Almshouse Stories | The Almshouse Association

Remember a Charity Week

The Great Map of Willanthropy launches today showcasing the impact of charitable gifts in Wills across the UK.

The Almshouse Association celebrates the generosity of local supporters this Remember a Charity Week.

This Remember A Charity Week (09-15 September 2024), The Almshouse Association is coming together with almost 200 charities, hundreds of legal firms and partners to celebrate the phenomenal impact of gifts in Wills (Willanthropy*) in funding vital charitable services for future generations.

Charities and charitable services enabled through gifts in Wills are showcased on the Great Map of Willanthropy, launched this week.

Raising £4 billion for good causes across the UK each year, charitable gifts in Wills have never been more needed or more valued, according to charity consortium Remember A Charity. A record number of people donated from their Wills in 2023 – over 38,000 in England and Wales alone – and almost 11,000 charities and community-based organisations were named in those Wills[1].

Funding the future of charitable and community services across the UK, gifts in Wills can enable organisations like The Almshouse Association to continue supporting member almshouse charities to run their almshouses well and provide safe and warm homes for 36,000 people in need, as well as protect these national heritage buildings.

The Great Map of Willanthropy shines a spotlight on local charitable services up and down the country and overseas. This interactive map enables the public to search for good causes by area and to consider if they can support future generations by remembering a charity alongside their loved ones in their Will.

Figures released to coincide with Remember A Charity Week show that public appetite for donating from a Will is high, with over a third (35%) of UK adults[2] saying they are likely to give in this way, joining a growing generation of ’Willanthropists’ who hope to leave the world a better place.

Lucinda Frostick, Director of Remember A Charity, adds:

“These are incredibly challenging times for UK charities and, in this environment, charitable gifts in Wills have never been more needed or more valued. Donating in this way can be such an empowering and inspiring way to support your favourite charity. No matter whether a gift is large or small, everyone who remembers a charity in their Will can help to shape the future of the world they leave behind.”

*Willanthropy is the act of giving to charity from your Will

To make a donation, please click here

To find out more about leaving a legacy, please go to Remember A Charity – The Almshouse Association

[1] Smee & Ford Legacy Trends Report 2024

[2] Censuswide, poll of 2004 UK adults, Jan/Feb 2024

posted 11 September 2024

Refurbishment of the Ufford Almshouses – End of Project Case Study

A mission to bring a 17th Century Hospital in Ufford, Suffolk, into the 21st Century

In 2023, Ufford Almshouses received a £75,000 loan from the Association towards the extension and refurbishment of their two almshouses.

By November 2023, as you can read in their mid-project case study, the Ufford Almshouses Refurbishment Project was in full swing with property 2a almost complete and a new roof installed.

If a charity does not have sufficient funds to carry out necessary works to their almshouses, part of the service The Almshouse Association offers its member charities is financial help in the forms of grants and loans.

Thanks to Judi Hallett, Clerk to the Non-Ecclesiastical Charites, Ufford, we are pleased to be able to bring news of the completed project and demonstrate how funds have been spent.

November 2023 to July 2024

Whilst completion of 2a took longer than anticipated (delays were a result of contractors working on other projects and difficulties with the supply of some materials), on 1st March 2024, Mrs C, a resident of the almshouses for over 20 years, successfully moved from number 2 to number 2a. This was thought to be a record short distance by the removal company!

The almshouses were refurbished sequentially, rather than at the same time and rather than move temporarily to a house further away, Mrs C opted to stay in No. 2 whilst work was being carried out to No. 2a. She then moved into the completed No. 2a whilst work was being undertaken at No. 2. Having lived in No. 2 for two decades, Mrs C was always adamant that she wanted to move back when it was completed and we had reassured her that this would be possible. Two days after living at the completed 2a, however, she changed her mind, and asked if she could stay!

According to her son, “she loved the new home so much she didn’t want to move back!”

The new home gave Mrs C a downstairs bathroom with walk in shower. She also had a dedicated downstairs bedroom and a garden further away from the road, which gave her greater privacy.

