Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund

The Almshouse Association would like to make members aware that from autumn 2021, members who are Registered Providers of Social Housing will be able to submit bids for the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund.

The fund seeks to help raise the energy standards of social housing as part of the government’s plans to reach Net Zero. The fund provides a good opportunity for members who are considering improving the energy standards of their current dwellings.

Further information on the bidding window will be published later this summer, but it is worth members starting to consider whether they would like to make a bid now so that you are ready when the window opens.

As part of this bid it will not be possible to make a direct bid through your charity as you are required to apply as part of a local authority bid. Consequently, it might be good practice to contact your local authority and see what scope there is to collaborate. 

The Almshouse Association will share further guidance once it becomes available.

Posted 29 June 21

Wivenhoe Housing Trust: paving the way to celebrations

Trustees of The Wivenhoe Housing Trust are looking forward to joining in with the national celebrations to mark 75 years of The Almshouse Association.

This almshouse charity, based in Essex, is responsible for the provision of thirteen properties over two sites in Wivenhoe. The Mary Ann Sanford Almshouses (1873) and Jonathan Feedham Almshouses (built 1974 from a legacy bequeathed 1718)

A Celebration Garden Party is set for Saturday 18th September 2021 in the newly re-vamped courtyard at Jonathan Feedham Court. The location is most appropriate as the area has recently undergone significant improvements. The courtyard now benefits from a new drainage system. Significantly, improved access to the garden and floral beds has been achieved by raising the paved ground surface level across the yard to meet with that of the front door levels of the bungalows. The courtyard is now a much nicer space for residents to socialise enhancing opportunities for improved health and wellbeing and promoting a greater interest in plants and gardening.

The garden project had taken a few years to achieve and plans were afoot to hold an opening ceremony in 2020. Alas, pandemic restrictions meant that this couldn’t go ahead.

Now, an excellent opportunity awaits the Wivenhoe Housing Trust. A Grand Celebration Garden Party will enable combine their opening ceremony with marking the 75th anniversary of the formation of The Almshouse Association. A 1940s themed afternoon will see all residents from both almshouse locations attending to enjoy afternoon tea with The Town Mayor of Wivenhoe, The Trustee Board, Representatives from The Wivenhoe Society, Wivenhoe Helping Hands and the two local schools. (A drawing competition is under way for local school children on an almshouse theme and awards will be presented at the garden party).

If available, a 1940s gramophone will play records of the era and entertainment is scheduled from The Hoolies, Wivenhoe’s Sea Shanty Crew and the Colchester Town Crier is on hand for any special announcements.

Words by Robert Needham. To read more about the renovations project, please click here .

Contacts
Robert Needham  01206 824446 noisybeggar@btinternet.com     Peter Hill  01206  823073 peter@toadhall2.co.uk   Chair of Trustees
Further information   www.wivenhoehistory.org.uk 
Searches:   1) Almshouses  2) Major Project at Jonathan Feedham Court

June 21

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Giving Something Back

by Chris Morton, Chairman of Louisa Lilley Almshouses

‘Giving Something Back’ to society was something that really came to fore in my life a few years ago when I was considering retirement from being a Commercial Accountant.

I felt that The Lilley Homes Almshouses was something I could “contribute” to and, as they say, “bring something to the table”.

The Trust is over 90 years old and Miss Louisa Lilley, who died in 1930, was part of a Shoe Manufacturing Family in the local town who bequeathed an amount in her estate to establish the Trust which now looks after after 20 one bedroom bungalows built around large gardens with residents ranging from 60 to 93 years old.

After attending a few of the trustee meetings, I felt I could contribute and was encouraged to put forward my ideas. My first proposal was a PPM (planned, preventative maintenance) regime that was welcomed by the Board, benefitting both the residents and trustees, then 2 years ago, the Chairman of Trustees asked me if I would take over as Chairman (he was in his 90s and had been Chairman for 40 years).

I was honoured to accept, and decided that this would fill in the “work” gap when I retired. The Louisa Lilley Trust has a history that needs to be protected and enhanced, so as we look forward, I believe the trust needs to make sure all our properties are kept in a condition suitable for the 21st Century, but keeping the vision that Louisa Lilley portrays in her will, which is still our ” bible.”

We have a Duty of Care to all our residents, and as such, we make sure that they are as safe as possible with the use of a call care system and our paid secretary visits all residents on a fortnightly basis.  

We encourage a community spirit and intend to hold an Open Gardens event for a local charity this summer. We will give all residents a “Tea Party” on the same day and combine this with The Almshouse Association 75th Anniversary.

