Barnstaple marks Queen's Platinum Jubilee | The Almshouse Association

Barnstaple marks Queen’s Platinum Jubilee

Devon Live reports on the celebrations held by the Barnstaple Almshouses in Autumn 21.

“On a day of celebrations as a new garden was officially unveiled at Barnstaple Penrose Almshouse, Barnstaple planted the first tree as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II’s Jubilee celebration.

The tree was planted by Lord Teverson in the gardens of Penrose Almshouses. As possibly the most prestigious Grade I listed building in Barnstaple it is fitting that it is home to the first tree to celebrate the Queens Jubilee.

Trustees and residents of Penrose Almshouse were proud to accept this invitation and start the planting in Devon. Planting the tree, Lord Teverson, ambassador for The Almshouse Association said,

“It is an honour to plant this tree to celebrate our Queens Jubilee on behalf of this wonderful almshouse charity.”

The Queens Green Canopy focusses on planting sustainability and encourages planting of trees to create a legacy in honour of The Queen’s leadership of the Nation, to benefit future generations. The project also dedicates a network of 70 Ancient Woodlands across the United Kingdom and identifies 70 Ancient Trees to celebrate Her Majesty’s 70 years of service.

The Penrose Crab Apple Tree is pinned on the Queens Green Canopy interactive map, which shows all the trees planted across the UK within the project. Mayor, Councillor Alan Rennles added:

“On behalf of Barnstaple Town Council, the mayor has put forward a tree and we are delighted Barnstaple is one of the first places in the country to put a tree in the ground to celebrate her jubilee.”

The celebrations came as the new gardens at the Penrose Almshouses were officially opened. The sun shone down on dignitaries, residents, families, friends and trustees at the event as everyone celebrated the ability to get together again post covid for the formal opening of the new gardens by Lady Arran VLL, MBE.

_{Penrose Almshouse official opening – Reverend Fletcher leads a prayer}

Joining the celebrations were Lord and Lady Teverson, the mayor and mayoress of Barnstaple, Alan and Sue Rennles and chair of North Devon Council Councillor Julie Hunt.

This historic almshouse charity was established in 1624 to provide housing for the folk of Barnstaple and is run by a group of trustees who act as guardians of the Grade 1 listed heritage site. Chairman Mike Ford said:

_{Lady Arran planted a plum tree in the grounds which was donated by the mayor}.

“It is a pleasure to provide this garden for the residents of Penrose and we all hope that they gain much enjoyment from them”.

The new gardens provide a mixture of large allotments, a communal allotment area with summer house and tool shed, plus three lawned areas for either quiet reflection or larger parties.

Vegetables are prolific in the allotment plots whilst passion flowers, scented roses and clematis adorn drooping ropes, trellis and two pergolas. The backdrop of shrubs and flowers have been carefully designed to provide all year-round interest and perfume.

Unveiling a commemoration plaque Lady Arran, the Countess of Arran said: “Ladies and gentlemen, it is the happiest day possible for the almshouses, to be here be with you all together and to see people all under a beautiful Devon blue sky.

“Penrose really is a sanctuary in Barnstaple and has the most extraordinary spiritual feel. This new garden really is just the icing on the cake. I cannot congratulate you all enough.
There has been a lot of tender loving care in the creation of the garden and I’m sure there’s going to be an enormous amount of pleasure within this happiest area. Please enjoy every minute of it and thank you all so much for the incredible hard work that’s gone into it.”

Lord Teverson expressed his delight with the gardens and reiterated the importance of almshouse charities within the UK which offer homes within very special communities. Cllr Rennles said,

“It really is so wonderful to see the transformation of this garden. I know that this space is going to bring much joy to the residents here. It’s a marvellous achievement and I am delighted to be here today to see the official opening.”

Support for the new gardens has been given by Devon County Council, St Johns Garden Centre, BJ Value House, Barnstaple Town Council and Ground Force to whom the charity extends their gratitude. A grant for the garden party which reunite trustees, staff, patrons families and friends post covid, on this special afternoon was award by Devon County Council Reconnect Rebuild Recover Grant Fund Team.

