On 24 July 2023, both the Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak and the Housing & Levelling Up Secretary, Michael Gove gave commitments to meet the Conservative Government’s target of building 1 million new homes over the course of the current Parliament.

• www.gov.uk/government/speeches/long-term-plan-for-housing-secretary-of-states-speech

For almshouses, there were a number of specific points to note within these announcements, especially the focus on a more locally and community driven approach to new housebuilding.

1. “Development should proceed on sites that are adopted in a local plan with full input from the local community, unless there are strong reasons why it cannot.”
   
2. “Better use should be made of small pockets of brownfield land by being more permissive, so more homes can be built more quickly, where and how it makes sense, giving more confidence and certainty to SME builders.”
   
3. Consultation on Permitted Development Rights, to convert redundant commercial properties in town and city centres to residential.
   • www.gov.uk/government/consultations/permitted-development-rights
     
4. Establishing the Office for Place in Stoke-on-Trent, a new body to lead a design revolution, ensuring beautiful new homes are built according to a simple design code supported by local people. The Office for Place will support residents to demand what they find beautiful from developers – ensuring every local place is built to reflect the individual local character and beauty of every community across the country.
   • www.gov.uk/government/organisations/office-for-place
     
5. £800 million allocated from the Brownfield, Infrastructure and Land fund to unlock.
   • www.gov.uk/guidance/brownfield-infrastructure-and-land-fund

Almshouses have a proud track record of providing focused community housing in line with local needs and as such the announcement could provide greater scope and opportunities for new almshouses.

The Almshouse Association will be carrying out a Census of our member Almshouse Charities this autumn and the information you provide will be key to helping us to help you, by raising awareness of the good work you do for your local communities with Members of Parliament, Local Councils and Councillors.

posted 10 August 2023

The Charity Commission has updated guidance on charities and investments.

Published on 1st August 2023, the guidance (known as CC14) has been redesigned to offer greater clarity and to give trustees confidence to make investment decisions that are right for their charity.

The language used in the guidance is clearer and the structure has been updated so that it is shorter and easier to use, and trustees can find the information they need more quickly.

As discussion continues within the sector about charities’ ability to account for factors such as the environmental impact of investments, the guidance makes clearer that trustees have discretion to choose what is best in their circumstances and have a range of investment options open to them – provided they ultimately further the charity’s purposes.

The refreshed guidance follows a Commission ‘call for information’ and consultation on financial investment and reflects a significant High Court judgment on charity trustees’ investment duties (the ‘Butler-Sloss’ case). Trustees can have confidence in the decisions they make when following the guidance, knowing it is up to date and properly reflects the relevant law.

The examples featured in the guidance are designed to help trustees identify the factors that are relevant to their own charity’s situation and then use these to determine how to approach their investment decisions. This should make it easier for trustees to apply the guidance correctly and feel able to justify that the decisions they take are in their charity’s best interests.

• Full details: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/charities-and-investment-matters-a-guide-for-trustees-cc14 

posted 8 August 2023

Our seventy-second AGM took take place on 15 June 2023 at One Great George Street, Westminster, London SW1P 3AA, prior to the start of Member Day 2023.

Our outgoing Chair Elizabeth Fathi reflected on 2022 and her five years as Chair of the Association. This was followed by acceptance of the Minutes of the seventy-first Almshouse Association 2022 AGM  held on Wednesday 15 June 2022 at Grand Station, Sun Street, Wolverhampton.

Board members, John Broughton, Elizabeth Fathi, Willie Hartley Russell and Tricia Scouller had served 3 years in their current trustee tenures and sought re-appointment, which was voted on and seconded by members; all were re-appointed. Willie Hartley Russell was confirmed as the new Chairman of The Association.

Simon Ling, Honorary Treasurer, then presented the 2022 financial accounts which were adopted and Simon confirmed the re-appointment of Auditors, Buzzacott LLP.

The Almshouse Association Accounts and Annual Report 2022 can be downloaded here. (Hard copies were presented to all AGM delegates on 14 June 2023; main member contacts of the Association will be receiving their hard copy of the Annual Report with the summer Gazette mailing.)

