Guildhall Feoffment hosts MP Visit

On 23 January 2026, almshouse charity, Guildhall Feoffment welcomed their local MP, Peter Prinsley, for a visit focused on the challenges facing almshouse charities.

Discussions centred on the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and the ongoing failure to recognise almshouses as affordable housing. As a result, almshouse charities can be subject to Selective Licensing, face Section 106 (S106) charges when developing, and are often unable to access Homes England funding or S106 funding. In addition, almshouses are typically excluded from designated planning routes such as Rural Exception Sites.

These barriers create significant obstacles for charities seeking to provide much-needed housing for older people and those in housing need.

Nick Phillips, CEO of The Almshouse Association, commented:

“It is good to see charities raising the issue of the proposed NPPF. It is so valuable for MPs to hear directly from trustees and clerks about the real-world impact of this uneven policy. Simply put, without change we face a future with fewer almshouses being built and more older people experiencing homelessness and loneliness. It is time to fix this anomaly in legislation.”

posted 28 January 2025

Support our campaign

The Association is asking Members to respond to the NPPF consultation and/or write to their MPs to support our campaign to have almshouses recognised as affordable in the National Planning Policy Framework.

Dear Members,

We are pleased to share with you a copy of The Almshouse Association’s draft consultation response to the Government’s proposals for the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).

Our response aims to ensure that the unique role of almshouses and other charitable housing providers is recognised in national planning policy.

Charitable housing organisations provide essential, long-term, affordable homes to older people, vulnerable households and local communities, often in ways that differ from commercial or mainstream housing delivery.

We have chosen to focus on Chapter 6: Delivering a Sufficient Supply of Homes (of the consultation) only, as this section contains the policies with the most direct impact on almshouses, charitable housing providers and the delivery of specialist and affordable housing for older and vulnerable people.

In particular, the response highlights:

The need for planning definitions of affordable housing to explicitly include almshouses and charitable providers.
Concerns about delivery targets, housing land supply policies, and housing mix requirements, and how these affect small-scale, community-led, and charitable housing schemes.
Support for policies that enhance the provision of specialist housing for older people, adaptable homes, and social and affordable housing, with safeguards to ensure proportionate and sustainable delivery by charities.
Recommendations for ensuring that commuted sums, off-site delivery, and large-scale development frameworks do not disadvantage smaller charitable providers.

Our NPPF consultation response has been drafted to inform Government consultation and to advocate for policy changes that enable charitable housing providers to continue delivering high-quality, affordable homes. Members are encouraged to review the document to understand the Association’s position and the rationale behind our responses. We have also drafted a letter that you may wish to tailor and send to your local MP.

Click to download NPPF Consultation Response

Click to download template letter to MPs

We hope these will also serve as a useful reference for members engaging in the consultation or discussing the impact of planning policy on charitable housing provision. The deadline for the consultation is the 10 March 2026.

Call to Action

Respond to Chapter 6 of the NPPF consultation, calling on the Government to properly acknowledge and support almshouses and other charitable housing providers by including them within the NPPF’s Affordable Housing definition.
Write to your MP urging the Government to make a fair and necessary change to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), so that the vital role of charity-led housing, particularly almshouses, is fully recognised within the definition of Affordable Housing.

Thank you for your continued support in championing the role of almshouses and charitable housing in the wider housing sector.

posted 28 January 2026

Small Charity Week: Big Impact

NCVO has announced that they have once again partnered with Big Give and Global’s Make Some Noise to deliver the Small Charity Week 2026 match funding campaign – with applications now open and closing at 17.00 on 11 February 2026.

Find out more and submit your application

What’s the campaign about?
The campaign helps small charities maximise donations through match funding, providing vital unrestricted income. Thanks to match funding from Champion funders, including players of People’s Postcode Lottery, public donations made during the campaign will once again be doubled.

Plus, this year, it will expand to support more charities than ever before, including – for the first time – UK-based organisations working internationally, with increased funding also available for eligible charities in Scotland and Wales.

When does the campaign run?
The Small Charity Week 2026 match funding campaign will run from 22–29 June 2026, aligning with Small Charity Week – our national awareness week celebrating the essential role of small charities across the UK.

Who can apply?
Small charities with an annual income between £5,000 and £1 million across the UK, including those working internationally, are encouraged to apply.

How did the campaign perform last year?
In just seven days, the 2025 campaign raised £1.84 million, supporting 189 small charities through 9,208 donations. Through match funding, most charities received higher-value donations and connected with new supporters.

Apply by 11 February 2026

NCVO encourages small charities to take advantage of this opportunity and apply today. Please share with others in your network who may benefit

Leigh Brimicombe, Chief Influencing Officer, NCVO
Registered Charity No. 225922

posted 22 January 2026

NPPF: Member update

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Member update from The Almshouse Association CEO, Nick Phillips, on the latest National Planning Policy Framework consultation.