National statistics demonstrate that those who live in almshouses have a longer life expectancy many other sectors of the community. Walking through the beautiful, cobbled courtyard into the peaceful gardens today it easy to understand why. “

Author: Lewis Clarke for Devon Live – 4 Oct 2021 – Barnstaple plants Devon’s first tree to mark Queen’s jubilee – Devon Live

P&G update: 28.02.22

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.

ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT

Government announces £67 million to install insulation and clean heating – The Government has announced £67m as part of its Home Upgrade Grant (HUG) scheme which will be distributed to local authorities. This first instalment of the scheme will focus on improving 4,300 low-income, off-gas grid households who are reliant on bottled gas and oil to heat their homes.

The grants will pay for energy efficiency measures such as wall and roof insulation, as well as new low-carbon heating systems, thermostats and room heating controls.

We know that some members will be managing properties of this nature and would benefit from support in improving the energy efficiency of these dwellings to save on energy bills and to provide more comfortable homes for residents. Currently, the fund has been allocated to certain local authorities, including:

Blackpool Council
Bristol Council
Ealing London Borough
Oxfordshire County Council
Portsmouth City Council
Sedgemoor Council
Tees Valley Combined Authority

Three Rivers District Council
West of England Combined Authority
York Council
Castlepoint Central Bedfordshire
Great Yarmouth
Hartlepool
Leicester City

Plymouth Council
Redbridge London Borough
Sevenoaks Council
Sheffield City Council
South Derbyshire
Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council
Warwick

If your charity operates in one of these local authorities, we suggest that you contact the council to discuss whether you may be able to receive support from the HUG scheme. Further information can be found here.

Government Support for Electric Vehicle Charging Points – The Almshouse Association has held discussions with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) regarding a scheme to support the installation of Electrical Vehicle (EV) charging points.

The Department currently offers the Workplace Charging Scheme which contributes £350 per socket towards the installation of EV charging points for charities. Previously this could only be used for installing sockets for staff, but following our discussions, it would be acceptable to use this grant towards installation of sockets for residents. Guidance on the scheme can be found here.

CORONAVIRUS

The Almshouse Association continues to monitor developments with Coronavirus and will provide further updates when necessary. As of Thursday February 24^th, all remaining Covid restrictions have largely been removed. It is still recommended that you isolate at home if you test positive. Government guidance can be found by clicking on the links below:

England

Wales

Scotland

RECORD OF 2021/22 Policy and Governance updates:

Policy & Governance: 02.08.21 update
Policy & Governance update – 19 July 21
Policy & Governance update: 5 July 21
Policy and Governance update – June 2021
Policy and Governance update – May 2021
Policy and Governance update – April 2021
Policy and Governance update – Mar 2021
Policy & Governance update – Feb 2021
Policy and Governance update – Jan 2021

Posted 28 February 2022

Covid restrictions end

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced that the remaining Coronavirus restrictions will be removed from law starting on February 24^th 2022.

Changes include:

Legal requirement to self-isolate following a positive covid-19 test will end.
Self-isolation support payments will also end, although confirmed that SSP covid provisions could be claimed for a further month.
Signalled the end of routine contact tracing and Government would no longer ask vaccinated close contacts and under 18s to test daily for 7 days.
Legal requirement to self-isolate will end for close contacts not fully vaccinated.
Until 1 April the Government will still advise people testing positive to stay at home, but following this date would encourage those with covid-19 symptoms to exercise personal responsibility.
From 1 April, free symptomatic and asymptomatic testing for the general public will end. However, free symptomatic tests would continue to be available for the most vulnerable and oldest age groups.
From 1 April, Government will no longer recommend the use of voluntary covid status certification.
Confirmation that all remaining 20 temporary provisions of the Coronavirus Act would expire.

The Prime Minister also announced that the Government had accepted JCVI advice for a spring booster to those most vulnerable to covid to protect against potential resurgence.

These changes only apply to England.

Posted 22 Feb 22

Care alarm systems – is yours up to date?

