How we're governed
We are a registered society under the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014 registration number: 27416R. Our Rules explain our purpose and how we're governed, including the responsibilities of our Board and shareholders. They are based on the National Housing Federation Model Rules. Our rules are currently being updated.
Good governance is vital to help us deliver excellent services for residents and stakeholders. The board provides overall strategic direction and ensures that we’re meeting our aims and objectives.
The key responsibilities of the board are to:
- set overall strategy
- support the executive team to work effectively and maintain our financial viability
- identify and control any risks to the association
- monitor performance to ensure we’re delivering excellent services for customers.
Each board member brings a wealth of experience and different skills, but they all share a passion to provide high-quality affordable homes for local people and support the sustainability of rural villages across Northamptonshire. You can find out more about our board members below.
Board members
Darren is Chair of the Association.
Darren qualified as an accountant over 25 years ago, and has worked for the last 20 years specialising in public sector assurance. He currently works in the Professional Standards Department of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.
Other than for a two-year stint in New Zealand, Darren has always lived in Northamptonshire, with the first part of his life residing in social housing. He thinks that affordable social housing has a vital role to play in today's society, but can see that role is coming under increasing pressures. He is keen to help ensure that NRHA maintains its important role in providing affordable housing to help people stay in rural communities that they either live or work in.
Pam has two daughters, seven grandchildren as well as two great grandchildren. She has personal previous experience of inadequate housing and homelessness as well as some run-ins with bad private landlords in the days just post-Rachmanism, so comes with much experience of fighting for her rights.
Pam became a NRHA resident in September 1994. In 1999 Pam was elected to Daventry District Council as Clipston ward councillor serving six villages in this area and, naturally, with a particular interest in housing and planning. Pam served as a vice chairman of housing before the stock transfer and was a joint chair of the stock transfer scrutiny panel, and acted as a district councillor representative on the NRHA Board during this period. She stood down from DDC in May 2012 to pursue other interests.
Wes joined the Board of NRHA in 2018.
Following a 12 year career in senior commercial roles for a German automotive manufacturer, Wes turned his love for all things property into his profession as a self-employed property investor.
Starting with a self-build in 2009, Wes has since been passionate about property and prides himself on providing quality and safe homes.
Wes is keen to support the development of NRHA to build more affordable homes that enable people to continue to enjoy their rural communities.
Wes has lived in Northamptonshire his whole life and now enjoys being a hands on father to his two young daughters. Wes also volunteers for the NSPCC.
Wendy joined the Board in March 2018.
Wendy originally trained as a Chartered Accountant and has been working on a self employed basis for over twenty years, and has strong commercial experience. She has a strong interest in energy efficiency of buildings, and qualified as a domestic energy assessor. She is now also a foster carer.
Wendy moved to a village in Northamptonshire over 20 years ago. She has spent time on the Parish Council of the village, as well as being a school Governor and many years as Treasurer of the village Tennis Club.
She is a strong believer in affordable housing for all and is keen to help the NRHA sustain its vital role in helping people to live in rural communities
Rachel joined the board in March 2024.
Rachel is the Regional Planning Manager (Midlands and South West) for the Home Builders Federation and has worked in many parts of the housing world throughout her career.
More about Aine coming soon
More about Sue coming soon
More about Charlie coming soon
More about Gareth coming soon
More about Ian coming soon
NHF Code of Governance and our self-assessment
The National Housing Federation Code of Governance 2020 sets out the standards that housing associations and their Boards should follow to support effective, accountable and transparent governance. It is designed to help housing associations achieve high standards of governance and Board effectiveness while protecting the interests of residents and the communities they serve.
The Code places particular importance on:
- putting residents’ views and needs at the heart of strategic decision-making
- maintaining effective arrangements to keep residents, customers and colleagues safe, and
- ensuring Boards understand and oversee risk, including the possible effect of different risk scenarios on the future of their organisations.
The Code is underpinned by accountability, integrity, openness, and equality, diversity and inclusion. Its requirements are organised around four core principles.
- Mission and values
- Strategy and delivery
- Board effectiveness
- Control and assurance
The Code is intended to be applied in a way that reflects the size, complexity and scale of each housing association. The National Housing Federation also provides supporting guidance and a compliance checklist to help associations assess how they meet its requirements.
We have adopted the Code alongside the Together with Tenants Charter, reflecting our commitment to listening to residents, being accountable for our decisions and maintaining safe, good-quality homes and services. Our Board uses the Code’s compliance checklist to review the evidence supporting our governance arrangements and to identify any areas where further action or improvement may be appropriate.
The Board remains responsible for oversight of compliance and receives and contributes to the self-assessment. The assessment is reviewed periodically and updated to reflect changes in the Association, its operating environment and governance expectations.