Game of Homes with Horton Housing Association

Client : Horton Housing Association

Horton Housing Association, a specialist housing provider for people with a variety of support needs, partnered with Game of Homes in 2024 to pilot an innovative tenant engagement workshop. The primary goal was to explore meaningful ways to recognise and reward tenant contributions while fostering a culture of inclusivity and collaboration. As one of the first clients to adopt the Game of Homes methodology, Horton Housing became a crucial milestone in the game’s development and proof of concept.

The Challenge

Horton Housing faced a common challenge in the social housing sector: how to effectively engage tenants in decision-making processes and reward their involvement in ways that are inclusive, meaningful, and motivating.

The Workshop

The Game of Homes session was facilitated by Claire Blacka, a tenant engagement specialist, and brought together tenants and colleagues in a dynamic, gamified workshop. Participants were encouraged to reflect on the importance of engagement, envision ideal outcomes, and co-create solutions for fostering tenant involvement. The interactive format and collaborative environment allowed even the quietest voices to be heard.

Key Activities Included:

• Icebreakers to build rapport and create a safe space.
• Dream sessions where participants imagined a perfect reward system.
• Creativity exercises to brainstorm solutions.
• Voting and ranking ideas for actionable outcomes.

Participant Quotes

• “I’m not good at coming up with ideas. Things like this help me.” – John, tenant and winner of the Most Inspirational Person prize
• “I enjoyed this because I want to have my voice heard. No one knows my thoughts so they can’t speak for me.” – David, tenant.
• “Brilliant work with the group of residents [using Game of Homes]. The residents seemed really engaged and happy to be part of the consultation.” – Sue Atkinson, Services Director at Horton Housing.

Outcomes and Key Achievements

The workshop resulted in the creation of a points-based rewards system aptly named “Boomerang: You Get Back What You Give.” Tenants earn points for activities like attending meetings or contributing ideas. These points can be redeemed for rewards such as:

• Household essentials (e.g., carpets, utility vouchers).
• Personal treats (e.g., spa days, movie tickets).
• Community-focused incentives (e.g., gardening projects).

The participants valued the flexibility and inclusivity of the system, as it allowed them to choose rewards that mattered most to them.

Additional Highlights:

• Equality Impact Assessment: The group ensured the system was inclusive, with measures to support tenants needing additional help.
• Empowered Participants: Tenants felt recognised, valued, and motivated to engage more actively in their community.

Why It Worked

The Game of Homes workshop succeeded in fostering a sense of community and collaboration among participants. The gamified approach turned potentially dry consultation processes into engaging and productive experiences. It showcased the power of creativity and shared decision-making in addressing real-life challenges in social housing.

Next Steps

Following the workshop, Horton Housing committed to implementing the rewards system and providing regular updates to participants. This included a feedback loop to refine the system and ensure it continued meeting the tenants’ needs.

Game of Homes proved to be a transformative experience for both tenants and staff at Horton Housing, setting a benchmark for innovative tenant engagement practices in the social housing sector.