Latest News | The Almshouse Association

Government launches portal to offer housing to Afghan refugees

We have all witnessed the terrible scenes which have been the result of the evacuation of civilians from Afghanistan.

To aid this effort, the Government has launched a portal where members are able to flag their willingness to assist these refugees.

We know most Governing Documents of almshouse charities are linked to local residents or a particular industry, however, if members are able to offer any support we hope this article is useful.

Posted 2 September 2021

Association’s 2021 AGM

Our seventieth AGM will take place virtually on 29 September 2021 at 10am.

Our sixty ninth AGM took place virtually at 10am on 1^st September 2020 by webinar. For a recording, please click here

Main Business of seventieth AGM:

Approval of minutes of sixty ninth AGM held on 1st September 2020 via webinar.
Election of Board Members
Presentation of 2020 annual report and accounts.

All members were cordially invited to attend the webinar. The nominated representative for each member charity are invited to cast their vote. One vote per member charity.

Deadline for voting is Wednesday 22nd September 2021.

The main contacts for each charity will receive an email invite.

Please click here to register for the webinar
If you are the main representative for your charity, please click here to vote.
One vote per member charity.

Should you require hard copies of the voting form, please contact admin@almshouses.org.

23 June 2021; last updated 31 August 21

Policy & Governance: 31.08.21 update

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

Property and Planning

Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund Opens – The first wave of the £3.8bn Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund, which is worth £160m, has opened for bids.

Members who are Registered Providers and interested in applying should talk to their local authority who will need to bid for funding on their behalf as part of a consortium.

The competition will be open for 8 weeks with applications being accepted from 23rd August to 15th October 2021 and details of the competition can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/social-housing-decarbonisation-fund

Community Housing Fund Opens – The long awaited £4 million fund to increase community led affordable homes has opened. The Community Housing Fund Revenue Programme 2021 to 2022 is funded by Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and will help community-led housing groups in the latter stages of pre-development.

The Community Led Homes Partnership (CLH) will manage the grant programme, assessing all applications and administering the grants. Applications opened on 23 August 2021 and will remain open until all funds are allocated or until 31 December 2021, whichever occurs first. The programme will close in March 2022 – all work funding by the grant must be completed by this date.

To apply for the fund, groups will need to complete an eligibility checker on the Community Led Homes website. If eligible, groups will be emailed an online grant application form.

Wales

A new standard for building Affordable Homes in Wales – Welsh Minister for Climate Change, Julie James MS, has announced the ‘Welsh Development Quality Requirements 2021 – ‘Creating beautiful homes & places’. The standard promotes low carbon designs as well as moving away from fossil fuels for domestic heating and hot water systems.

Beyond low carbon targets, the requirements also stipulate new properties to be ‘gigabit ready’, meaning fibre optic broadband or gigabit wireless technology is available, alongside a choice of internet service providers. Where this isn’t in place, infrastructure to enable future installation without disruption must be provided.

These changes, along with a recognition of the need to consider space for home working, are in direct response to the pandemic, which saw much of the country needing to learn and work from home.

The new standards also favour good design and generous space to ensure people live well within their homes.

The standard will come into force from 1st October 2021 and will apply to new affordable homes funded by the Welsh Government. More details can be found here.

Posted 31 August 21

Association joins National Housing Federation

The Almshouse Association is pleased to announce that we have officially become members of the National Housing Federation.

Almshouses are the earliest form of social housing in the country, and as such, the National Housing Federation and The Almshouse Association share similar values wishing to support social and community housing so that we can continue to offer good homes to those in housing need.

We believe that the expertise of the NHF will allow the Association to offer more advice and support to our members, as well as allowing us further opportunities to engage with government and other stakeholders.

Posted 24 August 2021

Policy & Governance update: 16.08.21

Property and Planning

GLA Launches Social Housing Retrofit Accelerator:

The Greater London Authority has launched the Social Housing Retrofit Accelerator which is aimed at helping housing providers as they develop bids for the first wave of the £3.8bn Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund, which is worth £160m and set to open in the autumn.

Social landlords will now be able to access the GLA scheme to get free technical guidance on retrofitting their homes to cut carbon emissions and reduce heating bills.

It is backed by £3.45m in funding from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and is intended to help speed up energy-efficiency work in social housing across the country.

Bids for the SHDF open on August 23^rd. Members who are Registered Providers and interested in applying should talk to their local authority who will need to bid for funding on their behalf.

Charity

Coronavirus (COVID-19) guidance for the charity sector:

The government has updated its Covid-19 guidance for trustees. This includes advice for trustees on holding meetings remotely or postponing or cancelling meetings to reflect the lifting of restrictions in England and Wales.

