Derby homelessness organisation Derventio Housing Trust is strengthening its work supporting vulnerable people with a key new appointment who is moving from dream homes to helping people who have lost theirs.
Gary Stringer has joined the award-winning community interest company that provides housing for 1200 people across the UK in 11 local authority areas – from Chesterfield to Swindon – in a newly created role leading on strategy, communications and fundraising.
He comes to Derventio after a varied background which most recently has seen him working in town planning and architectural design. Before that he was involved in high level conferences, as well as a Marketing Derby-style inward investment organisation in Hemel Hempstead.
Now Gary, who was born and bred in Derby and attended Lees Brook Academy, is passionate about using his skills to help Derventio Housing Trust to provide homes for people in the city – and beyond – who are experiencing homelessness.
He said: “I was attracted to come and work for Derventio Housing Trust because I really liked what they do and thought it would be a good use of my skills and experience. I love the fact that Derventio’s motto is ‘People Really Do Matter’, and that this is something they practise so ardently.
“In previous roles the elements I enjoyed the most were meeting people, making the connections to create solutions and developing networks to bring the right partners together for success.
“I think what appealed to me about working at Derventio is the ability to put people front and centre of the work and do something really worthwhile.
“Homelessness is something that seems to be getting worse. You just look at the news and people seem to be getting more disadvantaged all the time. There seem to be more and more people in need and few solutions. Organisations such as Derventio are working to try and help.”
Gary’s new role will involve overseeing Derventio Housing Trust’s events programme and forging relationships with businesses to support its highly valued projects helping people to get their lives back on track.
These include the Growing Lives base in Ilkeston which is run by Derventio and offers people living in its properties – and referred by other services – the chance to take part in a range of activities such as gardening, craft, bicycle making, walks and cooking to gain confidence and learn new skills.
Many people who have moved on from their Derventio Housing Trust property into independent living have said how important Growing Lives has been in helping them to a brighter future.
Gary said he was very excited about his new role.
He said: “For me, this is about pulling together the strands of my experience, working in inward investment, business development and managing big conferences and events. It’s about making connections and utilising the great network within Derby and Derbyshire – and beyond – which is trying to work together and help people.
“There is a huge disparity between people who have and people who have not. My background is in people and places and it seems a perfect fit to be supporting Derventio Housing Trust in its great work.
“I’m looking forward to helping to challenge people’s perceptions and helping them see that those helped by organisations like ours have been through some tough times and deserve to be given a chance to succeed in their lives.”
Sarah Hernandez, managing director of Derventio Housing Trust, said: “We’re very excited to have appointed Gary to his new role with us. As we refresh our fundraising strategy we’re delighted Gary is going to lead our events programme with his wealth of experience in different parts of the UK.
“We are hoping to harness the goodwill we know is out there from many local businesses, so we can offer more support to those for whom we are providing housing.”
The latest Government figures show that rough sleeping and homelessness are on the rise in the UK. Numbers of rough sleepers have more than doubled in the last 15 years while Crisis estimates that there are around 300,000 households in the UK affected by homelessness.
This story was written and shared on behalf of Derventio Housing Trust by Lucy Stephens. Can we share your news and get you in the headlines too? Find out how we can help by getting in touch.
