How it all began – the birth of a vision
In May 1998, Chan Abraham was at a local government conference in Bradford. A new government had been elected the year before and there was much hope of greater investment in public housing services. However, from the announcements made, it was clear this would not happen. Upon returning to Cambridgeshire, Chan immediately initiated a vision for change that would generate the area’s most expansive community engagement, the creation of new hope for deteriorating public housing services and the gift of substantial financial resources for the people of Huntingdonshire.
Sharing the vision
The vision that Chan Abraham went on to articulate involved the creation of a company called Huntingdonshire Housing Partnership (HHP) and a wide-ranging consultation exercise to explain to nearly 10,000 people the possibilities if HHP acquired their homes. With an inspired team of colleagues, Chan led numerous public meetings and discussions with tenants during 1999, which would culminate in a month-long, secret, postal ballot where tenants would cast their vote for or against the proposal.
Change that brings benefits to all communities
Simultaneously, Chan persuaded the government that stock acquisition was in the best interests of the whole community. In essence, on behalf of Huntingdonshire District Council, he made a number of commitments that would benefit the tenants, such as affordable rents, investment in their homes and improved services. The benefit to the wider community would be the substantial sums of money that he would raise through private finance to invest in improving the quality of life for the people of Huntingdonshire, in areas such as community safety, community health, community development, leisure and education. Chan’s vision was that the focused investment of such resources, supplementing the work of mainstream agencies, could make a huge impact for the long-term benefit of Huntingdonshire’s communities.
The vision erupts into life
In August 1999, tenants voted overwhelmingly in support of the acquisition of their homes by HHP and, on 20 March 2000, Chan Abraham, as HHP’s first Chief Executive, authorised payment of almost £65millions to Huntingdonshire District Council. His vision for change, hope and a better life for many – as expressed in HHP – was born!
However, this was only the beginning. While the core aim of the new business was to focus on the needs of existing tenants, the rapidly changing external environment meant that there was no scope to stand still. Somehow, the means would need to be found to build new homes to satisfy growing demand and to expand and diversify the business to achieve the wider aspects of the vision.
Tried and tested – the development of a sound track record
HHP certainly succeeded in meeting all the original commitments to tenants, exceeding the promises. For example, while rents were restrained at an affordable inflation + ½%, almost £40 millions was invested in tenants homes, a tremendous bonus on the original promise of £29 millions. Tenants also praised HHP for the quality and courtesy of the staff and the services provided, and greatly welcomed the new, on-the-ground approach, through neighbourhood and street wardens and the employment of many more HHP tradesmen. Consistently, customer surveys returned very high levels of customer satisfaction and the company gained a high profile and positive reputation. The silver grey and burgundy vans, with their distinctive livery, were easily recognisable and added a strong sense of HHP’s presence, offering encouragement and reassurance within communities.
Continuing improvement to keep ahead of constant change
The demands of the changing environment and the lack of public funds to build new homes for rent were among the drivers for the creation of Luminus Group. Consequently, after careful planning and negotiation, Luminus Group took centre stage in 2004, with HHP as one of its subsidiaries, alongside Oak Foundation, as the provider of older person’s housing and Diversa as the first commercial arm to provide new homes. Luminus has continued to expand and now includes Luminus Developments which, building on Diversa’s initial work, is the dynamic force for Luminus Group’s development of new homes and services. Other organisations and businesses show considerable interest in joining Luminus. The first of these, The Ferry Project, a Fenland-based charity, focused on helping homeless people, joined Luminus Group on 1 April 2006.
Constantly growing hope
Luminus celebrated five years of service to communities in 2005, with the gracious support of The Lord Taylor of Warwick who unveiled an anniversary plaque. Luminus Group’s journey, beginning with HHP’s eruption to life in 2000, has been one of repositioning, consolidation and continuing growth. Luminus Group Chief Executive, Chan Abraham, enthusiastically says, “Building upon our 2006 theme of “Growing Hope”, Luminus will make substantial forward progress as a business, service provider and employer that has been tried and tested, continuing to serve communities and demonstrating a more excellent way of doing business in an ambiguous world.”