Celebrating the life of Phil Sweet D Day veteran

Municipal Charities are sad to announce that almshouse resident, Phil Sweet, who was 100 years old and one of the last survivors of the D Day landings, sadly died last week. 

Born on 25 October 1924 and died on 30 April 2025, Phil led a landing craft on Gold Beach on D Day (6 June 1944).

He was the longest and oldest resident of one of the Municipal Charities Almshouses in Stratford-upon-Avon.

In an interview with Midlands Today on his 100th birthday Phil mentioned that amazingly his father had survived the Gallipoli campaign. Last year Phil took part in the 80th Anniversary of D Day at the National Arboretum where he met the Duchess of Edinburgh and was interviewed by Sky News

https://news.sky.com/video/d-day-80th-anniversary-veteran-recalls-how-beached-ship-was-used-as-prisoner-of-war-camp-13149036

Phil recalls the following about his war time experience:

“I was sent to a place called Lochailort in the Highlands where I did six weeks of hefty nautical and ability training. Those six weeks were the toughest I have experienced in my life both physically and mentally. At the end of each week you had exams and if you were not good enough you would be dropped. But I lasted and was appointed an officer then sent to Troon for officer training for another six weeks and then appointed to a tank landing craft ready for the D-Day landings.

The war had been going for quite a considerable period of time for my training was in readiness for the D-Day landings the time of which we did not know then.

I was part of the initial wave that landed at the village of La Rivière as part of the Gold Beach landings. I was in a flotilla which were the first to go into the beach with two tanks on top of each other on the landing craft so that they could bombard the beach with shells as they were coming in to land. We didn’t lose anybody that day although the landing craft was damaged by the underwater objects as we were going in.

Then following the landing we were offloading equipment to the beaches and whilst doing so I had to go to the tented hospital at Bayeux with suspected peritonitis which turned out to be appendicitis.

I was sent to Plymouth to HMS Foliot, running all the movement of landing craft. We were tropicalizing (adding refrigeration and air conditioning) landing craft ready for the Far East but of course that collapsed because they dropped the atomic bomb.”

Along with the trustees, residents and staff of Municipal Charities, all the team at The Almshouse Association extend their sincerest condolences to Phil’s family.

Phil leaves a daughter and son and family.

posted 7 May 2025

Policy & Governance update: May 2025

MAY 2025: A summary of the latest UK Government policy changes and news.

1.   Local Elections on 1 May 2025

A reminder that there are local elections across the country on 1 May. There are 1,641 council seats across 24 local authorities up for grabs. All seats on 14 county councils and eight unitary authorities in England will be also up for election.

Many of these positions are responsible for local services – including housing, planning and social care.

Fewer people vote in local elections than general elections, but this does not make them any less important – decisions affecting your almshouse may be made by your local county council. Remember to vote!

Following the passage of the Elections Act 2022, the local elections on 1 May will take place with mandatory voter identification (ID). Voters will need to show an acceptable form of photographic ID, as listed on the Electoral Commission website.

2. Awaab’s Law (Social Housing Regulation Act 2023)

Awaab’s law – part of the Social Housing Regulation Act 2023 – will begin to be rolled out in October 2025, and we recommend starting preparations now. Although the Act refers to tenants and landlords and to Registered Providers only, we believe it is best practice to adhere to the standards set.

From October 2025, social landlords will be required to address damp and mould hazards that present a significant risk of harm to tenants within fixed timescales. Additionally, they must repair emergency hazards, including those related to damp and mould, within 24 hours.

In 2026, these requirements will apply to a wider range of hazards, which have not yet been fully determined by the government.

3. Consultations

There are a number of consultations currently available that members might be interested in.

Deadline 20 June 2025.

Deadline 2 May 2025

  • If you are a registered Supported Housing Provider or Exempt please do consider either responding directly or via the Association to the consultation on the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act 2023.

Deadline 15 May 2025

The Almshouse Association is currently preparing responses to these consultations and will share our submissions with members in due course.

4. Engagement with MPs

We’re pleased to report that there has been some encouraging engagement with MPs in recent weeks. Thanks to your efforts, several important questions have been raised in Parliament on behalf of almshouse charities. This is a significant step in ensuring our concerns and priorities are heard at the national level.

