75th Anniversary - Members stories | The Almshouse Association

Day’s & Atkinson’s join the 2023 London Festival of Architecture

The London Borough of Barnet was involved in the 2023 London Festival of Architecture and the Day’s & Atkinson Almshouses played a part in the celebrations this year. They held an event on Saturday 24^th June which took the form of a guided walk and talk with refreshments along the way.

“We met at the tomb of Charles Day (the ‘Day’ in Day’s and Atkinson’s) which is situated in the graveyard at St Margaret’s Church Edgware. We then moved on to the Day’s Almshouses in Stonegrove, then Atkinson’s Almshouses and finally the housing and community project that is ‘One Stonegrove’ where we held a Q & A and enjoyed a buffet lunch.

The event attracted around 30 participants and was attended by Councillors, the Clergy, Historic England, and members of the public. Rev’d Simon Rea (Chair of the Charity) and Peter Murphy (Trustee) each gave talks and took us on a journey of the architecture of the buildings and the history of the Charity.

The weather was perfect and our residents welcomed visitors into their homes and gave very positive testimonies as to the benefits of living in an almshouse.”
Mike Seaman, Clerk To The Trustees, Day’s and Atkinson’s Almshouses

Thank you for sending in these fantastic photos Mike and well done for all your hard work.

posted 5 July 2023

The Almshouse Association Members Day 2023

A Celebration of Community, Compassion, Companionship, and Care

On 15th July 2023, The Almshouse Association hosted Members Day 2023 at the prestigious One Great George Street in Westminster, London. The day was dedicated to embracing the values of community, compassion and companionship, which lie at the heart of the almshouse movement, and, on the day, a fourth ‘c’ was added to the theme by the special guest speakers – care.

The event brought together esteemed individuals who shed light on the caring nature of almshouses and emphasized the significance of human interaction. The day was filled with inspiring speeches, informative sessions, and networking opportunities, making it an extraordinary experience for all attendees.

Welcoming the Chairman and Honouring the Award Winners

One of the highlights of the event was the introduction of the new Chairman, Willie Hartley Russell. His appointment marked a fresh chapter for The Almshouse Association, symbolizing its commitment to the future of the organization. His inspiring words resonated with the delegated, creating a sense of excitement and anticipation for the Association’s journey ahead.

Another significant moment was the recognition and celebration of The Almshouse Association Award winners. These remarkable individuals and projects were honoured for their impressive developments, beautiful garden projects, dedication, and hard work. Chair of the Awards Committee, Simon Pott and new Chairman, Willie Hartley Russell presented the winners with Gardens and People and Inspiration Homes certificates and award winner pin badges, acknowledging their outstanding contributions to the almshouse movement.

Liz Fathi steps down as Chair and receives the honour of officially becoming the Association’s first ever ‘Friend of The Association’.

The TAA ‘Friends of’ programme will be officially launched this September giving members and associates the opportunity to join a special group of people helping to preserve the historic value of the almshouse movement and securing its future.

Our Friends of Programme will offer a distinctive array of activities and projects for friends of active involvement, all the while supporting the almshouse movement.

_{Poland Trust, Inspirational Homes Award}

_{Wyggestons and Trinity Hospital Charities, Inspirational Homes Award}

_{Great Shelford Parochial Charities, Inspirational Homes Award}

_{Barnstaple Almshouses, Gardens and People Award}

_{Frances Darlington Charity, Gardens and People Award}

_{Zeals Almshouses, Gardens and People Award}

_{Peter Birtwistle Trust, Inspirational Homes Award}

_{Tibberton Almshouses, Inspirational Homes Award}

_{The Honywood and Douglas Charity, Inspiration Homes Award}

Guest Speakers Emphasising Care

Our distinguished guest speakers from various fields shared their valuable insights, all converging on the importance of care within the almshouse community.

Paul Latham of the Charity Commission shed light on the regulatory aspects, emphasizing the significance of caring practices within charitable organizations. Research Fellow Dr Helen Pooley provided an academic perspective, underlining the positive impact caring architecture has on the well-being of residents. Sir Stephen Bubb JP FRSA, a renowned charity titan, shared his experiences and praised the uniqueness of almshouses and the caring nature that defines all charities.