An address from the new Chairman, Willie Hartley Russell followed; he shared his five year chairmanship plan with delegates which focuses on the following five areas: legislation and regulation, financial stability and fundraising, Billingbear Lodge, research and 2023/2029 Strategy.

“There is a need to ensure that the almshouse model that has flourished for the last 1000 years, remains as relevant today as it always has been.”

Willie Hartley Russell, Chairman of The Almshouse Association

The AGM concluded with an update on strategic goals from Association CEO Nick Phillips and a presentation to the outgoing Chair, Elizabeth Fathi.

Nick gave his and the teams personal thanks to Elizabeth Fathi for her vision, ambition and encouragement to “challenge ourselves to think further and greater for the Association and the almshouse movement”. We have found it hugely stimulating to have Elizabeth Fathi as our Chair. Elizabeth led the association to think beyond the shores of Great Britain, engaging with our European partners.

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• To read the full minutes of the AGM 2023, please click here.
• To read the AGM 2022 minutes, please click here

posted 3 August 2023

The Almshouse Association Response to consultation on Consumer Standards

On 25 July 2023, the Regulator of Social Housing set out a new proposed set of consumer standards. The consumer standards have been designed by the Regulator of Housing (RSH) to enhance the experience and improve the wellbeing of occupiers (tenants) of social housing.

In January 2023, the RSH sought input for the draft plans from The Almshouse Association and although much of the positive detail remains and some of the areas we raised concerns about have been removed from this draft, there are, however, many areas in the current proposal that we will, and must, challenge.

We remain concerned about elements of ‘tenant management’ proposed (given the personal responsibility held by trustees), aspects of the Mutual Exchange and particularly the indication that all forms of occupation may be swept up with this proposal.

We will be seeking your input and will respond robustly.

Please find link to the consultation.

NOTE: only affects almshouse charities that are Registered Housing Providers

Posted 31 July 2023

The Almshouse Association Friends of Club

‘Preserving the historic value of the almshouse movement and securing its future.’

Our aim here at The Almshouse Association is to provide a welcoming Club that makes supporters of almshouses feel a close connection with each other, where you can connect and share your passion for almshouses and the almshouse movement.

The Friends of Club will offer some amazing benefits to our ‘Friends’ with a unique calendar of activities and projects that you can get involved in. Other benefits will include a twice-yearly newsletter with updates on the Association’s activities, an exclusive Friends Networking Event, dates of Friends gatherings held across the UK, and case studies and biographies of Trustees, Ambassadors, and Regional Peer Representatives.

We welcome Elizabeth Fathi, previous Chair of the Board of Trustees of The Almshouse Association as our first ‘Friend of The Almshouse Association’

Nick Phillips, our CEO, says, “We are delighted to have Elizabeth as our first honorary ‘Friend’. She will be a supportive addition to this new Club. Her expansive knowledge of the almshouse movement will be an amazing asset to everyone involved in the Friends of Club.  We welcome Elizabeth.”

We will also be welcoming all our Lifetime and Associate Members to Friends.

If you are a Lifetime or Associate Member you will have received a letter with further details of the Friends of Club and we look forward to sharing the many benefits with you over the coming months.

We are busy finalising The ‘Friends of’ Club’s very own website page and we will let you know as soon as this is up and running. In the meantime, if you would like to find out more, please contact David Burton or Gerry Harmon on 01344 452922

posted 31 July 2023

Following a significant push from Association member charities and supporting MPs, we have seen a consistent response to questions in the House of Commons.

This government response is significant because for the first time the answer to the questions posed is suggesting that local government has the power to decide if almshouses meet the terms of Sec106. We have long argued that the National Planning Policy Framework is guidance only and that charities should be considered as proper affordable housing.

We are asking further questions of Government.

posted 27 July 2023

On Tuesday 25 July 2023 Department for Culture Media and Sport announced that charities and community organisations carrying out vital work to help vulnerable people are invited to apply for a major government support package.

