Thursday 27th February 2025
Building with faith: An interview with Hugh Lambourne
Tyler Sewell-Nicholas
Hugh Lambourne joined us recently as Director of Property Services. We find out a bit about his background, his role overseeing and maintaining our network of care homes and housing schemes, and plans for future developments in property at Pilgrims’ Friend Society
Hugh’s career has been defined by a deep commitment to social housing and property management. Initially, he envisioned a career abroad, building homes for communities in need. “I wanted to make a practical difference,” he explains. However, as his career evolved, Hugh realised the pressing need for high-quality, affordable housing in the UK where he has dedicated over 30 years of his professional life.
Before taking on his current role, Hugh worked in various commercial property sectors. It was in this context that he began to feel a growing desire for work that aligned more closely with his Christian values. “I was praying specifically about the difficulty of being in a very commercial organisation as a Christian,” he says. “I wanted to work somewhere overtly Christian.”
When the Director of Property Services position became available at Pilgrims’ Friend Society, Hugh felt that God’s timing was perfect. “It just seemed to use all the experience I’d gathered over the years. Every aspect of what I’d done seemed to come together in this one role.”
Overseeing property services
As Director of Property Services, Hugh oversees the development and maintenance of Pilgrims’ Friend Society’s care home and housing portfolio. His responsibilities range from managing existing properties to planning new developments to meet the needs of a growing ageing population. One core area is the Growth and Renewal Programme, which aims to modernise older homes and build new ones to provide high-quality care and accessibility for our ‘family members’ (those who live with us).
“Growth and renewal involves everything from taking on existing care homes currently run by small charities who find it a challenge to meet the demands of a now highly regulated sector to finding sites for new developments,” Hugh explains. “It’s about how we provide Christian care in modern, efficient, and safe ways.”
This means that part of Hugh’s role involves actively seeking out new sites for development and ensuring that they align with our organisation’s values. This requires frequent travel to assess building sites. For example, he’s currently overseeing a planning application for a new building at Homesdale in Wanstead, working with consultants, architects, and project managers. Hugh is directly involved in managing reports, public consultations, and coordinating the entire project.
In addition to development work, Hugh oversees asset management, which involves maintaining and improving the existing properties. Each property requires ongoing care to ensure it remains safe, accessible, and conducive to the high standards of care that Pilgrims’ Friend Society prides itself on. Hugh leads a team of four property services managers, who each manage multiple properties. “We just went through budgeting for next year, which is complex,” he says. “We’re lucky to have an experienced team.”
Creating high-quality homes
Providing high-quality care and living spaces for older people is more than a job for Hugh. “As Christians, we’re called to honour our elders and care for widows and orphans,” he says. “Providing high-quality Christian care is a way of living out those values.”
The work of providing great care is connected to the environment in which it takes place.
“Care in our homes is different,” Hugh explains. “Even in older buildings, the love and personcentred care shine through. But there’s a nightand-day difference when you compare older sites with something like Middlefields House. Our Chippenham care home was purposebuilt, with wide corridors, spacious rooms, en-suite bathrooms, big windows, and beautiful gardens. It’s light and airy, designed for the way we provide Christian care.”
Faith-based leadership
Hugh’s Christian faith plays a central role in his leadership style. Drawing inspiration from Jesus’ example, he seeks to lead with humility and integrity. “In my early career, I focused on building my resumé. Now, I draw inspiration from Jesus as the ultimate example of leadership. His patience and humility guide me. It’s about serving others, not seeking personal glory.”
At Pilgrims’ Friend Society, Hugh values the sense of purpose that comes with working for a Christian organisation. “My goal is to follow God’s will for this organisation. It’s not about personal ambition but about service – creating environments where people thrive.”
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Current and future projects
As 2025 gets underway, Hugh has lots to keep him busy. The planning application for Homesdale is in and there is need for flood prevention at Bridgemead in Bath, a home we took on in Autumn last year.
Then there’s the next stage of the Growth and Renewal Programme to think about. However, building new care homes in the UK in 2025 comes with its own set of challenges. Economic pressures, competition from other providers, and the availability of suitable land all play a role in making the process difficult. “It’s a challenging time to build new care homes,” Hugh acknowledges. “But the opportunities are still there, and we are committed to providing high-quality homes that meet the needs of older people.”
Three focus areas for prayer…
Flood prevention project at Bridgemead: Please pray for the successful implementation of flood defences at Bridgemead, a project that is both costly and complex. Pray for wisdom in planning, provision of resources, and the safety of all involved.
New development projects: Pray for guidance as we continue with the planning and construction of new care homes, including the upcoming project at Homesdale in Wanstead. Pray for smooth processes, wise decisions, and financial provision.
The Property Team: The team is growing and we have recently welcomed new members. There are four members of Hugh’s team: Zena Hicks who is developing our asset strategy and use of data, Nicky Kerr who covers our homes and schemes in the North region, Simon Richardson who looks after our Central region and Stephen Stripp who covers the South and East region. Please pray for unity, strength, and wisdom for the entire team as they work to serve all those who live with us and help maintain high standards of care. “Everyone who hears my teaching and applies it to his life can be compared to a wise man who built his house on an unshakable foundation.”
In his spare time, Hugh...
Enjoys family hikes and bike rides in the Welsh countryside and exploring the famous waterfalls of Wales.
A fun fact: Hugh earned his pilot’s licence in New Zealand in his 20s and holds both New Zealand and UK pilot’s licences and an instrument rating, a qualification that allows pilots to fly at night or above cloud.
Hugh’s favourite hymn: ‘Lead Us, Heavenly Father, Lead Us.’ Hugh says, “It captures the essence of life’s challenges and God’s guiding hand. The line ‘Guard us, guide us, keep us, feed us; for we have no help but Thee’ speaks to our reliance on God in all situations. It’s a hymn that reminds me to trust in His plan, even when the path ahead isn’t clear.”
Hugh's favourite bible verse: “Everyone who hears my teaching and applies it to his life can be compared to a wise man who built his house on an unshakable foundation.” Matthew 7:24
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