Click below to watch:

posted 19 January 2026

Lincolnshire Regional Meeting

📅 tbc
📍 tbc

Policy & Governance update: January 2026

JANUARY 2026 : A summary of the latest UK Government policy changes and news.

1. National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) Consultation

The Government published the latest version of the National Planning Policy Framework and a consultation deadline of 10 March 2026.

Our work to secure recognition of almshouses as affordable housing therefore continues, and next week we will publish our response and explain how you can engage with the NPPF.

2. The Future of Volunteering

The Gradel Institute of Charity (New College, University of Oxford) have shared a report on ‘The Future of Volunteering‘.

This report considers reflections from a roundtable event on volunteering. While national data suggests a decline in volunteering, the report recognises that much volunteering remains unseen or uncounted – reflecting the reality for many almshouses, where significant trustee time, informal support and local community involvement are not captured in official statistics.

3. Charity Commission

The Charity Commission has updated various pieces of guidance and templates to reflect the introduction of SORP 2026 which applies to accounting years starting on or after 1 January 2026.

This includes changes to guidance on:

4. Company Law

For Persons of Significant Control (PSCs) who think they may be unable to complete identity verification by the deadline relevant to them, there are Companies House online forms to apply for up to three extensions of 14 days each.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

Applications for an extension must be submitted before the current deadline expires.
There is no equivalent ability for directors to apply for an extension.

posted January 2026

Celebrating a tradition of giving to almshouse residents

Each Christmas, The Almshouse Association takes great joy in sending gift vouchers to almshouse residents aged 90 and above – a cherished tradition made possible by a legacy left to the Association over 70 years ago – quite literally, a gift that keeps on giving!

We were delighted to continue this special tradition for Christmas 2025, celebrating the growing number of residents in their 90s and 100s who enjoy the security, community and happiness that almshouse living provides. This year the Association gifted Christmas vouchers to 816 residents and the enduring impact of a thoughtfully invested gift in a Will is evident in every voucher we send.

The Christmas Fund originates from the generosity of Major Allnatt, a successful businessman and philanthropist, who worked closely with Leonard Hackett, the Association’s founding General Secretary. Major Allnatt expressed a heartfelt wish for a small gift to be given to almshouse residents on Christmas Eve. He chose to remain anonymous during his lifetime and passed away in 1969.

Thanks to careful investment of the legacy he left, the Association is able to honour his vision and continue this tradition each year. Today, his legacy lives on in the form of gift vouchers, sent to almshouse charities to share with eligible residents during the festive season.

Chairman David Corney giving Christmas vouchers to residents of Davenport Homes

Eleanor Palmer Trust almshouse residents, Betty,

A heartfelt thank you goes to all the clerks and trustees of almshouse charities who ensure these gifts reach residents on time. Your support in capturing and sharing these special moments is greatly appreciated – the photos you send are always a highlight for us here at the Association!

We look forward to another festive season of smiles, joy, and celebrating the remarkable lives of our oldest residents.

Top photos left to right, Davenport Homes; Frank Parkinson Yorkshire Trust resident; Anne, Ashstead United Charity ; Frank Parkinson Yorkshire Trust resident; Mr and Mrs Grandsby, Eleanor Palmer Trust resident; Association Chairman, Willie Hartley Russell with Willie with Cirencester almshouses residents.

Are you thinking of leaving a legacy that will ensure smiles on the faces of people in need for years to come?
Please do give us a call on 01344 452922 or email us at Almhousesupport@almshouses.org

New almshouse to reflect changing needs

Case Study: Thomas Fryer Almshouse Charity makes strategic changes to ensure they continue to effectively serve the community.

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

In 2025, The Almshouse Association provided the Thomas Fryer Almshouses with a loan of £65,000 to support the purchase of No. 22 John Street in Oakham, Rutland.

Background

The Thomas Fryer Almshouses charity was established following the death of Thomas Fryer, a wealthy landowner whose family had lived in Rutland for generations. Through his Will, Thomas Fryer endowed two cottages to provide almshouse accommodation for his housekeeper and for local residents of Rutland who were “aged and infirm” and would otherwise have faced the prospect of ending their days in the Union Workhouse.

From the outset, the charity was rooted in strong local governance. Occupancy was originally restricted to residents of the villages of Manton and Hambleton, with trustees appointed from both villages alongside additional co-opted trustees, often from the church. The first formal meeting to administer the Trust was held in 1917, with records still surviving today.

Changing circumstances and strategic adaptation

Despite its strong foundations, the condition of the original cottages caused concern from an early stage, with maintenance costs proving difficult to manage. In 1978, an architect’s estimate for essential repairs was unaffordable. As a result, the trustees took the strategic decision to sell the original cottages and replace them with purpose-built semi-detached bungalows within the grounds. These new homes were formally opened in 1981 and have been continuously occupied since.

