The Richmond Charities – Full Time Caretaker / Handyman

The Richmond Charities owns and manages 162 almshouses across 14 sites in Richmond, Twickenham and Mortlake and we are currently recruiting for a full-time caretaker / handyman to replace the incumbent who retires after a 30+ year career with the Charity.

This is a varied role, and we are looking for an individual with a proactive approach to property maintenance who will provide a visible hands-on presence across all estates to ensure that our beautiful buildings, communal areas and grounds are safe, clean, well maintained and welcoming for residents and visitors.

The successful applicant will work Monday – Friday, 8:30am – 5:00pm.

The position can be residential or non-residential.

The salary range is £30,000 – £35,000.If you would like to have an informal chat about the role or obtain a copy of the full job description please contact our Chief Executive, Emma Halford by email at e.halford@richmondcharities.org.uk or by telephone on 020 8948 4188

Trust Chaplain – Ewelme Almshouse Charity, Oxfordshire

Trust Chaplain (8 hrs per week – flexible – stipend)

The Ewelme Almshouse Charity is seeking a part-time Trust Chaplain to provide pastoral care
and spiritual guidance to its residents, and to proffer spiritual counsel to Trustees and staff
across the breadth of the Charity’s operations. We are looking for a people-person, someone
who is compassionate, and attuned to the particular needs of older people. The ability to drive
is essential as we have almshouses in Ewelme, Oxfordshire and Marsh Gibbon, Buckinghamshire.

The successful applicant will:

Be licensed or otherwise authorised within the CofE, or hold an equivalent office and be in good standing within a denomination recognised by Churches Together in England.
Be sensitive to the faith needs of a community, with experience of ministering to a community within or outside the Church of England;
Be mindful of the challenges older people may face;
Through spirituality and prayer promote the caring tradition of the Charity;
Have a clean driving licence, own a car, and be willing to travel between our almshouse locations.

The closing date is: Friday 10th April 2026

For an Information Pack containing further details of the role and how to apply, please contact
the Trust Manager: trustmanager@ewelmealmshouses.org

For further details of Ewelme Almshouse Charity, please visit: www.ewelmealmshouses.org

Vacancy: Charity Support Officer – The Almshouse Association, Windsor

Role Title: Charity Support Officer, Member Services
Job Type: Full-time
Salary: £31,000 p.a. (depending on experience)
Hours: 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday
Location: Windsor

28 days holiday, plus bank holidays | Contributory Pension Plan | Life Assurance cover

Open to internal and external candidates.

For over 1,000 years almshouse charities have been providing a unique form of safe, secure, warm homes for people in need. Far from being a relic of the past, however, the almshouse movement remains vibrant and The Almshouse Association, which was established in 1946, continues to be the sole support organisation for over 1,600 member almshouse charities throughout the UK, which, collectively, provide accommodation for approximately 36,000 residents.

At the heart of the Association, which is a charity in its own right, our member services team provides an advocacy service to the trustees and clerks of our members both by telephone and email. This is in addition to the guidance we offer through our guidance manuals and website.

An opportunity has now arisen for an additional member of staff to join the team to provide specific support to our members, including those who are facing specific challenges. The role requires an individual who is committed to providing an excellent standard of ‘customer’ service based on professionalism, accuracy and promptness in response.

The post involves the following:

Responding to member enquiries by phone or email and recording all support given on our CRM.
Working with specific member charities to complete a Charity Health Check form that covers all aspects of managing their almshouses, ranging from governance issues, health & safety, the properties, residents etc.
Supporting charities in difficulty, especially those charities most in need, whilst maintaining communication at all times with our Head of Member Services and the wider team.
Helping identify those charities where direct support is required.
Helping establish a web- based service for responding to accommodation enquiries.
Monitoring the Members Forum and alerting the team to issues where an Association response is required.
Coordinating our Panel of Consultants, checking their credentials and maintaining relationships.
Providing administration support and assisting with arrangements for events including our training course for trustees, seminars for trustees and clerks, and our Members Day.
The nature of the role is such that the individual may be asked to undertake additional or alternative tasks and duties as the needs of the Association dictate.

Full training will be given but an understanding of almshouses and almshouse management, whilst not essential, would be an advantage.

NOTE: The role may involve extensive travel to the Association’s member charities across the UK. Therefore, the successful applicant will need to be a car owner and possess a clean driving licence. Expenses will be paid. On occasions overnight stays may be necessary.

Requirements

Knowledge of Outlook, Word and Excel is essential.
Knowledge of Subscriber CRM would be preferable.
Knowledge of PowerPoint preferable.
Experience in managing events/projects preferable.

