Sloswicke’s Almshouse Charity expansion news!

Good things happen in 3s!

One of Retford’s oldest institutions took the limelight on the 25^th May 2023 to celebrate the opening of their five new almshouses.

Sloswicke’s Almshouse Charity, which was established in 1658, is a Registered Provider with Homes England and now has 46 properties at 4 sites in the town.

In 2017 they seized the opportunity to acquire the former joiner’s workshop adjacent to their existing properties on Union Street in Retford. The new construction in 2023 is very timely as the original almshouses were built in 1823 and refurbished in 1983. The Union Street Almshouses came to Sloswicke’s on the merger of Charities in 1982.

The new development not only allowed the Charity to increase the number of homes they own by a further five properties, but includes 2 bungalows which is a welcome addition to the type of homes they offer. It also presented the Charity with the chance to work with conservation architects, Soul Architects, to redesign the area to the rear of the combined Union Street properties to incorporate communal gardens, seating areas and a scooter store to benefit all the residents. This will allow the new residents to immediately feel part of an established community.

Sloswicke’s were the first member of the Almshouse Consortium to secure a grant allocation in the 2021-26 Homes England funding programme. Other funding for the project has been provided by The Almshouse Association, The Charity Bank and Sloswicke’s own reserves.

“These properties have been a long time coming, with many hurdles overcome on the way, but we have residents lined up for all 5 which demonstrates the need and confirms that the trustees efforts will benefit members of the local community, hopefully for centuries to come”
Tim Shuldham Chair of Trustees.

Congratulations to all the trustees, staff, architects and contractors who have worked so hard on this successful project – its wonderful to see plans and funds come to fruition, adding another five almshouses to the affordable housing stock in the UK and providing warm and safe homes in the community for people in housing need – in perpetuity.

posted 7 August 2023

Further reading: Sloswicke’s Almshouse charity to build extra flats and cottages in Retford – Lincolnshire Live

The Almshouse Association 72nd AGM 2023

Our seventy-second AGM took take place on 15 June 2023 at One Great George Street, Westminster, London SW1P 3AA, prior to the start of Member Day 2023.

Our outgoing Chair Elizabeth Fathi reflected on 2022 and her five years as Chair of the Association. This was followed by acceptance of the Minutes of the seventy-first Almshouse Association 2022 AGM held on Wednesday 15 June 2022 at Grand Station, Sun Street, Wolverhampton.

Board members, John Broughton, Elizabeth Fathi, Willie Hartley Russell and Tricia Scouller had served 3 years in their current trustee tenures and sought re-appointment, which was voted on and seconded by members; all were re-appointed. Willie Hartley Russell was confirmed as the new Chairma n of The Association.

Simon Ling, Honorary Treasurer, then presented the 2022 financial accounts which were adopted and Simon confirmed the re-appointment of Auditors, Buzzacott LLP.

The Almshouse Association Accounts and Annual Report 2022 can be downloaded here. (Hard copies were presented to all AGM delegates on 14 June 2023; main member contacts of the Association will be receiving their hard copy of the Annual Report with the summer Gazette mailing.)

_{New Chairman, Willie Hartley Russell presents outgoing Chair, Elizabeth Fathi will a bouquet.}

An address from the new Chairman, Willie Hartley Russell followed; he shared his five year chairmanship plan with delegates which focuses on the following five areas: legislation and regulation, financial stability and fundraising, Billingbear Lodge, research and 2023/2029 Strategy.

“There is a need to ensure that the almshouse model that has flourished for the last 1000 years, remains as relevant today as it always has been.”
Willie Hartley Russell, Chairman of The Almshouse Association

The AGM concluded with an update on strategic goals from Association CEO Nick Phillips and a presentation to the outgoing Chair, Elizabeth Fathi.

Nick gave his and the teams personal thanks to Elizabeth Fathi for her vision, ambition and encouragement to “challenge ourselves to think further and greater for the Association and the almshouse movement”. We have found it hugely stimulating to have Elizabeth Fathi as our Chair. Elizabeth led the association to think beyond the shores of Great Britain, engaging with our European partners.

