Celebrating our 80th anniversary at the House of Lords
The Almshouse Association marked its 80th anniversary with a special celebration at the House of Lords, bringing together sector leaders, supporters and partners to reflect on the past and look ahead to the future of charity housing.
The landmark occasion served as both a milestone and a powerful catalyst for change, a sentiment perfectly captured by Nick Phillips, CEO of The Almshouse Association:
“This anniversary is not just a celebration of our rich history, but a profound call to action to protect our shared future. We must ensure that almshouses and small charity housing providers continue to play a vital, irreplaceable role in providing secure, dignified homes for generations to come.”
Visionary insights from sector leaders
The event featured compelling, forward-looking contributions from distinguished leaders who clearly defined the challenges, the data, and the path forward for charitable housing.
Nick Phillips with Lord Best and Michele Wainright Abbeyfield CEO
David Holdsworth, Charitt Commission CEO
Sir Stephen Bubb
The Lord Best OBE DL opened the proceedings by emphasising that robust national housing policy underpins true community stability. He illustrated how preventative housing models deliver immense, measurable savings to public services and highlighted how the newly formed Charity Housing Alliance will successfully bridge the gap between small grassroots providers and national strategy.
Willie Hartley Russell, Chairman of The Almshouse Association , followed by honouring eight decades of collective wisdom and unwavering advocacy. He rallied guests to boldly champion independent living, dignity, and community-led care as the ultimate, time-tested roadmap for an aging society. David Holdsworth, CEO of the Charity Commission for England and Wales , championed the vital necessity of exemplary governance and unity. His remarks empowered the sector to protect its foundational stability and rise together as an unstoppable, collaborative force against overly restrictive corporate policy frameworks.
Inspirational words from David Holdsworth, click here
Sir Stephen Bubb powerfully demonstrated that charity housing acts as an indispensable “social anchor,” delivering up to £75 billion in annual value to society. He championed the Alliance as our unified shield to drive evidence-led advocacy and protect housing for our most vulnerable populations.
Their presentations highlighted the enduring legacy of almshouses and their continuing relevance within today’s housing landscape. The profound impact of almshouses on residents’ lives was vividly illustrated through a heartfelt presentation by Geraldine Nelson, a resident of Trinity Hospital Almshouses in Greenwich , who shared her personal experience of almshouse living.
Geraldine
Guest listening to Geraldine heartfelt presentation
While our 80th anniversary provided an opportunity to celebrate eight decades of impact, it also reinforced our ambition for the future. There are encouraging signs of growth across the almshouse movement, with new homes being built and new almshouse charities being established for the first time in over fifty years.
Yet significant challenges remain, particularly for smaller providers operating within an increasingly complex housing landscape. Against this backdrop, a key moment of the evening was the introduction of the Charity Housing Alliance, a new initiative bringing charity housing providers together under a collective voice. The Alliance will champion the sector, foster greater collaboration, and help shape a more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable housing system for the future.
The CHA Manifesto for Change
The Charity Housing Alliance will pursue a rigorous, transformative agenda to reshape how charity-led housing is valued, treated, and governed:
Values-Driven Leadership : Supporting trustees as vital, compassionate stewards of a highly professional, robust, and deeply resilient housing sector.Fiscal and Social Resilience : Offering an effective alternative to market-driven models, delivering long-term stability and beautiful community assets without placing burdens on the public purse.A Bespoke Regulatory Framework : Respectfully advocating for a dedicated, proportionate regulatory path that formally recognizes charity housing providers as distinct public-benefit contributors rather than corporate entities.Strategic Self-Regulation : Leveraging sector-wide unity as a constructive tool to share best practices, self-regulate, and organically raise operational standards.
A unified call to action
In his closing statement, Nick Phillips invited guests to show their commitment to this vital mission. In a moving display of solidarity, the room collectively raised their hands, signaling their support for the Charity Housing Alliance .
To learn more about the Charity Housing Alliance, visit: 🔗 https://www.thecharityhousingalliance.org
This new alliance stands as the definitive tribute to 80 years of dedicated service by The Almshouse Association. It marks a pivotal turning point for a movement that has quietly underpinned community resilience for eight decades. By transforming our collective, grassroots history into a singular, sophisticated voice, we are ready to reshape national housing policy and secure the proportional regulations our providers deserve. Celebrating this historic milestone is not just about preserving a rich legacy, it is an active, evidence-led campaign to permanently establish community-led charitable spaces as indispensable pillars of health, dignity, and economic value for generations to come.
The Association extends its sincere thanks to all those who contributed to the event, and to CCLA for their generous sponsorship.
Housing LIN CEO, Jeremy Porteus sends 80th anniversary congratulations to The Almshouse Association