How to apply

Please send your CV and a covering letter to angelawaters@almshouses.org. Closing date for applications is 31 March 2026.

posted 23 February 2026

Updated FAQ: Heat Networks

The Heat Networks (Market Framework) Regulations 2025

We would like to draw members’ attention to a new guidance page on The Almshouse Association website regarding the Heat Networks (Market Framework) Regulations 2025.

These regulations introduce a new regulatory framework for heat networks, with implications for organisations that own or operate communal or district heating systems. The page outlines the key points of the legislation, what it may mean for almshouse charities, and links to further resources.

We encourage members to review the information and consider how the changes may affect their schemes.

You can read the full update that is listed in our FAQs page by clicking in the link below:

www.almshouses.org/news/the-heat-networks-market-framework-regulations-2025/

If you have any questions or would like to share feedback, please do get in touch.

posted 23 February 2026

Housing & Estates Manager

Salary: £35,000–£40,000 (dependent on experience)

Full-time: 37.5 hours per week

Location: Bournemouth

Founded in 1935, our charity supports 75 self‑contained homes set within attractive grounds, with a strong focus on resident wellbeing, independence, and belonging. We are governed by local volunteer Trustees and supported day‑to‑day by a small, committed staff team. That’s where you come in…

We are seeking a Housing & Estates Manager to lead the operational management of our estate, ensuring residents live in safe, secure and well‑maintained homes. This is a newly created role that reflects the evolving needs of our charity and offers a rare opportunity to shape how our housing, compliance, and estate functions operate.

Reporting directly to the CEO, you will manage all aspects of housing operations, health & safety compliance, lettings, property and estate services, facilities, and office administration. You will also play an important role in resident support—working closely with our Community Assistant to deliver a warm, responsive and professional service.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone with strong housing, compliance or estates experience who wants to take a step up into a broad management role within a small, values‑driven charity.

About the role

As our Housing & Estates Manager, you will:

Oversee day‑to‑day housing management across 75 almshouse homes.
Manage voids, resident onboarding and property standards across the estate.
Lead on all statutory and regulatory health & safety compliance, including fire safety, risk assessments, legionella, electrical/gas safety, repairs reporting and contractor oversight.
Liaise with outsourced contractors for maintenance, grounds, cleaning and compliance work.
Support residents through clear communication, problem‑solving, and timely issue resolution.
Manage Hall facilities, office operations and administrative processes that keep the charity running smoothly.
Maintain accurate records, data and documentation that support governance, audits and Trustee reporting.
Uphold our commitment to safeguarding, dignity, independence and resident wellbeing.

About you

We are looking for someone who is:

Experienced in housing, estates, facilities or compliance management within a residential or housing environment.
Confident managing health & safety responsibilities and contracted works.
A strong organiser, able to juggle competing priorities in a small team.
An excellent communicator who builds trust with older residents, contractors, colleagues and Trustees.
Calm, practical and solutions‑focused.
Able to work independently with good judgement and attention to detail.
Competent with Microsoft Office and confident maintaining accurate records.
Motivated by the values of an almshouse charity and the difference we make to older people’s lives.

Salary & benefits

£35,000–£40,000 per annum (dependent on qualifications and experience)
Private healthcare
Free life assurance
28 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays (based on 37.5 hours per week)
Auto-enrolled workplace pension scheme
Annual pay review
Free Eventide Homes branded clothing
A welcoming, supportive and community‑focused working environment

How to apply

To apply, please return your completed application form back to us before the closing date.

For more information about the role, or an informal conversation, please contact: Joe Waters – Charity CEO. Telephone: 01202 515399

Closing date: 12 March 2025.

1st stage interviews: 19 March 2025.

2nd stage interviews: 26 March 2025.

Nautilus Welfare Fund – Wallasey, Merseyside

Accommodation:

Apartments, flats and bungalows

Criteria:

Applications for accommodation at Mariners’ Park will be considered from retired, ex seafarers and other (former) maritime professionals and their dependants/partners who are aged 55 and over with service in the maritime industry.

Contact Details:

www.nautiluswelfarefund.org

Association loan supports vital roof restoration at Watkinson Almshouses

Case Study: Watkinson Almshouses roof restoration

When almshouse charities face major repair costs or seek to expand provision for people in need, financial support can make the difference between decline and sustainability. As part of its member services, The Almshouse Association provides grants and loans to help charities struggling with funds to maintain and develop their housing.

The Watkinson Almshouses in West Yorkshire recently benefited from this support, receiving a £25,000 loan to help fund the re-roofing of their four almshouse bungalows – essential works that would not have been possible without external assistance.

Historical Background

The four almshouses were built and endowed in the early 20th century by Emma Watkinson (1850–1923). Emma established the almshouses in memory of her parents, George and Jane Watkinson.

