75th Anniversary - Members stories | The Almshouse Association

Double Celebrations at Coopers Hospital

The trustees and residents of Rev. John Cooper’s Hospital Charity in Elton, Peterborough recently celebrated the 360th anniversary of the almshouse charity with a celebratory lunch at their local pub!

Founded in 1663, Coopers Hospital is one of the oldest charities in England and their 360th anniversary gave them much cause for celebration – in fact, a double celebration as their long-term trustee, Julian was also retiring after 57 years of dedicated service.

The charity are wondering whether they can lay claim to have the longest serving almshouse trustee. Its definitely so of their own records, but we wonder how many charities could top this figure?

Julian’s retirement still came too soon for the charity but they were so happy to be able to give him a wonderful send-off, most fitting with celebrating such a momentous occasion for the charity.

posted 7 November 2023

Moor Field: solar POWER project

Many thanks to the trustees of Sponne and Bickerstaffe Charity for sending in a case study on the completion of the solar power installation with the help of an Almshouse Association interest free loan.

About the Charity

In 1445, Archdeacon William Sponne, the Rector of Towcester, died and through his will a Charity was formed to benefit the residents of Towcester in various ways. In 1689 Towcester-born Thomas Bickerstaffe, who became a successful merchant in London, founded a charity to lease a piece of land and built three “Alms-Houses for the labouring poor of Towcester”.

The Sponne and Bickerstaffe charities were merged in 1782 and other bequests of land and money were received over the years. The original almshouses were maintained and added to, but began to fall into disrepair and in 1982 the site was sold. At that time, the charity owned a parcel of land on the (then) outskirts of Towcester. Part of this land was sold to a housing developer and the proceeds of the sale were used to build the current almshouse complex, Moor Field, on the remainder of the land.

Profitable and low-carbon electricity almshouses

Moor Field consists of 12 self-contained bungalows heated by electric storage heaters and a house for the on-site warden. There is also a separate communal room, a kitchen and a laundry room housing washing machines and tumble dryers. The common rooms are used by the 15 residents for social events and by the Charity Trustees for its monthly meetings. Other community groups from Towcester also use the common room for their activities.

The bungalows’ storage heaters were becoming more expensive to run (especially over the last 18 months) and accounted for a significant part of the site’s carbon footprint. For many years the Trustees anguished over what to do to modernise the heating methods and to make Moor Field more environmentally sustainable.

In 2021 we were lucky enough to receive a grant from the (now closed) Rural Communities Energy Fund (RCEF) to carry out an energy audit of Moor Field. We used this grant to engage the energy and environmental consultants Ricardo to perform an in-depth energy survey, to recommend a way forward to provide a cost effective and low-carbon solution to the heating problem and to identify potential sources of grants to fund the recommended scheme.

Ricardo quickly confirmed something we suspected – several of the residents could not keep their homes warm enough in winter. This is a serious situation for the almshouse residents who can be elderly and not very mobile. Clearly, we needed to do something. Ricardo’s project recommended that we address this problem by replacing the storage radiators with air source heat pumps (ASHP) and installing a photovoltaic (PV) solar cell system to provide electricity for use by the site.

The cost of implementing these measures would have exceeded the reserves of the Charity (and indeed those of many almshouses) so Ricardo and the Charity’s trustees investigated sources of grant funding. Unfortunately, it quickly became apparent that Government grants at the time excluded social housing which was a big stumbling block to Moor Field.

In early 2022, with ever increasing electricity prices, the Moor Field Trustees decided we needed to do something, and that our first priority was to install solar panels to help negate the effects of the energy crisis we were going through at the time.

Sourcing funding and inviting tenders

In mid 2022, we investigated many other funding options, and concluded that The Almshouse Association interest free loan would be our best option. With further support from Ricardo, we quickly formulated a tender specification and contacted several companies and invited them to tender for the work. Next we completed our application (with much help from The Almshouse Association staff) and were able to demonstrate that the project was cost-effective using our preferred contractor.

