HRH The Duke of Edinburgh

It is with great sadness that we have learned of the death of His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh.

I know our members, many who have such strong connections to the Royal Family, will share our mourning and reflection. Our thoughts and condolences are with The Queen, our Patron His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales and the Royal Family.

CEO Blog: What about the Affordable Housing Crisis and our young people?

We so often hear about the “housing crisis” as if it is a given fact. I was walking with a friend the other day and we were discussing a large housing estate that has had popped up on the horizon. “Well he said,…. we do need more houses – there is a housing crisis after all!” I looked at the group of very smart  – no doubt ‘executive’ 4 or 5 bedroom houses and wondered what bit of the housing crisis these were addressing! I doubt it’s the affordable housing crisis for single and older people.

The Chartered Institute of Housing found that 280,000 social rent homes have been sold, converted to higher rents or demolished since April 2012, while just 70,000 new social rent homes have been built*.

I know it must be right and fair to help young people own their own homes as this prevents the rent trap that many are facing, but there still needs to be a proper affordable rental option offering decent, community driven homes, where people who are unable to buy can remain and have a good home in their communities.

It is clear that many affordable homes are sold or partially sold under Right to Buy, which accounted for the loss of 120,000 council homes, but how will we build our stock of decent affordable homes for the future if they continue to be sold?

I believe there is room for a wider variety of almshouses reflecting today’s younger people in housing need, helping them stay and work in their communities. Why almhouses? They are charities run by local trustees for local people in housing need and importantly they are exempt from the Right to Buy. These could provide an accessible option for young families or even intergenerational living. The almshouse model, although over 1,000 years old, has always been adaptable and can provide life changing opportunities to communities across the country,

Let’s tell it how it is … there is a housing crisis but it is very much an affordable housing crisis and no amount of new executive homes on the open market will change that.

Nick Phillips CEO | The Almshouse Association

*Source: Insider Housing publication 29 Mar 21

Nick Phillips CEO Linkedin

Posted 30 Mar 21

APPG report on loneliness: Association comments

The CEO of The Almshouse Association welcomes the recent report published by the APPG on Loneliness.

“From our research and that of others it is clear that everyone needs a warm and safe home, but more than that they need a friend and something to do that engenders pride. Almshouses are a 1,000 year old housing model that takes neighbourliness to its heart.”

Nick Phillips, CEO The Almshouse Association

It seems from both this recent independent review and other reports that we have come to recognise loneliness as a debilitating factor. It is this aspect that was highlighted in the almshouse study undertaken by the Whiteley Foundation for Ageing Well that suggested that small scale communities can help people live longer. It seems that the forefathers of today’s almshouse movement had this in mind and although an ancient model of housing its strength is often put down to the fact that the design and spirit of almshouses encourages, promotes and enhances neighbourliness.

The almshouse movement provides homes to over 36,000 people, but more are needed as there are not enough to satisfy the high demand not just for low cost homes in the community but for the added value of small scale community run housing.

Nick Phillips goes on to say “Almshouses are built with compassion and supported with companionship. Whilst they can be considered as a small provider in the UK’s housing world that are available specifically to those in housing need, they make a vital contribution to the affordable housing stock in Britain and it is heart-warming to hear the great bonds of friendships that develop around the courtyards and gardens of Britain’s almshouses.  We are working hard to ensure that more almshouses continue to be provided for those in housing need”.

Posted 25 March 21

Association in Church Times

The Almshouse Association welcomes the inclusion of comments in Church Times from CEO Nick Phillips following the publication of the Church of England’s Coming Home report.

The report marks the most significant public support for almshouses in many years and should be viewed as a call to action for the Church and the wider almshouse movement. We believe that, used effectively, the relationship between the Church and the almshouse movement can lead to a new era of almshouses throughout the country.

You can read the full article here

Posted 1 March 21

HAPPI Hour: Almshouses

Almshouse Association takes part in Housing LIN’s HAPPI Hour on Almshouses

The Almshouse Association was pleased to take part in a lively discussion on almshouses at an event hosted by Housing LIN.

The event, The future role for Almshouses in shaping local communities, also saw contributions from Almshouse Association members, architects and researcher Allison Pooley who helped to write the recent RICs report on almshouses.

We were proud to see such a vibrant conversation from both panellists and the audience, clearly showing the level of interest that almshouses can garner. There was clearly so much interest in the development of the almshouse model that we ran out of time. I am sure we will have an opportunity to revisit the discussion in the future but do let us know of any specific area of interest.

In the meantime, please do watch the session here if you were unable to participate.

Posted 1 Feb 21

The Almshouse Association is 75 years old!

2021 is the year we celebrate our 75th Anniversary of supporting and representing almshouse charities.

By support, we mean offering advice, guidance, grants and loans to almshouse charities to ensure the delivery of an exemplar housing model that has stood the test of time for over a 1000 years and continues to provide value and efficiency in its delivery of local affordable community housing for people in housing need.