George Watkinson and his family were wool staplers, playing a key role in the regional textile economy by collecting and sorting fleeces and supplying raw materials to worsted manufacturers, carpet weavers, and knitting wool producers. Jane’s family were maltsters, supplying malt to local brewers. Together, the Watkinson family were part of the industrial success that shaped their community in the 19th century.

Despite the wealth generated in the region, Emma recognised that many hardworking individuals struggled to provide for themselves in old age. In response, she founded the almshouses to offer free accommodation, equipped with the modern conveniences of the time, for:

Former employees of the Watkinson family
Their descendants
Others from the local parish in need

Financial evolution and challenges

In the early 20th century, the almshouses were generously endowed. Each resident even received an annual allowance of £4.20 to assist with nursing costs – a significant sum at the time (equivalent to approximately £500 today, given that £1 from that era equates to roughly £120 today).

However, as decades passed:

Maintenance costs increased
Building standards evolved
The value of the original endowment diminished

Eventually, the endowment was exhausted. To ensure long-term sustainability, the Trust deed was amended to allow residents to make modest contributions toward maintenance costs.

Throughout this period, the Watkinson family has continued to oversee and care for the almshouses, maintaining Emma’s founding principles of community support and dignity in later life.

The Challenge: Essential roof replacement

By 2025, the roofs of all four bungalows required urgent replacement.

The scale and cost of the works placed significant strain on the Charity’s limited reserves. Without intervention, the condition of the buildings and the comfort and safety of residents would have been at risk.

The Solution: Almshouse Association loan support

The Almshouse Association stepped in with a £25,000 loan, enabling the Charity to proceed with the full re-roofing project.

This funding:

Protected the structural integrity of all four properties
Safeguarded residents from water ingress and future deterioration
Preserved the long-term viability of the almshouses
Ensured continued provision of quality homes for current and future beneficiaries

Impact

Thanks to The Almshouse Association’s support:

The four almshouses now have secure, weatherproof roofs
Residents continue to live in safe and comfortable homes
Emma Watkinson’s original charitable vision remains alive more than a century later

This case demonstrates how targeted financial support from the Association enables small almshouse charities to address critical capital works, sustain historic housing, and continue serving vulnerable members of their communities.

Conclusion

The Watkinson Almshouses are a powerful example of enduring philanthropy. While the financial landscape has changed dramatically since the early 1900s, the underlying need for secure, affordable housing remains constant.

Through partnership with The Almshouse Association, Emma Watkinson’s legacy continues, ensuring that those she intended to help still have a safe place to call home, over 100 years on.

The loan from The Almshouse Association was crucial in enabling the Charity to restore the roofs of their almshouses and continue their provision of affordable housing in the local area for people in housing need.

We would like to thank all the people and organisations who so kindly donate to The Almshouse Association and leave gifts in their Wills. Without their generosity, we would not be in a position to help support almshouse charities with their renovations and new builds.

The Almshouse Association awards loans and grants to our member charities every year. In 2025, £1,198,500 was approved in new loans and grants totalled £50,000. Charities pay no interest on the loans, just a small administration fee. As they make repayments on the loans over a ten-year period, the Association can continue to offer loans to charities year after year, meaning that your donations continue to support almshouses and their residents in perpetuity.

If you are interested in making a donation to The Almshouse Association or leaving a gift in your Will, please do visit our Support Us pages here.

posted February 2026

Kytson Cottages almshouses: Thermal upgrade project

CASE STUDY: The Charity of Sir Thomas and Lady Kytson

If a charity does not have sufficient funds to carry out necessary works to their almshouses or support their plan to provide more almshouses for people in need in their area, part of the service The Almshouse Association offers its member charities is financial help in the form of grants and loans.

The Almshouse Association provided the Charity of Sir Thomas and Lady Kytson in Suffolk with a £25,000 grant and £29,000 loan to support the thermal upgrade and general renovation of their three almshouses covering external doors, chimneys/fireplaces, roof void insulation, lime rendering walls, timber frame repairs, electrics, plumbing and thatching.

The Charity writes:

“Twenty years ago the Guildhall Feoffment took over administration of three charming, thatched cottages which formed part of the Tudor estate of Hengrave Hall and had been dedicated as almshouses some time probably in the 19^th century.

Our Kytson Cottages, each around 350 years old, combine historic charm with the welcome and security of traditional almshouses. A recent programme of sensitive renovation has ensured that the cottages remain not only beautiful, but warm, healthy and fit for the future.

The work at Kytson Cottages has achieved our goals of careful conservation, use of traditional skills and modern technology, and will now secure the future of our historic homes for generations to come.“

Background

Kytson Cottages relied on electric storage heaters supplemented by open fires. With thin doors, no wall insulation and one chimney in poor condition (leading to two condemned fireplaces), residents regularly reported being cold in winter despite high energy bills.

