P&G update: 28.04.22

The Almshouse Association regularly posts a news summary of the latest Policy and Governance legislation that could impact/requires action from member charities, with links to further information where applicable.

Our latest update can be found below and previous updates are listed at the end of the page.

New coding to specifically highlight almshouses!

The Charity Commission has been reviewing how it classifies charities’ operations so that it can better understand and analyse the charity sector.

Under the proposed changes, almshouses would be specifically noted alongside a member’s operations. This does not materially change how the charity operates or interacts with the Charity Commission, but marks improved recognition of the model as a distinct tenure in housing.

Information on the changes can be found here.

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

Housing Ombudsman Call for Evidence on Noise Complaints – The Housing Ombudsman has launched a call for evidence to support its next systemic investigation which will look at noise complaints. The investigation will explore how social landlords manage reports of noise nuisance and what drives complaints about how these are handled.

The surveys close on 13 May 2022.

The Charity Commission

Implementation Timetable for Charities Act 2022 – The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport have announced when they will implement changes brought in as part of the Charities Act 2022. Changes will begin to be made from Autumn 2022 until Autumn 2023.
- The schedule can be found here.
- Explanatory notes on the Act are available here.

Miscellaneous

Inside Housing Awards Nominations – Housing trade magazine, Inside Housing, has opened nominations for their Development Awards. There are a number of award categories almshouse charities could apply for, including:
- Best older people’s housing development
- Climate change retrofit project of the year
- Best regeneration project
- Best affordable housing development
- Best healthy homes development
  
  It would be fantastic to see some of our members receiving national recognition for their incredible work!
  Nominations must be submitted by midnight on May 12^th. More details can be found here.

Research Opportunity – The Dunhill Medical Trust are supporting a project led by Housing LIN and TSA as part of the latter’s TAPPI Phase 2 project. The project “seeks to co-produce a ‘TAPPI Framework’ by working with four locality ‘testbeds’ (or demonstrator sites), led by community-based organisations…This phase will gather the evidence of what is possible and challenge what is perceived to be impossible, building upon the learning gathered during the pandemic and creating new and scalable housing service models using technology-enabled care which supports personalisation and, simply, delivers better outcomes for people.”

As part of the project, a call has been put out for community-based organisations who are already interested in integrating technology with housing, health and social care and would be receptive to testing the TAPPI Principles, together with those that are new to the concept but recognise its importance. Those selected to act as ‘testbeds’ would receive £75,000 (inc. VAT) for resourcing and enabling technology solutions.

Members interested in taking part should read the bid guidelines and make an application here. Applications close on May 16^th at 5pm.

The Almshouse Association is also supporting another Dunhill funded bid which is looking specifically at almshouses.

RECORD OF PREVIOUS 2021/22 Policy and Governance updates:

Posted 28 April 22

Funding for electric vehicle charging

The Almshouse Association has recently held discussions with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on potential support for charities who wish to be more sustainable. As a result of these discussions, we are glad to report that almshouse charities can apply for the Workplace Charging Scheme.

What is the Workplace Charging Scheme?

The Workplace Charging Scheme is a government grant of up to £350 to support the provision of Electrical Vehicle (EV) charge points. The fund will cover up to 75% of the cost of buying and installing a charge point. The scheme was originally only available for select uses. However, after discussions with The Almshouse Association, it has been agreed that almshouse charities can apply for funding for any purpose, i.e. for residents or employees. There is also another scheme specifically for landlords which is open to organisations registered with Companies House or those VAT registered.

How can charities access the grants?

The grants are provided using the Workplace Charging Scheme. To access it, charities should:

read the Workplace Charging Scheme: guidance for charities and small accommodation businesses – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) as this contains most information charities will need
explore your options and prepare
talk to EV charge point installers to get options and quotes. Go here to find installers in your area
watch the Energy Saving Trust webinar series (Residential landowners Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme – Energy Saving Trust) on what you may need to consider.

If you run into any difficulties, please get in touch with Jack Baldan via jackbaldan@almshouses.org.

posted 28 April 22

Solar Farm Opportunities

The Almshouse Association has recently held discussions with Centrica, the parent company of British Gas, to explore the possibility of almshouse charities using their surplus land for solar farms or other green energy developments.

Centrica are currently looking to help members in this area which could provide an alternative funding stream for the charity, with the potential to use their land for solar farms and battery storage.

