P&G update: 26.07.23

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.

HoC Written Answer: Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities: Almshouses: Affordable Housing

Q: Siobhain McDonagh (Lab) (Mitcham and Morden): (194657) To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether he plans to include almshouses in the National Planning Policy Framework definition of affordable housing.

A: Rachel Maclean (Con) (Redditch): I refer the Hon. Member to my answer to Question UIN 185863 on 30 May 2023.

Almshouses play a valuable role in providing homes for communities across the country. Registration with the Regulator of Social Housing is voluntary for almshouses, and a number of almshouses do choose to register. Where almshouses are registered with the Regulator, they are required to meet the Regulator’s economic and consumer standards.

Affordable housing contributions in Section 106 agreements are negotiated between local planning authorities and developers.

Grouped Questions: 194587, 194656

Source

HoC Written Answer: Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities: Almshouses: Regulation

Q: Siobhain McDonagh (Lab) (Mitcham and Morden): (194656) To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether he plans to bring forward proposals on the regulation of almshouses.

A: Rachel Maclean (Con) (Redditch): I refer the Hon. Member to my answer to Question UIN 185863 on 30 May 2023.

Almshouses play a valuable role in providing homes for communities across the country. Registration with the Regulator of Social Housing is voluntary for almshouses, and a number of almshouses do choose to register. Where almshouses are registered with the Regulator, they are required to meet the Regulator’s economic and consumer standards.

Affordable housing contributions in Section 106 agreements are negotiated between local planning authorities and developers.

Grouped Questions: 194587, 194657

Source

HoC Written Answer: Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities: Almshouses: Finance

Q: Daisy Cooper (Lib Dem) (St Albans): (194587) To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of enabling alms houses to access section 106 funding in the same way as housing associations.

A: Rachel Maclean (Con) (Redditch): I refer the Hon. Member to my answer to Question UIN 185863 on 30 May 2023.

Almshouses play a valuable role in providing homes for communities across the country. Registration with the Regulator of Social Housing is voluntary for almshouses, and a number of almshouses do choose to register. Where almshouses are registered with the Regulator, they are required to meet the Regulator’s economic and consumer standards.

Affordable housing contributions in Section 106 agreements are negotiated between local planning authorities and developers.

Grouped Questions: 194656, 194657

We are asking further questions of Government.

posted 27 July 2023

Major Government Support Package

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

P&G update: 25.7.23

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

Association welcomes new Chairman

We are delighted to announce that Willie Hartley Russell MVO DL, has been appointed as the new Chairman of The Almshouse Association.  The announcement was made on Thursday 15 June 2023 at the Association’s Members’ Day and Annual General Meeting.

Willie has been a dedicated member of The Almshouse Association Board of Trustees for 20 years, serving in significant roles as Chair of sub-committees, and as Vice Chairman of The Almshouse Association for the last six years.

Willie with the out-going Chair Elizabeth Fathi (2018 – 2023) at Members Day 2023

Willie is a highly regarded investment management professional with generations of family commitment to almshouses. He is a driving force in his local community having recently been High Sheriff of The Royal County of Berkshire (2021/2022), Vice President of the Berkshire Community Foundation, and a Deputy Lieutenant of the County. He is a Freeman of the City of London and a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Pattenmakers, ensuring that the important links with City Livery companies and The Almshouse Association are maintained.

Willie runs his own farming enterprise and has shown huge personal commitment to the almshouse movement, chairing the family foundation, The Hartley Trust, which dates back to 1393. The Trust has been in the family for nearly 400 years and is the tenth oldest almshouse foundation in the country.

Of his appointment as Chairman of The Almshouse Association Willie Hartley Russell said:

“Almshouses are about people – the people that occupy them and the volunteer trustees who manage them.  It is these people who provide the ‘community spirit’ that makes almshouse living so unique and enduring.

I am looking forward to being Chairman of The Almshouse Association. I want to build closer relationships with government and the housing sector to protect and enhance this exemplary form of community housing that is still so relevant today. I hope, too, that I can encourage more philanthropic support for the longevity of the movement.”

On Willie’s appointment, Nick Phillips, CEO of The Almshouse Association, comments:

“I am delighted. Willie brings formidable experience to our leadership. With his financial career in investment management in the City he brings sound business acumen, and, with his long history of family commitment to almshouses, he has a depth of knowledge that can see the Association and the wider almshouse movement thrive and become robust for the next century.”

