As Helen Stephenson CBE steps down from her position as CEO of the Charity Commission, in one of her final speeches as CEO, she reflects on 7 lessons she has learnt about the charity sector – one for each of her years in office..

1. The role of charity in society
2. No right number of charities
3. The Charity Commission’s resources versus expectation creep
4. The balance of regulation
5. Scrutiny of charity leaders
6. Volunteer trusteeship must remain attractive proposition
7. Purpose-ride or die

Nick Phillips, CEO of The Almshouse Association believes that, for him, one of these reflections stands out as the most valuable and, in many ways, informs all the rest – Helen’s last comment on leadership and direction:

“When I reflect on what it is that makes the difference between a charity that succeeds and one that gets lost along the way, it is this: a great charity is one whose trustees and wider leadership, over time, are led always and alone by the charity’s purposes. Not by whim, fashion, or funding but by a shared commitment to delivering on the purposes that got the charity on the register in the first place.

This is easy to say, but it can be difficult to achieve day to day.

It requires consistent leadership and oversight by trustees who are prepared to support, help and hold to account their executive team. It requires confidence, resilience, and courage – including the courage to say no to funding or a contract that would lead the charity away from its core purpose.

Please, if you take anything away with you from what I’ve said today, let it be this: that as trustees you are first and foremost the steward of your charity’s mission. Whatever talent, experience or skill got you on the board in the first place – once you’re there, your purpose is the charity’s purpose. Don’t allow yourself to be swayed from that purpose by anyone or anything.” 

Helen Stephenson CBE

Having worked for and supported many charities over the years, CEO Nick Phillips agrees, commenting,  

“Many charities succeed and achieve great things – all have had clarity of purpose in all they do. Almshouses have their Governing Documents that may include a Scheme, Will, letter of intent… but the key is the founders wishes and for almshouse charities, those wishes are, fundamentally, for the provision of warm, safe, secure homes for people in need.

“Where I have seen some charities fail is when they lose sight of their true mission. As one of our founders said when forming The Almshouse Association 78 years ago. “A good charity will always survive and thrive.” And no truer statement could be made for the many, many almshouse charities that have continued to stick to their mission of delivering their founders wishes, century after century – to provide safe, warm and affordable homes for people that need them.”

To read Helen’s speech, please click here: Reflections on my time as CEO – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

posted 25 April 2024

Association CEO, Nick Phillips asks ” what is affordable housing?”

Back in 2015, our friends at Shelter asked this question and we are still wondering what the answer is.

The term ‘Affordable Housing’ is thrown around in all circles as if there is one defining measure. The world is complex and generalisations save time,  but there is a cost to having such a broad measure – the cost is the availability of truly, genuinely, affordable homes.

The Government sets a bar of affordable housing being less than 80% of market rents. Have you seen market rents? 80% of unaffordable is still unaffordable for most people on an average income, let alone basic wage.

Today, the average rent in London is circa £2,200 per month. Even with the higher Local Housing Allowance afforded to London residents,  most will be hundreds of pounds short every month. The shortfall is about 30% and this level of unaffordability is repeated across the country.

Instead of rent, almshouse residents are pay a weekly maintenance contribution (WMC). Most almshouse charities set their WMC to cover their costs and usually it’s within the Local Housing Allowance figure. This model of affordability dates back to the early days of almshouses and, in most almshouse charity governing documents, you will find the wonderful phrase that, in my mind, is a true measure of how affordable housing can be defined:

 “by living in this almshouse the residents will face no greater hardship”.

I have certainly not seen a better measure of affordability ….. and yet many local councils across the country still do not recognise almshouses as being ‘affordable housing´ in the same way some, less affordable, housing is being supported. When building new almshouses, some almshouse charities are still being required by the local council to pay an ‘affordable housing’ charge which is then paid out to other housing providers who are building houses that are defined as ‘affordable housing’, but often less affordable than the new almshouses being built!

We will be asking the next Government for proper recognition of affordable housing and proper recognition for almshouses. Let’s have an even playing field for the oldest form of genuinely affordable housing and this exemplar model of community housing. We will remind Government that almshouses contribute over £40m every year through reduced calls on state resources.

Nick Phillips
CEO | The Almshouse Association

The Almshouse Association CEO Nick Phillips comments on the new homeless laws

Rarely do I comment on homeless issues, given the thorough coverage by our colleagues at Shelter, Crisis and other specialised homeless charities. However, when I read about the proposed new laws aimed at driving homeless people off the streets or be faced with prosecution, I couldn’t help but question if we are losing our way.

In a nation of great wealth, the sight of thousands of people enduring nights on our streets and hundreds of thousands residing in temporary accommodation prompts profound reflection. Who, I wonder, are these laws intended to punish?

Recent Government data has unveiled a stark reality: nearly 4,000 individuals slept rough on a single autumn night across England in 2023, marking a distressing 27% increase from the previous year.

This surge in rough sleeping is just one facet of a larger crisis, with an estimated 242,000 households grappling with various forms of homelessness in England. From sofa surfing to enduring temporary accommodation to facing the harshness of sleeping rough, the spectrum of homelessness casts a wide net of suffering. Recent research from Crisis sheds light on the harrowing experiences faced by those living on the streets.