The charity would need to have access to either:

75 acres+ for solar farms
2-5 acres for battery storage

For either development, the land would need to be near a good grid connection.

If you are interested, you will need to provide the following information so that Centrica can check the suitability of the land:

the amount of land you would be looking to lease out
any existing energy solutions on the site (solar, windmills etc)
a company name that you trade under (likely just your charity name)
who would be involved in the decision-making for leasing out the site
a postcode for the land or some indicator of the land should it not be where the charity is based
whether there is a grid connection that you know of nearby or on the land and the capacity of it, if you know this
whether you have been in touch with other companies previously for a similar interest in the land.

The Almshouse Association continues to look for opportunities for members to make their charities more sustainable both environmentally and financially. We are working with a number of partners, including The National Trust and Historic England to provide suitable guidance in this area. The Association is not endorsing Centrica as a preferred partner and so members should also consider whether other energy providers may be looking to make similar investments. Members will also need to consider their own governing documents, local views and planning issues connected with these types of developments.

Interested members can provide the above information to Jack Baldan via admin@almshouses.org or alternatively can get in touch with Simon Jobson via simon.jobson@centrica.com.

Posted 24 April 22

Exeter Homes Trust marks Platinum Jubilee

On a chilly, but beautiful sunny day in March 2022, the Exeter Homes Trust celebrated the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee by taking part in The Queen’s Green Canopy initiative and unveiling a commemorative plaque at Hurst Trumps Almshouses.

Exeter Homes Trust, formerly known as The Exeter Municipal Charity, was founded over 900 years ago. Providing housing for people, who are unable to remain in their own homes by reason of reduced circumstances, the charity owns and manages 143 almshouses in the city, at 8 estates. A board of 10 directors governs Exeter Homes Trust.

The Exeter-based charity paid homage to the monarch’s historic milestone by planting a tree at Hurst Trumps Almshouses, located on Fairpark Road in Exeter. The Queen’s Green Canopy is a unique tree planting initiative created to mark Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022 by inviting people and organisations from across the United Kingdom to “Plant a Tree for the Jubilee”.

Exeter Homes Trust also erected an inscribed plaque, adjacent to the tree at Hurst Trumps Almshouses, to immortalise the momentous event, which marks The Queen’s 70 years of service on the throne.

Devon Deputy Lieutenant Deborah Hallett and the Lord Mayor of Exeter, Councillor Trish Oliver joined Exeter Homes Trust residents, including Chairman of the Charity’s Board, Roger Panter, to unveil the commemorative plaque and the tree.

Roger Panter, Chairman of the Charity’s Board, said:

“Exeter Homes Trust is proud to celebrate Her Majesty’s remarkable Platinum Jubilee by participating in The Queen’s Green Canopy initiative and we are delighted to unveil our plaque and tree in her honour.
The Queen has demonstrated exceptional service to this country over the last 70 years and we hope the tree will live on in her legacy for the next 70 years and beyond, to remind generations to come of her incredible achievement and dedication to the throne.
We are committed to providing sustainable and comfortable accommodation for our residents of the very best contemporary standard and it’s great to see some of the city’s most historic buildings being given a new lease of life to become essential homes for people in need.”

Exeter-Homes-Trust-Tree-Unveiling-HurstTrumps-GRW-Photography

During the pandemic, Exeter Homes Trust also celebrated the completion of remodelling work at one of their developments, Atwill Palmer Almshouses, in Exeter’s New North Road. The site underwent a programme of sympathetic refurbishment work, part funded by a Homes England grant, to provide the Charity’s 150 residents with updated and energy efficient apartments, more suited to modern day living requirements.

For more information about Exeter Homes Trust, please visit: www.exeterhomestrust.com

Posted 5 April 22

P&G update: 04.04.22

Our latest update can be found below and previous updates are listed at the end of the page.

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

Draft Clauses Published on New Social Housing Regulation – New draft clauses have been published as part of changes to the regulation of social housing through the Regulator for Social Housing. A factsheet has also been produced on the role of the regulator and Housing Ombudsman Service. The Almshouse Association continues to monitor developments in this area. These changes will only affect members who are registered with the regulator.

The draft clauses can be found here.
The Factsheet can be found here.

Failing Landlords to be ‘Named and Shamed’ Under New Regulations – Social landlords providing sub-standard housing and services would be publicly called out on the Government’s website and across social media channels.