Property No. 2

The day after Mrs C moved to number 2a, demolition started in number 2.

We had made the assumption that the property was a mirror image of next door, but it soon became obvious it was not.

Measurements for kitchens and bathrooms had to be tweaked but we worked closely with our architect and builder to overcome any issues.

The work to number 2 also took a little longer than anticipated.

This meant our new resident, Mr Whitehand, had to remain in his existing accommodation longer than planned, but we are pleased to be able to confirm that he was able to successfully move in on 1st July 2024.

Funding

Much of the funding for this project has come from the Charity’s endowments and Extraordinary Repair Fund.

The Almshouse Association reviewed the project in detail and held an onsite meeting with two of the trustees before awarding the Charity a loan of £75,000. This is to be paid back over a 10-year period, and we have already started to make the payments.

The charity trustees were also able to secure a grant from Homes England. To secure this grant we worked with Saffer Cooper Consultancy via Almshouse Consortium Ltd, experts in grant funding and project management who provide a pathway to obtaining financial support from Homes England. The grant was for approximately one third of the total cost of the project.

What will the benefits be of the project?

Now complete, the Ufford Almshouses are fit for living in the 21st Century. They are accessible and allow for ground floor living, when required. They have modern heating and are fit for purpose for at least another 30 years.

Opening Ceremony and Open House Afternoon

On 26th June 2024, we held an Opening Ceremony and Open House Afternoon inviting everyone involved with the project, retired trustees and their relatives and our residents. Our newest resident, Mr Whitehand, cut the ribbon and we all enjoyed cake and bubbles.

We then welcomed over 80 visitors from the village through the door to view the refurbishments.

Did you know?…

Funds used by The Almshouse Association to make loans to charities last in perpetuity. Loans to charities are interest-free with just a small setup fee. As they pay back the loan over a 10 year period, the Association is able to re-lend out the funds over and over again, ensuring more almshouses can be built or older almshouses can be preserved with a new roof or modernised with extensions or wet rooms. So if you are thinking about contributing to our rolling charity support fund by making a donation or leaving money in your Will, you will know that your money will be helping to change people’s lives for the better for many, many generations to come.

To find out more, please click here

posted 5 September 2024

Municipal Charities present grants at annual garden party

Almshouses in the community

This year’s Municipal Charities Garden party was held at their Guild Cottages almshouses on 1 August 2024. Special guests including the Mayor of Stratford-upon-Avon Jason Fotjik, the High Sheriff of Warwickshire, Rajvinder Kaur Gill and the new MP for Stratford-upon-Avon Manuela Perteghella, joined trustees, staff and residents for a wonderful afternoon in the grounds of the almshouses.

Mayor Jason Fotjik presented a grant cheque for £2,500 from the Relief in Need charity to the Stratford Youth Collective and the High Sheriff, Rajvinder Kaur Gill presented a grant cheque for £2,500 from the Relief in Need charity to the Friendship Project.

Andy Smith, Chair of Municipal Charities said,

“We are delighted to be able to give these two organisations funding to help them in their work. The grant to the Stratford Youth Collective will support their Holiday Activities and Food Fund programme which provides healthy meals, enriching activities, and free childcare places to children from low-income families, benefiting their health, wellbeing and learning during the summer. The grant to the Friendship Project will enable them to provide volunteers to offer one to one support to disadvantaged children in Stratford who by virtue of their family circumstances are withdrawn and lacking in confidence or suffering from low self esteem.”

MP Menuala Perteghella (centre, red blouse) was introduced to Phil Sweet, almshouse resident and DDay veteran (front, holding framed photo) who proudly showed her his photograph with Sophie the Duchess of Edinburgh, taken at Royal British Legion Service of Remembrance to mark D-Day 80, at the National Memorial Arboretum.

She commented after, “It was a wonderful event and I am very grateful that I was able to see the good and important work almshouses do at so many levels.”

