Every year, The Almshouse Association is very pleased to be able to offer Christmas vouchers to almshouse residents over 90 years old and this year has been no exception!
It has given us enormous pleasure to post out 599 Christmas vouchers to almshouse residents all over the country and we could not be more thrilled to have received these wonderful photos of residents receiving their Christmas gifts.
The story of our Christmas legacy fund goes back over 70 years, when Major Allnatt, a successful businessman and philanthropist who worked closely with and supported our founding General Secretary, Leonard Hackett, left a Christmas legacy to the Association. The Almshouse Association invested the money to support his wish that every Christmas, gifts were given to almshouse residents over 90 years old. He wished his name to remain a secret until his death, many years ago now, but his legacy lives on, and it has been a great pleasure for the Association to be able to continue to honour his wishes every Christmas.
“What can I say our resident was delighted and repeatedly asked why me, I told her she was special and the where the gift had come from; I delivered on Christmas Eve , could you please pass on the sincere thanks from The Tattershall Bede House Trustees and of course our 91 year old who has been a resident for 30 years plus. ” Kathy RobertsÂ
Trust secretaryÂ
Uppingham residents Sheila and Mary gifts were delivered by Rev Debbie Smith-Wilds, St John and St Anne almshouses
Mr-Brooks-Pontefract-and-Ackworth-Almshouse-Charity
Almshouses of Countess Elizabeth de la Warr – Lady de la Warr presents to giftcard to resident Alan
Norwich Housing Society
Pictured top and below, residents from Liversage Trust in Derby and Municipal Owen Carter Almshouse Charities in Dorset
Christmas vouchers are delivered to the homes of residents by Davenport Homes Chair David Corney
Residents at Philipot’s almshouses receive their gifts at their Christmas party
Sir John Jacob’s Almshouses in Gamlingay
Residents at Maldon Housing Association almshouses
Resident Dot, Cardington, Cople & Eastcotts Almshouses
Resident Maud receiving her gift voucher she has lived at the Hornchurch Housing Trust almhouses since 2006 and will be 98 this year . She loves playing bingo and socialising in the communal hall with the other residents.
Resident Jean, The Robert Thompson Almshouse CharitiesÂ
Sloswickes Almshouses – resident Mrs Antcliffe
Sloswickes Almshouses – residents Mr & Mrs Downe
Residents at Thorngate Charities received their legacy giftcards
More Thorngate residents of 90+ years young!
Paula Alderson, Homeyard Homes, Veryan
It is fair to say that when The Almshouse Association Christmas Fund began over 70 years ago there were a lot less 90-year-olds in almshouses; every year we have more and more residents in almshouses that are over 90 years old. This is a great testament to the almshouse movement and the caring dedication of trustees and staff!