The Almshouse Association regularly posts a news summary of the latest Policy and Governance legislation that could impact/requires action from member charities, with links to further information where applicable.

Our latest update can be found below and previous updates are listed at the end of the page.

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

• Draft Clauses Published on New Social Housing Regulation – New draft clauses have been published as part of changes to the regulation of social housing through the Regulator for Social Housing. A factsheet has also been produced on the role of the regulator and Housing Ombudsman Service. The Almshouse Association continues to monitor developments in this area. These changes will only affect members who are registered with the regulator.
  
  The draft clauses can be found here. 
  The Factsheet can be found here.

• Failing Landlords to be ‘Named and Shamed’ Under New Regulations – Social landlords providing sub-standard housing and services would be publicly called out on the Government’s website and across social media channels.
  
  This measure will only apply to almshouse charities who are registered with the Regulator for Social Housing and serves as a reminder to ensure that you are fulfilling all the requirements of registration. If in doubt, please do not hesitate to get in touch with The Almshouse Association so we can assist you before any issues are publicised.
  
  The Government announcement can be found here.
  
  
• New Chair of the Regulator of Social Housing – Bernadette Conroy has been appointed as new Chair of the Regulator of Social Housing. The role of the Regulator is steadily becoming more central to the Government’s management of Registered Providers.
  
  Details on the announcement can be found here.

The Charity Commission

• End of flexible guidance on meetings – On 21^st April the flexible approach to charities holding meetings outside the terms of their governing documents will come to an end. Charities should check that their governing documents allow them to hold meetings in the way they wish. For example, you will need to ensure that your governing documents allow for online meetings if you have found these to be more convenient during the pandemic.
  
  Charity Commission guidance for charities on coronavirus can be found here.
  
  
• New 5-minute Guides for Charity Trustees – The Commission has released several animated videos which bring its 5-minute guides to life. This includes new materials on safeguarding. The videos aim to fill in gaps in knowledge, especially for new trustees.
  
  More details can be found here.

Employment Law

• Fear of catching COVID-19 not a protected belief rules employment tribunal – In a recent employment tribunal case it was concluded that an employee’s belief in a fear of catching Covid-19 and a need to protect herself and others, did not amount to a philosophical belief for the purposes of establishing a protected characteristic under section 10(2) Equality Act 2010.
  
  Panel of Consultants member, Stone King has provided an overview of the ruling which can be found here.

Coronavirus

• Spring Booster Campaign Launches – The spring booster vaccination campaign commenced on March 21^st. Those eligible for the booster include adults aged over 75, the immunosuppressed and, crucially, all residents in a care home for older adults. The Almshouse Association has always argued that almshouses should be treated in the same way as care homes due to their communal nature. Members should get in touch with their local authority or NHS group if their residents are struggling.

RECORD OF 2021/22 Policy and Governance updates:

Posted 4 April 22

The Almshouse Association regularly posts a news summary of the latest Policy and Governance legislation that could impact/requires action from member charities, with links to further information where applicable.

Our latest update can be found below and previous updates are listed at the end of the page.

DEPARTMENT FOR LEVELLING UP, HOUSING AND COMMUNITIES

• Homes for Ukraine Scheme Launches – The Government has opened the Homes for Ukraine scheme which looks to support Ukrainian refugees currently fleeing the war with Russia.
  
  Charities interested in supporting refugees can record their interest in the scheme which formally opened on March 18^th. In Phase One of the scheme, sponsors in the UK can nominate a named Ukrainian individual or family to stay with them. Accommodation must be available for at least 6 months. It should also be noted that you cannot charge those who may stay with you. There will be an optional ‘thank you’ payment of £350 per month for those who participate. Those from Ukraine will also be able to work and access benefits under the scheme.
  – You can record your interest here.
  – FAQs on the scheme can be found here.
  
  For members who may be interested in this scheme it is important to consider whether it is possible to accept a refugee within your current governing documents. We are all eager to do our bit in supporting those in need, but ultimately, we must still fulfil the charitable objectives of the charities we represent. As such, The Almshouse Association would advise all members to check their governing documents before logging any interest in the scheme. The Association is here to help if you need further guidance.
  
  The Charity Commission has also published a useful information guide on how charities can best support those in need as a result of the crisis which can be found here.

• Housing Ombudsman Complaint Code to Take Effect from April 1^st – In July 2020, the Housing Ombudsman introduced a new Complaint Handling Code to set out good practice for responding to complaints. Following a review, the code has been strengthened with changes to take effect from 1 April 2022. These changes will only apply to members who are registered with the Ombudsman.
  • Changes to the code can be found here.
  • The full announcement from the Ombudsman can be found here.

