New almshouses in Cheltenham

New ecologically friendly almshouses offer more than a roof over residents heads.

CEO Nick Phillips attended the official opening of four new almshouses at Jesse Mary Almshouses in Cheltenham on 16th July 2021.

The new solar-powered almshouses have been built to a very high standard of comfort and economy, typical of the new generation of almshouses – taking the best of traditional design and incorporating the highest standards of insulation and solar energy in order to reduce the impact on the environment and improve economic resilience.

Amongst the throng enjoying the day were trustees, residents, The Mayor of Cheltenham (who cut the opening ribbon), Councillor Steve Harvey – The Deputy Mayor of Cheltenham, Councillor Sandra Holliday and MP for Cheltenham, Alex Chalk, Assistant Whip and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Ministry of Justice, Valerie O’Connor, Chairman of Trustees, Nick Phillips, CEO of The Almshouse Association and architect and building contractor representatives.

Resident Fran has been living at the Jesse Mary almshouses for 17 years; now 70, she enjoys supporting the older residents and playing her part in the community and neighbourly spirit of almshouses.

“I have loved every single minute of living here and I am very happy. Even if I won the lottery I still wouldn’t want to move!”

In his statement to the BBC, MP Alex Chalk spoke of the vital role almshouses play today in the social and community housing sector.

“Almshouses are a proven model and fill a gap not just in quality affordable housing for those in need but in reducing isolation and loneliness. A powerful model for the future!”

Nick Phillips, commented on the value that almshouses bring to a community and their genuine affordable model.

“These almshouses show what can be achieved by one local charity, established nearly 100 years ago, leading the way locally on not just affordable homes and creating close communities but in environmental construction and design.”

It was a great day enjoyed by all and we even managed to get a spot on the BBC news!

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The new almshouses consist of four individual one-bedroom properties, finished to the highest modern standard with open-plan kitchen and underfloor heating throughout. All have ground-level entry with two designed for wheelchair access and equipped with re-enforced ceilings which can accommodate a hoist. State of the art PV panels have been installed to minimise any environmental impact.

They have been built in the grounds of the Jesse Mary Chambers almshouses and complement the existing building which was put up in 1924 under the Will of Mr. Henry David Gregory Chambers, in memory of his sister.

Cheltenham Almshouses & Aid own and manage four almshouse sites across the town with a total of 39 properties and residents

Posted 20 July 21

Double celebrations in Sonning!

Robert Palmer Almshouses in Sonning on Thames opened their garden gate to community and companionship for a celebration garden party.

To celebrate their 175th anniversary and the 75th anniversary of The Almshouse Association, Mike Hart, Chair of the board of trustees and his team held a wonderful summer afternoon garden party at their beautiful almshouses in Sonning on Thames on the 11th July 2021.

Former Prime Minster, Theresa May and Philip May joined Nick Phillips, CEO of The Almshouse Association at The Robert Palmer Almshouses for a champagne toast and afternoon tea.

Residents, trustees and friends gathered in the beautiful gardens to celebrate the community spirit of almshouses. The event was blessed with sunshine and everyone really enjoyed meeting up again after such a long time. It was a such joy to be a part of; to see the smiles and hear the laughter and raise a toast to community and kindness!

Theresa May is an active supporter of her local almshouses and The Almshouse Association we would like to thank her wholeheartedly for her support of the almshouse movement across the country.

Very Special Thanks also go to the trustees and all the residents for making the day so special for everyone!

Scan of newspaper article in the Henley Standard – click here
Link to online version

Posted 12 July 21

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New homes for single homeless in Worcester

On 2nd July, Worcester M.P. Robin Walker, together with the Mayor, Councillor Stephen Hodgson, and Bishop John Inge, formally unveiled a plaque to commemorate the opening of “Stillingfleet House, the latest 25 almshouse flats created for the single homeless by Worcester Municipal Charities.

Pictured here with them, is Paul Griffith MBE, Chairman of the Charities since 1985, who said:-

“Money management is essential for charities to keep pace with inflation. Since 2013 the Charity has been pursuing a wholesale property re-investment strategy to provide affordable almshouses for the single homeless here. Since 2016 we have been helped by the Almshouse Consortium and Homes England to create, 64 new flats “over the shops” and in empty office buildings. Selling commercial charity property between 2013 and 2018 realised £2,114,100.00. Then between 2016 and 2021, twenty one grants came from Homes England totalling £1,529,633. The Charity also borrowed £500,000 from Unity Trust Bank to help with cash flow.

