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From left to right: Stuart Hall (Sandwell) Peter Lewis (ART Homes Ltd), Tom Jones (Sandwell), Roger Waterterhouse (Coventry), Ellie Taylor (Stoke), Margaret Yates( (Stoke), Susan Simmons (Kick Start Programme Director), Chris Parkin (Walsall), Christopher Hale (Wolverhampton), Graham Wood (ART Homes Limited), Ron Sims (Dudley) Christia Wood (Kick Start Programme Manager), Martin Brooks (Birmingham), Peter Hayes (ART Homes Ltd), Alan Kirk (Dudley)

Kick Start and ART Homes receive top awards

The Kick Start Partnership which delivers private sector renewal programme in the West Midlands together with ART Homes has received a top award at the UK Housing Awards 2006.

The nationally recognised awards for best housing innovation programmes in the country have awarded Kick Start in ‘Excellence in Delivering Mixed Communities’ category. Additionally, the partnership also received a special award for ‘Outstanding Achievement in Social Housing in England’.

The Kick Start Programme established by seven West Midlands authorities including Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Stoke on Trent, Sandwell Walsall and Wolverhampton set up a pilot to offer low cost loans to help vulnerable home owners to raise finance to allow them to carry out essential home repairs to bring their homes up to a decent standard.

The pilot run between 2006/04 offered the home owners Property Appreciation Loans (PAL) developed by ART Homes Ltd, a not-for-profit organisation owned by Mercian Housing Association, in partnership with Birmingham Council. Thanks to ART Homes affordable equity loans, low income home owners who are unable to obtain commercial loans, can afford to repair their properties and pay for essential works.

The innovative ART Homes loan model used by the Kick Start Partnership through the pilot helped 1,000 home owners to improve their living conditions contributing to the financial inclusion for people who otherwise would have no chance of addressing their poor housing state. The Partnership is seen as a national forerunner in using the loan-based housing assistance such as the ART Homes model.

Councillor John Lines and Chair of the Regional Housing Executive said, “This is wonderful news for the West Midlands region. Kick Start has made it possible for the most vulnerable residents to get help to bring their homes up to the Decent Home Standard. The partnership has played a key role in creating a regional solution by sharing good practice and we are committed to continuing this excellent work.”