Derventio Housing Trust

05/09/2026

Today is , a chance to celebrate the difference that community support can make across the world.

At Derventio Housing Trust, we support people who are experiencing homelessness or facing challenges that can make finding and keeping a home difficult.

A safe place to live is just the beginning. With the right support, people can build confidence, develop skills, improve their wellbeing and take steps towards a more independent future.

Your donation could help make that possible.

If you would like to support our work and help people move towards a brighter future, please consider making a donation today:

Localgiving helps small UK charities, CICs and community groups find grants, draft applications with AI, and raise donations online.

04/09/2026

More pictures from our ‘Sitting in the Landscape’ project, a series of workshops taking place in the Summer and Autumn of 2026.

You can see participants at Derventio Housing Trust’s Growing Lives centre with recent experience of homelessness working with sculptor Ruth Lewis-Jones and photographer Jon Legge to create and document artifacts using natural and found materials in various outdoor locations around Ilkeston, in this case Country Park

Foraging, crafting, conversing and creating, the project is intended to improve mental health, engage participants in the arts and to promote the work of Growing Lives and Derventio Housing Trust. It also promotes group working and allows participants to share skills and life experiences.

With thanks to the Arts Council England for their generous support.

03/09/2026

As September is National Recovery Month and National Su***de Prevention Month, Growing Recovery in Derbyshire has shared some useful links and information on their website for anyone wanting information about drug related risks, support services, harm and reduction advice.

💫 Let's talk about HARM REDUCTION 💫

International Overdose Awareness Day, National Recovery Month and National Su***de Prevention Awareness Month all highlight the importance of reducing stigma and promoting understanding.

Together, these campaigns encourage open conversations about substance use, mental health and recovery, helping people feel able to seek support, access substance use related treatment and connect with their communities without fear of judgement.

The Growing Recovery in Derbyshire website provides information on harm reduction, naloxone, the Local Drug Information System (LDIS), Drug Alerts and how to receive local alerts through the Professional Information Network (PIN).

Whether you are looking for information about drug related risks, support services, Take Home Naloxone (THN), harm reduction advice or local drug information. You can access all the above and find out about a wide range of support available for people across Derbyshire by visiting www.GrowingRecoveryInDerbyshire.co.uk 💗

Find out more:
🌐 Latest Drug Information
https://www.growingrecoveryinderbyshire.co.uk/latest-drug-information/

🌐 Derbyshire Recovery Partnership
https://www.derbyshirerecoverypartnership.co.uk/

🌐 Derbyshire Young People's Service
https://www.changegrowlive.org/derbyshire-young-peoples-service

03/09/2026

National Recovery Month

National Recovery Month runs annually throughout the month of September.

The aims of the Recovery Month campaign are to highlight the positive steps individuals have achieved towards their recovery journey, whether from mental health issues or substance use from drink, drugs or both.

It also aims to reduce the stigma around recovery issues by promoting more open conversations about recovery and the support available.

As a supported housing provider, we work with many people who are the path to recovery. Last year:
• 59% of residents had mental health issues.
• 37% of residents had issues with drug and/or alcohol use.

Former Derventio resident Kath has shared her story of recovery from alcohol use and expressed her thanks to Derventio, and especially the Growing Lives project, which helped her path to recovery.

Read her story here: https://derventiohousing.com/stories/kaths-story/


Growing Recovery in Derbyshire

Once drink gets into your system you start making a fool of yourself. You’ll do anything for a drink. It makes me sick to think that’s the person I once was. I nearly lost contact with my children altogether through alcohol. What was good was that the people at Growing Lives never judged my addi...

02/09/2026

This September we’re joining with Action for Happiness to celebrate Self-Care September.

A month-long reminder that self-care isn't selfish. It's essential.

Everyday there is a different reminder to look after yourself.

Today’s being “Notice the things you do well, however small”

Here at Derventio Housing Trust we’re all about the little wins, taking life one day at a time and always noticing the things residents and staff do well.

For example, a resident joining a gym is a small step that can lead to many benefits to their life such as increased fitness levels, improved self-confidence and reduced social isolation.

