Affordable Accommodation for Students Association Limited (AA4S) is a “not-for-profit” charitable registered society under the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014.
Who we are
This is us
Not-for-profit
Not-for-profit
Affordable Accommodation for Students Association Limited (AA4S) is a “not-for-profit” charitable registered society under the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014.
Charitable
Charitable
We are a charitable Housing Association providing accommodation and associated services for students in London.
We are a charitable Housing Association, providing accommodation and associated services for students in London.
Our roots
Our roots
We were formed in 1990 but our roots can be traced to 1982, when City of London Polytechnic established two housing associations to provide accommodation for students. The two housing associations merged in 1990 and was named Cass and Claredale Halls of Residence Association Limited.
We were formed in 1990 but our roots can be traced to 1982, when City of London Polytechnic established two housing associations to provide accommodation for students. The two housing associations merged in 1990 and was named Cass and Claredale Halls of Residence Association Limited.
Changing history
Our original name was partly derived by our historic links with the Sir John Cass Foundation, a grant-giving charity. We lease a building, Well Street Hall, from the Foundation. In 2020, we discovered that Sir John Cass had connections to slavery and human exploitation.
Due to this information, in common with the Sir John Cass Foundation, we decided it was extremely important to expunge the Cass name and set about finding a new one.
We strongly believe our new name succinctly represents the mission and purpose we have and the work that we proudly do.
Our mission
We are here to help advance education and to help make the current and future lives of students better.
We do this by providing and developing affordable, good quality, secure accommodation and associated services for undergraduate and postgraduate students studying in London during term-time and for interns, graduates, and visitors during the Summer Vacation period.
In doing so we support students in their well-being, living experience, in their personal development and in the acquisition of life skills.
Our values
We value equality, diversity and inclusion and the development of good social relationships.
We are committed to creating an environment for our residents, staff and all those who contribute to our mission that is inclusive, fair, equitable and mutually supportive, regardless of personal characteristics such as sex, sexuality, gender, gender identity, nationality, ethnic origin, age marital or civil partnership status, disability, religion, or belief.