The Abbeyfield Society’s head of relationships and development, Abdul A Ravat, has been appointed chair of the National Housing Federation’s Older Persons’ Housing Group, succeeding Yvonne Castle, chief executive of Johnnie Johnson Housing Trust.

The group pulls together the expertise of housing associations across England, academics and older persons’ champions. Meetings are regularly attended by representatives from organisations including Homes England, Housing LIN and the Regulator of Social Housing, and from government departments including the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and the Department of Health and Social Care.

The central aims of the group are to promote the housing needs and aspirations of current and future residents of older persons’ accommodation and to press for the removal of barriers to increase the supply of affordable housing. The group acts as an expert reference group for the National Housing Federation, and for its members that collectively own and manage 262,072 homes for older people.

The group seeks to address the need for a greater level of affordable housing for older people and supplies guidance and evidence to influence the work of the government’s Older Persons’ Housing Taskforce and policymakers.

Ravat said, “I am delighted to be taking up Yvonne’s mantle and build upon the fantastic achievements of the Older Persons’ Housing Group so far. We have a dynamic action plan which is focused on making the case for genuine choice of housing and care for all.

“I look forward to working with all stakeholders involved to drive forward an agenda that will have real positive outcomes for our ageing population and provide expert guidance for the Taskforce and government to consider.”