Our headline speaker, Author and Humanitarian, Terry Waite CBE captivated the audience with his personal anecdotes and insights into his time in captivity, illustrating the transformative power of care in fostering compassion and resilience.

The Q&A that followed his talk could have gone on for hours; so many questions, so humble his manner, and such a huge inspiration to us all.

_{Terry Waite CBE delights the delegates}

A Day Filled with Inspiration and Engagement

_{Panel of Experts answers delegate questions}

Members Day 2023 was brimming with engaging sessions, including Q&A opportunities with experts in their fields, allowing attendees to delve deeper into specific topics. The event encouraged active participation and facilitated networking among the members, fostering a sense of unity and camaraderie within the almshouse community

A special thanks

The Almshouse Association extended their gratitude to the sponsors and exhibitors who supported the event, recognizing their invaluable contribution to its success. Thanks also to Richard Gray for the photography

Additionally, the Association expressed their appreciation for everyone who dedicated their time and effort to making the day truly exceptional.

The Almshouse Association Members Day 2023 was an unforgettable celebration of compassion, community, companionship, and care. With an illustrious line-up of guest speakers, the introduction of the new Chairman, and the recognition of outstanding achievements, the event exemplified the core values that define the almshouse movement. Through inspirational speeches, engaging sessions, and ample opportunities for networking, attendees were left with a renewed sense of purpose and a deeper understanding of the vital role they play within their communities. The event served as a testament to the enduring commitment of The Almshouse Association and its members to creating a better world and seeing almshouses recognised as the exemplar form of community housing.

posted 28 June 2023

New almshouses for Great Shelford

Five years in the planning, Great Shelford’s £4.4M almshouse development is now complete and has welcomed its first residents.

The 21 new homes, a mix of 1, 2 and 3 bedroom units, are grouped in three curved terraces surrounding a central green. Equipped with air source heat pumps, mechanically ventilated heat recovery systems, triple glazing and high levels of insulation, the homes are designed to minimise energy consumption and keep residents’ running costs low.

“Ever since our initial public meeting in July 2018 at which we outlined the need for further affordable housing in Great Shelford, we have been working closely with villagers and both parish and district councillors to bring this project to fruition. And I would particularly like to thank the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority for their generous grant of just over £1M towards the development cost,”
Sarah Rann, Chair of the Parochial Charities trustees.

Alongside the new development the charity has planted some 250 native trees and laid out allotments, a community garden, footpaths and benches, providing enhanced public access to the 8 acres of land it owns on the northern edge of the village.

The new development brings to 53 the total number of almshouse homes managed by Great Shelford Parochial Charities, providing affordable accommodation for villagers on low incomes and in housing need.

The trustees plan to hold a formal opening later in the year.

Taken from GSVC website news: New almshouses for Great Shelford – GSVC (gspc.org.uk, Sunday February 12, 2023

History of Beeston’s Almshouses, Peckham

posted 16 May 2023 in ARCHITECTURE, HIDDEN GEMS, LONDON, LOOK UP LONDON, SOUTH LONDON by Katie Wignall

Along Consort Road in Peckham you can admire the quaint-looking Beeston’s almshouses. As well as their charming appearance and characteristic almshouse layout, the aspect that really piqued my interest was the shield of the Girdlers’ Company.

Worshipful Company of Girdlers Crest | Look Up London — _{Beeston’s Almshouses}

You can spot more of these in Farringdon (featured on my Clerkenwell walk in my book!)

THE WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF GIRDLERS

The Girdlers’ Company have a recorded history going back to 1327 when King Edward III granted them Letters Patent. This gave them a monopoly over the trade of girdles (making belts and other metalwork) and allowed them to regulate manufacturing standards and see off competitors.

The company’s Arms – granted in 1454 – contains three gridirons, chosen because griddle-iron sounds similar to girdler. Their patron saint is Lawrence of Rome who was grilled to death(!) on a gridiron in AD258.

The church of St Lawrence Jewry by the City of London Guildhall has a gridiron weathervane and the Girdlers’ Company have been associated with that church for centuries.

The name Beeston is a nod to Cuthbert Beeston, a past Master of the Girdlers’ Company who left seven houses to the company in his will of 1582.

Beeston's Almhouses, Peckham | Look Up London

Originally, the bequeathed houses weren’t in Peckham, but at the south end of London Bridge. These were compulsory purchased in 1834 when the Old London Bridge (1209-1831) was being replaced by the John Rennie’s London Bridge (1831-1970).