As part of the application process, The Almshouse Association required a business plan along with financial modelling of the scheme. Once again, The Almshouse Association’s financial forecasting template and advice from The Almshouse Association staff proved invaluable. Our plan was to use the savings from reducing the amount of power bought in from the grid along with the sale of any surplus power to the grid to repay The Almshouse Association loan. The remaining profits would be shared between the charity and the residents. Fortunately, our application to The Almshouse Association was successful and we were able to proceed with the project.

With help from Ricardo we analysed the tenders and settled on the quote from Cahill Renewables who quoted for a 42 kW Solar PV array with the option of adding battery storage at a later date.

The installation

In early May we accepted the quote and paid the deposit and an installation date of 31 July 2023 was agreed. Cahill Renewables arrived on time on 31 July and the installation was completed by Wednesday 2 August. We were very pleased with the standard and quality of work. Carhill Renewables were very considerate of our residents and as you can see from the photograph provided a very neat and professional installation.

We started generating electricity on 2 August and early indications based on the first two months suggest a site saving of £15/day. This will increase once the paperwork to allow payments for exported power is completed (this process can take up to two months to complete).

The next steps

Over the coming months we will start to see the financial benefits of the PV scheme and to share the benefits between the charity and the residents.

Meanwhile, we are continuing to search for grants to fund the ASHP scheme while the trustees weigh the benefits this will bring in terms of vastly-reduced heating costs and lower carbon emissions against the risks of being an ‘early adopter’ of this relatively new technology.

In conclusion, we would certainly recommend that other almshouses consider installing PV power – warmer residents and a lower carbon footprint!

UPDATE! This month (October/November 2023) we have been able to reduce our resident’s day rate for electricity by 5p per unit .

posted 7 November 2023

HRH The Princess Royal opens new homes at Cutbush and Corrall almshouses in Maidstone

HRH The Princess Royal opened twelve new almshouses at the Cutbush & Corrall Charity in College Road, Maidstone. She was accompanied by His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Kent, the Lady Colgrain.

HRH, escorted by the Clerk & Chief Officer of the Cutbush & Corrall Charity, Liz Abi-Aad, visited residents in their homes and met with invited guests as they enjoyed lunch including local dignitaries, residents, trustees, staff and contractors who had worked on the project.

Six existing almshouses originally built in the 1920s were converted into twelve flats when trustees realised the houses were too big, too costly to run and too difficult for individuals with reduced mobility to negotiate. The new one-bedroom flats provide compact, high-quality, affordable accommodation suitable for the Charity’s beneficiaries.

HRH unveiled a plaque to commemorate the event and presented Caroline Highwood and Sue Darbyshire, both trustees of the charity, with long service awards.

The Charity welcomes applications from local people who meet the criteria for living in an almshouse. Please contact 01622 765612 for further information.

About Cutbush & Corrall Charity

Often described as “Maidstone’s hidden gem”, the Cutbush & Corrall Charity (213463) was founded in 1865 by Thomas Cutbush. His legacy lives on with today’s trustees committed to providing “affordable housing for older people who would otherwise find it difficult to meet their housing needs”.

Over the past 157 years, the Charity has grown significantly. It is now the only almshouse charity in Maidstone and with 154 properties one of the largest almshouse charities in the country.

Further reading:

posted 26 October 2023

Three almshouse visits in a month for the Association’s busy Royal Vice Patron!

In his third almshouse charity visit of the month, Uxbridge United Welfare Trust welcomes HRH The Duke of Gloucester

After days of non-stop rain, on Friday 20 October 2023 the almshouses in Uxbridge were blessed with blue skies and delighted trustees, staff and residents of Uxbridge United Welfare Trust came out to welcome HRH The Duke of Gloucester to the official opening of Ossulton Court.