Scope of Works

The Property Committee commissioned a survey to identify ways to improve thermal efficiency and provide warmer, more comfortable homes. Carter Jonas recommended:

Doors: Replacement with insulated, better-fitting doors
Wall Insulation: Installation of insulation panels
Fireplaces: Renovation and installation of stoves, including chimney adjustments
Exterior: Removal of concrete render, application of lime render and pargetting
Electrical: Installation of high-heat-retention (HHR) radiators and optical smoke/CO₂ detectors
Plumbing: Removal of cold-water tanks and installation of pressurised cylinders
Thatch: Ridge renewal planned in ~3 years

The Committee prioritised urgent works first, deferring the thatch and plumbing works for a later date. EPC modelling shows the cottages achieving a “C” rating once all the radiators are upgraded.

Listed building consent

Thurlow Architects submitted a Listed Building application, which was granted on 8 May 2025, with conditions relating to the fireplaces and pargetting.

Project approach and costs

To maximise value, individual contractors were engaged rather than adopting a turnkey solution, with Guildhall Feoffment coordinating logistics, site facilities, and health & safety. Feoffee and builder, Graham Mothersole was an invaluable source of expertise and information, providing essential guidance and contacts.

Where possible the Charity specified sustainable and natural building materials and invested in local craftspeople to provide bespoke fittings and finishes, which have preserved and enhanced the integrity of the buildings in their prominent village setting.

Estimated cost: £120,000 (or £100,000 excluding the plumbing and thatching). Pellet stoves were chosen over wood-burning stoves for safety, sustainability, and convenience.

Funding

As at 31 December 2024, Kytson Trust had available funds of circa. £70,000 (£53,000 investments, £16,000 cash) and with annual outgoings of around £15,000, this left a funding shortfall of £55,000.

Funding solutions:

Grant of £25,000 from The Almshouse Association
Interest-free loan of £29,000 from The Almshouse Association
£40,000 of Kytson Trust investments realised

Completed works (by end of 2025)

Electrical: All the internal works including new radiators, optical heat, smoke and CO₂ detectors (fully certified)
Plastering & Insulation: Concrete render removed; lambswool and Hereklith insulation installed; lime render and pargetting completed with Heritage Officer approval

Doors: Seven new insulated doors installed
Fireplaces: Wood pellet stoves installed, fireplaces renovated and new hearths added.

The final cost slightly exceeded estimates by £4,000, largely due to heritage-related plastering requirements and additional insulation. Savings were made with the hearths which were donated by Mothersole Buildings and Opulence Stoves agreed to ‘donate’ the additional work required in reinstating the fireplaces.

Future work & funding

Kytson Trust reserves will be around £30,000 – 40,000 post-project. Further works (thatch and plumbing) will require rebuilding reserves through WMC increases and/or fundraising. The Almshouse Association recommended reviewing WMC levels in 2026, based on Valuation Office guidance.

Residents’ feedback

Residents are delighted with their warm, comfortable homes and take pride in the improved appearance of the cottages.

The grant and loan from The Almshouse Association was crucial in enabling the Charity to make essential repairs and improvements to ensure they continue to provide affordable housing in the local area for people in housing need.

If you are interested in making a donation to The Almshouse Association or leaving a gift in your Will, please do visit our Support Us pages here.

posted February 2026

Heat Networks – Are you prepared?

Thursday 26 February 2026 | 11:00am–1:00pm | Online (via Teams)
Free to attend

EROSH has asked the Association to share this event with our members. EROSH (Encouraging and Resourcing Older People’s Housing) is a UK-registered charity and national membership organisation dedicated to promoting quality housing, support services and independent living for older people.

A new regulatory framework for heat networks came into force on 27 January 2026. The regime introduces mandatory standards and a Heat Network Technical Assurance Scheme. Housing providers operating heat networks are now treated as regulated energy suppliers by Ofgem, and residents have access to the Energy Ombudsman for redress.

Since 27 January, all existing heat networks have been deemed temporarily authorised. By January 2027, all heat networks must be registered with Ofgem and fully compliant with the new regulations.

This session aims to help providers of accommodation for older people understand:

The implications of the new regulatory framework
What compliance will require in practice
Key deadlines and next steps
The challenges experienced by different types of providers

Speakers include:

Tricia Quinn, from Ofgem – the regulator’s perspective
Chris D’Arcy, Chirpy Heat – advising housing organisations on preparing for regulatory change
Greg Falder, Southern Housing – a large provider’s experience of preparation and implementation
Glynis Gatenby, Sutton Housing Society – insights from a smaller provider

To find out more or to book a place, please use the booking link provided by EROSH here

This event is free to attend.

posted 19 February 2026