In the 1828 map below you can see both the new and old London bridges marked across the Thames. The original almshouses were on the south approach to the Old London Bridge.

*_{Image credit: layersoflondon.org – C and J Greenwood 1828}*

The proceeds of that sale funded a two-storey almshouse building in Peckham.

Today they’re home to 20 residents and when the occasional vacancy does appear the criteria is fairly strict, the charity stipulating that the residents shall be “poor persons in the following categories”;

Freemen of the City of London;
Persons who are, or have been, employed in trades akin to that of a Girdler (including workers in metals, leather, cloths and fabrics);
Persons resident in the former administrative county of London, as constituted on 31st March 1965.

The almshouses were built in 1834, designed in a Tudor-esque style with gabled roofs at each end and hexagonal chimneys. Presumably this is a nod to their 16th century foundation and I found the overall effect visually striking and totally charming.

Peckham has a few other notable almshouses. I wrote about the former Asylum and Caroline Gardens chapel after visiting for Open House London.

There’s also more Girdlers’ Company almshouses in Choumert Road. Similar to Beeston’s, they were funded by a past Master, George Palyn in 1610 and were originally in the City before moving further into the London suburbs. You can see photos of them here.

Article from Look up London website posted on The Almshouse Association website on 26 June 2023

Case Study: Poland Trust

CAF Bank has published a great case study on their website on the Poland Trust Almshouse Build which we have shared with you below:

The cause

A philanthropic gift, the commitment of trustees to a decade-long project and CAF Bank’s support. These are the foundations of a new build scheme in Surrey, to make affordable accommodation available for people who otherwise may not have been able to stay in the area.

High property prices mean that the availability of housing is a worry for many local people. The Poland Trust, a locally-based charity and Almshouse Association member, has been looking at ways to meet the need for affordable homes, so that the community can continue to flourish.

The Trust’s main aim is to help people in need, hardship or distress who have a connection to the villages of Brockham, Betchworth, Buckland and Leigh. It was set up with the financial support of Sidney Michael Poland who lived in the area. He died in 1936, leaving funds and property for the benefit of local villagers. Originally, the charity helped older residents to find suitable homes for retirement. In recent years, it began exploring how to help young people stay in the area by providing social housing.

CAF Bank support

After nearly ten years of searching for a suitable site, The Poland Trust is developing Poland Meadow. 12 homes are being constructed on land gifted by a local family. The Weekly Maitenance Charge for these flats and houses will be at approx. 60% of market rate, with priority given to those with a strong connection to the local area. The development also includes five self-build plots, which the Trust has sold to local residents at 75% of market value. A covenant means that these can only be sold on at 80% of market value and have to be offered to people in the local community.

Getting this project off the ground relied on support from a number of sources, including the Trust’s own resources, a grant from Mole Valley District Council, proceeds from the self-build plots and a bank loan.

CAF Bank was selected to provide long-term finance. Following discussions to understand the needs of the project, we were able to provide a secured loan which was drawn down in summer 2022.

The impact

The development provides four one-bedroom flats, two one-bedroom houses, five two-bedroom houses, and one three bedroom-house. In collaboration with The Almshouse Association, all the homes are designated as almshouses, in line with other properties run by the charity. The first four units are occupied by residents with an average age of around 30.

“I never thought I would be able to live independently in the village and community where I grew up, because of housing costs in the area so this lovely new flat is a life-changing opportunity for me and I am extremely grateful for it,” said one new Poland Meadow resident.

Project takeaways

A challenge might have multiple solutions

The inclusion of self-build units assisted The Poland Trust in making the project financials stack up, as well as providing a different option for those for whom rental properties are not a suitable solution.

Know your local environment

The trustees of the charity are all local and know that the area floods. With this knowledge they invested approximately £300,000 installing a reservoir for surface water, so they can control the release of water into the local catchment area.

Engage with the local community and employ local firms where possible

The architect of the project has lived in a local village all his life, the builders are based nearby and the building standards supervisor lives in the area.

We recognised some time ago the need for social housing for the younger generation, to supplement our existing almshouses which cater for older beneficiaries.