Cutting at the cake at the Association’s 75th Anniversary celebration
Willie Hartley Russell (second from left) with fellow board trustees, Clive Cook, Elizabeth Fathi and Paul Mullis

In the news:

  • The Almshouse Association Chairman, Willie Hartley Russell on Kennet News Radio – click on link below and slide to 30.21 to listen.

posted 22 June 2023, updated 24 July 2023

P&G update: 4.7.23

– Affordable Housing Definition

Today Baroness Hayman of Ullock has requested a review of the definition of ‘affordable housing’ under the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).

Web link: Unnumbered amendment to Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill to Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill – Parliamentary Bills – UK Parliament

The Almshouse Association will be writing to contacts in The House of Lords seeking their support for the review.

Thank you to all members who have written to their MPs in support of the proposal. We are still not guaranteed a review and even further from a definition that includes almshouses under the framework ….. but we are moving in the right direction.

See also: Members: Call to Alms! | (almshouses.org)

posted 4 July 2023

The Almshouse Association Members Day 2023

A Celebration of Community, Compassion, Companionship, and Care

On 15th July 2023, The Almshouse Association hosted Members Day 2023 at the prestigious One Great George Street in Westminster, London. The day was dedicated to embracing the values of community, compassion and companionship, which lie at the heart of the almshouse movement, and, on the day, a fourth ‘c’ was added to the theme by the special guest speakers – care.

The event brought together esteemed individuals who shed light on the caring nature of almshouses and emphasized the significance of human interaction. The day was filled with inspiring speeches, informative sessions, and networking opportunities, making it an extraordinary experience for all attendees.

Welcoming the Chairman and Honouring the Award Winners

One of the highlights of the event was the introduction of the new Chairman, Willie Hartley Russell. His appointment marked a fresh chapter for The Almshouse Association, symbolizing its commitment to the future of the organization. His inspiring words resonated with the delegated, creating a sense of excitement and anticipation for the Association’s journey ahead.

New Chairman, Willie Hartley Russell

Another significant moment was the recognition and celebration of The Almshouse Association Award winners. These remarkable individuals and projects were honoured for their impressive developments, beautiful garden projects, dedication, and hard work. Chair of the Awards Committee, Simon Pott and new Chairman, Willie Hartley Russell presented the winners with Gardens and People and Inspiration Homes certificates and award winner pin badges, acknowledging their outstanding contributions to the almshouse movement.

Liz Fathi steps down as Chair and receives the honour of officially becoming the Association’s first ever ‘Friend of The Association’.

The TAA ‘Friends of’ programme will be officially launched this September giving members and associates the opportunity to join a special group of people helping to preserve the historic value of the almshouse movement and securing its future.

Our Friends of Programme will offer a distinctive array of activities and projects for friends of active involvement, all the while supporting the almshouse movement.

Poland Trust, Inspirational Homes Award
Wyggestons and Trinity Hospital Charities, Inspirational Homes Award
Great Shelford Parochial Charities, Inspirational Homes Award
Barnstaple Almshouses, Gardens and People Award
Frances Darlington Charity, Gardens and People Award
Zeals Almshouses, Gardens and People Award
Peter Birtwistle Trust, Inspirational Homes Award
Tibberton Almshouses, Inspirational Homes Award
The Honywood and Douglas Charity, Inspiration Homes Award

Guest Speakers Emphasising Care

Our distinguished guest speakers from various fields shared their valuable insights, all converging on the importance of care within the almshouse community.

Paul Latham of the Charity Commission shed light on the regulatory aspects, emphasizing the significance of caring practices within charitable organizations. Research Fellow Dr Helen Pooley provided an academic perspective, underlining the positive impact caring architecture has on the well-being of residents. Sir Stephen Bubb JP FRSA, a renowned charity titan, shared his experiences and praised the uniqueness of almshouses and the caring nature that defines all charities.

Paul Latham, Charity Commission
Dr Alison Pooley
Sir Stephen Bubb JP FRSA

Our headline speaker, Author and Humanitarian, Terry Waite CBE captivated the audience with his personal anecdotes and insights into his time in captivity, illustrating the transformative power of care in fostering compassion and resilience.

The Q&A that followed his talk could have gone on for hours; so many questions, so humble his manner, and such a huge inspiration to us all.

Terry Waite CBE delights the delegates

A Day Filled with Inspiration and Engagement

Panel of Experts answers delegate questions

Members Day 2023 was brimming with engaging sessions, including Q&A opportunities with experts in their fields, allowing attendees to delve deeper into specific topics. The event encouraged active participation and facilitated networking among the members, fostering a sense of unity and camaraderie within the almshouse community

A special thanks

The Almshouse Association extended their gratitude to the sponsors and exhibitors who supported the event, recognizing their invaluable contribution to its success. Thanks also to Richard Gray for the photography

Additionally, the Association expressed their appreciation for everyone who dedicated their time and effort to making the day truly exceptional.

