The West of Scotland Housing Association (WSHA) is celebrating a significant milestone as it marks its 60th anniversary, commemorating six decades of providing homes and supporting communities across the region. From its humble beginnings to becoming one of Scotland’s largest social landlords, WSHA’s journey has been driven by innovation and a deep commitment to improving lives.
A Legacy Built on Community Values
Founded on May 10, 1965, as the Christian Action Glasgow Housing Trust by Rev. Richard Holloway, WSHA initially managed just three tenement flats in Pollokshields, Glasgow. Today, the Association is responsible for over 4,500 properties across the West of Scotland, offering a range of accommodations including social rent, sheltered housing, amenity housing, and mid-market rent properties.
This expansion is a testament to WSHA’s core mission to meet the housing needs of Scotland’s communities. The organization has grown to include charitable subsidiary Willowacre Trust, which provides a variety of community support services to WSHA tenants, and commercial subsidiary Westscot Living, established in 2023 to manage factored properties and further expand mid-market rent offerings.
Looking Ahead: 60 More Years of Service
The WSHA team is looking forward to continuing its mission for another 60 years, with several strategic objectives already in place. These include expanding housing across various tenures, utilizing AI to enhance service delivery, and growing its subsidiary services to better support tenants and communities.
Simon Fitzpatrick, Chief Executive of WSHA, reflected on the organization’s legacy, saying, “Our communities have seen the vision of a handful of pioneers grow into a large organisation that plays a significant part in the day-to-day lives of thousands of people across the West of Scotland. We can’t wait to spend the summer celebrating our achievements together, and look forward to the next 60 years, providing homes and support to more and more people in the west of Scotland.”
Values at the Heart of WSHA’s Success
Kelly Adams, chair of the WSHA board, highlighted the enduring values that have guided the association through its evolution. “Throughout all the milestones and changes of the last sixty years, West of Scotland have always been guided by our values: respect, inclusiveness, integrity, support, and a drive to improve,” she said. “These values make the difference in the lives of the people in our neighbourhoods – values which are shown every day by our tremendous staff team and our board.”
The celebrations for WSHA’s 60th anniversary will take place throughout the summer, culminating in a special event in September to coincide with the Annual General Meeting. This ongoing commitment to community engagement and support will ensure that WSHA continues to play a pivotal role in the lives of its tenants for many years to come.
