The Almshouse Association was very pleased to be able to offer members a free webinar on Trustee Recruitment on 16th June 2020 in partnership with trustee recruitment charity Getting on Board.

The webinar, entitled ‘Essential Boardfinder: Finding the trustees you need to thrive’, aimed to give members an overview of how to recruit trustees, learn what makes a great trustee advert and plan where you’re going to find the trustees you need for your organisation to maximise your charity’s full potential.

It was the Association’s first webinar and proved to be a great success with 80 participants taking up the training offer; for some, it was their first webinar and they were surprised at how easy it was to take part.

The whole training webinar has been recorded so now all members can watch it at their convenience (see below).

‘Getting on Board’ has also made available to members the full presentation and their publication on ‘How to recruit trustees for your charity’

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Our seventieth AGM took place virtually on 29 September 2021 at 10am

Main Business of seventieth AGM:

• Address by the Chair of The Almshouse Association, Elizabeth Fathi
• Approval of minutes of sixty ninth AGM held on 1st September 2020 via webinar.
• Election of Board Members was voted on by members and the following trustees were re-elected/elected:
  • Meryl Aldridge
  • Paul Mullis
  • Tricia Scouller
  • Adam Sedgwick
  • Richard Waite
  • Clive Cook (new)

• Presentation and Approval of 2020 annual report and accounts by Simon Ling , Honorary Treasurer of The Almshouse Association.
• Update and thanks from Chief Executive of The Almshouse Association, Nick Phillips.

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

To view a recording of The Almshouse Association 70th AGM held on 29 September 2021, please click here.

To view a recording of The Almshouse Association’s 69th AGM held on 1st September 2020, please click here.

29 September 21

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Housing – May 20 Summary

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) updates

MHCLG has published a letter that outlines the support that the Government has put in place for social housing residents. While the letter is not specific to almshouses, it contains several useful points, including information around moving residents in and out, changes to maintenance and gas safety work, support for vulnerable people and much more.

Other roundups – May 20 Summary

Coronavirus safer public places – urban centres and green spaces: MHCLG has published guidance for the owners and operators of urban centres and green spaces in order to help social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. The guidance provides useful recommendations for almshouses that have shared gardens on how they can be used safely.

DCMS Committee – report on the Covid-19 crisis and charities: The Commons DCMS Committee has published a report on The Covid-19 crisis and charities. The report covers the changes in quantity and nature of demand placed on charities during the coronavirus pandemic, the challenges charities face in accessing support and how charities adapt.

Adult social care and support for tenants – May 20 Summary

Provision of home care: The Department of Health and Social Care has published a collation of guidance that aims to answer frequently asked questions from registered providers, social care staff, local authorities and commissioners who support and deliver care to people in their own homes, including supported living settings, in England. This guidance is useful to any almshouse charities who have any sort of care role over their residents.

Health and safety – May 20 Summary

Gas safety: The HSE guidance now includes specific information for residents about what to expect, how engineers will work safely and what to do if you’re shielding or experiencing symptoms ( See 18 May Covid-19 update article on this) and also sets out a number of scenarios to help landlords understand what may be considered reasonable steps, to demonstrate compliance with duties to check appliances annually . Many of these scenarios are likely to apply to almshouses.

Previous Policy and Governance Updates:

Click here for Policy and Governance – Apr 2020 Summary
Click here for Policy and Governance – Mar 2020 Summary
Click here for Policy and Governance – Feb 2020 Summary
Click here for Policy and Governance –Jan 2020 Summary
Click here for Policy and Governance – 2019 Summary

Posted 10 June 2020

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Significant levels of political engagement with almshouses during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic have continued.

The issues of proper support for almshouses has been relayed to MPs and many almshouses have received direct support from MPs at a local level. The Association hase again written to the Housing Communities and Local Government Committee.

Further: The trustee of an almshouse charity speaking in the House of Lords.

Lord Kennedy of Southwark, a trustee of United St Saviour’s Charity, declared his trustee position before contributing to a debate on the impacts of Covid-19 on housing in the UK.

The full debate can be found here: https://hansard.parliament.uk/lords/2020-05-18/debates/8F29CC1C-2D18-435E-B65A-D7C7CD63915D/Covid-19Housing.

This is not the first time in recent weeks that almshouses have been involved in official parliamentary business, with Stephen Morgan MP putting questions to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care last month.

This is another milestone in the political engagement of almshouses however there is still more to be done to raise awareness of the value of almshouses at Westminster.