Ossulton Court is the latest almshouse to be built by Uxbridge United Welfare Trust which has 20 almshouse apartments in the centre of Uxbridge. All are for local state pensionable aged residents who qualify for housing benefits. All the apartments at Ossulton Court offer step-free access and the wet rooms and kitchens built in these units allow all the residents who live here to remain in their homes for longer.

“All of us here at Uxbridge United Welfare Trust are incredibly proud of our new almshouse development. This is our fifth reincarnation of almshouse living in Uxbridge spanning over 300 years. Ossulton Court is a shining example of what a 21st century almshouse should be. Safe, secure, step free access housing, for local elderly people in the centre of our town.”
Dominic Gilham, CEO for Uxbridge United Welfare Trust

The project to build Ossulton Court took just over four years from planning to completion.

During his visit, His Royal Highness engaged with residents, staff, and trustees, and was given a guided tour of the stunning new almshouse development, as well as a beautiful display of apple trees that were planted during the pandemic. Each tree is dedicated to a resident and bears their names on small plaques at the base of the trees.

Resident Mrs Janet Brown welcomed His Royal Highness into her flat, where he enjoyed the view overlooking the wonderful courtyard garden, tended to by the residents.

The visit culminated in a gathering in the dining area, where His Royal Highness joined residents for a piece of cake and some enjoyable conversation. His Royal Highness also unveiled a special commemorative plaque and signed the visitor’s book.

“His Royal Highness created such a positive atmosphere during his visit, meeting all the residents and trustees. He spoke knowledgeably and enthusiastically about the almshouse model and the impact almshouses, such as Ossulton Court, have on the lives of residents. With his architectural background, the Duke noted how the new building had captured much of the heritage of the almshouse model with its wonderful courtyard and orchard.”
Nick Phillip, CEO The Almshouse Association

His Royal Highness, The Duke of Gloucester, is the Royal Vice Patron for The Almshouse Association. The Association is an essential component of the almshouse movement; providing support, information, and guidance on a broad range of general and specific issues, to over 1600 independent almshouse member charities that provide low-cost community housing for around 36,000 residents across the United Kingdom.

Many of The Duke’s Patronages are related to architecture and conservation, both areas in which The Duke remains deeply interested. He was elected a corporate member of the Royal Institute of British Architects in 1972 and he is President of the Scottish Society of the Architect-Artists. His fellowships include those of the Institution of Structural Engineers and the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland.

His Royal Highness is a supporter of several architectural preservation societies, including the Kensington Society and the Victorian Society, as well as the International Council on Monuments and Sites, UK National Committee.

posted 24 October 2023

Wells Almshouses welcomes HRH the Duke of Gloucester

Residents, staff and trustees were delighted to welcome His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester to the Bubwith site, its almshouses and chapel on 16 October 2023.

“It is such a great honour to welcome our Royal Vice Patron to one of our most valuable historic member charities. The Duke seemed genuinely impressed by the wonderful architecture that is the hallmark of the almshouse movement. Almshouses like the City of Wells Charity carry centuries of living heritage and the story of hundreds of lives having been enhanced through this close community.”
Nick Phillips, CEO of The Almshouse Association

During his visit, His Royal Highness engaged with residents, staff, and trustees, and was given a guided tour of the medieval buildings, gardens, chapel and Guildroom by Chair of Trustees Stewart Cursley and resident trustee James Fane-Gladwin.

The Duke was particularly interested in the Bubwith chapel which was built in the 15th Century and is currently subject to an exciting project to restore it into a new community space in Wells, supported by National Lottery players.

Resident Mo Joyce welcomed him into her flat, where he enjoyed the view overlooking the walled garden. The visit culminated in a gathering in the Guildroom, where His Royal Highness joined residents for a piece of cake and some enjoyable conversation.