Shockingly, nine out of every ten people sleeping rough have been subjected to violence or abuse, underscoring the urgent need for action to address this humanitarian crisis.

Surely we must consider the ramifications of implementing such laws?  OK, it would shield the majority of commuters, theatre-goers and ‘us ordinary folk’ going about our daily business from the heart wrenching sight of those having to sleep rough, effectively hiding the visible manifestations of homelessness from public view. If that is the objective, the law could work. Perhaps it is bad for tourism or seen as a shameful example of a failing system? But this concealment comes at a significant cost.

Pushing individuals experiencing homelessness into secluded, obscure areas could render them more vulnerable to violence and exploitation. Forced into the shadows, they would be at greater risk of encountering physical harm. Fear of prosecution could also mean others remain trapped in situations of domestic violence. What would the law punish homeless people for?

It’s probably fair to acknowledge that very few individuals opt to live rough as a deliberate lifestyle choice. The circumstances leading to homelessness are often complex and multi-faceted, rooted in systemic issues such as poverty, family breakdown, loss of job, lack of affordable housing and inadequate social support systems. As such, addressing homelessness requires compassionate and comprehensive solutions that address its underlying causes, rather than punitive measures that merely displace the issue.

In 1572, the Poor Laws were introduced to deal with the rising number of homeless people. It was felt that charity, and the Church could no longer manage. I do wonder if we are now at the point where the State is admitting it can no longer support the homeless and we need to re-engage and encourage philanthropy and the Church to step in where the state is not able to cope?

The wisdom shared by one of the founders of The Almshouse Association following the introduction of the Welfare State resonates profoundly with me: “almshouses were too important to leave to the State.” Indeed, evidence from across Europe, where almshouses disappeared as they were subsumed into the state housing provisions, supports this assertion. In light of their historical and ongoing relevance, it’s fortunate that almshouses – the oldest form of affordable community housing – persist in the UK today, providing over 36,000 people with safe and secure homes throughout the country.

With the evolving landscape of housing needs, philanthropic support is becoming increasingly vital to meet the growing demand.

Almshouses represent more than just a housing solution; they embody a tradition of community care and support that can be life changing for all generations. As we navigate the challenges of the contemporary housing crises, preserving and expanding the reach of almshouses would be one of the solutions to help resolve the housing crisis and support the homeless.

I agree with the law makers in one area – we should not have to see homeless people on our street – but we would rather know that they are in a warm safe secure home.

After all, it could happen to anyone of us, at any time...

15 April 2024

Almshouse Association CEO, Nick Phillips, comments on the Michael Gove interview in Inside Housing

I read with great interest the Inside Housing interview (5 March 2024) with Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities of the United Kingdom by James Riding.

In the frank piece, Gove sets out his course for social housing amidst a world of affordable housing offers that include a growing ‘for profit’ sector. As he mentions, we need more homes that people can afford – yes, definitely – but, as Gove says, it is not just about numbers –  it must also be about scale and community connection. How much better would it be if we can build affordable housing in the communities where the residents already have connections, reducing isolation and loneliness?

Michael Gove states that “By expanding the number of homes for social rent, you can reduce the housing benefit bill overall, and you can give people a sense of stability and community” 

We could not agree more with the sentiment of his message. More affordable – proper affordable – homes (not at 80% of market rents but at a level that does not create hardship for residents) are, without any doubt, desperately needed. And one of the ways this could be achieved is to help release the shackles placed upon the charity affordable homes sector (which includes almshouses).  Unlike large housing associations, these small-scale local housing models, that date back centuries and centuries, are providing people with affordable homes and enabling them to stay in their local communities.

Recent evidence shows that living in almshouse communities not only adds quality of life for residents, it’s also adding years to their lives while reducing costs for the healthcare sector.

Almshouses can be part of the solution to providing more affordable, community led housing that have amongst the lowest charges (they charge a weekly maintenance contribution, not rent) in the sector and consistently offer homes within strong micro-communities. Government would only need to formerly recognise the almshouse model as ‘affordable housing’ under the Governments planning policy and grant local councils permission to offer small plots of land for new almshouses to be built.

In today’s world of increased isolation, loneliness, lack of community and very limited affordable housing, the time to celebrate and support this valuable asset is now.

When Michael Gove says, “We absolutely need more homes for social rent,” …. almshouses can be part of the solution – they are  established, proven, and are one of our historic success stories. Recognising almshouses in the National Planning Policy Framework will free up local councils to support almshouses under Section 106 which will follow with more almshouses being built in the community, benefiting more people in housing need for generations to come.  

The next generation of almshouses may not be just for older people in need but for others who would benefit from warm, safe secure homes in strong communities. Indeed they now include young families, young single people, young people leaving care or refugees and the homeless.

I very much welcome the opportunity to speak to Michael Gove and to take him on a tour of some of the thriving almshouse charities in his area – it won’t disappoint!

11 March 2024