Almshouse charities around the country do an excellent job of supporting those in need, especially when you consider the unique challenges they face, often occupying traditional or listed buildings. With technology progressing so rapidly, it is so important to ensure your almshouse’s personal alarm system is still sufficient in 2022. With the digital telephone switchover fast approaching, it has never been more important to think ahead.

The current analogue phone networks rely on physical components like copper wires to carry voice signals between users. This system is known as PSTN, or Public Switch Telephone Network. When you make a call, switches in the network create a circuit between the caller and recipient. The worldwide network is now almost entirely digital, meaning that only the oldest sections still use analogue technology. This digital network, known as ISDN, has all but replaced PSTN. However, even these digital calls still depend upon the old PSTN circuits. The current system is undeniably ageing. Due to more complex demands, the network is struggling to keep up. To meet the growing need, BT plans to retire both PSTN and ISDN by the end of 2025. This technology is called VoIP, or Voice over Internet Protocol. It allows users to make telephone calls via an internet connection. This system offers many benefits to users, including cheaper calls and faster connections, particularly over long distances.

If you are still using pull-cord alarms or other outdated systems, it is probably time for an upgrade to a newer, future proof system. Pendant alarms are a reliable, cost-effective solution to keep your residents safe. Users can choose to wear the pendant on a discreet wrist strap or a comfortable neck cord. Whenever they need assistance, they simply press the pendant button. A 24-Hour Monitoring Team will respond within seconds and arrange whatever assistance is needed. The pendants are waterproof for use in the bath or shower and, crucially, they are built to last. A standard pendant has a 7-year battery life plus an impressive range of 100 meters from the alarm base unit. Other types of devices, such as fall detectors, smoke detectors and GPS-enabled alarms offer even greater reassurance.

So if you have not updated your system in years, you probably need to act soon. With the digital telephone switchover, scheduled for completion by 2025, its likely the equipment in your almshouse use an analogue connection and will therefore be impacted by the switchover. But do not worry, the good news is that updating your system is quicker and easier than ever.

This article was supplied by Careline365. Their contact details are free phone 01603 964306 or via email at keyaccounts@careline.co.uk

First posted April 21, reposted February 22

Girton Town Charity futureproofs village housing

New Passivhaus Homes

A Cambridgeshire charity is celebrating a major milestone in its latest building project to create 15 almshouses for the over 55s and a new office for its own operations.

Girton Town Charity (GTC) joined with contractor Barnes Construction, Mole Architects and Northmores Project Managers to mark a key stage in the building programme at Dovehouse Court, with the erection of timber frame panels which will provide the structure for the new energy-efficient homes.

Built to stringent Passivhaus standards, Dovehouse Court has been designed to meet the future needs of the elderly, allowing for extended independent living including easy wheelchair access. Homes have individual terraces or balconies which open onto communal landscaped gardens, an orchard and allotments.

Passivhaus is a leading international low-energy design standard which offers a robust and proven method to help UK construction achieve carbon reduction targets set out by the Government and local authorities, leading to a sustainable future for the environment locally, nationally and globally.

The timber frame panels are made from Spruce soft wood sourced from Scandinavia and manufactured in Welshpool by Lowfield Timber which specialises in Passivhaus buildings. The frames were delivered to site on lorries, for erection by crane, and once completed, an air test will be carried out to calculate the building’s air permeability.

This project, scheduled for completion in Autumn 2022, has recently been awarded a grant from The Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority, with the balance being funded by GTC.

The almshouses will be made available to those living in, or with a close connection to Girton. Vacancies will be advertised locally for which residents can apply and be interviewed, with decisions made after careful consideration on the basis of a wide range of criteria.

Ann Bonnett, GTC Chair said:

“As an almshouse charity, we are committed to providing homes that will meet the needs of our residents, both families and the over 55s. With Dovehouse Court, we are looking forward to having age-appropriate affordable almshouses that are not only practical and energy-efficient but also enjoyable places to live. We are delighted with the progress to date and to be able to mark the installation of the timber frames which represents an important milestone in the 61-week programme.”