“It was an honour to meet His Royal Highness who was particularly interested in the chapel and its plans for the future, and we thank him for his kind visit. I would also like to thank the staff and trustee members who organised the visit and the residents who attended on the day.”
Chair of Trustees Stewart Cursley

His Royal Highness, The Duke of Gloucester, is the Royal Vice Patron for The Almshouse Association, a membership charity that supports a network of over 1600 independent almshouse charities throughout the United Kingdom. Almshouse Association members manage more than 30,000 almshouses, providing vital housing solutions for approximately 36,000 individuals in need, contributing significantly to local community housing.

posted 19 October 2023

Northam Charities mark 600 years of giving

Two blue plaques mark 600 years of giving, honouring the almshouses and the community spirit that has endured through the centuries

By Lewis Clarke 1 OCT 2023 for DEVON LIVE

Two blue plaques have been erected in Appledore and Northam, on the site of former almshouses to mark the 600th anniversary of charitable giving in Northam Parish.

The ‘Northam Charities’ who now look after the parish charity funds, arranged for these plaques to be specially made to mark the location of the almshouses in both Appledore and Northam. This 600th anniversary was recently identified by local historian David Carter, who found an old Elizabethan document which recorded the giving of lands to a Fraternity at Northam in the 15th and 16th centuries.

David Carter who is vice-chairman and secretary of the present Northam Charities Board, said: “I found in an old Elizabethan document that the earliest donation of land was made in September 1423, which means that it was exactly 600 years ago. That first plot of land in question was near to today’s Torridge Pool and Leisure Centre, but over the next hundred years many other plots of land in and around Northam parish were donated for charitable use. This included the establishment of Almshouses for the benefit and accommodation for poor widows of the parish.”

The Northam Almshouse was a Tudor building established by William Leigh in 1576, erected on the junction of Northam Square with Tower Street. It could accommodate four poor widows in two ground floor rooms and two first floor rooms. Each room was just 15 feet by 10 feet, but by early Victorian times, the whole building was said to be in a very poor condition. It was demolished in August 1867 when the road was widened, at which time a new Almshouse was erected in Springfield Terrace. A plaque to mark this former site was unveiled on 3rd September by Sir Geoffrey Cox MP.

The Appledore Almshouse was established by Sir Thomas Berry in 1695. He was Lord of the Manor of Northam, and purchased a building in today’s New Quay Street, now the site of the Appledore Community Hall, turning it into accommodation for four widows and orphans. The thatched building caught fire on Friday 13th May 1859 and although no-one was injured, the almshouse building was completely destroyed. The blue plaque to mark the site was unveiled on 19th September by Devon historian Todd Gray MBE as part of the Appledore Book Festival. The Mayor of Northam, Cllr Peter Hames, was present on both occasions, along with the current trustees of the charity.

_{Plaque unveiling /}_{credit Sarah Chappell}

_{Plaque unveiling} _{/ credit Martin Shepherd}

_{David Carter (left) and Todd Gray (centre) credit Martin Shepherd}

Charity chairman Cllr Jane Whittaker said:

“Not many people will have heard of the Northam Charities because we don’t do fundraising – we just quietly exist to run the Northam Parish Almshouse, and to hand out money to groups and individuals connected to Northam parish, who may be needing a bit of financial assistance for whatever reason. This ‘Community Aid’ fund is open for anyone to apply. It’s a great little feelgood charity to be part of, which just exists to help people. When we found out we had a milestone anniversary, it seemed a good opportunity not just to celebrate, but to tell everyone what we do”.

[top photo: (left) Northam Almshouse plaque – 01 Sep 2023 – credit Martin Shepherd (centre) Geoffrey Cox unveiling Northam Charities plaque – credit Sarah Chappell; (right) Appledore plaque – 19 Sep 2023 – credit Martin Shepherd]

Posted 17 October 2023

Kendal Almshouse Charity kickstarts redevelopments

Kendal Almshouse Charity spearheads social housing growth for over-55s

8th September 2023 by Erin Gaskell for The WestMorland Gazette

Kendal is readying to welcome more over-55s into social housing as the Kendal Almshouse Charity kick-starts redevelopments.