• Regulator of Social Housing releases latest version of ‘Regulating the Standards’ – Members who are Registered Providers of Social Housing may wish to review the latest version of ‘Regulating the Standards’. The document, published by the Regulator of Social Housing, outlines how they approach their work with the scope of the regulator expanding in recent times.
  • The full document can be found here.

ENERGY

• Issues with Communal Heating Costs – The Almshouse Association is seeking information from members who have communal heating systems in their almshouses and the impact of the current energy crisis on costs of running this system. Communal systems do not benefit from the price cap and are currently not scheduled to receive the £200 government loan, in contrast to those with their own supply.
  
  It would be useful for the Association to understand the scale of this issue including the number of people affected and the amount your bills are projected to increase. Please send any details to Jack Baldan via jackbaldan@almshouses.org  

HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE

• Government withdraws requirement for vaccine as a condition of employment – Members who also operate care home schemes within their charities will be aware that the Government recently announced that it will bring forward regulations to revoke vaccination as a condition of deployment for all health and care settings.
  
  The Government still consider full vaccination against coronavirus to be the ‘professional responsibility’ of staff working in this sector.

RECORD OF 2021/22 Policy and Governance updates:

Posted 21 March 21

The Almshouse Association is pleased to invite members to a new webinar on Permanent Endowments on Wednesday 30th March at 11am.

The webinar is free to all members and will be hosted by Gerry Morrisson, Partner & Head of Charity Team, Rollits LLP. Gerry heads Rollits’ Charities and Social Enterprise team and specialises exclusively in Charity Law. She advises charities in relation to compliance with the Charities Acts and all aspects of charity legislation, including creating and registering new charities, re-structuring and re-organising charities, charity incorporations and mergers. She regularly provides trustee training sessions and legal update seminars and is a regular contributor to the New Law Journal Charities and Appeals Supplement in relation to a wide variety of issues impacting upon charities.

The areas covered will include the below:

• What constitutes a charities permanent endowment?
• What rules apply to registered and un-registered charities?
• How can a permanent endowment be spent?
• How the new Charities Act 2020 will affect permanent endowments?

This webinar will run for 30 minutes and and there will be a Q&A session with Gerry at the end. Members will need to register in advance for the webinar by clicking in the link below. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Susan or Danielle at admin@almshouses.org or on 01344 452922.

Posted 14 March 22

The Almshouse Association regularly posts a news summary of the latest Policy and Governance legislation that could impact/requires action from member charities, with links to further information where applicable.

Our latest update can be found below and previous updates are listed at the end of the page.

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

• Voluntary and Community Frontline Sector (VCFS) Support Grant – Members may be interested in applying for the VCFS Support Grant which looks to help tackle homelessness and rough sleeping.
  
  There are a number of objectives which the scheme looks to achieve and should prove useful for almshouses who help to prevent homelessness while also working with partners across the communities they serve.
  
  The prospectus for the grant can be found here.

Energy and Environment

• Government announces £288m Green Heat Network Fund – Public, private and third-sector applicants in England can bid for a share of the Green Heat Network Fund. Unlike gas boilers where heat is generated in individual homes, heat networks see heat generated at a single central source and then distributed to multiple buildings via pipes.
  
  This fund may prove a useful opportunity for members who are looking to heat multiple homes in a more sustainable way. However, guidance suggests that this might be a more appropriate fund for those that have already made some progress towards creating a network or expanding an existing one. Further funds for this will be made available until at least December 2024.
  
  More information can be found here.

CORONAVIRUS

• The Almshouse Association continues to monitor developments with coronavirus and will provide further updates when necessary. As of Thursday February 24^th, all remaining Covid-19 restrictions have largely been removed.
• It is still recommended that you isolate at home if you test positive.
• Government guidance can be found by clicking on the links below:

RECORD OF 2021/22 Policy and Governance updates:

Posted 7 March 21

The Almshouse Association regularly posts a news summary of the latest Policy and Governance legislation that could impact/requires action from member charities, with links to further information where applicable.

ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT

• Government announces £67 million to install insulation and clean heating – The Government has announced £67m as part of its Home Upgrade Grant (HUG) scheme which will be distributed to local authorities. This first instalment of the scheme will focus on improving 4,300 low-income, off-gas grid households who are reliant on bottled gas and oil to heat their homes.
  
  The grants will pay for energy efficiency measures such as wall and roof insulation, as well as new low-carbon heating systems, thermostats and room heating controls.
  