The Almshouse Association Members Day 2023 was an unforgettable celebration of compassion, community, companionship, and care. With an illustrious line-up of guest speakers, the introduction of the new Chairman, and the recognition of outstanding achievements, the event exemplified the core values that define the almshouse movement. Through inspirational speeches, engaging sessions, and ample opportunities for networking, attendees were left with a renewed sense of purpose and a deeper understanding of the vital role they play within their communities. The event served as a testament to the enduring commitment of The Almshouse Association and its members to creating a better world and seeing almshouses recognised as the exemplar form of community housing.

posted 28 June 2023

Members: Call to Alms!

Almshouses: National Planning Policy Framework – almshouses in the definition of affordable housing in the National Planning Policy Framework

Dear Members

I hope all is well with you and the teams.

As you will have seen from our regular updates, we’ve been working hard with the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Almshouses and supportive MPs to see almshouses recognised as “affordable housing” under the definition set in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).

You may wonder why this is important, but, having dealt with so many issues over the years where local and national government have excluded almshouses or, even charged almshouses a levy towards the affordable housing fund (Section 106) because of the guidance under the current NPPF, it is clear that almshouse charities are not being recognised under the NPPF definition of “affordable housing”. Our members are disadvantaged as a result and are often being affected negatively under planning legislation.

For years, we have been asking for a review and we have, at last, been told that there will be a parliamentary review and consultation. The Almshouse Association has written to The Secretary of State and senior civil servants who have been working with us for years on this matter as well as to others who may have influence yet we have not secured the review in our favour.

I appreciate how busy you all are and I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t think it was so important for our members, but this is possibly a once in a decade or twenty- year opportunity to put right the national guidance and allow almshouses to have the recognition they deserve. Would you consider sending a letter or email to your local MP asking them to support this case?

If you would consider sending a letter or an email, I enclose a rough draft to help save you some time – you are welcome to use this and just add your charity’s details or, having read the letter, draft your own version in support of the proposal. If we are successful it will make a huge difference to the opportunities open to almshouse charities in the future.
• Click here for letter template
• Click here for tips on writing to MPs

MPs must submit their comments by 30th June 2023 so if you do have the time to participate, we would be incredibly grateful and strongly recommend getting your letter off to your MP before the end of this week – 23rd June 2023.

Thank you.

Nick Phillips | CEO The Almshouse Association

21 June 2023

Charities Act 2022

Find out about changes being introduced by the Charities Act 2022 

The Charities Act 2022 is introducing a number of practical changes aimed at making life easier for trustees, and the latest set of provisions came into effect on 14 June 2023.

As trustees of almshouse charities, you may be particularly interested in the changes being introduced to selling or leasing charity property and how you can use the charity’s permanent endowment. 

By reviewing your governing documents you will be able to determine if your charity is holding land or funds as permanent endowment.

Selling, leasing or otherwise disposing of charity land 

The new provisions simplify some of the legal requirements that apply to the disposal of charity land.

  • widening the category of designated advisers who can provide charities with advice on certain disposals 
  • confirming that a trustee, officer or employee can provide advice on a disposal if they meet certain requirements 
  • giving trustees discretion to decide how to advertise a proposed disposal of charity land 
  • removing the requirement for charities to get Charity Commission authority to grant a residential lease to a charity employee for a short periodic or fixed term tenancy 

The following provisions are expected to come into force by the end of 2023:

  • the provisions relating to disposals by liquidators, provisional liquidators, receivers, mortgagees or administrators
  • the provisions relating to the taking out of mortgages by liquidators, provisional liquidators, receivers, mortgagees or administrators
  • changes about what must be included in statements and certificates for both disposals and mortgages

You can  find full details of these new provisions in updated guidance on the Charity Commission website  

Using your charity’s permanent endowment 

Put simply, permanent endowment is money or property that your charity must keep rather than spend. 

The Charities Act 2022 has introduced new powers that enable: 

  • trustees to spend, in certain circumstances, from a ‘smaller value’ permanent endowment fund of £25,000 or less without Charity Commission authority 
  • certain charities to borrow up to 25% of the value of their permanent endowment fund without Charity Commission authority 

If you can’t make use of the new statutory powers you will need to ask the Charity Commission for authority. 

If your charity has opted into a total return approach to investment, you are able to use permanent endowment to make social investments with a negative or uncertain financial return, provided any losses are offset by other gains. 

It is important to think about the long term (next 50 years or so) as well as the short term when considering the disposal of assets and consider all options. All decisions about the sale of permanent endowment should be discussed and recorded.