We are also looking at our carbon footprint along with sustainability, in everything we do, and one of the things we are currently exploring the possibility of putting solar panels on all our properties, although we are mindful that we if we do so, it must not spoil the “look” of the almshouses. Once Covid 19 restrictions have been lifted, we will be improving our roof insulation and we have also put natural water butts in both our complexes to reduce our reliability on tap water for our gardens.

The Trust is also looking at building new housing in our current grounds, to increase the number of almshouses we have to offer. These will be replicas of the ones we already have, but designed specifically, for the elderly, in the 21st Century.

June 21

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Almshouse charity steps in to help

A retired Uppingham couple who risked becoming homeless have moved into a newly created flat in Oakham owned by Rutland’s oldest charity, St John & St Anne (SJSA).

The almshouse charity stepped in to help Terence & Mary Gaythorpe after they were given notice to quit their previous home by their landlord. The two-bedroom flat, formerly the charity’s office was transformed into a home, with the help of a grant from Homes England and a loan from The Almshouse Association.

Mr & Mrs Gaythorpe have lived in the county for 50 years. Their flat brings SJSA’s housing stock for retired people to 103 properties spread over five sites in Oakham & Uppingham.

It is so pleasing that this new property will ensure that a local couple can now continue to enjoy their retirement years without having to repeatedly navigate the private rental market.

St John and St Anne Almshouses CEO Paul Martin

The Almshouse Association is so pleased to hear that an Almshouse Association loan has helped to make this possible for the charity and for these newest almshouse residents. With the help of our supporters and generous donations, we hope to be able to offer many more grants and loans to charities in need to that they may continue to provide safe, warm homes to people in need in their community.

If you would like to find out more about supporting almshoue charities or making a legacy in your will, please do contact our Head of Fundraising at susanvanleest@almshouses.org

You may also like to visit our Leave a legacy | (almshouses.org) page.

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Association visits Amersham almshouse charity

The Almshouse Association CEO Nick Phillips and Assistant Policy & Engagement Officer Jack Baldan were pleased to be invited to visit Amersham United Charites on June 22 2021 by Howard Hughes, Len Tridgell and Simon Partridge, the trustees of the charity.

The visit involved discussions on the various challenges the charity has experienced when maintaining and remodelling a listed building.

The renovations the charity is seeking planning permission for to improve the layout and quality of accommodation on offer involve almost all internal works. Plans include making the dwellings more energy efficient and tackling issues around condensation, and the aim of the improvements is ultimately to improve the quality of life for the beneficiaries of the charity, whilst also futureproofing a grade 2 listed building.

The visit also allowed trustees to discuss hurdles the charity has faced during the process, particularly concerning the position of the conservation officer (HBO). This is an issue that the Association is familiar with and we will endeavour to do our part in seeing this project granted permission so that residents can enjoy warmer, healthier homes.

We would like to thank Amersham Charities for their time. For their generosity in sharing thoughts about lessons learned, condensation issues, conservation approaches and how the Board has remained motivated and focused despite delays.

The visit highlighted the commitment of the trustees to improving living standards for the charity’s beneficiaries, as well as their determination that there be a source of genuinely affordable housing in the community in perpetuity. 

Posted 24 June 21

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Diversifying your Charity Board

On Wednesday 16th June members joined a webinar on diversifying your charity board.

The webinar looked at the current make-up of charity trustees boards across the UK and gave tips for opening up the trustee recruitment process to make it more accessible for a wider range of people. The webinar was delivered by Sophia Moreau from ‘Getting on Board’.

A recording of the webinar, as well as a copy of the slides and Getting on Board’s guide to recruiting trustees can be found below.

If your charity is struggling to recruit trustees, please do contact us at admin@almshouses.org.

DID YOU KNOW? – Only one third of trustees are women, 8% are people of colour and one third are under the age of 50. 59% of charities report that their board does not reflect the communities they serve. And 74% of charities struggle to find the trustees they need. Why is this? What could improved board diversity do for charities? What are the tried and tested practical actions you can take to recruit and retain diverse trustees?

About the Speaker
Sophia Moreau is a multi-award winning policy reformist. She currently runs the Public Affairs and Policy department of the Small Charities Coalition, representing 91% of charities in the UK.

Sophia freelances as an opinions writer and investigative journalist, with clients including the BBC, iNews and Huffington Post. She is Head of Student Rights at the charity Pregnant Then Screwed, a charity working to end the motherhood penalty in work, education and training. She is also a volunteer at SOS!SEN, a charity fighting for the  of disabled children. For the past 3 years, Sophia has formed part of the 0.5% of charity directors in the UK under 25.