Posted 10 June 2020

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It is understood that the BBC is still looking to withdraw free TV licences for the over-75s who are not on pension credit from 1 August 2020.

This has prompted some of our members to contact the TV Licensing Help Centre for guidance on how to apply for TV licences for their residents – particularly if the charity has an ARC concessionary TV licence.

The feedback our members have received and the information published on the TV Licensing website has not been consistent and the Association is in the process of obtaining clarification from the BBC.

In the meantime, our understanding is as per the below:

• As of 1^st August 2020, residents who are over 75 years of age and who live in an almshouse with an ARC TV licence will have to pay the concessionary fee of £7.50 unless they are on pension credit. The charity will need to add the resident to their existing ARC scheme if they have not already done so.

• If a resident is already 75, or will turn 75 before 1 August 2020, they can apply for a free TV Licence to cover them up until 31 July 2020.  The free licence has to be applied for and residents will not  automatically get one on their 75th birthday. If the resident is not in receipt of pension credit and does not live in an almshouse with an ARC licence, they will need to pay for a full TV licence from 1 August 2020.

For current information please refer to the link below:

 https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/for-your-home/aged-74-and-over-aud3

The Almshouse Association will update this information following clarification from the BBC.

Posted 21 May 2020

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The Department of Health and Social Care has responded to our MPs questions. (see news item here ).

Their response does not answer the main question of where almshouses fit in the priority list and many are in need of equipment now – so we will be requesting a specific answer to our question. This is not a time for certification and regulation to stand in the way of protecting vulnerable people when they need it.

From: Department of Health and Social Care
Sent: 14 May 2020
To: Nick Phillips
Subject: Your correspondence about personal protective equipment

Thank you for your correspondence about personal protective equipment (PPE).

There is unprecedented global demand for personal protective equipment as a result of this pandemic. Ministers have been upfront about the challenges faced due to the huge international demand for PPE, but are committed and determined to support the health and social care sectors.

The Government has been working around the clock with industry and the British Army to provide the NHS and the social care sector with the equipment and support they need to tackle the COVID-19 outbreak. A new national supply and logistics network has been created from scratch in a matter of weeks to manage supply and demand across the UK, and to make sure appropriate PPE reaches those who need it.

All care homes, hospices and home care providers are receiving PPE deliveries. It is our priority to ensure frontline staff feel as protected and as safe as possible. Millions of items of PPE have been delivered for those working in care homes and for home care providers.

Organisations that have an urgent clinical need for PPE but cannot get it through the usual channels can call the National Supply Disruption Response team, which can advise on alternative suppliers or facilitate an emergency delivery, on 0800 915 9964 or by email at supplydisruptionservice@nhsbsa.nhs.uk.

A new dedicated team has been set up to focus on securing supplies and identifying PPE suppliers from across the globe to meet the increasing demand for a growing list of products, with a ‘call to arms’ to businesses to turn their manufacturing efforts to this response to meet technical specifications published by the Government. Lord Deighton has been appointed to lead the national effort to boost PPE production.

The Government has received over 12,800 offers of support from suppliers and are working rapidly to assess these, ensuring they meet the safety and quality standards that our NHS and social care staff need, and to prioritise larger volumes. All suppliers making contact through the official portal will receive an immediate response acknowledging their offer. Ministers continue to urge any companies that feel they have not had a response to continue to come forward.

Some of these organisations, including Kingfisher Group, Apple, Huawei and BP, have also generously offered their own PPE for use by the NHS and public organisations, and we are working with wholesalers to ensure a longer-term supply of all aspects of PPE for the health and care sectors, including gloves, aprons, face masks and hand sanitisers.

The Government has also announced that VAT on essential PPE for COVID-19 will be temporarily scrapped, saving more than £100million for care homes and businesses dealing with the outbreak.

The full weight of the Government is behind this effort. Industry, social care providers, the NHS, and the army are working together to ensure the right equipment continues to be delivered.

I hope this reply is helpful.

Yours sincerely
Daniel Belmore 
Ministerial Correspondence and Public Enquiries
Department of Health and Social Care

Posted 18th May 2020

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Shadow Armed Forces Minister and MP for Portsmouth South, Stephen Morgan, has submitted three parliamentary written questions that will go The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Matt Hancock:

• ‘What assessment has he made of the potential merits of giving almshouses priority access to PPE alongside NHS services and care homes on the wellbeing of vulnerable people amid Covid-19 ?’
• ‘What assessment has he made of recent trends in Covid-19 testing in almshouses on the wellbeing of vulnerable community members?’
• ‘What assessment has he made of the continuation of almshouses post Covid-19 on the ability of local authorities to house vulnerable people?’