To read the full minutes of the AGM 2023, please click here.
To read the AGM 2022 minutes, please click here

posted 3 August 2023

Founders Day celebrations at Eventide Homes

The Eventide Homes celebrated Founders’ Day on 21^st July 2023. Residents, trustees, staff and guests enjoyed a barbeque in the almshouse grounds, 87 years after the first homes were built on the estate.

Ken Mantock, Chairman of the Charity, gave thanks to their Founder, Alderman JR Edgecombe, and the founding Trustees, for the legacy they have provided…

Alderman JR Edgecombe became increasingly aware of the growing number of cases of extreme hardship in Bournemouth during the 1930s. This was particularly so amongst women, who were left homeless and without adequate means of support. In 1933, he was elected as Mayor, an office that he held for three years, becoming an Alderman, and it was during this time that JR Edgecombe envisaged a community of small villas where older people in need could find security in the latter part of their lives. By July 1936, the first two blocks had been built and were ready for occupation. A Community Hall was opened in July 1937 and was made possible thanks to the kindness of Sir Alexander Maclean (of toothpaste fame). Today there are 74 homes on the estate.

This was the first event held on this scale since the pandemic and Ken Mantock thanked the support shown by the community during that time. He personally thanked the local Post Office Master, the local Chemist, and the Community Champion from the local supermarket. All went above and beyond in helping the residents of the charity during such a difficult time.

The Mayor of Bournemouth, Councillor Anne Filer, who was a guest at the event, and an ex-officio Trustee of the Charity herself during her term as Mayor, was amazed at the beautiful surroundings and publicly thanked the Trustees for their hard work in ensuring that the Charity is thriving today.

To find out more about Eventide Homes, please click here and to read the Founders Day pamphlet.

posted 2 August 2023

Westminster Almshouse Foundation celebrate Founders Day

Westminster Almshouses Foundation (WAF) invite new Almshouse Association Chairman Willie Hartley Russell to celebrate Founders Day.

_{l-r: Lord Mayor, Sue Ford, Cllr Selena Short (also trustee), The Rev Graham Buckle & Willie Hartley Russell}

_{[above photo -Association Chairman Willie Hartley Russell} _{Lord Mayor of Westminster Cllr Patricia McAllister and Sue Ford Chair of Westminster Almshouses]}

The event was also attended by the City of Westminster Lord Mayor Cllr Patricia McAllister, the charity trustees and the residents.

The Founders Day service and reception celebrated the occupation of the Westminster Almshouses Foundation in their current location at 42 Rochester Row. The present building was opened on St James’ day (25 July) 1882. The original almshouse, founded by James Palmer in 1656 was located a few minutes away in Palmers Passage, just off Victoria Street.

Over the years, the site has expanded & now provides accommodation for forty one residents.

In 1656, Rev James Palmer founded almshouses in Palmer’s Passage for six poor old men and six poor old women together with a school for the education of twenty boys. He also encouraged Butler and Hill to make donations to create almshouses.

In 1675, Nicholas Butler founded two almshouses in Little Chapel Street near Palmer’s Passage for two of the most ancient couples of the best report and, in 1708, Emery Hill, a brewer and benefactor in the parish of St Margaret Westminster founded 12 almshouses and a school in Rochester Row on land leased from Westminster Abbey.

All the almshouses were consolidated together into the United Westminster Almshouses and re-erected in Rochester Row in 1881-2.

2021/2 AWARD WINNERS

Almshouse Association Award winners announced and celebrated at Members Day 2023.

Members Day had a buzz of excitement in the room when the Awards for 2021 and 2022 were announced by our Awards Committee Chair, Simon Pott. Members received warm applause as they took to their feet and collected their well-earned recognition and award certificates.

The Awards are a significant part of not only Members Day but also the almshouse movement. They highlight the dedication and hard work of our members in almshouse development and community spirit, epitomising the excellence that all our members are working towards. All our members are to be commended for their commitment, enthusiasm and devotion to their almshouses and their residents.

