We are proud to have retained our Green Award accreditation from Investors in the Environment (iiE) for the eighth consecutive year.

As the region’s largest provider of social and affordable housing and care, we recognise our responsibility to the environment and the people in our communities and we have set testing targets in order to reduce our carbon footprint and protect the planet for future generations. Thus, we have been accredited to iiE since 2011, achieving its highest level Green Award accreditation for the first time in 2014.

We have adopted the ‘One Planet Framework’ for its environmental strategy, which allows us to reduce our external impact and ensure the continual improvement of our performance.

Despite the challenges of the last two years, and our need to provide extra support to our residents and communities to deal with the devastating effects of the pandemic, we have remained committed to reducing our carbon footprint and doing all we can to tackle the climate emergency.

As the report concludes: “Given the exceptional circumstances of the past 18 months and the size of the organisation, Cross Keys Homes has performed an impressive adaptation of its service to provide support where it was most needed. Resources were diverted to enhance its provision to its residents, but it also adapted its provision for its staff at a time when so much had to change in a short space of time. Throughout it all, it kept a focus on being a force for good in its community – acting within the framework of its One Planet Action strategy.”

Our Chief Executive Claire Higgins said: “Our position, as a commercial organisation, with a social heart, gives us both a responsibility, but also a great opportunity, to make a huge difference to the environments in which we work. From supporting our residents to have affordable green heating and energy efficient homes, to community gardens and planting projects in our communities, as well as the practical ways we can make people’s live better, we are totally committed to doing all we can. At the same time, the pressures on the planet and people are immense, and we all need to play our part in relieving them in any way we can. Achieving this accreditation for the eighth year gives us renewed determination to continue to do all we can to seek new ways to make our communities vibrant, supportive, green places for all to live in.”