Posted 23 June 21

Covid-19 update: June 21

Thankfully, the nation’s unlocking from lockdown restrictions has continued, although with a slight delay.

However, there are still requirements in place which members should seek to keep aware of during the final stages of lockdown easing.

For the time being, we remain in Stage 3 of the national easing roadmap, with the next stage not expected until July 19th, however, the Government has suggested that should progress be made in tackling the Delta variant, this could be brought forward to July 5th.

Further information on what you can and can’t do in Stage 3 can be found here.

Members may find it useful to consult the government guidance for supported living which can be found here. Particular notice should be taken to the section on risk assessments.

Wales update

In Wales, the Government has extended the six-month notice period for evictions to 30th September.

Guidance on current Welsh restrictions can be found here.

Posted 22 May 21

Website: Important changes coming into effect

On 14th June 2021 we will be making some updates to the back end of our website.

Although you won’t see any changes to the front end of the website at this stage, the changes will eventually allow us to offer online event booking, accept membership and event payments online, and any changes members make to their web profile will be carried over to our database. This, we hope, will enable members to update their details and manage their membership at a time that is most convenient to them.

For members who are already registered on the website:

‘Forgot your password’ link on Login page

You will notice that when you login for the first time from 14th June, you will not be able to login using all your existing credentials.

Although your username (i.e. your email address) has been carried over into the new system and therefore remains the same, you will need to reset your password.

To do this, simply click on the ‘forgot your password’ button at the bottom of the screen. You will then be sent a link by email to reset it.

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Anyone registering on the website for the first time (after 16th June)

You can do this as per normal . You should simply fill in the required fields, including your membership number.

Note: There is no restriction to the number of individuals per membership charity that can register on our website, however, each registration must use a different email address.

If you experience any issues when resetting your password or are not sure what you need to do, please do not hesitate to contact us on Tel: 01344 452922 or at almshousesupport@almshouses.org and we will be more than happy to help.

Posted 7 June 21

Mental Health and wellbeing in the charity sector

Charities are adept at doing more with less, and squeezing value from every interaction and every hour of the day. In addition, some frontline charity work is by nature difficult, upsetting and mentally draining. The upshot is that the third sector has long been aware of the mental health and wellbeing challenges faced by trustees, staff and volunteers.

That much was evident in our 2019 Charity Risk Barometer, which placed staff burnout as a top five medium term threat to the sector. Fast forward to the 2020 Barometer and, after six months of Covid, burnout was a more urgent concern, considered the second most serious challenge to charities over the coming 12 months. 

For our latest mental health and wellbeing study of 450 charities, conducted over the last two weeks, we wanted to gauge the mental health of the sector after a year or so of lockdowns and remote working, and during the first tentative steps on the road to normality.

The charity sector is large and diverse, and organisations’ experience of the pandemic differed dramatically. While some charities had to pretty much shut up shop for large parts of lockdown, others faced a perfect storm of increased demand and dwindling resources. Meanwhile, everyone had to get used to new ways of working. Unsurprisingly, over half of respondents (56%) said Covid had exacerbated mental health issues in the sector.

The big picture

  • 66% of charities are concerned about staff burnout
  • 44% report an increase in colleague mental health concerns since January
  • 44% of respondents say they might leave the sector because of burnout

Isolated and anxious

Like other organisations, charities were forced to abandon face-to-face service provision in March 2020, along with the camaraderie and support offered by office life. Many moved service provision and core operations online, while others didn’t have that option. This disruption continues to affect the sector in different ways, and has inevitably led to an increase in stress and anxiety for many employees.

As we slowly emerge from lockdown, the sector now faces funding shortfalls, the implementation of long-term remote or ‘hybrid’ working models, and the continued adoption of new methods of service provision. This barrage of change may leave those working in the sector feeling confused and overwhelmed. And as we move into an era of post-pandemic uncertainty, many may be worried for the future of their organisation and the jobs that depend on it.

Covid’s effects on mental health

Where organisations have seen an increase in mental health issues since January, they have been…

  • Anxiety (71%)
  • Stress (70%)
  • Depression (66%)
  • Suicidal feelings (27%)
  • Self-harm (25%)

Digging deeper, employees’ biggest concerns include:

  • Challenges at home (child care, home schooling) – 33%
  • Health concerns for family or friends – 30%
  • Concerns about Covid-19 (i.e. variants, vaccination) – 30%
  • Fatigue of home working – 30%
  • Feeling isolated – 30%

The impact

Worsening mental health represents a clear and present danger for the sector. As mentioned previously, 44% of respondents are considering leaving the sector altogether. Unsurprisingly, 37% of charities are worried that burnout will lead to staff shortages, while other concerns include recruitment issues (38%), being unable to provide services (36%) and a charity’s liability as an employer (28%).