Our 75th anniversary provides us with the wonderful opportunity to join together with our member charities and celebrate their achievements and dedication to the Almshouse Movement.

‘In a recent YouGov Survey* new figures show that eight out of ten people (84%) are not aware of any almshouses in their local area and identified that over 68% of people do not know what an almshouse is.’

YouGov Nov 20

It’s now more vital than ever to raise the profile of the many tangible benefits that almshouses bring to local communities and the heritage that our member charities are helping preserve for future generations.

Almshouses add to the warmth of a community, a ‘community spirit’ that offers safety and security and make it possible for residents to continue to live independently yet still close to familiar surroundings. They provide a place for social interaction but also privacy.

To commemorate our 75th Anniversary year we will be shouting about our 1600+ member charities and the wonderful work they do. We are inspired on a daily basis by the commitment, dedication and tenacity of our members and the passion they have for their almshouse’s and the residents they support.

Throughout 2021, we will be campaigning heavily in Parliament to generate more support for the Almshouse Movement and will look at opportunities to generate more local and national press coverage, with press interviews taking place at chosen regional sites.

Our member charities will be holding local events in celebration of their achievements and the role their almshouses have played in supporting local people in housing need. The ‘Open Garden Campaign’ starts in early summer 2021 and will run all the way through to the early autumn months. Residents will be baking cakes and sharing their delights with their local communities in recognition of the Almshouse Movement. Watch out for invitations being displayed in your local shops and businesses and on social media sites and join them in their celebrations.

There is so much history and inspiration surrounding almshouses, and the story of this 1000 year old affordable housing model needs to be told boldy and proudly. Join us and enjoy learning more about almshouses and the passion behind this amazing housing model that is a secret about to be told.

Please support us!

There are over 30,000 almshouses across the UK and many are in the process of refurbishment and/or redevelopment. We also have an aim to create over 5,000 more almshouses in the next ten years.  The demand is there but we can’t do this without your help. 

The Almshouse Association offers grants and loans to member charities who need the financial support to create the warm and secure homes their residents deserve. We need your  support to help them continue to refurbish/redevelop their almshouses to achieve the exemplar standard that we all want to achieve.

We also need the support to build new, state of the art almshouses that use eco-friendly building methods. This will future-proof almshouses to ensure they can continue to provide affordable homes for local people in housing need.

Please help us raise the awareness of the wonder of almshouses and the importance of this affordable community housing model by perhaps holding your own garden party in aid of your local almshouses, or connect with us or your local almshouse charity on social media. You can even use our new hashtag !

#SupportAlmshouses

If you would like to know where your nearest almshouse charity is, or would like to know more about how you can help join us to celebrate our 75th Anniversary year, please contact us at our office in Wokingham and we would be happy to talk to you!

Join us and celebrate the spirit of almshouses!

*All figures, unless otherwise stated are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2001 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between18-19th November 2020.  The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+)

Posted 26 January 21

Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors undertakes new report

Almshouses: a model of community housing for an ageing population.

A recent report recognises the great value almshouses have played in the provision of homes for people in housing need over the centuries.

Authored by Jenny Pannell and Dr Alison Pooley of Anglia Ruskin University, the report explores the characteristics of these small scale micro communities that appear in almost every market town and city in England. They identify the value of the architecture, the unique nature of almshouses as charitable enterprises, the drive of philanthropy in establishing them and the need and opportunity for more, as well as highlighting some of the barriers that are preventing almshouse development for the future – planning, awareness of their existence and lack of understanding of their great value to society.

This report goes a long way to demystify and raise awareness of the beloved, valued asset of our community and whilst the report is steered towards older people, some of the findings can apply to almshouses for younger people, families and mixed age groupings. It reinforces the good practice and experience which needs to be more widely disseminated by The Almshouse Association, promoting it as an exemplar of community-led housing, providing affordable dwellings and encouraging an intergenerational approach for the benefit of all alleviating isolation yet allowing for independence too.

The Almshouse Association endorses the comments that we recommendation ‘to reinterpret the past and reimagine for the future’. We are working with our members to see more almshouses built, historic almshouses refurbished and re-modelled and new charities established. As the report notes, almshouses will always only be part of the affordable housing solution, but to those residents who find themselves a home in an almshouse – they are often the most important part of their life.

Almshouses: a model of community housing for an ageing population – by Jenny Powell and Dr Alison Pooley of Anglia Ruskin University

Almshouses have existed in England for over a thousand years, and new almshouses are still being built. Almshouse charities provide social housing for over 36,000 people in around 30,000 dwellings. Most almshouse residents are older people (aged 50/60+ years), yet built environment and housing professionals, politicians and others concerned with the provision of housing for older people are more familiar with other social housing providers than with almshouse charities.

Research on almshouses tends to focus on their architectural and social history, detailing historic buildings, the past role of philanthropy, and the lives of residents, rather than their current or future role in housing provision. Recent reports addressing housing issues, and more specifically addressing rented housing for older people, have tended to concentrate on housing with care as solutions for future provision.

