great people, providing great homes and delivering great customer experience”

When asked to pick out some particular highlights of his time as Chair, Colin says it is difficult as there has been so many.

“Princess Anne visiting our affordable housing development in Hutton Rudby was very special,” he says.

“This was a small mixed tenure development for local people in a much sought-after area and it set the template for the schemes which followed in later years.

“I have also been proud to see Broadacres become a national presence with, for example, the Chief Executive of the National Housing Federation and Chancellor of the Exchequer coming to see our work this year.”

As his tenure as Broadacres’ Chair comes to an end, Colin says he will continue to maintain a keen interest in what the Association does in the years to come.

He concluded: “Broadacres is place shaping by working with its partners to support and deliver sustainable communities and we are continuing to improve the quality of our performance with ambitious targets.

“I have no doubt that we will realise our vision of becoming the best rural housing association in the country and I will be proud of the role I played in this.

“I have put a lot of my life into Broadacres over the last six years and am confident that I leave behind a great team to continue the progress and finish with so many happy stories and memories.”