Affordable Housing Commission Report: Making Housing Affordable again

The Almshouse Association commends the final report of the Affordable Housing Commission carried out by Lord Best and his colleagues. We agree with the commission that there is no ‘silver bullet’ which could fix everything within the current housing crisis.  What is needed is a multi-facet approach, which we believe almshouses should be a part.

The report is right to highlight the need for ‘a 21st century version of the extensive sheltered housing programme of times past’ to achieve both high-quality housing for the elderly, whilst freeing up larger properties for young families. Almshouses have been around for a thousand years, the earliest form of community housing but it is interesting that more are being built today than at any other time since the Victorian period.  Almshouses provide over homes for over 35,000 people in need. There is an almshouse in nearly every constituency in the country and we believe that almshouses are perfectly placed to provide first-class housing fit for the 21st century.

Our member charities already provide residents of all ages with accommodation which is affordable and encourages independence. Yet in recent years, misunderstandings of what almshouses are and how they work have held them back from fulfilling their full potential as the exemplar of community housing. At the Almshouse Association we pride ourselves on the service that our members provide and the well-being of their residents.

The Association hopes that the Government listens to the recommendations of the Affordable Housing Commission. We also look forward to engaging further with members across government and the housing sector to help fix our housing crisis, with almshouses playing a vital role in the solution.

A new age of almshouses is before us and with it comes a fantastic opportunity to provide truly affordable community housing, rooted in the communities they serve.

Full report can be found here

Posted 6 July 2020

Electrical Safety Standards Regs 2020

On July 1st The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 came into effect for new ‘specified tenancies’. Existing tenancies will not be affected until April 1st 2021.

Please look at our guidance below on what the new regulations require so that you are prepared:

The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020

New regulations are to come into effect that will require each dwelling to acquire an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) every 5 years: ‘electrical installation’ means fixed electrical cables or fixed electrical equipment located on the consumer’s side of the electricity supply meter. These Regulations apply in England only to all new ‘specified tenancies’ from 1st July 2020 and all existing ‘specified tenancies’ from 1st April 2021.

These regulations apply to almshouse charities.

The first inspection and testing on an almshouse property must be carried out before the resident moves-in,  in relation to a new ‘specified tenancy’ and from 1st April 2021 in all the properties, in relation to an existing ‘specified tenancy’.

Following the inspection and testing charities must:

  • obtain a written report from the person conducting the inspection and test, which gives the results of the inspection and test and the date of the next inspection and test;
  • supply a copy of the report to each existing resident of the residential premises within 28 days of the inspection and test;
  • supply a copy of the report to the local housing authority within 7 days of receiving a request in writing for it from that authority;
  • retain a copy of that report until the next inspection and test is due and supply a copy to the person carrying out the next inspection and test; and
  • supply a copy of the most recent report to:
  • any new resident of the ‘specified tenancy’ to which the report relates before that resident occupies those premises; and
  • any prospective resident within 28 days of receiving a request in writing for it from that prospective resident.

Any further investigative or remedial work identified in the report should be carried out by  a qualified person(s) within 28 days, unless a shorter period is specified.  The charity must obtain written confirmation confirming that the investigative or remedial work carried out meets the  electrical safety standards.

Full details of the legislation and ‘landlord’ responsibilities can be found here: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2020/9780111191934

NOTE: These regulations only apply to charities operating in England

Posted 6 July 2020

Rural Housing Week

This Rural Housing Week is likely to be dominated by the long term impact of the Coronavirus pandemic. Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE) recently discussed how a fall in property prices is likely to lead to a reduction in affordable housing in rural areas.

It seems ironic, but as many affordable housing is created through a levy on developers (Section 106), some developers are using a fall in property values as a way of opting out of supplying their affordable housing levy! This is a real concern as many people, young and old, decide to leave the towns and villages where they grew up, for places which are actually affordable. Local businesses lose custom, and these places lose their community cohesion.

The Almshouse Association believes that we have at least part of the solution to this problem. Almshouses are a one thousand year old answer to an age old question around truly affordable, community housing. Today some 36,000 people enjoy independent living in an almshouse community. Many people are not aware of almshouses or how they operate. Historically, almshouses have been started through the philanthropic ventures of a local wealthy individual. The accommodation provided is of genuine high-quality with a focus on community engagement and interaction. These are not just sets of housing which gentrify an area. Instead they are rooted in the communities they serve, with a focus on maintaining a level of affordable community housing in perpetuity by their exemption from Right to Buy. Residents do not pay rent but a Weekly Maintenance Contribution which is below the average rent in the area and helps to maintain the upkeep of the almshouse. Residents live independently in a supportive community where they otherwise would have struggled with lengthy council house waiting lists or extortionate private rent.

