Latest News | The Almshouse Association

Policy & Governance update: February 21

Each month, the Association 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 Jan/Feb 21 Summary.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Renters could be evicted for arrears built up during pandemic under legislation tweak – The Government has tweaked regulations to remove protection for tenants falling behind on rent as a result of the crisis for the first time. Previous legislation carried a provision that eviction notices could be served only for arrears where the amount owed to the landlord totalled equivalent to nine months’ rent and that any unpaid rent arrears accrued after 23 March 2020 must be disregarded. The new regulations (already in effect) lowers the arrears threshold to six months’ rent and removes any reference to disregarding debt built up during the pandemic.

Energy and Environment

The Future Buildings Standard – MHCLG has published a consultation – closing 13 April – on changes to Part L (conservation of fuel and power) and Part F (ventilation) of the Building Regulations for non-domestic buildings and dwellings; and overheating in new residential buildings. It has also published related guidance for Approved Document L (conservation of fuel and power), Approved Document F (ventilation) and Overheating. Members may be interested in responding to the suggestions for new residential buildings.

Coronavirus

You can find all our Coronavirus updates here

Posted 10 February 21

A SPECIAL CELEBRATION

The Almshouse Association’s 75^th Anniversary Year

It’s now official!

As 2021 starts a fresh New Year, we are celebrating our 75^th Anniversary and we are delighted to be sharing this special milestone with you all.

It’s our opportunity to get to know you better and for us all to join together and celebrate your achievements and your dedication to the Almshouse Movement too.

It seems that it is now more vital than ever to raise the profile of the many tangible benefits that your almshouses bring to your local communities, and the heritage that you are preserving for future generations. Our recent YouGov survey revealed just how few people really know about almshouses. We want to change that!

Throughout 2021, we are planning a focused approach to our marketing and PR activities. We will be campaigning heavily in Parliament to generate more support for the Almshouse Movement and will be looking at opportunities to generate more local and national press coverage. We will also be seeking ways to engage local councils to help them build more of an understanding of almshouses.

We want this 75th anniversary year to see us working more closely with you to support your needs even more and assure you of our integrity and professionalism at all times.

We relish the thought of visiting some of your planned garden party events, if possible. Your events will be part of our ‘Open Garden Campaign’ starting in early summer and running through to the early autumn months. We are truly delighted to have received so many requests from you for our Celebratory Packs.

These will be winding their way to you from early March and include lots of hints and tips to help your day run a little easier, whether you are planning an onsite party at your almshouses or participating in an off-site event. Whatever you are hoping to organise, we want to help make your day special so please call us if you need any extra support during this time.

Our own garden party event is in the initial stages of being organised and is planned for late summer. More details of this will follow in due course!

All these events will really highlight your fantastic work and help us all celebrate your achievements within your local community.

As well as helping you celebrate your achievements, your almshouse garden parties and/or local events you plan to participate in could also help you to expand your networks and encourage more local support, including trustee recruitment.

Getting local/regional/national media coverage could lead to more financial and practical assistance for your charity so, where possible, we will try to get the local press involved. Increased local awareness could help you towards providing longer term maintenance of your almshouses and fulfilment of vacancies. Your Celebration Pack will include some flyers on how to involve and manage local journalists and local radio .

If you would like to have a chat about any proposed activity you are considering, please contact our Campaign Manager, Gerry Harmon on gerryharmon@almshouses.org or call our office number, 01344 452922.

We look forward to working with you during this celebratory year!

#SupportAlmshouses

Posted 28 January 21

HAPPI Hour: Almshouses

Almshouse Association takes part in Housing LIN’s HAPPI Hour on Almshouses

The Almshouse Association was pleased to take part in a lively discussion on almshouses at an event hosted by Housing LIN.

The event, The future role for Almshouses in shaping local communities, also saw contributions from Almshouse Association members, architects and researcher Allison Pooley who helped to write the recent RICs report on almshouses.

We were proud to see such a vibrant conversation from both panellists and the audience, clearly showing the level of interest that almshouses can garner. There was clearly so much interest in the development of the almshouse model that we ran out of time. I am sure we will have an opportunity to revisit the discussion in the future but do let us know of any specific area of interest.

In the meantime, please do watch the session here if you were unable to participate.

Posted 1 Feb 21

House of Lords: Almshouses raised again

Almshouses raised again in the House of Lords

The Almshouse Association would like to express its thanks to Baroness Joan Bakewell DBE, HonFBA, FRSA for raising a question in the House of Lords regarding Section 106 agreements.

Although Baroness Bakewell, who is also an Almshouse Association Ambassador, did not receive an immediate answer, we look forward to hearing from the Government on the points she raised.