As restrictions lift, some members may choose to revert to physical meetings. However, Coronavirus is still impacting on events and so it is still reasonable to make adjustments to suit your needs. Further guidance can be found here.

Wales

Coronavirus Restrictions Lifted:

Most of the remaining Coronavirus restriction in place will be lifted from August 7^th. This includes rules on the number of people who can meet indoors as well as social distancing will end.

Wearing a face mask in shops, health and social care settings and on public transport will still be required.

16-08-2021

Policy & Governance: 02.08.21 update

Property and Planning

National Disability Strategy – The Government has published its National Disability Strategy which seeks to improve the life of disabled people across the country. Part of the strategy focuses on housing, particularly accessibility, with some immediate measure including:
- boosting the supply of housing for disabled people by raising accessibility standards for new homes, increasing the supply of affordable homes, including supported housing, and accelerating the adaptation of existing homes by improving the efficiency of local authority delivery of the Disabled Facilities Grant, worth £573 million in 2021 to 2022
- extend disabled tenants’ rights on accessibility
- ensure the safety of disabled people in buildings, for when there are emergencies

Building Beautiful Places – Members who are considering developing new almshouses may be interested in the revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and new National Model Design Code which place ‘beauty’ at the heart of new buildings.

Charity

Charity Commission – updated guidance on charity accounting – The Charity Commission has updated its guidance on Charity reporting and accounting: the essentials November 2016 (CC15d) and on Independent examination of charity accounts: guidance for trustees (CC31) to include advice on the use of electronic signatures on the balance sheet, trustees’ annual report and independent examination.

Adult Social Care

Help with anti-social behaviour for social housing tenants – MHCLG has published guidance that clarifies the roles of the agencies responsible for tackling anti-social behaviour and the help and support available for residents. Although the guidance refers to ‘tenants’ it is generally applicable information.

Environment and Energy

Government Consultation Opens on automatic energy switching – The Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has published proposals to trial automatic switching for customers on expensive default energy tariffs to cheaper deals. The proposals include trials of a new system (to take place in 2024) in which some consumers on costly tariffs would be automatically switched to cheaper ones on the market unless they opt out. BEIS has published a related policy paper and consultation – closing 15 October 2021.

Miscellaneous

Risk management template for event organisers – DCMS has published a Risk management template for event organisers, which it offers as a resource to help event organisers to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission in event settings. This may be of interest to members thinking about holding a celebratory tea party as part of The Almshouse Association’s 75^th anniversary.

Posted 2 August 21

New! Photography competition!*

Are you a budding David Bailey?

As temperatures start to rise across the summer months, we are launching our summer photography competition to coincide with our 75^th anniversary.

The competition is split into themes consisting of:

Generations
Tea and cake
Almshouse pride
Happiness
Flora and fauna
Through the garden gate

You simply choose a theme that your photograph relates to and send the photo to us in jpeg format via email with your name, contact and almshouse charity details to gerryharmon@almshouses.org.

All members are welcome to enter!

The winner will receive a quality garden tool set and £50 Dobbies voucher and the runner up will receive a pair of gardening gloves and £20 Dobbies voucher. Both will receive a commemorative certificate and Almshouse Association pin, as well as coverage on our website and social media channels

The winner and runner up, chosen by a group of judges, will be announced at our afternoon tea garden party on the 8^th September and notified the week commencing the 13^th September 2021.

The closing date for the competition is 4 pm on the 16^th August 2021.

So…. set your shutter speed, polish your lenses, fire up your artistic flare and get clicking!!

We can’t wait to see all your amazing photos!

*Please read our Terms & Conditions for the Photo competition here

Posted 2 June 21

New almshouses in Cheltenham

New ecologically friendly almshouses offer more than a roof over residents heads.

CEO Nick Phillips attended the official opening of four new almshouses at Jesse Mary Almshouses in Cheltenham on 16th July 2021.

The new solar-powered almshouses have been built to a very high standard of comfort and economy, typical of the new generation of almshouses – taking the best of traditional design and incorporating the highest standards of insulation and solar energy in order to reduce the impact on the environment and improve economic resilience.

Amongst the throng enjoying the day were trustees, residents, The Mayor of Cheltenham (who cut the opening ribbon), Councillor Steve Harvey – The Deputy Mayor of Cheltenham, Councillor Sandra Holliday and MP for Cheltenham, Alex Chalk, Assistant Whip and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Ministry of Justice, Valerie O’Connor, Chairman of Trustees, Nick Phillips, CEO of The Almshouse Association and architect and building contractor representatives.