With the high demand for social housing surpassing supply significantly in the North West, the charity has initiated work to double the number of units in one of its central sites.

Social housing in the UK is a form of public sector housing which is rented at low rates to individuals and families who can’t afford to rent at market rates or to buy their own homes.

It is provided by local authorities and housing associations, generally to those most in need or vulnerable.

The Chair of Kendal Almshouse Charity, Peter Ducksbury, said “I am delighted to see the project get off the ground after a lot of hard work by many people, for which I am very grateful.”

Promising a greener living solution, these new units will feature energy efficiency at their core. Prospective inhabitants can look forward to dwellings armed with one bedroom, a bathroom, and an open-plan living, kitchen, and dining area, all benefiting from high thermal efficiency, air source heating, and solar panels for power generation.

The redevelopment is happening behind Kendal’s WWII Memorial Garden on Romney Road, which originally was held by Kendal War Memorial Trust Fund but was transferred to Kendal Almshouse Charity in 2014.

The site was originally home to a bungalow named Romleigh, built in 1955 and inhabited by a single family until 2019.

Following the bungalow’s vacation, Kendal Almshouse Charity roped in specialists including independent property consultants H&H Land & Estates, to weigh their options between upgrading the existing dwelling or entirely redeveloping the site.

Considering the derelict state of the old building and the land’s potential for enhancement, it was decided to raise two new one-bedroom bungalows after the demolition of the existing one.

The journey towards the redevelopment was impeded several times over the past three years, attributable to various impediments and recent global events.

Local builders Fylde Joinery & Building Services Ltd eventually landed the contract and are currently progressing on site.

Expected to wrap up around April 2024, Kendal Almshouse Charity will be inviting applications for potential occupants close to the completion date.

[top image: Photo from Kendal Almshouses website: Kendal Almshouse Charity – Home]

posted 16 October 2023

Almshouse Charity leading the way in homes for the future

Girton Town Charity (GTC) was recently asked to showcase its new development of 15 futureproof homes for the over 55s, as part of a regional meeting for almshouse trustees and clerks.

The Charity welcomed more than 30 representatives of almshouse charities throughout East Anglia to the William Collyn Community Centre, followed by a visit to Dovehouse Court in the village.

Nick Phillips, CEO of The Almshouse Association, praised GTC for “leading the way” in the movement by funding and building new almshouses which are built to stringent Passivhaus standards and have first-class sustainability credentials.

He highlighted the ‘cutting edge design’ of the Dovehouse Court homes where residents are already enjoying living in a secure and warm environment, which has been well-designed, with a communal garden as well as individual raised beds to grow flowers and vegetables.

Latest research shows that people living in almshouses live on average two and a half years longer because they have a sense of connection with others as part of a sociable community.

Ann Bonnett, Chair of GTC said: “It was a great honour to be asked to host this regional meeting and to be able to share our journey in creating these almshouses for the future. Not only did we enjoy excellent attendance but many came to visit Dovehouse Court after the formal sessions to see at first hand what has been achieved.

This visit was a great reward for all the hard work and inspired vision of our Trustees over many years to bring the new almshouses to fruition. My thanks go to them and to the excellent team who worked on the project.”

Caption

[Above photo: Almshouse Association attendees visit Dovehouse Court in Girton. In the foreground, left to right: Nick Phillips, CEO, The Almshouse Association; Ann Bonnett, Chair, GTC; Jennifer Millard, Regional Representative; The Almshouse Association; and Ian Bramwell, Director, Mole Architects]

posted 12 October 2023

HRH Duke of Gloucester joins Courtauld Homes of Rest centenary celebrations

On Tuesday 3 October, His Royal Highness, The Duke of Gloucester, Vice Royal Patron of The Almshouse Association, joined the trustees, founder’s family and residents at Courtauld Homes of Rest almshouses to join in their centenary celebrations

There was a buzz of excitement as guests gathered in the marquee to await His Royal Highness’s arrival. Plans had been underway for many months with trustees and residents busy making sure their almshouses and the site were in tip-top condition to receive their Royal visitor.

