Today’s interview is with Helen McHale, chief executive, Stockport Homes.

1: During this extremely worrying time for our tenants and residents, what stories of kindness have really impacted upon you personally?
We have done daily messages to staff covering different perspectives from different people and teams. One theme has been Action for Happiness in which one of our staff wrote about her partner; how his hard-won business of 18 months completely dried up on day one of Stay at Home. Rather than just focus on himself, he taught the children and joined a local support group where he heard of a local family with three children whose cooker had broken and they had no means of making hot food. He sourced a second-hand cooker, collected, and paid for it and delivered it to the family. Not only was this a wonderful thing to do but the pride it engendered in the rest of the family was a gift in itself.

2: When we are through this, what can we learn from it with regards to how we need to be kinder to the people around us?
To always see the world through other peoples’ eyes as well as our own.

3: At Housing 2020, what do you want to see from the sector coming together and how can we collectively show kindness, compassion, and support through these difficult times?
What I hope for the sector is that we can embody the best of the public and private sector, sharing good practice and ideas. Complying with Government guidance, keeping staff and customers safe but also being aware of value for money and the need to maintain service delivery wherever possible, in new and innovative ways.