This research starts to fill the gap by taking a future-focused approach, looking at recent almshouse developments to inform housing provision in the 21st century. It explores their distinct and valuable contribution to housing older people to inform built environment and housing professionals, including architects and surveyors, funders, local authority housing and planning officers, prospective partner organisations, Homes England and the UK government.

The full report can be found here

About the RICS Research Trust
This research was funded by the RICS Research Trust. The Trust supports and promotes high-quality independent contributions to knowledge in the disciplines of land, real estate and construction.

Posted 5 January 2021

Merry Christmas from The Almshouse Association

Dear all,

The Almshouse Association would like to take this opportunity to thank all our members, trustees, clerks, wardens, volunteers, supporters and donors for all that you have done this year to support the almshouse movement. especially when so many of you have had your own challenges and commitments to take care of.

It is no exaggeration to say that it has been a dreadful year and maybe many people will not be celebrating Christmas. Covid has been such a pain, not just impacting our daily routine, but it seems to have seeped into our very psyche! It has made people ill directly and those it has not touched directly, it has made them scared and miserable. But! We are, however, surprisingly optimistic about the year ahead. It is so often said that you only appreciate “it” when “it” has gone. Friendship and community means everything in the almshouse world and this past year, we have desperately missed the company of others, meeting friends, sharing a chat, tea together, the relaxed atmosphere of a busy friendly pub, parties and celebrations, warm hugs and kisses – the thought of getting that all back is making us so excited. We feel that there really is now a light at the end of the tunnel and it is getting so much brighter and closer. We can actually dare to imagine life getting back to normal. It will be different for a while, we have all been knocked off our feet this year, one way or another, but we know we will really appreciate time spent with others that maybe we were too busy to appreciate before.

And, here at the Association in 2021 we will be celebrating 75 years of supporting and representing almshouses charities, we intend to celebrate the great work of almshouses, all the hard work of the trustees, clerks, wardens, volunteers, sponsors and donors, for keeping the spirit and function of almshouses going and keeping our almshouse residents warm and safe and loved.

We all wish you, your families and residents a peaceful, safe and warm Christmas and a bright, positive New Year!

Posted 16 December 2020

Gardens & People Almshouse Association Awards

Each year the Association invites members to showcase their almshouse projects and achievements by applying for one of our awards. With the outbreak of coronavirus at the beginning of 2020,  the Association had to put the Patron’s Award and Award for Excellence and Inspiration on hold but we are delighted to be able announce the winners of the 2019 Gardens and People Award.

The winners all highlighted the sense of community their gardening projects created and the beneficial impact on their residents’ physical and mental wellbeing.  These projects and spaces have no doubt brought great comfort to residents during this year’s lockdown.

Lady Lumley’s Almshouses, Thornton-le-dale, North Yorkshire – set up a tea and chatter group, which now has 20 regular attendees. For the past three years they have also held an open day and in 2019 the residents won a local award for their outstanding garden display.

Partis College, Bath, Somerset –  established a new vegetable garden in a neglected part of the grounds. They put in 10 raised beds to ensure it was accessible to all residents. A handyman provides some physical support but otherwise it has been the hard work of the residents that had yielded delicious, home grown vegetables.

The residents at Yardley Great Trust, Birmingham initiated a project to improve small areas of the scheme by planting flower beds. The project grew and more residents got involved, spending more time outdoors and enjoying BBQs together. The project has fostered a greater sense of community, as well as improving the residents’ physical and mental health.

St Joseph’s Homestead, Stratford-upon-Avon converted the resident’s private gardens into a communal garden, creating a community feeling and providing a relaxing place for residents to sit. Residents are able to tend to part of the garden and there has been a focus on wildlife with the introduction of a hedgehog highway, bird feeders and bee-friendly plants.

Guild Cottages at the Municipal Charities of Stratford-Upon-Avon has a communal garden but gives its residents the opportunity to tend to the areas close to their homes. For those residents whose gardening skills aren’t quite as developed, a professional gardener is available to give a helping hand.

Residents at The Day Foundation, Coddenham, Suffolk took part in a local open garden scheme to help raise money for the local church and The Stone Foundation. They ran a stall selling second hand gardening equipment, sunflower seedlings and plants. They also took part in the scarecrow competition! These activities brought residents together and new friendships were formed.

To view more Gardens and People Awards photos, please click here

House of Lords: Almshouses take centre stage

The Almshouse Association was very pleased to see almshouses widely discussed in The House of Lords today (22 Oct 20).

The discussion was led by a question from Lord Kennedy of Southwark with a number of substantive questions following on a series of topics including: the exclusion of almshouses from Section 106 levies and the reduction of VAT on repairs to charitable buildings, such as almshouses.

What we are most proud of is the cross party support for almshouses and the almshouse movement. Lords from across the House and from Government acknowledge the vital work our members undertake and the vital service they provide to their communities.

We would like to extend our thanks to the Lords who raised questions and who have been in contact with The Almshouse Association in recent weeks.

Click here to watch the full discussion

Posted 22nd October 20