  We know that some members will be managing properties of this nature and would benefit from support in improving the energy efficiency of these dwellings to save on energy bills and to provide more comfortable homes for residents. Currently, the fund has been allocated to certain local authorities, including:

If your charity operates in one of these local authorities, we suggest that you contact the council to discuss whether you may be able to receive support from the HUG scheme. Further information can be found here.

• Government Support for Electric Vehicle Charging Points – The Almshouse Association has held discussions with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) regarding a scheme to support the installation of Electrical Vehicle (EV) charging points.
  
  The Department currently offers the Workplace Charging Scheme which contributes £350 per socket towards the installation of EV charging points for charities. Previously this could only be used for installing sockets for staff, but following our discussions, it would be acceptable to use this grant towards installation of sockets for residents. Guidance on the scheme can be found here.

CORONAVIRUS

The Almshouse Association continues to monitor developments with Coronavirus and will provide further updates when necessary. As of Thursday February 24^th, all remaining Covid restrictions have largely been removed. It is still recommended that you isolate at home if you test positive. Government guidance can be found by clicking on the links below:

RECORD OF 2021/22 Policy and Governance updates:

Posted 28 February 2022

The Almshouse Association regularly posts a news summary of the latest Policy and Governance legislation that could impact / requires action from our member charities, with links to further information where applicable.

Energy and Environment

• Energy Crisis Support – The Government has outlined support which will be offered to help offset the steep rise in energy bills. This support comes after Ofgem announced that the cap on energy tariffs will rise by 54% to just under £2,000 a year on average.
  
  These steps include:
  • All households will be receiving £200 off their energy bills through a government loan to energy companies. This will be applied to domestic electricity customers from October 2022
  • Properties in council tax bands A-D will receive a £150 refund in April 2022. Those who pay by direct debit will receive £150 into their bank accounts. Local authorities will also have access to £144m in discretionary funding to assist vulnerable people, individuals on low incomes or those in council tax bands E-H.
  • Eligibility of the warm home discount scheme will be expanded with an additional £10 increase from October 2022 to £150. Those on certain means-tested benefits should qualify for the discount, but you should speak to your energy supplier about this

It is worth remembering that the final cost of energy bills is still calculated on your usage and so it is important to consider where energy efficiency measures could be introduced to help prevent costly bills. Details on the Government’s announcement can be found here.

Coronavirus

The Almshouse Association continues to monitor developments and changes to legislation with regards to Coronavirus and will provide further updates when applicable.

The latest Government guidance can be found here:
England
Wales
Scotland

RECORD OF 2021/22 Policy and Governance updates:

posted 7 February 22

The Almshouse Association regularly posts a news summary of the latest Policy and Governance legislation that could impact / requires action from our member charities, with links to further information where applicable.

Please find below our latest summary:

Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

Government to review staff training and qualifications in social housing – As part of its drive to improve standards within social housing the government has announced a review of training and qualifications for staff working in the sector. The Social Housing White Paper Professionalisation Review will explore the qualifications currently available for staff, with landlords, residents and trade bodies putting forward recommendations to the government. It will also consider if additional training is required to improve the service to residents.

Members who are registered providers of social housing may wish to make a submission to the working group of the review on the potential impact this could have on their work.

More information can be found here. Those wishing to respond can make a submission to Professionalisation.Review@communities.gov.uk.

Miscellaneous

Royal Horticultural Society offers grant for community gardens

To celebrate RHS Garden Day 2022, they will be gifting a new garden to one community in each of the UK’s four home nations. Working in partnership with leading garden designers, each garden will be worth up to £50,000, and an opportunity for your group to help us create an inclusive and welcoming green space for everyone within your community to access and enjoy.

Members wishing to apply must do so by February 6^th 2022. Details can be found here.

Wales

Move to Alert Level 0 – As of January 28^th, Wales has moved back to alert level 0 which means:

• Nightclubs have re-opened
• Businesses, employers and other organisations must continue to undertake a specific coronavirus risk assessment and take reasonable measures to minimise the spread of coronavirus
• The general requirement of 2m social distancing in all premises open to the public and workplaces has been removed
• The rule of 6 no longer applies to gatherings in regulated premises, such as hospitality, cinemas and theatres
• Licensed premises no longer need to only provide table service and collect contact details
• Working from home will remain part of advice from the Welsh Government but it will no longer be a legal requirement

The Covid Pass will continue to be required to enter larger indoor events, nightclubs, cinemas, theatres and concert halls.

RECORD OF 2021/22 Policy and Governance updates:

posted 31 Jan 22