This measure will only apply to almshouse charities who are registered with the Regulator for Social Housing and serves as a reminder to ensure that you are fulfilling all the requirements of registration. If in doubt, please do not hesitate to get in touch with The Almshouse Association so we can assist you before any issues are publicised.

The Government announcement can be found here.
New Chair of the Regulator of Social Housing – Bernadette Conroy has been appointed as new Chair of the Regulator of Social Housing. The role of the Regulator is steadily becoming more central to the Government’s management of Registered Providers.

Details on the announcement can be found here.

The Charity Commission

End of flexible guidance on meetings – On 21^st April the flexible approach to charities holding meetings outside the terms of their governing documents will come to an end. Charities should check that their governing documents allow them to hold meetings in the way they wish. For example, you will need to ensure that your governing documents allow for online meetings if you have found these to be more convenient during the pandemic.

Charity Commission guidance for charities on coronavirus can be found here.
New 5-minute Guides for Charity Trustees – The Commission has released several animated videos which bring its 5-minute guides to life. This includes new materials on safeguarding. The videos aim to fill in gaps in knowledge, especially for new trustees.

More details can be found here.

Employment Law

Fear of catching COVID-19 not a protected belief rules employment tribunal – In a recent employment tribunal case it was concluded that an employee’s belief in a fear of catching Covid-19 and a need to protect herself and others, did not amount to a philosophical belief for the purposes of establishing a protected characteristic under section 10(2) Equality Act 2010.

Panel of Consultants member, Stone King has provided an overview of the ruling which can be found here.

Coronavirus

Spring Booster Campaign Launches – The spring booster vaccination campaign commenced on March 21^st. Those eligible for the booster include adults aged over 75, the immunosuppressed and, crucially, all residents in a care home for older adults. The Almshouse Association has always argued that almshouses should be treated in the same way as care homes due to their communal nature. Members should get in touch with their local authority or NHS group if their residents are struggling.

RECORD OF 2021/22 Policy and Governance updates:

Posted 4 April 22

More veteran almshouses take shape

Skies the limit, onwards and upwards!

The Buchanan Trust have been incredibly busy over the last few years. Having completed four new almshouses for army veterans last year, they are now full steam ahead with the building of two more.

They sent us a fantastic time lapse video of the installation of their new roof and floor trusses, writing,

“A cracking day onsite for The Buchanan Trust – Supporting Veterans, allowing the CJ Bayliss Ltd team install the new roof and floor trusses for two Almshouse Veteran cottages.

The renovation of the old dairy and stables will provide a further two new almshouse Veteran cottages later this year. This project comprises of one x 1 bedroom being fully DDA compliant; and one x 2 bedroom property that will be available for this Nation’s veterans and their families.

Specific thanks to The Buchanan Trust’s main funders: The Almshouse Association, Homes England, Saffer Cooper Consultancy , Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities – Community Led Homes, The Eveson Charitable Trust, Sandy & Zorica Glen Charitable Trust and Veterans Raffle.“
Karl Gilmore | Trustee at The Buchanan Trust

posted 24 Mar 22

Almshouses in Country Life magazine

Almshouses: What they are, how they were created and why they’re still relevant in the 21st century.

The Almshouse Association is delighted to see almshouses and their important role in the 21st century highlighted by Clive Aslet, writer, publisher and Visiting Professor of Architecture at the University of Cambridge, in Country Life magazine on 13 March 22.

A wonderful five page spread with stunning photographs takes the reader on a journey through the monastic beginning of almshouses to the present day, as well as exploring the history of Winchester’s Hospital of St Cross almshouses, founded in 1132.

The admissions process involved – as it still does – an interview with the master, followed by two nights at the hospital, to assess whether the applicant would fit in. Once accepted, the new arrival spends six months as a postulant, before being admitted as a full brother. ‘I loved being at Oxford, living in medieval buildings,’ discloses Brother Bevis. ‘The other day, I was looking at the great row of chimneys at St Cross and thinking how lucky I was to live in such harmonious surroundings. My rooms date from 1445 and there is a graffito that one of the brothers carved in 1512.’ Time past and time present, as T. S. Eliot might have said, are both contained in the future of Britain’s flourishing almshouses’. Clive Aslet

If you would like to read the full article, we have scanned a copy which can be accessed by clicking in the link below.

https://www.almshouses.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Country-Life-9-March-21.pdf

posted 22 Mar 22

Research funding awarded to ARC

The Almshouse Association is delighted to see further investment in almshouse research. This area of research is helping the Association move forward in our understanding and will support our growing body of research which we have expanded significantly since 2020. There is a great team in place and we look forward to working with them over the coming months.