The Inspirational Homes Awards 2021/2022 Almshouse Association award winners

Wyggestons and Trinity Almshouses Charity, Leicester
A new three-storey extension providing a community ‘hub’. Eight self-contained one and two-bedroom flats on the first and second floor together with six single-storey dwellings, the provision of additional parking and a new bin store. A truly inspiring development.

Hallaton & Isabella Stenning Trust, Hallaton, Market Harborough
A beautifully built two-bedroom bungalow sits comfortably within its setting in a quiet lane in Hallaton. Trustees used a conscientious and sensitive approach to the design, ensuring no adverse impact on the heritage of adjacent properties and wider village.

Peter Birtwistle Trust, Peter Birtwistle House, Colne, Lancashire
An outstanding new build property of twelve supported one and two-bedroom flats. Local shops and amenities are close by and easily accessible enabling residents to continue to live independently in their local community.

Tibberton Almshouses, Gloucester
Exceptional improvements to four semi-detached almshouses carried out in stages over the past 10 years.

Great Shelford Parochial Charities, Cambridge
A stunning new development of 21 modern almshouses for individuals, couples and families on a green belt exception site. Triple-glazed throughout with air supply heat pumps and heat recovery systems.

The Poland Trust, Brockham, Surrey
A stunning new almshouse development which supports the local younger generation and is partly funded by the sale of five self-build plots that are capped at 80% of market value.

The Honywood & Douglas Charity, Lenham, Kent
A beautiful extension of an existing bungalow forming two one-bedroom homes, with the conversion of an existing historic outbuilding, creating a further one-bedroom property.
Communal gardens and close to important village amenities.

The Gardens and People 2021/2022 Almshouse Association award winners

Penrose Gardens, Barnstaple Almshouses, Barnstaple, Devon
This award-winning garden design includes areas for vegetables, herbs and flowers, raised beds, allotment plots and sheds, ensuring something for everyone who lives at Penrose.

Frances Darlington Charity, Charnock near Chorley, Lancashire
In lockdown, a group of ladies from the community wanted to form a craft group. With no cost involved, the group meets up once a month in the chapel to enjoy each other’s company and share their skills and expertise.

Zeals Almshouse Charity, Chafyn Grove, Zeals, Wiltshire
Beautifully manicured and well-loved, low-cost gardens that welcome the whole community in for local events and to see their floral displays year-round.

_{Penrose Gardens, Barnstaple Almshouses}

To read all about the award winning entries in full, please click on the links below:

2021 Award winners

2022 Award winners

The awards are for everyone to participate in and celebrate their achievements. They belong to all of you who are working on a daily basis to provide the best service you can for your residents. Help us celebrate your achievements by submitting an application for your 2023 projects and developments.

Details on how to submit your projects or developments for a 2023 Award will be posted on our website soon and will also appear in our Autumn Gazette.

Consumer Standards Consultation

The Almshouse Association Response to consultation on Consumer Standards

On 25 July 2023, the Regulator of Social Housing set out a new proposed set of consumer standards. The consumer standards have been designed by the Regulator of Housing (RSH) to enhance the experience and improve the wellbeing of occupiers (tenants) of social housing.

In January 2023, the RSH sought input for the draft plans from The Almshouse Association and although much of the positive detail remains and some of the areas we raised concerns about have been removed from this draft, there are, however, many areas in the current proposal that we will, and must, challenge.

We remain concerned about elements of ‘tenant management’ proposed (given the personal responsibility held by trustees), aspects of the Mutual Exchange and particularly the indication that all forms of occupation may be swept up with this proposal.

We will be seeking your input and will respond robustly.

Please find link to the consultation.

NOTE: only affects almshouse charities that are Registered Housing Providers

Posted 31 July 2023

Launching soon! The Almshouse Association Friends of Club!

The Almshouse Association Friends of Club

‘Preserving the historic value of the almshouse movement and securing its future.’