The grants are from The Relief in Need Charity, which is part of the Municipal Charities of Stratford-upon-Avon. The Relief in Need Charity has given out over £70,000 of grants in the last year to help those in financial difficulties in Stratford-upon-Avon. These grants have supported families by providing items including washing machines, cookers, fridges, school uniforms for refugees, food vouchers at Christmas and carpeting. To find out more, please get in touch with the Chief Officer on chiefofficer@municipal-charities.org.uk 01789 293749 or via their website https://www.municipal-charities.org.uk/relief-in-need-charity/contact-relief-in-need

posted 4 September 2024

Windsor MP supports Association proposal

The Almshouse Association is pleased that Windsor MP, Jack Rankin supports our proposed changes to the National Planning Policy Framework, aimed at increasing affordable housing.

Windsor MP Jack Rankin was recently interviewed by the Slough Observer newspaper about development on and around greenbelts, commenting, “I back a ‘plan-led’ approach of managing our spaces, putting new build revenue back into preserving our green belt. I will always be a loud and proud champion of our environment, ensuring the character of our local spaces surrounding the towns and villages I represent is preserved”.

He spoke about his enjoyment at joining the residents at the Ellison House almshouse, formally The New Windsor Municipal Charities, for a recent BBQ, saying,

“I had a great time chatting with the residents about their life experiences, including some fantastic military stories”, adding “There are some policy tweaks to the National Planning Policy Framework which The Almshouse Association believe could enable more homes like this and reduce costs. I will be making these representations.”

This is good news for The Almshouse Association. MP support, from all parties, for our proposal to have almshouses recognised as affordable housing in the National Planning Policy Framework is imperative to our success.

posted 2 September 2024

New home for new resident at Jesus Hospital almshouses, Canterbury

Case Study: Jesus Hospital refurbishment project

If a charity does not have sufficient funds to carry our necessary works to their almshouses, part of the service The Almshouse Association offers its member charities is financial help in the forms of grants and loans.

In 2023 Q4, the Association received a grant request from Jesus Hospital, and we were pleased to be able to provide a grant of £2,000 towards the refurbishment of one of their flats.

As the keys were handed over to a very happy new resident, new warden, David Roper, shares their story with us:

Background

_{The 1595 building with chapel (below the clock)}

The ‘Hospital’, or almshouses, was founded in 1595 by Sir John Boys, who had made his fortune in law, for 8 poor men and 4 poor women, known as ‘brothers’ and ‘sisters‘. He had perhaps been inspired by Sir Roger Manwood’s foundation set up 20 or so years before. He also set up a school for boys.

Click here to find out more

Today there are 14 flats which can provide homes for 19 people over the age of 55 on low incomes who live in the Canterbury area. There is an on-site warden and residents benefit from a communal garden and all within easy walking distance of shops, doctor’s surgery, restaurants, and a cinema. In recent years the Weekly Maintenance Contribution (WMC) had been kept quite low and the trustees had limited access to investment funds. In April 2023 the resident warden retired and the present warden took up his post on 1 October 2023.

In the latter part of 2022, an elderly resident developed increasingly difficult health issues and sadly, after many years as a resident, needed to move into a care home in June 2023. It was a difficult situation to manage at the time, especially without a warden in post.

The project

After assessing the condition of the vacant flat, the trustees realised that a substantial refurbishment was required before a new resident could be invited to move in. The flat needed decorating throughout, plus a new kitchen and bathroom. Fortunately, the carpets came up well with a deep clean so did not require renewing.

There was a lovely surprise when the old kitchen was stripped out – they found a tiny fire hearth hiding behind the units, though coal allowance is no longer a resident benefit!

Once the contractors had finished, a working party of residents enjoyed a happy day cleaning windows and revarnishing the window frames which provided both an enjoyable social event for the community and a considerable cost saving.

The total cost of the project including loss of WMC (flat was vacant for 8 months whilst renovations where undertaken), council tax liability and utilities came to £19,000.

New home for a new resident

Jesus Hospital now has a new resident who received her keys in March 2024 and is very happy to have joined the community.

Click here to find out how you can help us support almshouse charities build new and renovate older almshouses, ensuring safe, warm and affordable homes in friendly communities are available for people who need them for many years to come.

posted August 2024

Affordable homes…..