Mark Hart, Joint Managing Director at Barnes Construction added:

“We are pleased to be involved in this high specification project, which not only meets rigorous energy efficient design standards, but also supports the housing needs of the Girton community”.

Almshouses are subject to different legal arrangements from private, council or housing association tenancies. Residents are ‘appointees’, not ‘tenants’, live in the house under licence and pay a maintenance contribution, not rent. As they are almshouses there is no ‘right-to-buy’ or opportunity for shared equity. With GTC almshouses, residency is limited to a maximum of three years except for those over the age of 55 or in the case of disability.

www.girtontowncharity.org.uk

Photo above: Marking a milestone at Dovehouse Court, left to right: Jamie Saunders, Director, Northmores; Mark Hart, Joint Managing Director, Barnes Construction; Ian Bramwell, Senior Associate, Mole Architects; Ann Bonnett, Chair Girton Town Charity; and Matthew Ramplin, Contracts Manager, Barnes Construction.

Posted 7 February 22

P&G update: 7.2.22

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

Energy and Environment

Energy Crisis Support – The Government has outlined support which will be offered to help offset the steep rise in energy bills. This support comes after Ofgem announced that the cap on energy tariffs will rise by 54% to just under £2,000 a year on average.

These steps include:
- All households will be receiving £200 off their energy bills through a government loan to energy companies. This will be applied to domestic electricity customers from October 2022
- Properties in council tax bands A-D will receive a £150 refund in April 2022. Those who pay by direct debit will receive £150 into their bank accounts. Local authorities will also have access to £144m in discretionary funding to assist vulnerable people, individuals on low incomes or those in council tax bands E-H.
- Eligibility of the warm home discount scheme will be expanded with an additional £10 increase from October 2022 to £150. Those on certain means-tested benefits should qualify for the discount, but you should speak to your energy supplier about this

It is worth remembering that the final cost of energy bills is still calculated on your usage and so it is important to consider where energy efficiency measures could be introduced to help prevent costly bills. Details on the Government’s announcement can be found here.

Coronavirus

The Almshouse Association continues to monitor developments and changes to legislation with regards to Coronavirus and will provide further updates when applicable.

The latest Government guidance can be found here:
England
Wales
Scotland

RECORD OF 2021/22 Policy and Governance updates:

posted 7 February 22

New Windows for Latham almshouses

Latham Almshouses kindly shared with the Association and members the challenges they came up against getting double glazing into a listed building and how they were successfully overcome.

“The Latham Almshouses date back to 1500 and were Grade II listed in August 1972. There are ten terraced houses, eight with one bedroom and two with two bedrooms. They are managed by Lathom Almshouse Charity who provide homes for older people and people with disabilities.

In May 2019, the trustees decided that they would replace all the front windows, which were in poor condition and single glazed, with new double glazed units as recommended in the Quinquennial inspection 2018 report.

The Almshouse Clerk, Stuart Cunningham obtained specifications from a number of window manufactures who supplied hardwood windows with sliding sash windows. He also contacted the local council to arrange a meeting on site with one of their building inspectors to discuss the new windows.

In Oct 2019 the inspector agreed that the new windows could be double glazed, however, he wanted the middle window to slide. Stuart informed him that all the sliding windows were sealed up or broken and he would prefer to fit an opening middle window as it would be easier to open and close for the elderly residents who had reported that were finding it difficult to open the sliding middle window. Sadly the building inspector insisted on a sliding middle window.

Stuart contacted The Almshouse Association for some help with this issue who were very helpful and supplied Stuart with a letter in support the trustees revised planning application.

Due to Covid-19, no further correspondents were undertaken until mid-2020 when Stuart was informed that the previous building inspector had left and a new one had been appointed. When he met with the new building inspector he informed Stuart that the new windows could not be double glazed and would have to have secondary glazing retro fitted.

Following the meeting Stuart met with the trustees and discussed the new building inspector’s requirements. It was decided that a company who specialise in planning matters should be appointed to a revised planning application. Wallis & Co were appointed by Stuart, they produced the revised planning application, which they submitted to the council along with the letter of support from the Association. Planning permission was finally approved in December 2020.

