ACCELERIS ORGANISES SUCCESSFUL PARLIAMENTARY EVENT

February 08

Junior Housing Minister Iain Wright MP (left) has praised the work of ALMOs Arms Length Management Organisations) and the ALMO movement during a speech to over 200 MPs, civil servants and ALMO representatives at a highly successful event held in the House of Commons and organised by Acceleris and its partner, The Public Affairs Company.

Speaking at the Parliamentary Reception, staged in the historic Members Dining Room overlooking the Thames, Mr. Wright, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, described ALMOs, which manage 1 million council houses around the country, as ‘vibrant, enthusiastic’ and ‘key’ to the future of social housing.

The event, held to highlight the achievements of the National Federation of ALMOs ( NFA) and its members, was organised by Acceleris along with its Government Affairs partner, The Public Affairs Company, who together have handled public relations, corporate communications, branding, awards management, sponsorship and government affairs for the NFA for two years. Acceleris also arranged support for the event from Keepmoat Ltd, the leading housing regeneration specialist.

The first ALMOs were established in April 2002 and 67 ALMOs are now operating in 64 local authorities, managing over one million council properties with over two million residents. One third or more of every ALMO board is made up of council tenants. Under an ALMO the local authority owns the housing stock and the ALMO company is run on a not-for-profit basis. Both existing and new council tenants remain secure council tenants.

They have played a pivotal role in delivering the Government’s Decent Homes Programme under which they have improved more than 220,000 homes, enhancing the quality of life of families around the country.

Dennis Rees, Chairman of the NFA, said:
Acceleris and the Public Affairs Company organised an impressive and highly successful event, not only attracting the Minister and Shadow spokesmen but significant numbers of MPs, Peers and Civil Servants. It provided an ideal platform to showcase the successes and achievement of the NFA and its member organisations.

The Parliamentary Reception was sponsored by housing regeneration specialists Keepmoat Ltd and was hosted by Clive Betts MP, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for ALMOs. The Parliamentary group was formed to discuss the benefits and further development of council housing by Arms Length Management Organisations (ALMOs).

Picture shows Iain Wright, Junior Housing Minister