Innisfree HA - The Solomon Project

Formed in 1998, the Solomon Project was the first group of small housing associations in the UK to get together to form a benchmarking group. We said from the outset that we would do more than just benchmarking and so it has been. We have notched up a formidable list of achievements through partnership and collaboration:-

Partnership is one of those "buzz" words, describing something to which we all should aspire. The reality is that to do it well requires compromise, patience and respect. It demands that you listen to others' viewpoints, that you honour deadlines and that you commit resources. It sounds obvious but all these things are vital if a collaborative network is going to work. It's much more complicated than making one single organisation work. For a start, there are so many opinions! So many experts. So many best ways of doing things. There's also a certain amount of healthy disagreement and, importantly, a lot of mutual support. It's a bit like being part of an extended family where members hold strong views, sometimes fall out with each other but are always there for each other in a crisis. You can share your problems and trumpet your successes in a safe and supportive environment – and we do!

In a changing world, we recognise the strength that comes from our networks and partnerships. We have recently broadened that partnership to include SolFed, our South London counterparts. That makes eleven small housing associations now working together on joint activities. It is a formidable group, representing some 320 staff who in turn manage just over 4000 tenancies. Within this grouping we have an enviable range of specialist expertise which is recognised and respected within the sector.

L-R Clare Winstanley (Innisfree), Belinda Porich (Head of NHF London Region) Iain Duncan Smith MP, Linda Milton (Waltham Forest HA), Leslie Laniyan (Shian HA) & Antonia Watson (Hornsey Housing Trust)

We celebrated our tenth anniversary in 2008 with a reception at the House of Commons hosted by Iain Duncan-Smith MP. It was a pleasure to welcome many long-standing supporters & colleagues.

We see a range of opportunities both individually and collectively in the future. For all of us, the over-riding goal is to use the Solomon Project to drive up service standards and make our homes a better place for our tenants. In the coming months we shall be exploring a framework which will enable us to set up a joint tenants' forum with real power to influence our work. We believe that the Tenant Services Authority, our new regulator, will be keen to work with us.

Solomon Project - ten years on