“The Trustees are delighted to have found an exciting new strategy that provides housing for the homeless, whilst also making a reasonable commercial profit, at a time when good investment returns are difficult to find, and affordable flats for the homeless are in very short supply. The £150,000 rent we lost from the Home Office, when Probation moved out in 2019, will be virtually replaced by the £147,000 rents from the 25 flats, all of which will be spent on helping the poor, and creating 4 more flats for the homeless already in the pipeline.”  

Paul Griffiths

Nick Phillips, CEO of The Almshouse Association was invited to the event and was impressed not just by the quality of the build but the fantastic use of the charities resources in turning commercial investments into almshouses for those in very immediate need.

“The partnership between Worcester Municipal and Citizens Advice is unique and inspirational. The people occupying these almshouses faced years living on the streets. These almshouses can be life changing opportunities for young homeless people in Worcester.”

Nick Phillips

Posted July 21

Top images left and right, supplied by Saffer Cooper, Building Consultants. Top centre and below supplied by Worcester Municipal Charities

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Survey shows happy residents

The Hospital of St John the Evangelist and of St Anne in Okeham is believed to be the oldest charity in the county of Rutland, having been established for the provision of almshouse accommodation in 1399. 

The story of the charity begins with its foundation by William Dalby in 1399, by virtue of a Licence granted by King Richard II. The original intention was that the hospital should have two chaplains, and should provide accommodation for twelve poor men.

The property was confiscated during the Abolition of Chantries actions of the 16th Century, before being rescued by Archdeacon Robert Johnson, who bought back the land and then obtained a Royal Charter from Queen Elizabeth I. This 1597 Royal Charter extended the purpose of the charity to helping both men and women, with a single Hospital able to accommodate up to 20 individuals.

During the late 18th / early 19th century the properties fell into disrepair, and most of the buildings (with the exception of the original Chapel) disappeared when the Midland Railway was constructed across the charity’s land in the 1840’s.

Today it has over 100 properties and is managed on a day-to-day basis by a team of six staff, who are answerable to a Board of Governors which form the Trustee Body.

David Pattinson (Chairman); Mrs Margaret Ward (Resident); Mrs Elaine Woodhead (Chair – House Committee)

Paul Martin is CEO and Clerk to the Governors and has been with the Hospital of St John the Evangelist and of St Anne in Okeham (SJSA) since 2014, having previously been employed in a senior management role within two other large almshouse charities.

Paul manages the resident’s satisfaction survey, which is distributed bi-annually in March and is a professional benchmark for small housing providers. It provides a measure for the running of small charitable organisations, managing staff, repairs and location. 

This year’s survey had a tremendous response from their residents with a whopping 97 percent of responders indicating satisfaction with the service. 99 percent of responders highlighted they found the service provided by SJSA helpful.

This incredible response is remarkable in the face of the pandemic and Paul said: “This excellent set of results was a ringing endorsement that the structural and staffing changes, introduced at the time of the last survey, have had a positive impact on the wellbeing of the beneficiaries.”

David Pattinson, Chairman of the governors commented: “What a brilliant result! I am delighted that virtually all our residents are so happy with what we provide. It is a great tribute to the hard work of staff and governors in what has been really challenging times.”

References:
Kerry Coupe ; kerry.coupe@iliffepublishing.co.uk
Published in Rutland and Stamford Mercury 17:00, 25 May 2021

Posted 7 July 21

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Celebrations Networking Event

We had another amazing member networking event on Tuesday 29th June with members talking about their very special plans to have a garden party to help us celebrate our 75th anniversary year!

Thank you to everyone who took part and shared their plans – as well as their challenges.

A special thank you to Bob Needham of Wivenhoe Almshouses, who started the meeting by talking about his proposed 1940s style party and all the ins and outs of planning a garden party. This really helped the other members with ideas and what they needed to think about when organising an event.

We had some really interesting feedback and comments during the session and have highlighted these below for reference:

What it takes to organise a party – Bob highlighted the many aspects of organising a party, large or small including everything from gazebo’s to toilet facilities and Covid-19 requirements.  Whether organising a large or small event, certain criteria needs to be met and to help you with these, we have a great Hints & Tips Flyer in our Celebration Pack, that can assist you to identify the main points to consider and create a workable check list. 