We are proud to see our engagement efforts beginning to bear fruit with an aim to see almshouses regularly mentioned in Parliament. You can help us in this effort by reaching out to your MP who can reach out to The Almshouse Association to support our work and that of the movement. You can also invite them to join the APPG on Almshouses which has its first meeting on February 4^th.

Baroness Bakewell’s question can be viewed here

Posted 26 January 21

Housing LIN round table event

Almshouse Association CEO Nick Phillips will be taking part in Housing LIN’s HAPPIhour virtual roundtable event at 4pm on 28th January 2021.

In this #HAPPIhour event, supported by Winckworth Sherwood, Housing LIN will focus on almshouses in ‘Back to community-led housing roots: What future role for Almshouses in shaping local communities?

They will also be discussing the recent RICS Research Trust report, the Housing LIN guest blog and sector showcase, and will be joined by a number of guests including Alison Pooley Principal Lecturer at Centre for Alternative Technology, Jeremy Porteus Chief Executive of Housing LIN, architects and Andrew Bibby Secretary of the Calder Valley Community Land Trust.

If you would like to register for this virtual event, please click in the link below to find out more:

https://www.housinglin.org.uk/Events/HAPPI-Hour-The-future-role-for-Almshouses-in-shaping-local-communities/

Posted 19 January 21

Stone King webinar: To Merge or Collaborate?

Almshouse Association panel member Tim Rutherford of Stone King Legal Services and Almshouse Association Chair and Director at The Trust Partnership Elizabeth Fathi, invite members to join a free webinar on 18th February 2021 between 2pm – 3pm

The webinar ‘To Merge or Collaborate – Why and How? – An Almshouse Toolkit’ will offer guidance and practical tips on the following items:

The rationale for merger
The strategy to find a merger partner
The process – what to expect, what to negotiate and what to leave behind
Collaboration – an alternative to merger?
Looking back, reflections on the lessons learned from 2020

To find out more and to register, please click in the boxes below:

Full details click here

To register, click here

Posted 18 January 21

Policy & Governance update: January 21

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Regulator of Social Housing’s Sector Risk Profile 2020 – The Regulator of Social Housing has produced its Sector Risk Profile for 2020, which sets out the main risks facing the social housing sector. The risks outlined are not confined to those registered with the regulator but provide warning and consideration for all almshouse charities.

Members may be interested in the focus on “Quality of Stock” which many will be familiar with. We know all our members strive to ensure that beneficiaries live in high-quality housing at all times which meets or exceeds the Decent Homes Standard. We know that many members have already improved the quality of their accommodation through converting bedsits into one-bedroom homes or by investing in wet rooms, improved kitchens and new green initiatives to improve comfort and energy efficiency. With this in mind let us know what support we can offer when considering improvements to progress of almshouses in the 21^st Century.
Building Safety Charter – Following on from the Dame Judith Hackett review there has been the creation of a Building Safety Charter. This has been discussed widely in the housing sector recently and our members may wish to view the Charter here.

Coronavirus

You can find all our Coronavirus updates here
Coronavirus Vaccine – The Government has also published guides on what to expect from the Coronavirus vaccine; one for social care staff and one for older adults. This includes details on possible side effects and how it protects you.

The Almshouse Association is continuing to talk to the Government regarding access to the vaccine for almshouse staff and residents. We are seeking to ensure that almshouses are treated equally to other social care settings and we will continue to keep members up to date with any developments.
Eviction ban extension – As a result of the new national restrictions to combat Coronavirus, the Government has extended the ban on bailiff evictions for all but the most egregious cases for at least 6 weeks – until at least 21^st February.

Posted 11 January 2021

Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors undertakes new report

Almshouses: a model of community housing for an ageing population.

A recent report recognises the great value almshouses have played in the provision of homes for people in housing need over the centuries.

Authored by Jenny Pannell and Dr Alison Pooley of Anglia Ruskin University, the report explores the characteristics of these small scale micro communities that appear in almost every market town and city in England. They identify the value of the architecture, the unique nature of almshouses as charitable enterprises, the drive of philanthropy in establishing them and the need and opportunity for more, as well as highlighting some of the barriers that are preventing almshouse development for the future – planning, awareness of their existence and lack of understanding of their great value to society.

This report goes a long way to demystify and raise awareness of the beloved, valued asset of our community and whilst the report is steered towards older people, some of the findings can apply to almshouses for younger people, families and mixed age groupings. It reinforces the good practice and experience which needs to be more widely disseminated by The Almshouse Association, promoting it as an exemplar of community-led housing, providing affordable dwellings and encouraging an intergenerational approach for the benefit of all alleviating isolation yet allowing for independence too.