The Dunhill Medical Trust has awarded funding of £287,000 to ARC (Almshouse Resilient Communities) for the Future, a project led by UCL in collaboration with the University of Suffolk and seven almshouse charity partners: United St Saviour’s Charity, The Whiteley Homes Trust, Sir Josiah Mason Trust, Bristol Charities, Durham Aged Mineworkers’ Homes Association (DAMHA), Legacy East Almshouse Partnership (LEAP) and Southwark Charities.

The Dunhill Medical Trust writes:

The project will explore resilience – the capability to adapt and evolve in response to significant change – in almshouse accommodation for older people. The types of change we will look at range from pandemic lockdown and climate change to local changes, such as in staffing, governance or local facilities. ARC aims to find evidence of ways in which our partners support community resilience (that is, enabling resident communities to support each other in maintaining a high quality of life despite changes), support built environment resilience (that is, ensuring that the buildings and facilities continue to support independent, comfortable living) and support governance resilience (that is, ensuring that charity structures and practices are effective within the local context so that almshouse charities continue into the future).

Principal Investigator, Dr Niamh Murtagh, commented: “I’m delighted that we have won funding for our exciting project which takes a multi-disciplinary perspective on resilience in housing communities for older people. Almshouses in some form have existed for a thousand years and still offer a valuable model of housing and community for an ageing population. We’ll be working with a wide range of sites, from those in operation for over a hundred years to sites which have just received planning permission, and from County Durham to Bristol to East Anglia. Almshouse settings offer a fantastic opportunity to investigate resilience holistically and with sensitivity to context and from which we hope to learn lessons of importance for older housing and community resilience more generally. An important theme in our research will be the connection between diversity, equity and inclusion and resilience.”

Zoe Richardson, Director of Operations and Deputy CEO at the Sir Josiah Mason Trust, commented: “SJMT is really excited to be part of this project. Our oldest Almshouse charity is over 450 years old and we know the difference that this housing model makes to our residents. We are delighted to have the opportunity to demonstrate this and be part of a national research project.”

Martyn Craddock, United St Saviour’s Charity CEO, commented: “We are pleased that our contribution to the ARC project will result in a toolkit which can benefit the almshouse movement and other social housing providers. As the needs increase to provide older people with safe and affordable housing options, this toolkit will not only inform our best practice but also facilitate a collaborative and shared-learning ethos within the UK social housing for older people sector.”

Whiteley Village Community — Photo credit: The Whiteley Homes Trust

Rachel Hill, CEO of The Whiteley Homes Trust, commented: “As a charity for older people in need, giving our beneficiaries a voice is at the heart of what we do. Through our collaborative research with them and our partners, we’re committed to sharing their learning about the benefits of almshouse living and promoting innovative new practice. So, we are especially pleased and proud to be a part of this timely new project – one which will also help inform our own vision to build more almshouses, ensuring this ancient form of social housing remains relevant for the centuries to come.”

Susan Kay, CEO of The Dunhill Medical Trust, commented: “We have made a substantial commitment to support initiatives that develop and deliver suitable living environments and communities for older people. This project comes at a time when issues related to resilience and equity, diversity and inclusion have come strongly to the fore. This project will investigate these issues in almshouse accommodation for older people, and we look forward to working with all the project partners to help them share their learning.”

posted 21 Mar 22

P&G update: 21.03.22

Our latest update can be found below and previous updates are listed at the end of the page.

DEPARTMENT FOR LEVELLING UP, HOUSING AND COMMUNITIES

Homes for Ukraine Scheme Launches – The Government has opened the Homes for Ukraine scheme which looks to support Ukrainian refugees currently fleeing the war with Russia.

Charities interested in supporting refugees can record their interest in the scheme which formally opened on March 18^th. In Phase One of the scheme, sponsors in the UK can nominate a named Ukrainian individual or family to stay with them. Accommodation must be available for at least 6 months. It should also be noted that you cannot charge those who may stay with you. There will be an optional ‘thank you’ payment of £350 per month for those who participate. Those from Ukraine will also be able to work and access benefits under the scheme.
– You can record your interest here.
– FAQs on the scheme can be found here.