Smaller more intimate events – Some members had concerns about their parties being too small or insignificant during our 75th anniversary year and we assured them that any gathering that induces happiness and camaraderie is special and signifies the essence of almshouses, which is a community spirit and neighbourliness. That is what the 75th anniversary year is all about. We would be delighted to hear about any small, intimate parties taking place, whether this is simply the residents sharing a cup of tea and a piece of cake to larger events. Every event is special, regardless of the size and every photo or story we receive of an event will be welcomed with delight.

PR doesn’t have to be intrusive – Some members were discussing the concerns about PR in their local communities as they wanted to respect their residents and also keep the media from inadvertently visiting without prior warning. They were reassured that PR inclusion can be kept to a minimum and managed in a way that isn’t intrusive and can be directed or focused on one major project or area.

We will share details for our next networking event as soon as they are finalised. In the meantime, if you have any questions or ideas you would like to discuss, please do email gerryharmon@almshouses.org

Wivenhoe Housing Trust: paving the way to celebrations

Trustees of The Wivenhoe Housing Trust are looking forward to joining in with the national celebrations to mark 75 years of The Almshouse Association.

This almshouse charity, based in Essex, is responsible for the provision of thirteen properties over two sites in Wivenhoe. The Mary Ann Sanford Almshouses (1873) and Jonathan Feedham Almshouses (built 1974 from a legacy bequeathed 1718)

A Celebration Garden Party is set for Saturday 18th September 2021 in the newly re-vamped courtyard at Jonathan Feedham Court. The location is most appropriate as the area has recently undergone significant improvements. The courtyard now benefits from a new drainage system. Significantly, improved access to the garden and floral beds has been achieved by raising the paved ground surface level across the yard to meet with that of the front door levels of the bungalows. The courtyard is now a much nicer space for residents to socialise enhancing opportunities for improved health and wellbeing and promoting a greater interest in plants and gardening.

The garden project had taken a few years to achieve and plans were afoot to hold an opening ceremony in 2020. Alas, pandemic restrictions meant that this couldn’t go ahead.

Now, an excellent opportunity awaits the Wivenhoe Housing Trust. A Grand Celebration Garden Party will enable combine their opening ceremony with marking the 75th anniversary of the formation of The Almshouse Association. A 1940s themed afternoon will see all residents from both almshouse locations attending to enjoy afternoon tea with The Town Mayor of Wivenhoe, The Trustee Board, Representatives from The Wivenhoe Society, Wivenhoe Helping Hands and the two local schools. (A drawing competition is under way for local school children on an almshouse theme and awards will be presented at the garden party).

If available, a 1940s gramophone will play records of the era and entertainment is scheduled from The Hoolies, Wivenhoe’s Sea Shanty Crew and the Colchester Town Crier is on hand for any special announcements.

Words by Robert Needham. To read more about the renovations project, please click here .

Contacts
Robert Needham  01206 824446 noisybeggar@btinternet.com     Peter Hill  01206  823073 peter@toadhall2.co.uk   Chair of Trustees
Further information   www.wivenhoehistory.org.uk 
Searches:   1) Almshouses  2) Major Project at Jonathan Feedham Court

June 21

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Giving Something Back

by Chris Morton, Chairman of Louisa Lilley Almshouses

‘Giving Something Back’ to society was something that really came to fore in my life a few years ago when I was considering retirement from being a Commercial Accountant.

I felt that The Lilley Homes Almshouses was something I could “contribute” to and, as they say, “bring something to the table”.

The Trust is over 90 years old and Miss Louisa Lilley, who died in 1930, was part of a Shoe Manufacturing Family in the local town who bequeathed an amount in her estate to establish the Trust which now looks after after 20 one bedroom bungalows built around large gardens with residents ranging from 60 to 93 years old.

After attending a few of the trustee meetings, I felt I could contribute and was encouraged to put forward my ideas. My first proposal was a PPM (planned, preventative maintenance) regime that was welcomed by the Board, benefitting both the residents and trustees, then 2 years ago, the Chairman of Trustees asked me if I would take over as Chairman (he was in his 90s and had been Chairman for 40 years).

I was honoured to accept, and decided that this would fill in the “work” gap when I retired. The Louisa Lilley Trust has a history that needs to be protected and enhanced, so as we look forward, I believe the trust needs to make sure all our properties are kept in a condition suitable for the 21st Century, but keeping the vision that Louisa Lilley portrays in her will, which is still our ” bible.”