This situation could be exacerbated by any proposed return to the office. Well over half (60%) of staff are nervous about going back to the office when it reopens.

Concerns around returning to physical premises include:

  • Catching Covid-19 (57%)
  • Service users not wearing masks (35%)
  • Colleagues not socially distancing (34%)
  • Concerns about extra workload caused by Covid-19 (34%)

What charities can do

Amidst this disruption, communication between trustees, managers and staff is more important than ever. Charities should train managers to identify mental health issues, and timetable regular check-ins with remote staff to gauge stress levels and offer support. Charities also need to put policies in place around working hours and encourage home workers to disconnect from work devices regularly. Anil Champaneri, senior HR consultant at HR and H&S consultancy Alcumus, says that burnout can become  more likely when working from home becomes living at work.

“From a HR perspective, organisations need to understand that not everyone can work from home easily. Talk to your staff as soon as possible about your plans for the future and their views on home working or hybrid working. Some staff will have taken to remote working during lockdown, but others may have found themselves starting earlier or finishing later than normal or even working weekends and never truly switching off. That risks burnout.”

Anil Champaneri, senior HR consultant, Alcumus

Organisations should do all this as part of wider health and safety and risk management processes that help capture employee concerns around workload, remote working and stress. They should also include detailed H&S policies around any return to the office.

Some charities are already offering wellbeing support to colleagues. Measures include:

  • Access to third party helplines – 40%
  • A wellbeing policy – 39%
  • Access to a mental health professional – 38%
  • Introducing mindfulness techniques (e.g. meditation sessions) – 38%
  • Mental health first aiders – 32%

“One very positive thing every charity can do is train someone to become a mental health first aider, who can then be a first point of contact for anyone who might be struggling. Although a mental health first aider is not qualified to diagnose a mental health condition, they could recognise symptoms, offer support and signpost a colleague to the right resources or people for help. Just having one in the workplace demonstrates to your  employees that your organisation takes mental well-being seriously. It also gives the message that it’s OK to open up about mental wellbeing issues.”

Anil Champaneri, senior HR consultant, Alcumus

But more can be done. Every third sector organisation should carry out a risk assessment to see where gaps exist in mental health support. Identifying stress and anxiety early, and reacting appropriately, can reduce the chance of mental health issues leading to poor performance, long term absences and even a claim against your organisation.

Vikki Woodfine, a specialist regulatory lawyer at DWF Law LLP, says that cases linked to mental health are becoming more common. “Over recent years, we have seen that the HSE has started to acknowledge mental health as well as physical health when considering an employer’s duties to protect employees…the increasing recognition in society of the importance of looking after mental health has resulted in the HSE becoming more interested in the topic.”

Don’t forget trustees

In all this it’s easy to forget trustees, who can sometimes seem one step removed from the day to day bustle of charity work.

But trustees are at the heart of the Covid response, with 68% involved in deciding new ways of working, 52% having regular meetings with management and 37% having regular meetings with staff and volunteers. They lead workshops, support new fundraising efforts and use their own skills to support change.

They’re doing far more than might otherwise have been expected. According to one recent survey, 62% of chairs spent four or more days a month on their chairing role compared with 43% before the pandemic.

Trustees face increased workloads and stress, and are making decisions for the future of their organisations in an environment without precedent. Understandably, they may not get every one right. Penny Wilson is CEO of Getting On Board, an organisation that trains and supports potential trustees and charity leaders. She says that charities might find it difficult to fill trustee positions in future, leading to further issues with governance and strategy.

“Trustees and staff alike feel the pressure of the charity being on the knife edge of survival. In particular, the sense of responsibility to vulnerable people who are relying on the charity can be overwhelming. Staff and trustees both have parallel stresses in their personal lives. But some trustees, by definition, also have their own day jobs and other roles where the pressures might be equally overwhelming. Some have therefore had to resign their trustee roles. This, along with the appalling ravages of the virus itself on the trustee body, has left many charities with reduced boards”

Penny Wilson, CEO, Getting on Board

While financial protection may only partly mitigate a trustee’s mental anguish and concern, having a comprehensive Trustees and Management Liability cover in place can help to protect them from any personal liability resulting from decisions they make which may be a reassuring factor.

What help is available?

