Contributor: Kate Duggan on behalf of Hammersmith United Charities, London
“Like many almshouse charities, Hammersmith United Charities was founded hundreds of years ago, and yet our work is no less crucial today than it was when our founders first sought to support local people in need.
While parts of Hammersmith could be considered affluent, there is significant inequality across the borough. Thousands of people are experiencing severe hardship and one in three children lives in poverty. These challenges affect people of all ages and require a collective response from everyone who has a stake in the community.
Our two almshouses – John Betts House and Sycamore House – are home to 92 residents. However, our commitment to Hammersmith doesn’t end with our almshouses.
As a charity that has been embedded in the local community for more than 400 years, people trust us and we are very aware of the challenges they face. This gives us a unique insight into local needs and enables us to make a wider contribution to our community through grants to grassroots organisations that are making a tangible difference to local people’s lives.
The relationship between our almshouses and our grants programme is closer than people might expect. Our residents benefit from, volunteer with and actively support many of the organisations we fund.
For example, we have helped fund training for volunteers at Hammersmith & Fulham Foodbank. One of our residents, Lorraine, volunteers there every Thursday. She says, “You get to know the clients who come in regularly, and they get to know you. You’re making an impact on them and it makes you appreciate what you have yourself.”
Crosslight Advice provides free debt, benefit and budgeting advice to people across London, including some of our residents. The charity is one of our Flexible Three Year Grant holders, receiving £15,000 a year for three years.
We have also funded BlindAid, helping to ensure that a Sight Support Worker can visit isolated blind and partially sighted people in their homes. Richie Walden, BlindAid’s Operations Director, says, “We can’t run our services without external funding. We had to close services in a couple of boroughs last year because we just couldn’t get funding for them.”
Our grants are relatively modest, ranging from a few hundred pounds to £15,000, however, because they support smaller organisations that are deeply rooted in their communities, they can have a disproportionate impact. A small grant can help a local organisation reach more people, recruit volunteers, provide specialist support or simply continue delivering a valued service.
For us, this approach reflects the enduring spirit of the almshouse movement. Almshouses have always been about more than providing homes; they are about strengthening communities, reducing isolation and helping people to thrive. By combining housing with community investment, we believe almshouse charities can play an even greater role in tackling local challenges and improving lives.”
If you would like further information on Hammersmith United Charities, please contact: info@hamunitedcharities.com.
Photos credits: Hammersmith United Charities
posted 15 September 2026