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Derwent Living is the trading name of Derwent Housing Association Limited, a housing association based in Derby, United Kingdom. They are an independent, not-for-profit provider of affordable social, specialist and retirement housing, with a property portfolio covering South Yorkshire, the Midlands and the South East. Their commercial activities include the provision and management of student accomodation at sites in London, Sheffield and the Midlands.

Mission
Derwent Living have stated the mission behind their association as such:

‘Making the difference is our mission for the future. We want to make the difference in the communities where we work and in the lives of people we house. We want to have a major influence on people's lives through top quality homes and services '

The housing association's focus is on providing affordable housing for those in greatest need, with efforts directed specifically at supporting women affected by domestic violence. In order to fund these schemes, Derwent Living uses its profits from its commercial student accomodation activities to further develop its social housing projects.

The association actively incorporate the views of its residents through consultation, participation and annual customer satisfaction surveys. In October 2010, Derwent Living received accreditation from the Tenant Participatory Advisory Service(TPAS) in recognition of their efforts.

History
Derwent Living was founded in 1964 in order to provide co-ownership housing for first time buyers. During their first 10 years, they provided homes in Derby, Nottingham, Loughborough and the West Midlands. In the mid-to-late 1970's, the company accessed Housing Association Grant money, which it used to build much of its current housing stock. As the amount of grant available decreased in availablity during the 1980's, the company switched its development focus from houses to flats for single people, couples and sheltered schemes for older people.

During the 1990's, Derwent Living diversed its activities, establishing itself as a provider of student accomodation, while also offering maintenance and housing management services to other landlords. The last decade has seen a substantial increase in the amount of student accomodation offered, as well the classification of keyworker accomodation for NHS staff as a company priority.

In 2008, John Martin retired as chief executive officer of Derwent Living, and was replaced by Peter McCormack.

Management structure
Derwent Living is managed by a board, comprised largely of unpaid voluntary members. These members include former chief executives of housing associations, retired teachers, independant consultants and Derwent Living residents. Each possess relevant skills and knowledge, and all of them have an interest in housing and 'in particular the provision of housing for those in need'.

The board meet quarterly to formulate policy and discuss key decisions relating to activities and finances. Specific aspects of the business are managed through a committee structure, covering the areas of:
 * Operations
 * Commericial
 * Resources
 * Audit and risk
 * Renumeration

In addition to this, Derwent Living has a team of executive directors and senior managers responsible for running individual aspects of the housing association, such as development, ICT and customer services.

Property portfolio
Derwent Living currently operate within the areas of Buckinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, South Yorkshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, and the West Midlands. Their property portfolio covers a number of categories:


 * Affordable housing - Homes to rent for people on lower incomes
 * 'Easy Living' - Aimed at young professionals looking for their first property, this scheme offers try-before-you-buy and part-rent, part-buy arrangements for prospective first-time buyers.
 * Student housing - Accomodation is offered in Nottingham, Sheffield, Coventry, Derby, Leicester, Loughborough and Birmingham
 * Retirement housing - Homes to rent and buy for people aged 55 or over, often grouped together within certain geographical areas in order to create retirement communities.
 * Specialist housing - Accommodation for NHS staff and special need schemes for frail elderly people, Asian elders and vulnerable women with children.

The Butterfly Project
In 2009, Derwent Living was awarded first place in the Complex Needs category at the Guardian Public Services Awards for 'The Butterfly Project'. The project provides a refuge for women who have suffered domestic violence and who also suffer from mental health problems or drug and alcohol addiction. The project was set-up in 2009, and has its roots in the women's refuge at Derby which Derwent Living has managed for over 15 years.