We have a Duty of Care to all our residents, and as such, we make sure that they are as safe as possible with the use of a call care system and our paid secretary visits all residents on a fortnightly basis.  

We encourage a community spirit and intend to hold an Open Gardens event for a local charity this summer. We will give all residents a “Tea Party” on the same day and combine this with The Almshouse Association 75th Anniversary.

We are also looking at our carbon footprint along with sustainability, in everything we do, and one of the things we are currently exploring the possibility of putting solar panels on all our properties, although we are mindful that we if we do so, it must not spoil the “look” of the almshouses. Once Covid 19 restrictions have been lifted, we will be improving our roof insulation and we have also put natural water butts in both our complexes to reduce our reliability on tap water for our gardens.

The Trust is also looking at building new housing in our current grounds, to increase the number of almshouses we have to offer. These will be replicas of the ones we already have, but designed specifically, for the elderly, in the 21st Century.

June 21

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Members’ Celebrations Network Event: 29 June 9.30am

Share your plans with other members at our next Member Networking Event!

If you haven’t done so already, please do join us on zoom for our Member Networking Events and chat with other members planning their parties. These meetings really highlight the collaboration and unity of our broader almshouse community and are a great platform for conversation and discussion about your planned activities over the summer months.

The next networking event is scheduled for Tuesday 29th June at 09.30 – 11.30 am. Please register your interest by emailing admin@almshouses.org.

Almshouse Association Ambassadors

The Almshouse Association is very honoured to have a highly accomplished and passionate group of Ambassadors to help shine a light on the importance of almshouses in the 21st century.

Our Ambassadors will be working with us to champion the almshouse movement, celebrate the great work that our members do to support their residents, and support us in the next exciting phase of our development.

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Anniversary Network Event

We had an amazing member networking event on Tuesday 11th May, with over 40 members attending and talking about their party plans to help us celebrate our 75th anniversary year!

Thank you to everyone who took time out of their busy schedules to join us to chat about the fabulous parties that are being planned and already being organised for this summer!

We had some really interesting questions come up during the session and have highlighted these below for reference:

GDPR – Some members were concerned about GDPR issues with residents and members of the public getting involved with their events. There is a photo-release form in the celebration pack that should be signed by anyone attending and also residents before any photos/videos are taken of them and used in any promotional material, or online on websites or social media.  There is also  a poster that can be printed out and put up for public display too.

Crime Prevention – Some members had concerns about crime occurring on their site during a public event being held at an almshouse.  The suggestion was that several trustees could be situated near vulnerable areas and signs made with ‘private – no access’. Within the risk assessments undertaken, these suggestions for prevention need to be included.  Also, having a checklist of attendees with email addresses and/or full addresses so people have to provide names and contact details at the entrance to the event may help.  Curtains and blinds can be drawn and private doors locked before the event.

Covid restrictions. – A question was asked about Covid restrictions if a public hall was being hired with regards to cleaning before and after the event.  It was recommended that we might have to wait until after the 21st June before we could make any recommendations on what requirements will be needed but a suggestion was made to contact the local council to ask for feedback on health and safety.  It is also recommended that the Hints and Tips flyer could help with details of the government health & safety website.

Residents – some members have encountered some opposition from residents to holding a garden celebration which highlights the work of the charity to the wider public. It was suggested that charities speak to their residents to discuss what the charity is trying to achieve and to look at ways residents can get involved in the organisation of the event (e.g. making bunting/ writing out invitations etc.). Where a resident doesn’t want to be involved, suggest that they may wish to go out for a few hours on that particular day and/or close their curtains.

What type of event to have?  Some members were deliberating between having a resident only and a joint event.  It was suggested that this needs to be decided by the trustees and residents to ensure everyone is happy with the option put forward. If the local mayor or MP is invited to help raise the profile, an option could be to invite them to cut a ribbon to open the event and then the residents can have their party after the dignitary departs.  This ensures that focus is only on the dignitary for the first hour or half an hour as dignitaries usually don’t stay at events due to their busy schedules.

Joint events. These were discussed and there was some positive feedback on smaller almshouses getting together.

We will share details for our next networking event as soon as they are finalised. In the meantime, if you have any questions or ideas you would like to dicuss, please do email gerryharmon@almshouses.org