We are immensely grateful to CAF Bank and all the supporters of this development, which will provide high quality homes for current and future residents. The greatest reward has been the reaction of the new residents as they move in.
Andrew Barratt, Trustee

posted June 2023

Case Studies from Taunton Heritage Trust

The Taunton Heritage Trust is an almshouse charity based in Taunton, Somerset. We provide 66 almshouse flats in the town for the over 60s in financial need. All our flats are adapted with the older person in mind and have walk-in showers and a 24-hour care alarm system. We also provide live-in Warden support.

[above photo: Grays Almshouse, a Grade I listed building dating back to 1635s | All photo credits: Taunton Heritage Trust]

Each of our sites has the benefit of a community room for the use of residents as well as communal laundries with washers and dryers provided and maintained by the Trust. We ensure our flats and communal gardens are maintained to a very high standard and provide all flooring and white goods in each flat. We also have guest suites so that our Residents’ friends and relatives are able to visit and stay over at minimal cost.

Each site is a special community in its own right. We have two very experienced wardens whose role is that of “good neighbour”. They visit our residents on a daily basis and are able to tailor their visits should a resident need some extra support. If for example, a resident has recently been unwell, had a fall or come home from a spell in hospital, our wardens are able to keep an extra special eye on that individual to ensure they are fully supported.

_{HUISH HOMES, a Grade II listed building built in 1868}

Our wardens organise a range of events and activities for the benefit of our residents and this includes regular coffee mornings, film afternoons, fish & chip suppers, race nights, charity fund raisers etc.

We never put our residents under any pressure to get involved, and some are very private individuals who like to keep themselves to themselves. We completely respect that fact but we work hard to ensure that our residents are never socially isolated and always have a friendly face to turn to if they have a problem.

HISTORY OF TAUNTON HERITAGE TRUST

The Taunton Heritage Trust is an amalgamation, achieved over the last century or so, of a remarkable collection of charitable trusts, funds and bequests originally for the benefit of needy people in Taunton but now extended to the inhabitants of the modern borough of Taunton Deane. Its origins were unknown to a Government Charitable Commission as early as 1611, but by then it was endowed with some fifty properties in the town centre and land in two Devon parishes. The involvement of Civic Officers in the distribution of doles suggests a pre-Reformation origin in the brotherhoods established in the town’s principal church, St Mary’s, in the 15th century.

Charitable housing was part of that same attempt to help the poor in the 15th century, culminating two centuries later in several independent almshouse foundations, two of which, by Richard Huish and Robert Gray, were singularly well endowed. All at different times were supported by and later amalgamated with the Civic Foundation, bringing with them educational interests and as well as a long tradition of sheltered housing coupled with financial support.

Surviving records of the charities tell a story of help given to thousands of the most vulnerable in the town and neighbourhood, and of a succession of townsmen and women and others, giving their time as Trustees to ensuring that the generosity of the past continues to be effective in the future.

The Trust has a fascinating document put together by the Arts Society on the Chapel at Grays Almshouses

click here to view

Due to the very special nature of what we offer at the Taunton Heritage Trust, there is no doubt that some of our residents are able to live independently within our schemes for longer than if they were living elsewhere in the town on your average street.

Some of our residents are well into their nineties, and because of the sheltered nature of what the Trust provides, are able to still live with dignity and a great quality of life, behind their own front door, in the knowledge that help is always on hand.

As well as the support that our wardens provide, our residents look out for each other and there is a real sense of belonging and caring.

The following are some special case studies regarding residents, that have been prepared by our wardens. It is so apparent that our wardens develop a very special relationship with their residents:

“This gentleman joined us in December a couple of years ago. He had lived in his own mobile home on a site for over 25 years, but on return from hospital, he realised that his home was no longer fit to live in, as it had deteriorated so badly. It was also unsaleable.

The gentleman was invited in for an interview where he came across as being very independent although his mobility was limited. We felt he was in need and that we could offer him a ground floor flat with 24 hr support through the piper line and warden. He very happily accepted and was very aware that he would have to arrange a package of care when needed.

This gentleman has now lived independently in his own almshouse for 18 months, and due to his terminal illness, regularly visits the local hospice. We have been able to provide him with the support to enable him to maintain his independence and dignity and to ensure the final months of his life are comfortable. He enjoys a daily warden visit.”