…..not just a numbers game….

Providing affordable homes is not merely a numbers game – its about prioritising residents in the planning process. Small-scale developments within communities – tailored for local residents – have proven to enhance well-being and longevity.

Its great news that the new Government is proposing more housing for those in need and while the greenbelt is not our primary concern, we offer some thoughts for the enthusiastic planners and developers aiming to build extensively on greyfield sites that may alleviate some of the pressure on our countryside.

Prioritising people over plans. Consider how people want to live. Affordable homes should be built with the communities they serve in mind. Small-scale developments near services often blend well with villages and towns. If local communities feel invested in these projects, especially as homes for those in need from their own areas, planners may find it easier to gain support.

Identifying areas suitable for redevelopment can help protect the local Greenbelt. Many regions have disused buildings and office sites that are prime for revitalisation. Redevelopment of these buildings can reignite the community spirit and strengthen local bonds.

Affordability must genuinely reflect the means of the community’s residents. Typically, 80% of market rents are still out of reach for many who need affordable housing.

Above all, prioritise residents at the heart of development. For those seeking successful small-scale housing, the almshouse model serves as an exemplary guide.

posted 5 August 2024

Seaside Day at Wyggestons

Some people really are charmed with good luck. When Wyggestons and Trinity Almshouses put their first ‘Seaside Day at Wyggestons’ in their calendar, they could meticulously organise all the games, food and invites, but could only keep their fingers crossed for good weather….

What a relief when it didn’t disappoint! There was hardly a cloud in the beautiful blue sky. They sent us these fabulous photos of the day, writing:

“First annual Seaside Day at Wyggestons! There were so many fun games for people to enjoy as well as a paddling pool, tombola, fish and chips and an ice cream van for our residents and their family. We got really lucky with the weather as well! A huge thank you to everyone who put so much effort into making it a lovely day, we look forward to having another one next year!

It wouldn’t be a day at the seaside without fish and chips!

A wonderful idea that became reality – thanks to the hard work and kindness of the Wyggestons trustees, staff and volunteers!

Thank you for sharing your day with us!

posted 29 July 2024

AWARDS – The Almshouse Association Awards announced

Congratulations to The Almshouse Association Award winners

The Awards Panel is delighted to announced the five recipients of this year’s awards for work completed in 2023.

Weston Consolidated Charity, Spalding

Two single-storey, one-bedroomed, bungalows (with a car parking area and the facility to charge a mobility scooter) were built to wheelchair accessibility standards, with the inclusion of integrated solar panels on the roofs of each property.

This will greatly improve energy efficiency and the new tree and shrub planting will promote biodiversity.

Sloswicke’s Almshouses, Retford, Nottinghamshire

In 2017, the Charity purchased a former joiner’s workshop that dominated the road where their existing nine almshouses are situated.

Planning consent was granted to demolish and replace it with five single bedroom almshouses, two of which are bungalows.

They also added a single communal garden with a central seating area as well as a mobility scooter store with appropriate access.

Girton Town Charity, Cambridgeshire

Girton Town Charity trustees made a commitment to increase and future proof its almshouses by creating 15 new homes at Dovehouse Court in the heart of the village. They replace six existing bungalows which had been built in the 1930s and 1960s and no longer provided an appropriate standard of accommodation.

The new almshouses are built to conform fully to certified Passivhaus standards, with excellent sustainability credentials, and are situated around a central courtyard. The contemporary homes were designed for extended independent living for the over 55s, with an internal layout to include a master bedroom and small second room, open plan living, kitchen and dining area, with access to balconies or individual terraces on the ground floor.

The Charterhouse, London

The Awards Panel consider this initiative deserves a special award that has not been granted before. The project consisted of a ten-week programme of drawing masterclasses, guided by an artist/facilitator. These culminated in a co-curated three-month exhibition at The Charterhouse, featuring accompanying text interpretation collaboratively developed by the masterclass participants and professional staff from Charterhouse.
Its specific goals included addressing issues of isolation and exclusion and aimed to strengthen connections between the internal older community and external groups by actively involving local community organisations.