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to everyone who has taken the time to write to or email their MP. Your advocacy is making a real difference, helping to raise awareness and build support for the invaluable work almshouses do in communities across the country.

posted 30 April 2025

Grant funding of £3.2 million to advise churches on using land for housing

The Almshouse Association has been working with the Church of England to explore how church land can be more easily used for almshouse development. It’s a partnership that feels entirely natural – our two institutions share over a thousand years of interconnected history in caring for communities.

We’re pleased to share that the Church of England team leading efforts to deliver more affordable housing on church land have now officially launched their project – along with a new £3.2 million grant fund.

If you’re aware of a potential almshouse site on church land, this could be just the support needed to get things started.

Read more here:
🔗 https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2025/25-april/news/uk/grant-funding-of-32-million-to-advise-churches-on-using-land-for-housing

posted 30 April 2025

UPDATE from Housing Ombudsman

  • Housing Ombudsman Complaints Handling Code

NOTE: Applicable only to Registered Providers/Housing Ombudsman Members

The Almshouse Association understands that the Housing Ombudsman (HO) has sent an email to their members informing them that there has been a change in the submission date for year 2, which will mean that most members will not have to provide their year 2 annual submission until 6 months after their financial year end instead of 3 months.

Below is the email that has been sent to members today along with links to all the additional new guidance.

COPY OF EMAIL FROM HOUSING OMBUDSMAN TO HO MEMBERS
Changes to Complaint Handling Code 2025-26 annual submission dates

Dear landlord,

Thank you for completing the Complaint Handling Code annual submission form for 2024-25. It was an important process, which fulfils your statutory requirements against the Complaint Handling Code.

Feedback captured during a review of the process found the submission timescale challenging to meet due to various operational requirements. We also carried out extensive engagement work through in-person events and surveys to further understand the barriers landlords faced.  

We have listened to your feedback and made some changes for 2025-26:  

– submissions for landlords with over 1,000 homes to be provided by 30 September each year

– submissions for landlords with under 1,000 homes to be provided within 6 months after their financial year-end

– we have a new and updated annual submission form for 2025-26, which is now accepting submissions – please note the self-assessment questions have not changed

– we are developing more tools for the Member Responsible for Complaints and the next conference is 15 October 2025 – registration for this will be available soon 

– we have revised guidance and new FAQs to support landlords to complete the submission for 2025-26.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Link to: New Complaint Handling Code annual submission form 2025-26  

Link to: Guidance and supporting information  

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Complaint handling Code annual submission 2024-25

For landlords still due to submit for year 1, please continue to do so using the 2024-25 submission form.  

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Helpful links for year 2 submissions:
– https://www.engage.housing-ombudsman.org.uk/complaint-handling-code-annual-submissions-form-2025-26
– Complaint Handling Code Annual Submissions Form
– Guidance on annual submissions
– Self-assessment guidance
– Complaint Handling Code 2024 FAQs

NOTE: A meeting is due to take place between The Almshouse Association and the HO at the end of this month when we will be discussing ways in which the whole process can be made simpler and more proportionate for our member almshouse charities.

posted 30 April 2025

NEW WEBINAR: Independent Living

Wednesday 14th May at 10.30 am

The Almshouse Association is delighted to welcome Almshouse Association Panel Consultant, Lisa Watson-Cook (Partner) Rachel Gimson (Partner) & Nicole Ridgwell (Partner) from Lester Aldridge LLP. They will be hosting a free webinar on the topic of Independent Living and will be covering:

  • Residents not wishing to give up their almshouse
  • Lack of understanding on the part of local authorities about charities not providing care
  • Hospitals discharging residents despite care not being available at the almshouse
  • Relying on wardens & family members for care

You will have the opportunity at the end of the webinar to ask Lisa, Rachel & Nicole any questions on this topic.

To register for this webinar please click on the below link:

https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Nfm0ohpFT9-xpR9dzQM4fg

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

posted 17 April 2024

Government magazine features almshouses

As part of our ongoing government engagement strategy, we have spent the past year cultivating meaningful relationships with Members of Parliament. We are, therefore, delighted to share that our efforts have culminated in the publication of an article in The House Magazine February 2025 issue.

Established in 1976, The House occupies a unique and respected position within Westminster as Parliament’s own magazine. With contributions from award-winning journalists, leading policy experts, and parliamentarians themselves, and guided by a cross-party advisory board of MPs and Peers – it stands as the publication most intimately connected to the heart of British political power.

See below to read the article.