Our aim here at The Almshouse Association is to provide a welcoming Club that makes supporters of almshouses feel a close connection with each other, where you can connect and share your passion for almshouses and the almshouse movement.

The Friends of Club will offer some amazing benefits to our ‘Friends’ with a unique calendar of activities and projects that you can get involved in. Other benefits will include a twice-yearly newsletter with updates on the Association’s activities, an exclusive Friends Networking Event, dates of Friends gatherings held across the UK, and case studies and biographies of Trustees, Ambassadors, and Regional Peer Representatives.

We welcome Elizabeth Fathi, previous Chair of the Board of Trustees of The Almshouse Association as our first ‘Friend of The Almshouse Association’

Nick Phillips, our CEO, says, “We are delighted to have Elizabeth as our first honorary ‘Friend’. She will be a supportive addition to this new Club. Her expansive knowledge of the almshouse movement will be an amazing asset to everyone involved in the Friends of Club. We welcome Elizabeth.”

We will also be welcoming all our Lifetime and Associate Members to Friends.

If you are a Lifetime or Associate Member you will have received a letter with further details of the Friends of Club and we look forward to sharing the many benefits with you over the coming months.

We are busy finalising The ‘Friends of’ Club’s very own website page and we will let you know as soon as this is up and running. In the meantime, if you would like to find out more, please contact David Burton or Gerry Harmon on 01344 452922

posted 31 July 2023

P&G update: 26.07.23

Following a significant push from Association member charities and supporting MPs, we have seen a consistent response to questions in the House of Commons.

This government response is significant because for the first time the answer to the questions posed is suggesting that local government has the power to decide if almshouses meet the terms of Sec106. We have long argued that the National Planning Policy Framework is guidance only and that charities should be considered as proper affordable housing.

HoC Written Answer: Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities: Almshouses: Affordable Housing

Q: Siobhain McDonagh (Lab) (Mitcham and Morden): (194657) To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether he plans to include almshouses in the National Planning Policy Framework definition of affordable housing.

A: Rachel Maclean (Con) (Redditch): I refer the Hon. Member to my answer to Question UIN 185863 on 30 May 2023.

Almshouses play a valuable role in providing homes for communities across the country. Registration with the Regulator of Social Housing is voluntary for almshouses, and a number of almshouses do choose to register. Where almshouses are registered with the Regulator, they are required to meet the Regulator’s economic and consumer standards.

Affordable housing contributions in Section 106 agreements are negotiated between local planning authorities and developers.

Grouped Questions: 194587, 194656

Source

HoC Written Answer: Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities: Almshouses: Regulation

Q: Siobhain McDonagh (Lab) (Mitcham and Morden): (194656) To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether he plans to bring forward proposals on the regulation of almshouses.

A: Rachel Maclean (Con) (Redditch): I refer the Hon. Member to my answer to Question UIN 185863 on 30 May 2023.

Affordable housing contributions in Section 106 agreements are negotiated between local planning authorities and developers.

Grouped Questions: 194587, 194657

Source

HoC Written Answer: Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities: Almshouses: Finance

Q: Daisy Cooper (Lib Dem) (St Albans): (194587) To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of enabling alms houses to access section 106 funding in the same way as housing associations.

A: Rachel Maclean (Con) (Redditch): I refer the Hon. Member to my answer to Question UIN 185863 on 30 May 2023.

Affordable housing contributions in Section 106 agreements are negotiated between local planning authorities and developers.

Grouped Questions: 194656, 194657

We are asking further questions of Government.

posted 27 July 2023

Major Government Support Package

On Tuesday 25 July 2023 Department for Culture Media and Sport announced that charities and community organisations carrying out vital work to help vulnerable people are invited to apply for a major government support package.

Most vulnerable people in society protected from cost of living with £76 million government support package
New fund supporting charities and community organisations providing vital services opens today
Grants targeted at organisations struggling with rising costs and increased demand
Delivers on Prime Minister’s commitment to support people with cost of living and protect low-income households

Charities and community organisations carrying out vital work to help vulnerable people are today invited to apply for a major government support package worth £76 million. The fund will support frontline charities and community organisations struggling to meet increased demand for their critical services, such as the provision of food, emergency provisions, shelter, safe spaces, warmth and financial or housing advice.