Appleby Blue, United St Saviours, Southwark

Appleby Blue is an innovative social housing development that reimagines the almshouse concept for contemporary, inner-city living. By marrying heritage with modernity, Appleby Blue offers an affordable housing solution embracing a resident support model to elevate their quality of life and foster a sense of belonging.
Central to its ethos is community and the communal centre spaces, exemplified by the sociable kitchen at its core which hosts a myriad of events.
In tandem with its 63 residents across 57 homes, Appleby Blue’s diverse intergenerational community programme encompasses digital skills sessions, dance and exercise classes, and culinary experiences.

Congratulations to all our worthy award winners for your outstanding achievements!

kindly sponsored by

The Almshouse Association Awards recognise the vital role almshouses and almshouse charities play in today’s social structure and future affordable housing. The hard work and inspired innovations of our members not only enrich the lives of almshouse residents, they also support the continued longevity of the almshouse movement.

So many members have incredible sites and have been working hard to make improvements, increase the number of almshouses and improve the standard of almshouses available to local people in housing need.

We encourage you all to share your work with your peers and the wider public by partaking in the award process.

Click here to find our more about the Awards (open to Almshouse Association members only) and
to view this year’s award projects in more detail.

posted 18 July 2024

Restoration of Capel Almshouses

Case Study – restoration of Capel Almshouses dwelling

The Capel Almshouses in Surrey were built in 1871, financed by the Webb family from Clapham to provide “residences for people in need in the Parish of Capel”. The declaration of trust is dated 10 February 1873. The property is Grade II listed and consists of six one bedroom flats.

With the exception of some flat roof extensions at the rear of the property that were added in the early 60s to allow for larger kitchens and bathrooms, the sandstone front and side elevations are all as built. Maintaining the fabric of the building is expensive, and the requirement to use specialist contractors who have experience with listed buildings makes it even more so.

Part of the service The Almshouse Association offers its member charities is to help support them with grants or loans if they do not have sufficient funds to carry out necessary works to their almshouses.

We recently provided The Capel Almshouses with a £25,000 loan to support the refurbishment/renovation of Flat 3, No.137.

Gary Collins, Treasurer of Capel Almshouses, has kindly shared with members his report on the restoration:

Background

Five years ago the trustees decided to implement a renovation plan of all six units over a ten year period, on top of an ongoing stone work restoration project.

By the summer of 2023 they had renovated two of the properties and wanted to start on the third. They realised that financing this project would require more funds than their finances would safely cover and after approaching several other organisations to no avail, they talked to the funding team at The Almshouse Association.

“The very helpful Loans and Grants team guided us through the application process and in due course we were extremely fortunate to be awarded a £25,000 interest free 10 year loan.”

Resolving the damp issues

The loan allowed the Charity to complete the internal renovations to the third property and have extensive work done to provide restored, less draughty, sash windows for their new resident.

The renovation for this property started early August 2023 with quotes coming in from specialists in damp solutions who stripped back render, injected and tanked areas of high moisture and re plastered.

The buildings suffer from damp, mainly due to condensation but also with rising damp, which is not unexpected in a building of this age. When built, the open fire places would have warmed the house and allowed circulation of air. These fireplaces have long been bricked up and along with windows being kept firmly shut due to the cost of heating, damp is inevitable.

Within the renovations, they have added humidity triggered extractors to both the bathroom and the kitchen to help mitigate the moisture levels and so far these are providing a successful solution. The trustees also reminded their residents that having a window ajar is good for their health and their accommodation.

Restorations

The trustees also contracted suppliers to fulfil all aspects of a complete restoration:

Electrics: a complete rewire including new distribution board and updating lighting to LEDs. Installing mains powered heat/smoke alarms and connection to a central TV arial
Plumbing: a new boiler and upgraded radiators, a full bathroom refit including a walk in shower and kitchen plumbing
Fitters: a new kitchen and appliances, boxing in of unsightly pipe work, tiling in both the kitchen and the bathroom
Painters: a top to bottom re-paint
Decor: carpets to the lounge and bedroom and vinyl floors to the kitchen and bathroom, as well as new curtains rails and blinds.