Over time, further changes in the local population led trustees to reconsider how best to meet need. The creation of Rutland Water in the mid-1970s had a significant impact on the area, reducing the number of local residents likely to require almshouse accommodation. The villages of Manton and Hambleton also lacked essential amenities for older residents.

Following discussions with the Charity Commission, a new scheme was agreed in 1991. This extended the charity’s beneficiary area to cover the whole of Rutland and allowed the trustees to build or acquire almshouses anywhere within the county for people who were “old and infirm”.

Expanding the almshouse portfolio

With Charity Commission agreement, surplus income was invested with the aim of acquiring additional almshouse properties better suited to residents’ needs. Oakham, Rutland’s county town, was identified as a more appropriate location, offering improved access to transport, healthcare and shops.

Over time, five properties were added to the Trust’s portfolio in Oakham, with both original properties sold to help fund these acquisitions.

Support from The Almshouse Association

In October 2025, the charity purchased No. 22 John Street, a two-bedroom house built in the early 1970s, for £190,000. The acquisition was made possible with the support of a £65,000 loan from The Almshouse Association, repayable over a ten-year period.

The property is in good condition, with low anticipated maintenance costs. The weekly maintenance contribution (WMC) is set at £470 every four weeks, ensuring affordability for the resident while supporting the charity’s long-term sustainability.

Impact

The purchase of No. 22 John Street has had an immediate and tangible benefit. The Trust’s remaining resident from Manton has now relocated to the Oakham property and is benefiting from significantly improved access to public transport, medical services and local shopping facilities.

Conclusion

The loan from The Almshouse Association enabled the Thomas Fryer Almshouses trustees to act decisively, securing a well-located and suitable home that meets modern needs while remaining financially sustainable. This support has allowed the charity to continue fulfilling its original purpose — providing safe, affordable housing for older people in Rutland — while adapting to changing demographics and circumstances.

The loan from The Almshouse Association was crucial in enabling the Charity to expand their provision of affordable housing in the local area for people in housing need.

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

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

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

posted 8 January 2026

Charity offers emergency funding

St Martin-in-the-Fields Charity works to end homelessness by providing practical funding, supporting frontline workers and advocating for change.

The Charity has asked The Almshouse Association to share information with our members and frontline contacts on their Voluntary Rapid Fund (VRF), which provides fast emergency grants to help people who are experiencing homelessness or are at risk of becoming homeless.

What the VRF can help with

The VRF offers crisis grants of up to £500, which can be used to cover immediate barriers to securing accommodation, including:

Rent in advance
Deposits
Identification documents (ID)
Removal costs

If all required information is provided, the charity aims to process and pay grants within 5 working days, helping people access housing quickly.

How to apply

Frontline workers can register for a VRF account using their direct work email address. Once approved, they can submit an application through the charity’s Application Portal.

Step-by-step guidance, including instructions on registering, requesting an account, and applying for grants, is available on the charity’s [Help Page and FAQ section].

Information Webinars

The charity also hosts online Teams webinars to explain the VRF grant offer and answer questions. Upcoming sessions include:

January Session:

Tuesday 27 January, 14:00 – 15:15
Registration via work email here

February Session:

Tuesday 10 February, 14:00 – 15:15
Registration via work email here

Registered participants will receive a link to join the webinar at the scheduled time.

Additional Information

Applicants are encouraged to read the Terms & Conditions and Grant Making Policy, which include eligibility criteria, before registering or applying.

The charity also invites local organisations to share information about the VRF, as it may help the people they support access accommodation.

Contact:
VRF Team, St Martin-in-the-Fields Charity
5 St Martin’s Place, London, WC2N 4JH

posted on behalf of St Martin-in-the-Fields Charity 8 Jan 2026

Festive gifting at Cirencester almshouses as Chairman joins Christmas lunch

The Chairman of The Almshouse Association, Willie Hartley Russell, was thrilled to receive an invite to the joint Christmas lunch for St Lawrence’s Hospital and St John’s Hospital almshouses in Cirencester yesterday.

The event was organised by the clerk to both charities, Mrs Jane Winstanley, and brought residents together to celebrate the festive season.

During the lunch, Willie Hartley Russell presented two Almshouse Association Christmas Fund gift tokens to residents Mrs Jean Archer and Mrs Gill Weedon. These gifts are given each year to almshouse residents (of member charities) aged over 90 and are funded through an invested legacy gift left to The Almshouse Association by Major Allnatt, a successful businessman and philanthropist. Seventy years later, his generous bequest continues to provide Christmas gifts to older almshouse residents every year.

Both recipients were delighted to receive their gifts and kindly posed for a photograph during the celebrations.

The Almshouse Association would like to take this opportunity to wish all almshouse residents a very Merry Christmas and a warm, safe and peaceful New Year.

posted 18 December 2025