Upon arrival, His Royal Highness was presented by the Lord-Lieutenant of Essex, Jennifer Tolhurst to Adrian Corder-Birch, a Deputy Lieutenant and Clerk to the Trustees, who then introduced The Duke to the Mayor of Halstead, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Courtauld Homes of Rest, Anthony Shelton and Nick Phillips, the Chief Executive of The Almshouse Association.

“It was a great honour to meet His Royal Highness and to introduce the Mayor, our trustees and members of the Courtauld family to him. As I accompanied The Duke around our almshouses, he asked questions about the history, architecture, and gardens in which he was clearly very impressed. He was particularly interested in our residents and spoke to all of them.”
Adrian-Corder Birch, Deputy Lieutenant and Clerk to the Trustees

Many of the Duke’s Patronages are linked to architecture and conservation, areas the Duke holds great interested in so the Reading Room at Courtauld Homes of Rest were a much appreciated part of his visit. He quickly spotted the pictures and architect’s plan which adorned the walls along with the history of the Courtauld family.

Mr. and Mrs. Fenner were honoured to have the unique privilege of meeting His Royal Highness in their almshouse. They enjoyed a delightful conversation with The Duke, commenting that his visit will be a cherished memory that they will hold dear for years to come.

“My wife Sandra and I were pleased to welcome The Duke into our home, where we have lived for five happy years. The Duke was interested in the internal layout and learning about our occupations prior to retirement.”
Mr Fenner, resident

After afternoon tea with the trustees, residents and other guests, George Courtauld, Vice Chairman of the Trustees thanked The Duke for his visit. The Duke gave a warm and informed speech about the almshouse model and its value to the community which delighted all who attended. He then cut the splendid centenary cake made by Jennifer Smith and unveiled two blue plaques to commemorate distinguished members of the Courtauld family and a third plaque recording his visit.

George Courtauld then presented The Duke with a book about the history of the Homes of Rest and other almshouses, written by Adrian Corder-Birch, especially for the centenary.

Nick Phillips, CEO, The Almshouse Association commented, “It was a great privilege and honour to receive our Royal Vice Patron, HRH The Duke of Gloucester, at one of our member almshouse charities. The Duke spoke knowledgably and enthusiastically about the almshouse movement and his visit and interest really gave a terrific boost the charity trustees and residents. It was a lovely day that all will remember warmly.“

“The Courtauld Homes of Rest has been a member of The Almshouse Association for several decades and to receive a visit from its Royal Vice Patron in recognition of our centenary was a great privilege.”
Chairman, Mr Tony Shelton

_{HRH visit makes the front page of the Halstead Gazette}

posted 12 October 2023

Southwark’s Appleby Blue Almshouses

A newly developed social housing project which reimagines the almshouse concept for modern, inner-city living

as published by Housing LIN – Appleby Blue – Inspirational Achievements – Resources – Housing LIN

United St. Saviour’s Charity has worked to support the people and communities of Southwark for almost 500 years. Uniting the people and charitable organisations in the borough, it tackles social need through a unique grant making programme and helps to build strong, supportive and well-served communities through its sheltered housing for older people across its three almshouses, St Saviour’s Court, Hopton’s Gardens and its newest development, Appleby Blue.

The development was completed in May 2023, and provides 57 homes for a total of 63 residents aged 65 or over in Southwark.

Designed by Stirling Prize-winning architects, Witherford Watson Mann, the building provides a blueprint for future adult social housing projects for older persons.