The Almshouse Association endorses the comments that we recommendation ‘to reinterpret the past and reimagine for the future’. We are working with our members to see more almshouses built, historic almshouses refurbished and re-modelled and new charities established. As the report notes, almshouses will always only be part of the affordable housing solution, but to those residents who find themselves a home in an almshouse – they are often the most important part of their life.

Almshouses: a model of community housing for an ageing population – by Jenny Powell and Dr Alison Pooley of Anglia Ruskin University

Almshouses have existed in England for over a thousand years, and new almshouses are still being built. Almshouse charities provide social housing for over 36,000 people in around 30,000 dwellings. Most almshouse residents are older people (aged 50/60+ years), yet built environment and housing professionals, politicians and others concerned with the provision of housing for older people are more familiar with other social housing providers than with almshouse charities.

Research on almshouses tends to focus on their architectural and social history, detailing historic buildings, the past role of philanthropy, and the lives of residents, rather than their current or future role in housing provision. Recent reports addressing housing issues, and more specifically addressing rented housing for older people, have tended to concentrate on housing with care as solutions for future provision.

This research starts to fill the gap by taking a future-focused approach, looking at recent almshouse developments to inform housing provision in the 21st century. It explores their distinct and valuable contribution to housing older people to inform built environment and housing professionals, including architects and surveyors, funders, local authority housing and planning officers, prospective partner organisations, Homes England and the UK government.

The full report can be found here

About the RICS Research Trust
This research was funded by the RICS Research Trust. The Trust supports and promotes high-quality independent contributions to knowledge in the disciplines of land, real estate and construction.

Nick Phillips CEO | The Almshouse Association talks about the report
Jeremy Porteous CEO | Housing LIN comments on the report

Posted 5 January 2021

CEO Christmas Message

Dear all,

Firstly I thank you, our members, trustees, clerks, wardens and volunteers who have done so much to support your residents during the year, especially when so many of you have had your own challenges and commitments to take care of.

In the almshouse world, we often talk about buildings, governance, legislation, finance, fundraising…but actually… at the middle of it all…right at the heart of what we do… are the residents….and you and the residents make sure this is kept front and centre. You – by showing how you care every day of the year for your residents, and the residents – by letting us know how much their almshouse “family” means to them.

So what kind of a Christmas message can I give ? It is no exaggeration to say that it has been a dreadful year and maybe many people will not be celebrating Christmas. Covid has been such a pain, not just impacting our daily routine, but it seems to have seeped into our very psyche! It has made people ill directly and those it has not touched directly, it has made them scared and miserable. But! I am surprisingly optimistic about the year ahead . It is so often said that you only appreciate “it” when “it” has gone. Friendship and community mean everything in the almshouse world and this past year, we have desperately missed the company of others, meeting friends, sharing a chat, tea together, the relaxed atmosphere of a busy friendly pub, parties and celebrations, warm hugs and kisses – the thought of getting that all back is making me is making me feel really positive about the next year. I feel that there really is now a light at the end of the tunnel and it is getting so much brighter and closer. I can actually dare to imagine life getting back to normal. It will be different for a while, we have all been knocked off our feet this year, one way or another, but I know I will really appreciate time spent with others that maybe I was too busy to appreciate before and what I really miss – coming out to meet our members and residents .

And, here at the Association in 2021, as we celebrate 75 years of supporting and representing almshouse charities, we intend to celebrate all the great work of almshouses, all your hard work in keeping the spirit and function of almshouses going, keeping your residents buoyed up and giving so much.

We all wish you, your families and residents a peaceful, safe and warm Christmas and a bright, positive New Year!

Our phones lines will be closed between 24th December and 4th January 2021. If you need to call urgently during this time, please call Nick Phillips CEO on T: 07483 390054

Posted 16 December 2020

Christmas surprises for 667 almshouse residents!

Susan Brooks (pictured above) and Danielle Hughes, Member Support Officers at The Almshouse Association have been busy posting out Christmas vouchers to 667 almshouse residents who are all aged 90 or over on 25th December 2020!

The presents are the legacy of a benefactor (whose wishes were to remain anonymous) who left money to the Association with the express wish that we invest the money into a fund to provide Christmas gifts for elderly residents of almshouses at Christmas time.

667 residents in their 90s is an amazing number! That’s 22 more Christmas vouchers than we sent out last year and 200 more than we sent out in 2018! We always knew that almshouse living is good for your health and happiness and now the numbers of residents in their 90s is proving it !

The Almshouse Association would like to take this opportunity to wish our members, who work incredibly hard all year round to provide warm, safe, happy homes to all their residents, a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!