Residents can receive funding for the cost of gym memberships through our Sylvester’s Fund, that provides small grants so that people can buy essential items they otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford.

Our Housing Support Officers are always pleased to receive positive feedback from residents, for example when they leave us to move onto independent living.

Our staff and organisation benefits from knowing what we’ve done well and that the small things we do can make a big difference that isn’t going unnoticed.

So, take a moment today to think about something that you do well yourself, which may seem small, which can have a big impact.



https://derventiohousing.com/services/sylvesters-fund/

01/09/2026

"I work with the homeless in Derby”. Andy Burnham's plan to end rough sleeping has challenges."

In an opinion piece for Derbyshire Live our Assistant Director of Strategy Jackie Carpenter outlines a few of the key obstacles that must be overcome if we're going to stop rough sleeping by Christmas, as the Prime Minister Andy Burnham has pledged.

Jackie invites him to return to Derby to see how a community of organisations including Derby City Council , charities, health and faith organisations work together to help people off the streets.

👉Read the full article here.

https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/news/derby-news/work-homeless-derby-andy-burnhams-11132452

Penguin PR

There are a few key obstacles to overcome if we're going to stop rough sleeping by Christmas, as the Prime Minister has pledged

28/08/2026

Studio shots from our ‘Sitting in the Landscape’ project, a series of workshops taking place in the Summer and Autumn of 2026.

These pictures show the work of participants at our Growing Lives centre, people with recent experience of homelessness.

Working with sculptor Ruth Lewis-Jones and photographer Jon Legge they have created and documented artifacts using natural and found materials in various outdoor locations around Ilkeston, in this case Shipley Country Park

The project is intended to improve mental health, engage participants in the arts and to promote the work of Growing Lives and Derventio Housing Trust. It will also promote group working and allowing participants to share skills and life experiences.

With thanks to the Arts Council England for their generous support.

26/08/2026

More pictures from our ‘Sitting in the Landscape’ project, a series of workshops taking place in the Summer and Autumn of 2026.

You can see participants from Growing Lives centre with recent experience of homelessness working with sculptor Ruth Lewis-Jones and photographer Jon Legge to create and document artifacts using natural and found materials in various outdoor locations around Ilkeston, in this case Shipley Country Park.

The project is intended to improve mental health, engage participants in the arts and to promote the work of Growing Lives and Derventio Housing Trust. It will also promote group working and allowing participants to share skills and life experiences.

With thanks to the Arts Council England for their generous support.

25/08/2026

Nottinghamshire Day

When you think about it, Nottingham’s most famous son, Robin Hood was forced by circumstances beyond his control to sleep rough in Sherwood Forest.🏹

Robin’s story became the stuff of myth, legend and Hollywood movies. But homelessness an rough sleeping are harsh realities for many.

Today as Nottingham celebrates its sixth year of Nottinghamshire Day, we want to take this opportunity to highlight that we don’t only house residents in Derby, Warwick and Swindon but also in the Nottinghamshire area, and give a shout out to the people we support in the Broxtowe borough of Nottinghamshire.🏠

At Derventio, our aim is to do all we can to end the negative cycles of homelessness, poor health and addiction. We work together with people to understand their personal situation and goals and find the best ways to move forward. Just like the story of Robin of Loxley we help people work towards a happy outcome.

Nottinghamshire Day gives the opportunity to promote the county’s heritage, beautiful landscapes, community spirit and businesses. We’re proud to play a small part.

To find out more about Nottinghamshire Day and local events taking place click here

👉

Did you know ? We've been bringing you culture, learning and libraries since 2016. Find out more about 10 years of Inspire.

24/08/2026

Thank you to the group of people from PfP’S Thrive training centre who volunteered their time to help out in our Growing lives garden in Ilkeston.

The team helped out by weeding, cleaning, hedge trimming and building raised beds.

Thrive is a training centre teaching vital skills in construction and housing run by Places for People.

Read the full story here about how the help we received from the volunteers made a big transformation to our Growing Lives garden.

👉

Volunteers from a flagship Derby housing training hub run by the country’s biggest social enterprise have been helping homeless project participants put down roots through gardening. A team from PfP’s Thrive training centre donned overalls and picked up gardening tools for the day to help out at...