1. The Centre for Excellence in Community Development
Andrew van Doorn
Chief Executive
HACT

2. The Centre for Excellence in Community Investment champions and celebrates the impact of community investment across the UK. 
The Centre believes that community investment is a core part of social housing.  

3. The Centre is:  
Providing a platform to promote the importance of community investment both inside and outside of the social housing sector ​
Providing a mechanism for community investment professionals to share and develop their practice ​
Ensuring  community investment underpins housing providers as they evolve their services and relationships with their customers and communities

4. The Centre has four pillars:
Influence - Influencing opinion inside and outside the housing sector by promoting and evidencing the impact of community investment. 
Innovate - Innovating in sharing good practice and encouraging fresh approaches to community investment.
Insight - Creating Insights around evidence and research, measuring the impact of community investment work.
Inspire - Inspiring community investment colleagues through peer networks and professional development.  ​

6. Key achievements so far:  
UK-wide roadshow to engage with 300 community investment professionals to help shape the Centre
Website launched and ongoing publication of blogs and research reports
Bi-weekly newsletter distributed to Centre network (460 people so far)
LinkedIn discussion forum for the Centre

7. Key achievements so far:  
First UK-wide Conference in Community Investment held in May with over 200 delegates
Research Symposium in July at University of Salford
Regional networks being established (together with GUAC and NHF) – East of England, North East, South West, Midlands
Presence at: NHF Summit, Northern Housing Summit, Housing 2019, NHF Board Members, SFHA Annual Conference, TPAS (lots of brand building)

8. Key achievements so far:  
Working Groups set up, 5 in total:
Influence (Internal) – initial focus: board charter
Influence (External) – initial focus: messaging and public affairs strategy
Innovate – initial focus: project database, and ‘future of community investment’ roundtables
Insight – initial focus: research strategy
Inspire – initial focus: community investment qualification

9. The Centre online:
Our website:
Our twitter:
Our LinkedIn group: search 'The Centre for Excellence in Community Investment - Networking group’ or go to

10. Discussion
Influence – We are developing a Board Charter for Community Investment, what commitments should a Board make that demonstrates their commitment to Community Investment?
Innovate – we want to support innovation in Community Investment, where should we focus when addressing the future of Employment Support and what would be helpful in supporting innovation?

11. Discussion
Insight – where is research and evidence most needed in Employment Support and what would you like to see in the Centre’s Research Strategy?
Inspire – in taking forward professional development for Community Investment and Employment Support Professionals, what would be of most value?