Framework chief executive to retire after 29 years of leadership
After nearly three decades of service, Andrew Redfern, chief executive of Framework, has announced his plans to retire in December.
Framework, a charity and registered housing association working to tackle homelessness and its root causes across the East Midlands and Sheffield, has been shaped significantly by Redfern’s leadership.
He first took the helm at Nottingham Help the Homeless Association (NHHA) in 1996 before playing a pivotal role in the merger that formed Framework in 2001.
Under Redfern’s leadership, Framework has expanded both its physical footprint and the breadth of services it offers.
Redfern said: “The work of Framework and similar organisations has always been vital. We house some very vulnerable people, offering the support they need to establish a better future and to work towards it. This is needed more than ever in a society and community that sometimes appears to have lost faith in its own capacity to tackle the hardest issues. Our inspiring service users, dedicated staff, volunteers and board members are a sign that hope endures. They make Framework the highly effective organisation that it is. I am proud to be associated with everyone involved.
“Framework applies high principles, expresses important values, and nurtures a culture of care. Together we hold the vision of something better for the people who need it the most. We can’t do this unaided. Framework treasures its relationships with many partners across the public, private and voluntary sectors, with whom we work so closely, as well as with thousands of supporters and advocates in the community.
“There remains much to be done. I am confident that by working in partnership there is much more that can be achieved. Framework shines as a beacon of hope for many. I know it will continue to do so under new leadership, for as long as it takes to end homelessness and all its consequences.”
Today, Framework assists more than 18,000 people annually across Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Sheffield, and Scunthorpe. It currently provides housing for over 1,400 individuals—most of them in self-contained accommodation.
One of Redfern’s key strategic achievements has been expanding Framework’s reach beyond major cities like Nottingham, Derby, and Lincoln.
This approach has enabled individuals in more rural or suburban areas to access support without relocating to urban centres.
With his retirement set for the end of 2025, the search for a new chief executive is now underway.
Chair of the board Ruth Hawkins said: “Through his determined and clear-sighted leadership, Andrew has taken Framework from being quite a small Nottingham charity to become a diverse and successful regional organisation of more than 1,000 staff, supporting more than 18,000 people a year through a wide range of services and across a variety of locations while maintaining its original charitable ethos. He will retire at the end of the year with our sincere appreciation and gratitude for all he has achieved.
