Stephen Cairns, head of housing with Kingdom Housing Association, has decided to leave the Association after thirty years of service.

Stephen, who is to pursue a career in counselling, was one of the original employees with Kingdom. He started on an 18 month secondment from the Housing Corporation in January 1986, before accepting a permanent post of development officer with the Association.

As Kingdom began to grow, Stephen shifted into Housing Management. He was appointed as housing manager in March 1993 and became head of housing in 2014.

When Stephen first started working with Kingdom the Association had just started work on its first project of 16 flats in Victoria Terrace, Dunfermline.

Stephen said: “When I started with Kingdom we had no houses in management and only two staff. We now have almost four thousand properties in management, over 360 staff and provide more than a home to our tenants, through a wide range of services and projects.”

Over the last few years Stephen has been studying and practicing counselling in his own time and after 30 years with Kingdom, Stephen is intending to do more counselling work and potentially set up his own counselling practice.

Stephen said he would miss “the friendship and support of colleagues at Kingdom” but added: “I have seen Kingdom change significantly over the years and there are many new challenges to face in the future, I think the time is right for me move on and pursue new interests and for someone with new ideas to come in and help the association move the housing services to the next level.”

Bill Banks, chief executive at Kingdom, said: “Stephen has been with Kingdom since its inception and has been here for over 30 years, helping Kingdom face numerous challenges. He has been instrumental in shaping the direction the association has taken over this time, and has made a significant contribution to all our achievements, business development and growth.”

Bill added: “One of Stephen’s key strengths is the understanding and supportive approach that he applies and I’m sure these skills will help him to be successful in his new career choice. I have worked with Stephen during most of my time with Kingdom and on a personal note I would like to thank him for all the support he has provided me over the years.

“I would also like to thank him, on behalf of all his colleagues and the Board, for his many years of dedicated service, friendship and support. We all send Stephen our best wishes and hope he continues to be successful in the future.”