You can find full details of all these provisions in the Charity Commission’s updated guidance on the Charity Commission website  

There are a number of other changes which have been, or which will be, introduced. You can find details of all the changes on the Charity Commission website 

posted 20 June 2023

Historic Almshouses: A Guide to Managing Change

The Almshouse Association and a team of almshouse architects have been working with Historic England over the last few years to see an almshouse guide for trustees and Historic Buildings Officers produced.

We are pleased to be able to inform our membership that they have now issued the draft Advice Note for managing change to historic almshouses and are looking forward to receiving your feedback.

Extract below from Historic England website:


Your chance to have a say on advice and guidance documents we’ve published in draft. Your feedback will help us make our advice and guidance useful.

Historic Almshouses: A Guide to Managing Change

This publication gives advice on managing change to historic almshouses. As a building type often of considerable age with a distinctive form generated by their use for housing elderly people, almshouses often have considerable historic and architectural significance. However, their use has subtly changed over time, the kind of residents changing and residents needing better, more contemporary, facilities. It is also essential that residents remain independent in their homes within almshouses for as long as possible.

This advice note suggests how historic and architectural significance can be retained while supplying more comfortable and appropriate housing.

Comments are welcomed on this draft advice note.

Guidance Team

posted 5 June 2023

P&G update: 25.5.23

Charites Act 2022 – The Charity Commission has published short summaries of the changes due to come into effect in June 2023. The government website advises that updated guidance on these topics will be published on the day the provisions are implemented.

Changes due to be introduced in June 2023

1. Selling, leasing or otherwise disposing of charity land

Charities must comply with certain legal requirements before they dispose of charity land. Disposal can include selling, transferring or leasing charity land. The Act will simplify some of these legal requirements. The changes will include:

  • widening the category of designated advisers who can provide charities with advice on certain disposals
  • confirming that a trustee, officer or employee can provide advice on a disposal if they meet the relevant requirements
  • giving trustees discretion to decide how to advertise a proposed disposal of charity land
  • removing the requirement for charities to get Commission authority to grant a residential lease to a charity employee for a short periodic or fixed term tenancy

The following provisions are expected to come into force by the end of 2023, not in June 2023:

  • the provisions relating to disposals by liquidators, provisional liquidators, receivers, mortgagees or administrators
  • the provisions relating to the taking out of mortgages by liquidators, provisional liquidators, receivers, mortgagees or administrators
  • changes about what must be included in statements and certificates for both disposals and mortgages

2. Using permanent endowment

Put simply, permanent endowment is property that your charity must keep rather than spend.

The Act will introduce new statutory powers to enable:

  • charities to spend, in certain circumstances, from a ‘smaller value’ permanent endowment fund of £25,000 or less without Commission authority
  • certain charities to borrow up to 25% of the value of their permanent endowment fund without Commission authority

Charities that cannot use the statutory powers will require Charity Commission authority.

A new statutory power will enable charities that have opted into a total return approach to investment to use permanent endowment to make social investments with a negative or uncertain financial return, provided any losses are offset by other gains.

3. Charity names

The Commission can currently direct a charity to change its name if it is too similar to another charity’s name or is offensive or misleading. The Act will enable the Commission to:

  • direct a charity to stop using a working name if it is too similar to another charity’s name or is offensive or misleading. A working name is any name used to identify a charity and under which the activities of the charity are carried out. For example, ‘Comic Relief’ is the working name of the charity ‘Charity Projects’
  • delay registration of a charity with an unsuitable name or delay entry of a new unsuitable name onto the Register of Charities
  • use its powers in relation to exempt charities in consultation with the principal regulator

4. Other provisions

The definition of a connected person will be updated to remove outdated language.

Changes that came into force on 31 October 2022

  1. Paying trustees for providing services or goods to the charity
  2. Fundraising appeals that do not raise enough or raise too much.
  3. Power to amend Royal Charters

In addition, the following changes are now in effect:

  • the Charity Tribunal has the power to make “authorised costs orders” following an application by a charity. Read our guidance about decision reviews and the Charity Tribunal
  • the Commission’s scheme-making powers include making schemes for charitable companies
  • trust corporation status is automatically conferred on existing and future corporate charities in respect of any charitable trust of which the corporation is (or, in the future, becomes) a trustee
  • updated provisions relating to giving public notice to written consents and orders of the Charity Commission under various sections of the Charities Act 2011
  • when a charity amends its governing document by parliamentary scheme under section 73 of the Charities Act 2011, the scheme will by default always be under a lighter touch parliamentary process (known as the negative parliamentary procedure)

posted 25 May 2023