Organisations can apply for grants worth between £10,000 and £75,000 to cover project and core costs, including office rent, utilities, staff and volunteers, from now until the end of March.

“We recognise this is a tough time for families and businesses across the country, as they face rising prices and higher rents or mortgage payments. And during tough times charity and community organisations are at the heart of society, supporting people struggling through life with care and compassion. To deal with a sharp rise in demand resulting from cost of living pressures, we are supporting charities with £76 million to enable these lifeline services to cope with the increased demand they are facing and continue their good work.”
Minister for Civil Society Stuart Andrew

Further details on eligibility and the applications process can be found on The National Lottery Community Fund website, in their role as the intermediary grant maker.

The Community Organisations Cost of Living Fund is the first portion of funding from a total pot of £101.5 million announced by the Chancellor at the spring Budget. Charities and community organisations are encouraged to apply for the targeted support, with a focus on small to medium-sized voluntary, community or social enterprise organisations based in England with an annual turnover of between £10,000 and around £1 million. Larger organisations can also apply if they show that they work closely and effectively with local communities as well as fill a gap in essential local services.

Applications will be accepted until midday 16 October 2023 and all funds must be spent by 31 March 2024.

posted 26 July 2023

P&G update: 25.7.23

Update on the Association’s recent political engagement and The Social Housing Bill:

National Planning Policy Framework

The Almshouse Association has recorded over 60 letters to the Secretary of State in support of our proposed amendment to the National Planning Policy Framework to properly recognise almshouses as affordable housing.

This amendment is requested as part of the Levelling up and Regeneration Bill. Thank you to everyone who has engaged their MPs and helped raise the profile of the almshouse movement. The Association’s visit to Theresa May MP was a great boost to our cause and her persuasive letter added weight to the many other letters seeking change.

The Bill has now passed to The House of Lords where the battle continues and last week Baroness Hayman of Ullock requested the amendment to the definition of affordable housing. This is likely now to be debated in September, and having also been tabled as an amendment, it will be considered. Further support for an amendment to the definition has also been expressed by Baroness Scott.

We will continue to raise the issue and build support from Peers in the hope that this minor change to the National Planning Policy Framework is affected. The definition of affordable housing was sent to all MPs last Friday from The House of Commons as part of their familiarisation homework. We hope this is a precursor to further discussions around the subject.

Other work is on going in relation to Regulated Housing and the almshouse model seeking a more proportionate form of regulation for almshouse charities.

The Social Housing Bill has now received Royal Assent

The Social Housing Regulation Act received royal assent this week.

This is a huge milestone in the Government’s response to the Grenfell Tower Tragedy, and represents the biggest change to the regulation of social housing in over a decade.

The Act will make a real difference including:

Facilitating the introduction of proactive consumer regulation by the Regulator of Social Housing, with regular inspections of the largest landlords
Stronger enforcement powers for the Regulator to take action where landlords do not meet the standards
Additional Housing Ombudsman powers to publish best practice guidance to landlords following investigations into tenant complaints
Powers to set strict time limits for social landlords to address hazards such as damp and mould, as part of Awaab’s Law
Powers to set new qualification requirements for social housing managers

The passage of this legislation is one step in the Government’s social housing reform programme. In the near future, the Regulator will consult on revisions to the consumer standards and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) will take forward consultations on Awaab’s Law, changes to the Decent Homes Standard, the professionalisation of the sector and the Access to Information Scheme.

DLUC ended their statement by saying:

“We would like to thank The Almshouse Association for your support and challenge during the passage of the Bill. The Government believes strongly in the value of almshouses providing good quality homes in the sector, and we look forward to continuing to work with you in the implementation of the new consumer regime.”

We too look forward to working with DLUC and other government departments in the hope of affecting change where it is needed and supporting change where are members feel it is right.

posted 25 July 2023