In his application he was completely honest and open about his medical condition which is serious and will shorten his life expectancy. He had a short spell in a Nursing home for respite which he did not enjoy, as he felt that he was far too independent and mobile and not ready for this stage.

“This gentleman joined the Trust in back in 2011, having suffered a massive stroke and that left him with a severe right-side weakness.

On his discharge from hospital, his wife refused him access to his home (which was in her name only) and so he was declared “homeless “by the Local Authority. They offered him upstairs single room accommodation at a local hotel, which he accepted. He applied to the Trust for a ground floor flat, being totally independent with his personal care, finance and mobility, and was successful, He remains with us today, living completely independently but enjoying the benefits of 24 hour support through the warden’s visits and the helpline. There is no doubt that he is extremely happy.”

“Resident M was 61-years-old when she came to the Trust and has been with us for 27 years. She was divorced from her husband before moving to Taunton to be closer to family and friends. In her younger days she worked as a supervisor at Woolworths.

M was given the choice of two vacant flats at the time and she decided to have the smaller one which is our only flat that is still a bedsit with the bedroom and living room together; this was ideal for her as it is in a private location overlooking our lovely gardens.

M is a very quiet, solitary lady and lives a very independent life, but she is one of our characters. She has a very quiet presence yet participates in every event within the community, even if she insists that she ‘can’t be bothered with it’! Our warden usually sets the bait with a homemade cake or something tasty and lo and behold she will always turn up and usually is the first to arrive! She is encouraged to join in as her life is quite lonely, however, this is the way she likes to live. She has a poor relationship with her family who have only recently become more supportive since M has been diagnosed with dementia.

At present her mental health is deteriorating but she has surprised us all by accepting help with a carer coming in once a day to prepare lunch and assist with small chores or do shopping. We hope that with the support that we are able to provide, that M will continue to stay with us as long as possible.”

“Resident D has been with us for a year. He is a former homeless man and he is slowly adjusting to a more comfortable life in Trust accommodation. He had been sleeping in an old camper van for over two years and was accessing facilities at a local homeless charity. He was referred to us by a support worker from the homeless charity, initially bringing him along to an Open Morning. D was very distrustful and both the support worker and members of the Trust staff had to work quite hard to persuade D to take up our offer of a flat.

D is a single man and gave up his business so that he could care for his elderly parents who have now both died. He settled in to his flat well, although he still displays traits of having an unconventional lifestyle! D is a quirky character with a great sense of humour, and he mixes well within our community. He has been offered help with furniture etc, but he prefers to sleep on a camp bed and use only a camping chair. The Trust has been able to provide him with a stable home in a safe environment and he has built up a good level of Trust with his warden and close neighbours.”

Mr M is a 68-year-old man who had been living with his partner of 37 years, unfortunately the relationship broke down and his partner had terminated the lease on their rented property giving him a fortnight to find other accommodation. He was working part time as a chef but did not have any savings and was not at that time of pensionable age. He came to the Trust for help on 1^st of October in desperate need and very low in mood, fortunately we did have a vacant flat available, but it needed some refurbishment, we basically moved heaven and earth to get the flat ready and Mr M moved in on the 14^{th of} October.

He moved in without a stick of furniture, not even a kettle, we therefore issued him a grant where he was then able to purchase essentials.

Mr M has now been with us for three years and is a model Resident and extremely proud of his flat, he is truly a different man now than he was when we first met. He puts his cheffing skills to good use, often doing barbeques on our event evenings, he is also now in receipt of his state pension, so financially is in a much better position and a very happy man! In a recent conversation I have had with him, he said that moving into his almshouse flat has been the best thing to happen to him, as he is now worry free and no longer in the dark place he was once in.”

Resident D is a 78-year-old widow and arrived in this country from Australia in 2018 courtesy of the Office for Migration. All three of her children are in Australia and whilst living there with her daughter, she tried to get a permanent resident visa so she could be granted state benefits but was unsuccessful. She was staying in temporary accommodation at the time and was referred to the Trust by a local Housing Officer. Being in a community and having the security of living within the Trust appealed to her.

Having no income and few belongings, the Trust granted her money to purchase essential furniture, and after sourcing items from charity shops, it was not long before she adapted and made her little dwelling look lovely and homely. D began to slowly settle in, but her heart was sad because was also still missing her husband who had died four years previously; and then she was forced to leave her family and the new life that she had made.