• Most vulnerable people in society protected from cost of living with £76 million government support package
• New fund supporting charities and community organisations providing vital services opens today
• Grants targeted at organisations struggling with rising costs and increased demand
• Delivers on Prime Minister’s commitment to support people with cost of living and protect low-income households

Charities and community organisations carrying out vital work to help vulnerable people are today invited to apply for a major government support package worth £76 million. The fund will support frontline charities and community organisations struggling to meet increased demand for their critical services, such as the provision of food, emergency provisions, shelter, safe spaces, warmth and financial or housing advice.

Organisations can apply for grants worth between £10,000 and £75,000 to cover project and core costs, including office rent, utilities, staff and volunteers, from now until the end of March.

“We recognise this is a tough time for families and businesses across the country, as they face rising prices and higher rents or mortgage payments. And during tough times charity and community organisations are at the heart of society, supporting people struggling through life with care and compassion. To deal with a sharp rise in demand resulting from cost of living pressures, we are supporting charities with £76 million to enable these lifeline services to cope with the increased demand they are facing and continue their good work.”

Minister for Civil Society Stuart Andrew

Further details on eligibility and the applications process can be found on The National Lottery Community Fund website, in their role as the intermediary grant maker.

The Community Organisations Cost of Living Fund is the first portion of funding from a total pot of £101.5 million announced by the Chancellor at the spring Budget. Charities and community organisations are encouraged to apply for the targeted support, with a focus on small to medium-sized voluntary, community or social enterprise organisations based in England with an annual turnover of between £10,000 and around £1 million. Larger organisations can also apply if they show that they work closely and effectively with local communities as well as fill a gap in essential local services.

Applications will be accepted until midday 16 October 2023 and all funds must be spent by 31 March 2024.

posted 26 July 2023

Update on the Association’s recent political engagement and The Social Housing Bill:

National Planning Policy Framework

The Almshouse Association has recorded over 60 letters to the Secretary of State in support of our proposed amendment to the National Planning Policy Framework to properly recognise almshouses as affordable housing.

This amendment is requested as part of the Levelling up and Regeneration Bill. Thank you to everyone who has engaged their MPs and helped raise the profile of the almshouse movement. The Association’s visit to Theresa May MP was a great boost to our cause and her persuasive letter added weight to the many other letters seeking change.

The Bill has now passed to The House of Lords where the battle continues and last week Baroness Hayman of Ullock requested the amendment to the definition of affordable housing. This is likely now to be debated in September, and having also been tabled as an amendment, it will be considered. Further support for an amendment to the definition has also been expressed by Baroness Scott.

We will continue to raise the issue and build support from Peers in the hope that this minor change to the National Planning Policy Framework is affected. The definition of affordable housing was sent to all MPs last Friday from The House of Commons as part of their familiarisation homework. We hope this is a precursor to further discussions around the subject.

Other work is on going in relation to Regulated Housing and the almshouse model seeking a more proportionate form of regulation for almshouse charities.

The Social Housing Bill has now received Royal Assent

The Social Housing Regulation Act received royal assent this week.

This is a huge milestone in the Government’s response to the Grenfell Tower Tragedy, and represents the biggest change to the regulation of social housing in over a decade.

The Act will make a real difference including:

• Facilitating the introduction of proactive consumer regulation by the Regulator of Social Housing, with regular inspections of the largest landlords
• Stronger enforcement powers for the Regulator to take action where landlords do not meet the standards
• Additional Housing Ombudsman powers to publish best practice guidance to landlords following investigations into tenant complaints 
• Powers to set strict time limits for social landlords to address hazards such as damp and mould, as part of Awaab’s Law
• Powers to set new qualification requirements for social housing managers 

The passage of this legislation is one step in the Government’s social housing reform programme. In the near future, the Regulator will consult on revisions to the consumer standards and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) will take forward consultations on Awaab’s Law, changes to the Decent Homes Standard, the professionalisation of the sector and the Access to Information Scheme.

DLUC ended their statement by saying:

“We would like to thank The Almshouse Association for your support and challenge during the passage of the Bill. The Government believes strongly in the value of almshouses providing good quality homes in the sector, and we look forward to continuing to work with you in the implementation of the new consumer regime.”

We too look forward to working with DLUC and other government departments in the hope of affecting change where it is needed and supporting change where are members feel it is right.

posted 25 July 2023