Resident Fran has been living at the Jesse Mary almshouses for 17 years; now 70, she enjoys supporting the older residents and playing her part in the community and neighbourly spirit of almshouses.

“I have loved every single minute of living here and I am very happy. Even if I won the lottery I still wouldn’t want to move!”

In his statement to the BBC, MP Alex Chalk spoke of the vital role almshouses play today in the social and community housing sector.

“Almshouses are a proven model and fill a gap not just in quality affordable housing for those in need but in reducing isolation and loneliness. A powerful model for the future!”

Nick Phillips, commented on the value that almshouses bring to a community and their genuine affordable model.

“These almshouses show what can be achieved by one local charity, established nearly 100 years ago, leading the way locally on not just affordable homes and creating close communities but in environmental construction and design.”

It was a great day enjoyed by all and we even managed to get a spot on the BBC news!

The new almshouses consist of four individual one-bedroom properties, finished to the highest modern standard with open-plan kitchen and underfloor heating throughout. All have ground-level entry with two designed for wheelchair access and equipped with re-enforced ceilings which can accommodate a hoist. State of the art PV panels have been installed to minimise any environmental impact.

They have been built in the grounds of the Jesse Mary Chambers almshouses and complement the existing building which was put up in 1924 under the Will of Mr. Henry David Gregory Chambers, in memory of his sister.

Cheltenham Almshouses & Aid own and manage four almshouse sites across the town with a total of 39 properties and residents

Posted 20 July 21

Refugee resettlement – can you help?

Hospitality Pledge Landlord Search

Krish Kandiah, social entrepreneur, writer, activist, theologian and Chair of the Adoption and Special Guardianship Leadership Board recently reached out to Nick Phillips, CEO of The Almshouse Association to talk about the plight of Afghan refugees and to see if any almshouse charities would be able to help.

UK and NATO forces are pulling out of Afghanistan after 20 years. The UK is resettling hundreds of Afghan families who helped us with translation and support services during the conflict that are now facing extreme threat to life.

They are urgently looking for landlords, Housing Associations and private home owners who would be willing to rent out their properties to the local authority for 12 months to help.

If you are interested in helping please click here.

Posted 20 July 21

Policy & Governance: 19.07.21

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

English Housing Survey, 2019 to 2020 – social rented sector – MHCLG has published the English Housing Survey, 2019 to 2020: social rented sector, which reports on the characteristics and circumstances of social renters in England.

Building Safety Bill – The Building Safety Bill has been published (explanatory notes). The Bill takes forward the Government’s commitment to reform the building safety system and changes to the Architects Act 1997, the Housing Act 1996, and will establish a National Regulator for Construction Products and a New Homes Ombudsman.

Charities

Annual Charity Commission research on public trust in charities – The Charity Commission has welcomed research findings suggesting trust in charities is continuing to recover after hitting an all-time low three years ago. But the regulator says trust remains fragile, and that charities must respond to underlying public expectations if they are to fully return to levels of trust last seen a decade ago. Maintaining trust within the communities we serve, through high standards is vital to ensure that our charities continue to receive the support necessary to provide relief to those in need. Almshouses have provided this high standards as cornerstones of the communities they work in for hundreds of years, we must strive to continue this work in perpetuity.

Annual returns – The Charity Commission’s 2021 charity annual return service is now available. The Commission has also updated the document that lists the questions in the annual return: see its Guidance: Prepare a charity annual return.

Covid-19 and charity AGMs – The Charity Commission has updated its Coronavirus (COVID-19) guidance for the charity sector in relation to Annual General Meetings disrupted by the pandemic. Specifically: “We recognise that for some charities virtual meetings are not a viable solution, nor are socially distanced face-to-face meetings. In such instances, trustees may consider they have no choice but to cancel or postpone their AGMs and other critical meetings. If you do consider such a decision is necessary, you should follow any rules in your charity’s governing document that allow for postponement, adjournment or cancellation. If there are no such rules, but you decide that this is still the best course of action for your charity in the current circumstances, you should record the reasons for this decision to demonstrate good governance of your charity. This is particularly important if it is not possible to hold your AGM which may make it difficult for you to finalise your annual reports and accounts.”

Taxation and Finance

Proposed Accounting Direction for registered providers of social housing – The Regulator of Social Housing has published a consultation – closing 21 September – on proposed updates to the existing Accounting Direction. The responses to the Accounting Direction 2019 consultation identified a number of issues that were outside of the scope of the changes proposed at the time. RSH will review the proposed changes to the Accounting Direction in light of the responses received to the consultation. Any changes that may be made to the Accounting Direction will come into force for accounting periods commencing 1 January 2022. Members who are also Registered Providers may wish to respond to the consultation.

Posted 19 July 21