Housing 21 has kicked off 2024 with a new logo and a year of planned celebrations to celebrate its 60th anniversary as a housing association. 

On 12 August 1964, the British Legion Housing Association was formed as a partnership between the Royal British Legion and what would later become Housing 21. 

The organisation worked to support ex-serviceman, their widows and children with housing solutions for 29 years before, in 1993, Housing 21 split from the organisation to become a dedicated housing association for all older people. 

Chief Executive Bruce Moore, who himself will turn 60 this year, said: “With 2024 marking 60 years since we were founded, we’ve decided to honour the milestone with a year full of celebrations and a new logo. And with 60 years representing our diamond anniversary, what better element to add to our logo than a diamond itself? 

“With a history dating back to 1964 we are proud to have firmly established ourselves as one of England’s leading housing associations for older people. What is especially wonderful about celebrating 60 years, is that so much of that time period is shared with our residents, many of whom are of a similar age or older.” 

Housing 21’s full history dates back to 1921, when it worked with the Royal British Legion to house disabled ex-servicemen and women. When it formed a housing association in 1964, it coincided with the decade of the post-war housing boom, when demand for social housing was at its peak 

In 1967, Housing 21’s first Retirement Living scheme, Ralph Grimshaw Court in Westgate-on-Sea was opened by Minister of Housing followed by its first Extra Care scheme, Lonsdale Court in Penrith in 1977. 

By 1983, there were 10,000 properties in operation before Housing 21 and the Royal British Legion separated in 1993. 

During the early 2000s, Housing 21 Guernsey LBG built Rosarie Court (2004); Oldham Retirement Housing Partnership Ltd was formed (2006) and Kent Community Partnership was formed (2007). 

In 2010, Housing 21 acquired Clairmar Care as part of its increased focus on delivering homecare. This was reflected in a name change in 2014, when Housing 21 became Housing and Care 21. However after deciding to move away from home care and focus on its previous housing with care or support offer, the name was reverted back to Housing 21 in 2019.  

Today, Housing 21 owns and manages more than 23,300 properties across Retirement Living and Extra Care schemes. 

Bruce, who was appointed Chief Executive in 2013, said: “We are incredibly proud of our past; our history and our roots have always focused on providing housing to those who need it most.  

“Although our target audience may have changed and grown over the years, from originally only concentrating to ex-servicemen and their families to expanding to include all older people, our purpose has remained unchanged. It’s always been about putting residents at the heart of what we do by providing quality housing with care or support for those who need it most.” 

Throughout 2024 Housing 21 will celebrate its anniversary with a series of events involving both employees and residents which will be captured through case studies, photos and videos. This includes six-tea tea parties for residents, promoting ‘younique’ employee wellbeing ideas through storytelling and Bruce himself conquering a mountain summit of at least 21,000 feet.