House Magazine Call to Alms – Tali Fraser -Feb 25Download

posted 16 April 2025

Event News: NALC Power Shift 25 devolution conference

NALC has asked The Almshouse Association to share the below event news with our members

NALC Power Shift 25 devolution conference (1 day) (in person)

Monday 23 June 2025, London, 10:00 a.m. – 15:35

The English Devolution White Paper was published on 19 December 2025. But what are the implications for local (parish and town) councils and their relationships with principal authorities? NALC’s Power Shift 2025 in person conference and exhibition on 23 June 2025 at the America Square Conference Centre in London will provide the answers. A range of dynamic speakers will explore how parish and town councils can lead the charge in shaping a bold, inclusive future for devolution.

NALC online events 2025-6 (virtual events)

Noon – 13:15, last Wednesday in the month, April 2025 – March 2026

NALC also unveiled its anticipated online events programme for 2025/26. It marks the fifth consecutive year of delivering engaging and affordable events to parish and town councils. The events series addresses parish and town councils’ unique needs, fostering collaboration, innovation, and effective governance. The diverse line-up will feature expert-led events covering a range of topics ranging from community engagement to the new planning and housing landscape and will also be of direct interest to principal authorities.

Please refer all questions regarding the events to:

NALC website
National Association of Local Councils
The Bloomsbury Building, 10 Bloomsbury Way, Holborn, London WC1A 2SL
www.nalc.gov.uk
nalc@nalc.gov.uk
020 7637 1865

posted 14 April 2025

‘Life in Bloom’ Photo Competition!

Photo Competition

Spring is in full bloom, and so is the spirit of togetherness! We’re thrilled to launch our latest Photography Competition — a celebration of community and good neighbours.

It’s time to grab your camera, step outside, and capture the heart warming moments that make our shared lives so special. Frame the beauty of connection with one of these inspiring themes:

📸 Over the Garden Fence — Conversations that bloom as beautifully as the flowers.
☕ Tea with Neighbours — The simple joy of a cuppa and a chat.
🤝 Friendship — Smiles, support and the bonds that brighten our days.
🌿 Garden Days — Hands in the soil, arms full of colourful blooms, hearts in the community.
❤️ Community Spirit — The magic of people coming together.

Your photos tell a story — let’s celebrate the power of community through your lens!

Ready to capture the magic of community and connection?

Submit your entry today and share the moments that matter. Simply choose a theme that reflects your photo, add a short caption to describe your photograph and sent with your name and charity details to gerryharmon@almshouses.org. We warmly welcome both members and residents to take part!

A panel of judges — including a professional photographer — will select our winner and runner-up.

🎁 Prizes
Winner: A luxury afternoon tea voucher worth £150 and framed certificate
Runner-up: A £50 M&S gift voucher and framed certificate

So grab your camera, embrace the sunshine, and start snapping — we can’t wait to see your beautiful moments of Community and Good Neighbours!

🗓️ Competition closes: 29 August 2025 – Winners announced: 3 October 2025

Terms and Conditions apply. Find full details on our website here.

posted 25 February 2025

Building consensus on almshouses and Planning Policy

This week, The Almshouse Association CEO, Nick Phillips met with Joanna Averley, Chief Planner at the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG), to discuss the almshouse model and its potential integration into the next iteration of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).

The meeting was constructive, focusing on both central and local government perspectives on risk and confidence in the charitable model. Nick highlighted the challenges that almshouse charities face in aligning with the current regulatory framework for social housing and proposed a roundtable discussion involving MHCLG, the Charity Commission and the Chief Planner to explore a practical, proportionate solution. Joanna expressed strong interest in the Code of Practice and has requested further information.

posted 10 April 2025

EPC/MEES Regulation Review – Sector representation update

The Almshouse Association CEO, Nick Phillips, recently met with key partners at the Historic England Offices in London to discuss the forthcoming review of the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)/ Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) regulations, in collaboration with representatives from Historic England, the National Trust, The Crown Estate, CCLA, Church Commissioners, and others. The meeting focused on proposals under consideration by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), which include significant potential changes to the legislation.

Key elements of the proposals include:

  • raising the spend cap to £15,000
  • adopting a “fabric first” approach to energy efficiency
  • extending the regulations to cover short-term lets.

These changes could have considerable implications for member charities. Throughout the discussions, we strongly advocated on all relevant aspects, making the case for the unique needs and circumstances of our members. While supporting the broader drive toward improved energy efficiency, we emphasised the importance of ensuring that almshouses remain financially sustainable.

We will be submitting a formal response to the consultation on behalf of our members, ensuring that your voices are heard in the regulatory process.

posted 10 April 2025