The recent Almshouse Longevity Study found that living in an almshouse can boost a resident’s lifespan by as much as two and a half years. Appleby Blue represents a progressive evolution of this typology – it flips the conventional model of the almshouse as a retreat from society, built in the outer environs as an inward-looking development, firmly on its head. Located in the heart of Bermondsey with a bus stop right outside and the hustle and bustle of inner-city living, Appleby Blue enables its residents to remain active members of a thriving, intergenerational and diverse London community.

Appleby Blue is named after one of United Saint Saviours Charity’s original benefactors, Dorothy Appleby. ‘Blue’ refers to the central marketplace of Bermondsey, rooting the development in its locale and noting the charity’s ties to the area going back more than five-hundred years.

Features

The building is designed to connect residents through its porous nature and welcoming floorplan, cultivating a strong sense of community and reducing loneliness.

The 2-5 storey design enables a cascading level of interaction between the surrounding community and the almshouse residents. A luscious roof terrace includes raised beds for growing herbs and vegetables. The detail of the project is impressive, with raised beds created with residents in mind, to enable recreational gardening activities despite varying mobility levels.

The main communal space, the Garden Room, opens on to a planted garden court with a raised water feature running throughout, designed by Grant Associates. It forms the traditional almshouse courtyard style centre of the building, offering a space for residents and visitors to socialise or relax in peace and quiet. The acoustics of the space coupled with the sound of the water feature creates a relaxing, sanctuary-like space for residents and visitors, whilst remaining just a few feet away from the local transport links that keep them connected to the city.

Community

The resident support model for the almshouse is integral to the physical environment and place. The team works closely with the Appleby Blue Centre Manager to create a holistic support plan which encompasses repairs and maintenance, benefits guidance and health and wellbeing. Appleby Blue also offers residents a library area, hobby room and skills room, where events from crochet lessons to digital skills sessions will be hosted for both residents as well as the wider community. The intergenerational use of the building aims to break down the barriers between young and old.

The Appleby Blue community kitchen sits at the heart of the building, as a kitchen should, with United St Saviour’s Charity running culinary-based community projects with local organisations to foster intergenerational connectivity in Southwark and provide important upskilling opportunities for young people in the borough.

United St Saviour’s is working alongside research partners at Bournemouth University to explore how multigenerational socially inclusive activities can be co-created with older people around food growing, cooking and meal sharing to improve their health, wellbeing and social connectedness.

Funding

Appleby Blue occupies a site previously occupied by a care home, which had fallen into disrepair and was no longer fit for purpose. It is the off-site social housing provision funded by a private residential development ‘Triptych’, developed by JTRE in neighbouring Bankside. The development has been made possible through a partnership between the freeholders London Borough of Southwark, and UStSC, who lease it and will manage it in perpetuity.

Martyn Craddock, CEO of United St. Saviours Charity said:

“Appleby Blue Almshouse reimagines the historic model of a retreat from society, in favour of direct contact with urban life. The beautiful design of the building coupled with our charity’s support services, aims to change the perception of sheltered social housing, and influence future developments for the better. By providing a high quality and well-designed home, older people should be more ready to move from their often unsuitable or under-occupied housing, yet remain in the community where they have lived for many years. The building is designed with social interaction as a core principle and we intended to use this wonderful building to its full potential to continue to transform lives and meet the needs of our older residents.”

Alison Benzimra, Head of Research and Influence said:

“United St Saviour’s Charity will be incorporating all our learnings into our practices. We are journeying with our residents to determine what aspects of the building’s physical design, community activities and resident support model impact health and wellbeing in later life. Through collaborations with our trusted research partners, such as Bournemouth University, we aim to share our findings widely so we can positively influence policy and practice both locally and nationally as our ageing population continues to increase. Appleby Blue is a place where people can relax, meet others, and participate in a range of activities that enable both residents and people from the local community to keep fit, healthy and active – a place where residents are firmly at the centre of life around them.”

For more information, please visit www.ustsc.org.uk

See also:

posted 10 October 2023

Photo Credits: Philip Vile