I referred D to a befriending charity and for a while she appreciated the weekly phone call but was not up for joining in the monthly tea party that they organise. D is a quiet, gentle soul and is very positive lady who enjoys good humour. She soon developed a friendship with another lady, also a widow living on that site, a rather larger-than-life character who liked to know everyone and everything! They soon became inseparable and started doing everything together: going to the coffee morning that we started up on that site; trips to the local supermarket most days, Trust Christmas events and summer outings; breaking lockdown rules together and sometimes even having a bit of a moan between themselves! It was a good friendship and D appeared very much happier. Sadly, her friend collapsed one day and was taken into hospital. For many weeks D was without her friend who eventually passed away.

The weeks following, D understandably seemed quite low in spirits, so I took more time to chat with her on my visits. For a while she lost her spark again and initially, she expressed no interest in doing much, but over time and with gentle encouragement, I managed to get her to come to the coffee morning on our main site. This was quite daunting for her on her own, so I walked up with her the first couple of times, having made everyone aware that she was joining us. It was wonderfully heart-warming to see how well she was welcomed into the group She sits with her cuppa having a good old natter and now regularly attends many events that myself and the residents organise.

Before her friend died, D volunteered in a local charity shop, and she told me that after lockdown they never asked her back. I could sense her disappointment and rejection and I recently had a conversation with someone who knew D and worked in the shop. The lady told me that they never asked her back because she kept talking to customers. I remarked that to me this would not matter, and it was a shame as D enjoyed the company, and that surely it should be a positive thing to chat to customers and good for business! Knowing this lady well, I knew that my comment would probably be passed on – and it was! D’s face was beaming recently when she told me that the Manager had apologised for not calling her sooner and that would be very pleased to welcome her back!

One last thing – I am awaiting a message from her daughter in Australia who has recently been unwell in hospital and misses her Mum too. Hopefully, I will be able to arrange for D and her family to facetime soon, and before Christmas as I know this will be very lonely time for her. “

The Almshouse Association is thankful to Taunton Heritage Trust, to the wardens and the residents for sharing their stories with us. If you would like to find out more about the Trust, please visit their website here.

posted June 2023

WW1 Compass returned to almshouse founder’s family

A First World War compass owned by the son of Cardiff shipping magnate, Liberal Party MP and High Sheriff of Monmouthshire Sir William Henry Seager (1862-1941) has finally been returned to his family in Wales. The Cardiff family founded W.H Seager & Co in 1904, a global shipping company which operated from Cardiff docks until the 1960s.

William Seager Jr (known as Willie) a 2^nd Lieutenant in the South Wales Borderers was killed in action in France in February 1916 aged 23.

In 1939 Sir William Seager established the Willie Seager Memorial Trust in honour of his son, which provided homes to retired seafarers and their wives in Cardiff. The Trust is today an almshouse managed by Aelwyd Housing and continues to provide homes for seafarers and dockworkers.

After Lt Seager’s death, the compass came into the hands of his Regimental Sargent Major George Lockie who served with him on the front. Over 100 years later the compass was inherited by descendants of George Lockie who found it was engraved and set out to find out more about the soldier it had belonged to.

Alan Lloyd a great grandson of George Lockie said

“ We have no idea how our great grandfather came to be in possession of the compass, but once we saw the inscription, we knew we had to find out more about Willie Seager and hopefully return the compass to his family. We were amazed to find he came from a family that was such an important part of Welsh history and his legacy lives on today through the provision of homes for retired seafarers.”

Alan and his cousin Lorraine who both live in England contacted the Willie Seager Memorial Trust which was able to connect them with the living relatives of Willie Seager. The two families met up in March 2023 in Cardiff to exchange the compass, and Alan and Lorraine were given a book about the life of Willie Seager by his great-niece Jane Edmonds.

Jane Edmonds who lives in Aberystwyth said

“I have no words to say how grateful we are to Alan and Lorraine. They have done a wonderful thing for our family and returned a precious item owned by my great uncle who was so tragically killed in the First World War.”

The Chair of the Willie Seager Memorial Trust Captain Hywel Jones said,

“The return of the compass to Willie Seager’s family was a very moving moment, with lots of tears. We all remembered the sacrifice and legacy of a young man whose name is still spoken every day as we provide homes to retired seafarers in housing need.

