2019 Members Day Conference | The Almshouse Association

Our inaugural Members Day Conference proved to be the inspirational day we hoped it would be.

Held at the stunning Haberdashers Hall, West Smithfield, London EC1A on Wednesday 5th June 2019, it was an early start for all the Almshouse Association staff, setting up and making sure we had everything in place to greet our members.

The day began with Chief Executive, Nick Phillips welcoming a full house to the first Members Day Conference in the impressive Livery Hall, followed by Liz Fathi, Chair of the Almshouse Association who briefed delegates on the future plans for the Association.

Dr Alison Armstrong was the first of our speakers who took to the stage and talked about the research being undertaken by Whiteley Village, the Association, Anglia Ruskin University and AgeUK on almshouse living.

Throughout the day, delegates were given a choice of talks and were treated to expert information from a host of specialists:

Helen Boyd on Safeguarding Vulnerable adults
Chris Drinkall of Rollits LLP on Mediation: Avoiding and resolving disputes
Tim Rutherford of Stone King LLP on Update on Legislation and Regulation
Gerry Morrison of Rollits LLP on Setting Aside Scenarios
Sean Stafford, Kathy Green of ACL and Carolyn Sims of Charity Bank on Loans, Grant and Project Management.

( all presentations can be found by clicking the link).

During breaks our delegates were able to visit the exhibitor stands to learn about the different services on offer and enjoy the networking opportunities. Feedback forms report how much everyone valued interaction with trustees from different charities and Almshouse Association Staff.

“Love the format – really feels like a Members Day and that one can actually participate”

Member Feedback form

Following the AGM section of the Conference (click here for full details), Keynote Speaker, Jon Sparkes , CEO of Crisis spoke of his experiences on the very topical issue ‘Homelessness and the Affordable Housing Challenge’.

Q & A sessions followed lunch; our panel of experts were put through their paces with a variety of questions and had time permitted, we know there were a lot more questions and answers that members were eager to explore.

“The collective experience in the room was amazing”

Paul Mullis, DAMHA

Liz Fathi read out a message from our Patron, HRH The Prince of Wales, following which the Patron’s Awards were announced…

Patron’s Awards went to 3 outstanding projects completed in 2018:

Chandos & Dent’s Almshouses, Winchcombe, Gloucester
Charity of James Goodman, Cranfield, Bedfordshire
The Mills Charity, Framlingham, Suffolk

The Almshouse Association introduce 2 new awards for 2018. – ‘Excellence & Inspiration’ and ‘Gardens & People’.

The following charities were given an award for Excellence and Inspiration:

Worcester Municipal Charities
Mabel Luke Charity, Newbury, Berkshire
The Finchley Charities, London
A group of 4 charities working together: Harborne Parish Lands Charity, Lench’s Trust, Sir Josiah Mason Trust, Yardley Great Trust
Peter Birtwistle Trust

The Almshouse Association Gardens & People Award for charities that have encouraged residents to take part in community projects, such as gardening. The following charities were presented with Gardens & People awards:

Hammersmith United Charities, London
Rogers Almshouses, Harrogate, North Yorkshire
The Eventide Homes, Bournemouth
Tiverton Almshouse Charity, Taunton
St Giles Almshouses at Wilton United Charities

Keynote Speaker, General Sir Mike Jackson, closed the day. Drawing from his extraordinary military career spanning almost 45 years – from Officer Cadet to Chief of General Staff, the highest level of the British Army – he delivered an inspiring and uplifting speech, ensuring the Almshouse Association Inaugural Members Day Conference finished on a wonderful high!

“Thank you to all. There was a real ‘buzz’ about the day – excited to feel part of such a progressive and forward thinking almshouse movement”

Member Feedback form