Following our conversion from DGSCHT to SOSCH in November 2020, in February Jim O’Neill was appointed as the first Chair of South of Scotland Community Housing. Jim, who has been a Director since January 2020, brings a wealth of experience of affordable housing strategy and communities, having recently retired from his role of Head of Housing in Dumfries and Galloway Council and the team are looking forward to working closely with Jim in the months ahead.
We’d like to thank outgoing Chair, Michael Leybourne. Michael had performed the role of Chair for two years, supporting the transition from DGSCHT to sosch and has now moved into the role of Vice Chair.
A message from Jim:
“I am delighted to have been appointed Chairperson of South of Scotland Community Housing by my Board colleagues. This opportunity comes at a very exciting time as we have recently refocused our strategic aims and objectives through the development of our new Business Plan. As a result of the coronavirus pandemic supporting local communities to identify, and meet, their own housing needs will be more important than ever. We have all spent much more time at home than would have been the case in the past and this has resulted a reimagining what our living spaces can, and should, be. Staying local has taken on a new significance and I’m sure many rural and urban communities have thought long and hard about the services that will be required to sustain them into the future.
We have a small staff team that has developed a broad range of expertise and going forward this will be utilised to help many diverse communities achieve their own aspirations. We will actively seek new partnerships as well as funding opportunities to ensure the long term success of South of Scotland Community Housing. With the support of my fellow Board Members we will ensure we deliver on our strategic commitments. None of this would be possible without the leadership of our Chief Executive and the huge commitment shown by his team.”