These written questions are an official part of Parliamentary business meaning that the questions and their answers will be kept on record and appear in Hansard. Whilst there is no official deadline for a response, it is convention that it should take no longer than a week.

Mr Morgan also expressed to us his recognition of the valuable contribution that almshouse charities make to society.

The Almshouse Association thanks Mr Morgan for his support of the almshouse movement and for ensuring that almshouse charities are supported by the Government.

Posted 13 May 2020

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Housing – April 2020 Summary

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has published guidance for landlords, tenants and local authorities on the private and social rented sectors in the context of Covid-19.

This includes guidance around changes to the repossession of property during the Covid-19 Pandemic. While the majority of legal changes do not impact almshouses, it is worth noting that licensees that are protected by the Protection from Eviction Act 1977 will not be able to be set aside ‘non-essentially’.

Further information and guidance can be found here.

Property and Planning – April 2020 Summary

Necessary building safety improvements can continue.

MHCLG, mayors and local leaders have pledged to ensure vital building safety improvements can continue during the coronavirus pandemic. It is clear that the safety of buildings remains a top priority and measures have been put in place to ensure that vital work can continue and should not be put off as a result of lockdown.

It is important to note that the removal of non-ACM cladding is considered to be vital work. Further details can be found here.

Charities and Charity law – April 2020 Summary

The Charity Commission has published new guidance for the charity sector in relation to the Coronavirus outbreak – The guidance covers:

• Charity objects: understand if you can help with coronavirus efforts
• Support to pay charity staff
• Using reserves and restricted funds
• AGMs and other meetings: postponing or cancelling meetings
• Holding meetings online or by telephone
• Reporting serious incidents to the Charity Commission
• Keeping people safe

It is also worth noting that the Charity Commission’s contact centre remains open Mon – Fri, 9am – 5pm and can be reached on 0300 066 9197. The contact centre will be prioritising Coronavirus related issues.  

The Charity Commission has provided financial guidance and links to support during the Coronavirus Pandemic – The Charity Commission has published financial guidance and links to financial support for charities during The Pandemic.

Adult social care & support for tenants – April 2020 Summary

Action plan to support adult social care sector – The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has published an action plan to support the adult social care sector in England. While this plan is not tailored to alsmhouses, it contains useful information on and links to how to manage and avoid and outbreak, PPE provisions, accommodating those coming out of NHS care and advice and support on how to keep living arrangements safe.

Loneliness plan during coronavirus lockdown – The Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has launched a campaign aimed at tackling loneliness and social isolation during this period of social distancing. The campaign aims to encourage people to talk openly about loneliness and guarantee £5m for national loneliness organisations.

Taxation – April 2020 Summary

Digital links requirement for Making Tax Digital postponed – The Charity Tax Group reports that HMRC has confirmed the postponement of the requirement for digital links for Making Tax Digital, in order to support organisations through the coronavirus outbreak. HMRC has postponed the requirement until April 2021.

Refunding tickets for cancelled charity events during coronavirus – HMRC has published guidance on changes to help charities process refunds, collect donations and claim Gift Aid for events cancelled due to coronavirus.

Miscellaneous – April 2020 Summary

Coronavirus business support finder tool: The Government has launched a coronavirus business support finder tool to help organisations easily access the support that they are eligible for during the coronavirus pandemic. The tool will ask organisations to fill out an online questionnaire, where they will then be directed to a list of all the financial support that they may be eligible for.

Previous Policy and Governance Updates:

Click here for Policy and Governance – Mar 2020 Summary
Click here for Policy and Governance – Feb 2020 Summary
Click here for Policy and Governance –Jan 2020 Summary
Click here for Policy and Governance – 2019 Summary

Posted 11 May 2020

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Following a member concern with regards to the impact of financial support from charities on beneficiaries’ Universal Credit payments, The Almshouse Association has received a written response from the Minister for Welfare Delivery, Will Quince.

The letter confirmed that financial support provided by charities to beneficiaries of all ages will not be considered as a rise in income. As a result of this, there will be no impact on the Universal Credit payments made to any beneficiary receiving financial support.

In the letter Mr Quince also expressed his thanks towards the almshouse movement for support it provides to those in need across the United Kingdom.

The letter can be found in full here

Related articles:
MPs respond to Association – 30 April 20
Association represents almshouses to Government – 30 Mar 20

Posted 06 May 20

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