For members who may be interested in this scheme it is important to consider whether it is possible to accept a refugee within your current governing documents. We are all eager to do our bit in supporting those in need, but ultimately, we must still fulfil the charitable objectives of the charities we represent. As such, The Almshouse Association would advise all members to check their governing documents before logging any interest in the scheme. The Association is here to help if you need further guidance.

The Charity Commission has also published a useful information guide on how charities can best support those in need as a result of the crisis which can be found here.

Housing Ombudsman Complaint Code to Take Effect from April 1^st – In July 2020, the Housing Ombudsman introduced a new Complaint Handling Code to set out good practice for responding to complaints. Following a review, the code has been strengthened with changes to take effect from 1 April 2022. These changes will only apply to members who are registered with the Ombudsman.
- Changes to the code can be found here.
- The full announcement from the Ombudsman can be found here.

Regulator of Social Housing releases latest version of ‘Regulating the Standards’ – Members who are Registered Providers of Social Housing may wish to review the latest version of ‘Regulating the Standards’. The document, published by the Regulator of Social Housing, outlines how they approach their work with the scope of the regulator expanding in recent times.
- The full document can be found here.

ENERGY

Issues with Communal Heating Costs – The Almshouse Association is seeking information from members who have communal heating systems in their almshouses and the impact of the current energy crisis on costs of running this system. Communal systems do not benefit from the price cap and are currently not scheduled to receive the £200 government loan, in contrast to those with their own supply.

It would be useful for the Association to understand the scale of this issue including the number of people affected and the amount your bills are projected to increase. Please send any details to Jack Baldan via jackbaldan@almshouses.org

HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE

Government withdraws requirement for vaccine as a condition of employment – Members who also operate care home schemes within their charities will be aware that the Government recently announced that it will bring forward regulations to revoke vaccination as a condition of deployment for all health and care settings.

The Government still consider full vaccination against coronavirus to be the ‘professional responsibility’ of staff working in this sector.

RECORD OF 2021/22 Policy and Governance updates:

Posted 21 March 21

Is now the time for a new wave of almshouses for refugees?

Events in Ukraine are a disturbing reminder of how easy it is for people to suddenly lose their homes as a result of war or persecution. Over the years there have been all too many cases where people have been forced to flee their homes, whether that be from Afghanistan, Syria or many others and, unfortunately, we know that this is unlikely to be the last time we see people having to fleeing from their homes and their country.

Could the almshouse model provide new stability for housing refugees?

Nick Phillips, CEO of The Almshouse Association considers how the model could benefit those fleeing Ukraine and other conflicts and asks if the time is right to time to build a new generation of almshouses for todays displaced persons.

“For centuries almshouses have been the safe, warm refuge for those in need of a home and community. Traditionally almshouses have been provided by philanthropists for those in the community most at need at the time. Those founders have often seen a need in their parish, town or even specific industry. The founders of almshouses may have seen a housing need amongst widows of the parish, miners, soldiers or fishermen. All the benefactors identified and enshrined in the founders wishes for centuries.
I wonder if todays philanthropist may see the local need reflect the global changes afoot? Families fleeing desperate situations in Afghanistan, Syria and now Ukraine, having gained rights to remain in the community, may be today’s most desperate families and there is no better home and sanctuary than the almshouse community.
Almshouses have survived with their founders’ intentions because they are uniquely protected. They are the oldest charities and the oldest form of community housing going back 1,000 years even to the original 7 of acts mercy that include giving shelter to the traveller.
Philanthropists have always stepped forward during crisis to establish new almshouses from the plight of their fellow man during plague, Civil War, Industrial Revolution, Poor Laws, World Wars and now perhaps we see the plight of refugees needing a safe secure community over the long term.
An almshouse charity established today could be providing homes for refugees in housing need for hundreds of years to come; over its lifetime an almshouse could change the lives of thousands of people in need of a safe place to live.
Almshouses offer a proven community housing model for which it seems there is a growing, desperate need for. Anyone looking to establish a new almshouse charity or seeking to expand their current provision can reach out to The Almshouse Association for advice on how to achieve this.
We may not be able to replace everything that these people have lost, but almshouse charities can provide a strong foundation from which to rebuild through the provision of a stable home.”
as featured in ‘Inside Housing’ Comment 17 03 22

Posted 17 Mar 2022