Project Management

The trustees report that they have been very well served by their contractors and with the project management skills of a local builder, Paul Childs creating, within five months, a property which is warmer, dryer and much more enjoyable to live in.

Treasurer, Gary Collins comments

“We hope that we will benefit from less running maintenance in the years to come. We are about to start on the fourth refurbishment and along with the ongoing process of maintenance to the stone work and windows we will certainly be in need of further funding and grant opportunities to continue the updating of the remaining properties.”

posted July 2024

New research reveals story of Bournville’s almshouses as they turn 125

Wonderful archive photographs and stories of what life was like in Bournville’s almshouses have been released to mark their 125th anniversary.

Bournville Village Trust has worked with the University of Birmingham to uncover and explore the history of Bournville’s almshouses, known as the Quadrangle.

Opened in 1899, Bournville’s almshouses were developed as an alternative to notoriously harsh workhouses, where people who had little to no money were forced to live.

Early residents included husband and wife Mark and Martha Glasser, who arrived in 1916. They later lost all their modest savings in the collapse of Farrow’s Bank, a notorious fraud that affected thousands who had invested small but significant savings. The almshouses became a lifeline for them.

Other residents included Emma Tutin who moved to the almshouses between 1901 and 1911. Her father had been a coachman for King George V’s father King Edward VII, and she was pictured meeting him when he visited Bournville in 1919.

_{Emma Tutin (third from the left) meets King George V}

Today Bournville’s almshouses, on Mary Vale Road, are managed by Charity Bournville Village Trust through the Bournville Almshouses Trust, and they continue to provide 33 independent living bungalows in a thriving community.

Daniel Callicott, Heritage Manager at Bournville Village Trust, said:

“There was very little social safety net at the end of the 19th century and older people with little money or savings had no state pension to support themselves. Faced with nowhere to live and unable to work, many had no choice but to enter the workhouse, a notoriously harsh institution. Richard Cadbury saw almshouses as an alternative to this and Bournville’s version, which he spearheaded, offered well-built, safe and warm homes for older people with little money.”

_{almshouses pictured from Mary Vale Road in Bourneville}

Arthur Tsang, Director of Communities at Bournville Village Trust, said:

“Almshouses are thought to be Britain’s oldest charitable associations and we are incredibly proud that Bournville’s almshouses are celebrating their 125 anniversary this year. Today, Bournville’s almshouses continue to provide low-cost homes for older people, providing independence, safety and a strong sense of community.“

_{Almshouse residents in May 1986}

_{Residents relaxing in the gardens}

In Britain there are around 1,600 active almshouse charities, housing more than 36,000 people. Many provide housing specifically for older people, but others offer affordable homes to families, students, refugees and care-leavers.

Bournville’s almshouses are one of the area’s most iconic buildings and were designed by Ewan Harper, well known for his design of the Birmingham Methodist Hall on Corporation Street.

Research into Bournville’s almshouses came about from a new partnership between the University of Birmingham and Bournville Village Trust. Their joint ‘Utopias in Crisis’ project brings together academics at the University, Bournville Village Trust and local residents to work together to research Bournville’s past and showcase its heritage in new ways to new audiences. It aims to uncover new histories of Bournville that stretch beyond its famous founders, George and Richard Cadbury, and focus on the people who made the ‘factory in a village’ their home.

Dr Jacob Fredrickson, Department of History, School of History and Cultures at the University of Birmingham, said:

“It has been a tremendous privilege to learn more about the lives of those who have called the almshouses home over the last 125 years. As with any home, the almshouses have borne witness to love, generosity and friendship as well as grief, heartbreak and loneliness. While the almshouses are an iconic Bournville building, they have always been, and remain, firstly a home, shaped as much by the residents themselves as by staff and trustees.”

Bournville Village Trust was founded by George Cadbury in 1900 and is one of the Midlands longest-serving independent charitable trusts. It manages estates, provides homes, delivers community-support services and commercial activities.

posted 18 July 2024