Willie Seager’s niece Jane Edmonds intends to take the compass around the UK to show it to Seagar family members, before finding it a suitable home in Wales where it can be viewed by the public.

Posted June 2023

Ceremonial bread presentation tradition continues

The recently revived traditional Richard Smith for Bread donation of bread to almspeople took place on Wednesday 17 May outside 6 Guild Cottages Almshouses, Church Street Stratford-upon-Avon.

The Mayor of Stratford Gill Cleeve undertook this tradition of the giving out of the bread.

“Municipal Charities do a marvellous job of providing accommodation for 47 residents in their almshouses and it’s great to be able to continue this ancient tradition of giving out bread from the Richard Smith charity for Bread”
The Mayor Gill Cleeve

Richard Smith left money in his will of 14 June 1695 for the distribution on bread to “eighteen poor people”. Now, each year, the Richard Smith for Bread Charity receives a donation of £30 from the Governors of King Edward VI Grammar School for distribution of bread to alms people.

The Chief Officer William Clemmey said,

“We are grateful to Mor Bakery for providing the bread for the revival of this tradition. We offer our residents housing as well as grants at Christmas and Easter together with a range of outings throughout the year. If you know anyone who would like to become a resident then do get in touch”

The photograph shows the Mayor distributing bread to two of the residents accompanied by two trustees and two staff from Municipal Charities.

Anyone wishing to become a resident should get in touch with the Charity at the Guild Cottages address or by email to chiefofficer@municipal-charities.org.uk or via their website https://www.municipal-charities.org.uk/.

posted 24 May 2023

Almshouses in the national news!

Today in the Guardian, journalist Amelia Hill explores almshouses and the impact they are having on their residents.

‘Affordable and stress free’: how almshouses are the unsung heroes of UK social housing

She writes:

Every morning after he gets up, Gary Hiercock presses a green button outside his bedroom. That’s how the warden of his Leicester almshouse knows he’s up and about – that he hasn’t had a fall or become ill overnight.

“It’s just one example of how everything is thought of here: nothing is left to chance: everyone is safe at every moment of the day,” said the 71-year-old former department store manager. “I have absolutely no worries at all here. I’m completely content.”

Hiercock has lived in the Wyggestons Almshouses in Leicester for just over a year, since his partner of 53 years had to go into a care home with advanced Alzheimer’s.

“I start every day feeling happy and grateful to be here,” he said. “I was very isolated where I lived before but here, everyone is so friendly. If I’m ever feeling a bit lonely, I just need to go for a stroll and I’ll come across someone to do something with.”

To read the article in full, please click on the link here:

See also:

[Top photo: Kim and Terry Baxter at the second viewing of their new almshouse flat in Southwark, London. Photograph: Sean Smith/The Guardian]

posted 22 May 2023

Study finds living in an almshouse can boost life expectancy

Living in an almshouse can boost the longevity of its residents by as much as two-and-a-half years compared to their counterparts in the general population, according to a new Bayes Business School report.

Almshouses provide affordable community housing for local people in housing need. They are generally designed around a courtyard to provide a ‘community spirit’, that is synonymous with the almshouse movement. They offer independent living but provide friendship and support when needed.

Analysing up to 100 years’ worth of residents’ records from various almshouses in England, the research suggests that living in these communities can reduce the negative impact on health and social wellbeing which is commonly experienced by the older population in lower socioeconomic groups, particularly those individuals who are living in isolation.

The results are very encouraging. They show that, for several of the almshouses included in the study, residents can expect to live as long as wealthier members of the general population despite coming from the most deprived quintile. This shows that the disparity in longevity and health outcomes could be mitigated even after reaching retirement age, provided a suitable social infrastructure can be put in place.
The report, authored by Professor Ben Rickayzen, Dr David Smith, Dr Anastasia Vikhanova and Alison Benzimra, concludes that almshouses could help the Government’s aims to reduce inequalities in mortality, which are observed between socioeconomic groups, by reducing the social isolation experienced by many in the older population.