It’s no surprise that 52% of charities say they need more government support. Whether that will be forthcoming or not is anyone’s guess, but in the meantime practical support for mental health in the charity sector is available.

Stress Indicator Tool

This tool, from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), measures the attitudes and perceptions of employees towards work-related stress.

Mental Health at Work

Mental health charity Mind have collected a wide range of resources to help any organisation get to grips with workplace mental health.

How Ecclesiastical can help

Ecclesiastical’s specialist insurance policies for charities can help protect you against work-related stress claims, but they go much further. Our policies are about support as much as cover, and include:

  • Telephone counselling service for all employees, volunteers and immediate family members who live with them
  • Health & safety support and advice to protect employees and volunteers – online, by phone or face to face
  • A regularly updated website with guidance on managing risk during Covid-19
  • Our award winning claims service, should the worst occur

We can also provide access to a range of additional services, including:

  • HR consultancy
  • H&S consultancy
  • Trustee recruitment guide in partnership with getting on Board

What next?

The UK has a roadmap out of Covid restrictions, and the vaccination programme continues apace. But the future remains uncertain. Covid recovery could mean Covid austerity as far as charity funding is concerned, and organisations have some big decisions to make around remote working, the return to face-to-face service provision and how much the ‘new normal’ will (or won’t) look like the old. All of this is potentially anxiety-inducing for an already stressed workforce.

That makes it even more important for charities to take mental health into consideration when planning a post-pandemic future. Dedicating time and resources to wellbeing is a crucial investment in your organisation’s future.

Article supplied by Ecclesiastical

New sculpture for Bond’s Lodge almshouses

A new sculpture from a renowned Coventry artist has been unveiled in the courtyard garden of a new almshouse development for the elderly.

George Wagstaffe, famed for such works as The Phoenix and The Naiad, has created the new sculpture named ‘Waters of Separation’ for Bond’s Lodge in Coventry.

He was commissioned to create a centrepiece for the large courtyard garden by Coventry Church (Municipal) Charities, which runs the new £6.8 million almshouse.

Residents, Coventry dignitaries and friends of the charity were invited to a ceremony to celebrate the new sculpture which features two bronze figures linked with a water installation, is joined by a poem penned by Wagstaffe, which can be read on a nearby plaque.

One of the bronze figures is in the image of Wagstaffe’s late wife Beryl, and the roots of the new installation can be traced back to time spent in Wales during the latter stages of Beryl’s illness.

George Wagstaffe said

“The sculpture was originally a painting I did of the same title. The idea is to show separation through, death, illness, divorce or any other means. The water running between the two figures runs away and then also runs together showing how, while separation divides, it can also unify.

The poem came later when I was walking through fields near my studio. I looked into a pond and it was so clear. I could see the clouds and sky mirrored in the calm pool. There was a slight breeze and in that slight breeze, everything shattered. That showed how life can change in an instant.

It’s a lovely setting here at Bond’s Lodge. Very much like The Naiad I did 60 years ago; this sculpture is part of the landscape. It’s a beautiful setting amongst flowers, plants and water.”

Lord Mayor of Coventry Cllr John McNicholas with Lady Mayoress June McNicholas were in attendance for their first engagement since being appointed to the roles. The unveiling event also saw an address from Methodist minister Pauline Warner, who discussed her friendship with Wagstaffe and Beryl.

Pauline said “I work at Abbey Park Methodist Nursing home in Whitley, and it was there that I first met George and Beryl. Her mind was razor sharp and stayed sharp to the end. George has called his work the Waters of Separation and it is the experience of being separated from Beryl that has driven this piece. Everyone who has moved or will be moving into these new apartments carry with them memories of their lives. I’m certain that in this lovely garden there will be more laughter than weeping, as the people from Bond’s Lodge sit here and together share their memories.”

Victor Keene MBE, Chairman of Coventry Church (Municipal) Charities, added “It’s a magnificent sculpture and the perfect centrepiece to the courtyard garden here at Bond’s Lodge. We have an artwork at each of our almshouses in Coventry – which now house over 150 residents. We’re not only looking after the comfort of our residents, there is a spiritual dimension, and the work of art helps to fill that need.

George is a well-known, highly-respected artist and we’re pleased he worked with us on this sculpture. We’re now at full-capacity at Bond’s Lodge and the residents love it here. This new sculpture will only add to that experience.”

PICTURE CAPTION:  From left to right – Matthew White, Victor Keene MBE, Pauline Warner, George Wagstaffe, Lord Mayor of Coventry Cllr John McNicholas and Lady Mayoress June McNicholas

Posted 10 June 21

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