Stuart obtained three updated quotes from local window manufactures and a meeting of the trusties was held in April 2021 to decide on the manufacturer. Southbank Joinery were appointed to manufacture the windows from Accoya timber.

The council asked for one new window to be installed before they gave permission for all the windows to be installed. This was done in November 2021 and following a visit by the building inspector he gave the go ahead to install the remaining ten windows.

Sadly due to Covid-19 a shortage of glass in the UK delayed the installation, five windows were installed in December 2021, with the rest are due to be installed by the end of January 2022, weather permitting!”

Thank you for sharing your experience Latham Almshouses. Well done for your perseverance !
If you have a story you would like to share with members about overcoming planning/renovation obstacles, please do get in touch.

Posted 3 February 2022

Policy & Governance: 31.01.22 update

Please find below our latest summary:

Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

Government to review staff training and qualifications in social housing – As part of its drive to improve standards within social housing the government has announced a review of training and qualifications for staff working in the sector. The Social Housing White Paper Professionalisation Review will explore the qualifications currently available for staff, with landlords, residents and trade bodies putting forward recommendations to the government. It will also consider if additional training is required to improve the service to residents.

Members who are registered providers of social housing may wish to make a submission to the working group of the review on the potential impact this could have on their work.

More information can be found here. Those wishing to respond can make a submission to Professionalisation.Review@communities.gov.uk.

Miscellaneous

Royal Horticultural Society offers grant for community gardens

To celebrate RHS Garden Day 2022, they will be gifting a new garden to one community in each of the UK’s four home nations. Working in partnership with leading garden designers, each garden will be worth up to £50,000, and an opportunity for your group to help us create an inclusive and welcoming green space for everyone within your community to access and enjoy.

Members wishing to apply must do so by February 6^th 2022. Details can be found here.

Wales

Move to Alert Level 0 – As of January 28^th, Wales has moved back to alert level 0 which means:

Nightclubs have re-opened
Businesses, employers and other organisations must continue to undertake a specific coronavirus risk assessment and take reasonable measures to minimise the spread of coronavirus
The general requirement of 2m social distancing in all premises open to the public and workplaces has been removed
The rule of 6 no longer applies to gatherings in regulated premises, such as hospitality, cinemas and theatres
Licensed premises no longer need to only provide table service and collect contact details
Working from home will remain part of advice from the Welsh Government but it will no longer be a legal requirement

The Covid Pass will continue to be required to enter larger indoor events, nightclubs, cinemas, theatres and concert halls.

RECORD OF 2021/22 Policy and Governance updates:

Policy & Governance update – 19 July 21
Policy & Governance update: 5 July 21
Policy and Governance update – June 2021
Policy and Governance update – May 2021
Policy and Governance update – April 2021
Policy and Governance update – Mar 2021
Policy & Governance update – Feb 2021
Policy and Governance update – Jan 2021

posted 31 Jan 22

Research Project

The Almshouse Association has commissioned The Smith Institute to carry out a research project looking into how almshouse charities functioned during the coronavirus pandemic.

Some members may have or may soon receive invitations to participate in interviews as part of this project. Should you receive a request from The Smith Institute, please rest assure that this is a legitimate request as part of this important piece of research.

If you have any queries regarding our research, please get in touch with Jack Baldan via jackbaldan@almshouses.org .

Posted 13 Jan 21

Covid update: 20.01.22

The Prime Minister has announced the withdrawal of Plan B Coronavirus restrictions in England over the next week.

This means:

Working from home: The Government is no longer asking people to work from home, unless they are self-isolating.
People should now talk to their employers to agree arrangements to return to the office.
From 27 January 22: There is no longer a legal requirement to wear a face covering.
The Government suggests that you continue to wear a face covering in crowded and enclosed spaces where you may come into contact with other people you do not normally meet.
From 27 January 22: Venues and events will no longer be required by law to check visitors’ NHS COVID Pass.
The NHS COVID Pass can still be used on a voluntary basis.

Government guidance for Wales and Scotland can be found by clicking in the links below:

Posted 20 Jan 2022