“We are delighted to read this report. It is further evidence that the almshouse model – 1,000 years after its inception – seems to be adding something special to the lives of residents. There is a growing body of research that is suggesting this model of community housing seems to be right for the future. This must now beg the question, where are the philanthropists to lead this robust charity housing model into the next century?”
Nick Phillips, CEO, The Almshouse Association

“It is well known that, on average, the lower a person’s socioeconomic status, the lower their life expectancy. However, intriguingly, our research has found that this doesn’t have to be the case. We discovered that many almshouse residents receive a longevity boost when compared to their peers of the same socioeconomic status from the wider population. More research is needed to ascertain exactly what factors cause almshouse residents to have a longer life; however, we postulate that it is the sense of the community that is the most powerful ingredient. For example, a common theme within the almshouses included in the study is that they encourage residents to undertake social activities and responsibilities on behalf of their fellow residents. This is likely to increase their sense of belonging and give them a greater sense of purpose in their everyday lives while mitigating against social isolation.

We would encourage the Government to invest in retirement communities, such as almshouses, which would be in keeping with their overarching levelling up agenda. While this agenda is commonly associated with enhancing equality on a regional basis, it is important that levelling up should also aim to combat health inequalities experienced by people from lower socioeconomic groups across the country. There is an opportunity to improve the Government’s levelling up agenda by incorporating the best features of communal living into their social housing policy. This should make a significant difference to the quality of life experienced by the older population across the UK.

The findings from this research are important as they could offer solutions to the social care problems currently being experienced in the UK.” Professor Ben Rickayzen, Professor of Actuarial Science at Bayes Business School

‘Almshouse Longevity Study – Can living in an almshouse lead to a longer life?’, the report’s key findings are:

Residents in almshouses in England receive a longevity boost relative to people of the same socioeconomic group from the wider population.
The best-performing almshouses in the study so far have shown a longevity boost which increases life expectancy to that of a life in the second-highest socioeconomic quintile – a remarkable outcome.
As an example, the authors estimate that a 73-year-old male entering an almshouse such as The Charterhouse today would receive a longevity boost of 2.4 years (an extra 15% of future lifetime at the point of joining) compared to his peers from the same socioeconomic group, and 0.7 years when compared to an average 73-year-old from the general population.
This longevity boost could be due to both the strong sense of community and social belonging within almshouses which lead to better physical and mental health. Enhanced wellbeing helps to mitigate loneliness which is endemic in older age groups.

“Many almshouse trustees and staff members anecdotally believe that almshouse living is beneficial for residents. The results from this study demonstrate that the community spirit provided by almshouses does in fact result in longer life expectancy. These findings are encouraging to those living and working in the almshouse community and provide the motivation to continue to explore what it is about almshouses’ physical design and support services that result in positive outcomes for older residents. This study strengthens the case that this historic form of housing is addressing the evolving needs of older people living in our modern-day society.”
Alison Benzimra, a co-author of the report and Head of Research at United St Saviour’s Charity

“It’s been great to support this piece of work and to see it take its place in the wider body of work about the characteristics of age-friendly living spaces and supportive communities. A one-hundred-year life is now a realistic expectation and we need to build on this learning to create the homes and communities that will be so important for the health and wellbeing of us all.”
Susan Kay, Chief Executive of Dunhill Medical Trust

“Moving to Hopton’s Gardens has been a godsend. To have a roof over my head has helped me to deal with my addiction issues, and having the support from the staff and my neighbours has made my recovery possible.”
Nigel Hulme, a resident of the United St Saviour’s Charity almshouse, explained how much living in the almshouse has helped him in his later years:

Bayes Business School (formerly Cass)

Bayes Business School is a leading global business school driven by world-class knowledge, innovative education, and a vibrant, diverse community. The School has been at the forefront of business education for more than 50 years, developing leaders who help businesses thrive through change and uncertainty.

Located in the heart of one of the world’s top financial centres, the School has strong links to both the City of London and the thriving entrepreneurial hub of Tech City.

www.bayes.city.ac.uk

The Almshouse Association

Almshouses are a charitable form of self-sufficient, low-cost community housing that is held in trust for local people in housing need. They are managed and run by almshouse charities made up of local volunteers and have been in existence for over 1,000 years.

Today, over 36,000 people are living full and independent lives in almshouses, finding friendships, well-being, safety and security inside their walls and within their communities. Through representation, fundraising, donations and legacies, The Almshouse Association is working hard with local authorities and the Government to make it possible for many more to be built as well as securing the heritage of these historic buildings.

www.almshouses.org