Almshouses are often well supported in rural areas under the Rural Exception Scheme as they are restricted for those people of the local community forever.

Around the country we see communities embracing almshouses and the benefits they bring. We are proud that many new developments are embracing environmentally friendly solutions, ensuring that the almshouses provide high-quality accommodation and are sustainable for the future.

We believe that almshouses are the ideal rural community housing solution. A solution for the benefits of the local community, led by the community.

Posted 6 July 2020

Policy and Governance: June 20 Summary

Property and Planning – June 20 Summary

Guidance on electrical safety regulations

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has published new guidance for landlords on how best to comply with The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020. The guidance outlines what is required under the new regulations, as well as discussing how this applies under License to Occupy agreements. The guidance does not differ from what we already recommend to our members, including having electrical inspections by a qualified and competent professional.

A full breakdown from the Government can be found here

Charity and Charity Law – June 20 Summary

Duty to report matter of significance

The Charity Commission have provided an update to its guidance on a charity’s duty to report matters of significance. The COVID-19 situation has been reflected on with further advice on reporting at times of national emergency.

Increased risk of fraud and cybercrime against charities

The Commission has also warned charities about the increased risk of fraud and cybercrime during the Coronavirus pandemic. The report covers:

  • Procurement fraud
  • Mandate or Chief Executive Officer frauds
  • Scam emails (phishing)
  • Unsolicited offers of goods, services or financial support (advanced fee fraud)
  • Protecting devices
  • Reporting fraud

Reporting serious incidents to the Charity Commission

The Commission has provided new guidance on reporting serious incidents. The most significant update is that charities can now use the Commission’s online form. It has also published a supplementary examples document, to support charities in deciding when to report an incident related to the coronavirus pandemic.

Adult Social Care and Support – June 20 Summary

Ban on evictions extended by two months

MHCLG has extended the suspension of new evictions until 23 August. Although almshouses are not legally bound to this it is recommended that almshouses follow this guidance. A court is unlikely to rule in favour of Setting Aside due to the current unprecedented situation.

Health and Safety – June 20 Summary

Meeting people from outside your household

  • The Department of Health and Social Care has updated its guidance on meeting people from outside your household (in England). The guidance states that: “if you live by yourself or are a single parent with dependent children – in other words, if there is only one adult in your home – you can expand your support network so that it includes one other household of any size.” This guidance should prove useful for almshouses which are planning to allow visitors as the lockdown eases.

Coronavirus

For further information from The Almshouse Association on Coronavirus please look here. The page is regularly updated with the most recent guidance and advice.

Previous Policy and Governance Updates:

Click here for Policy and Governance – May 2020 Summary
Click here for Policy and Governance – Apr 2020 Summary
Click here for Policy and Governance – Mar 2020 Summary
Click here for Policy and Governance – Feb 2020 Summary
Click here for Policy and Governance –Jan 2020 Summary
Click here for Policy and Governance – 2019 Summary

Posted 1 Jun 2020

Helping those in isolation

Loneliness Minister, Baroness Barran has urged people to consider writing letters and cards to those who still have to isolate in an effort to combat loneliness.

The Almshouse Association fully supports this idea and hopes that our member charities can help residents to remain in touch with the outside world if they are still isolating.

Some ways in which this could work include:

  • Reach out to a local school to arrange for letters to be sent to residents
  • Larger charities may like to establish a penpal network between different almshouses
  • Connect with local charity or mutual aid groups which have formed during the lockdown and provide services such as letters or phone calls
  • There are also organisations such as Arts in Care Homes who may be able to help organise similar activities.

If you come up with any ideas, or you already have a system in place, please let us know so we can share your methods and experiences with others.

Posted: 1 June 2020

Greenwoods Almshouses – Camden

Accommodation

Greenwoods Almshouses, Rousden St, Camden, London NW1 0SU

 https://harrisonhousing.org.uk/portfolio/greenwoods/

One bedroom flat on the ground floor. Access to small shared patio garden area.

Criteria

  • Applicants should be older single female, or an older female couple in housing need.
  •  Priority is given to applicants in the Camden area, but no local connection is required.
  •  There is no lower age limit but ‘older’ is usually interpreted to mean over pensionable age, and retired, or semi-retired.
  • Applicants should be capable of independent living but in need of the additional support / reassurance provided by the community alarm service (Warden call system).

Contact details

Apply to: Julia Linfoot, Operations Director, Harrison Housing

julialinfoot@harrisonhousing.org.uk

07725 554 042

‘New Deal for Britain’ Association’s response to Boris Johnson’s Speech

The Almshouse Association agrees with the Prime Minister that this is the moment to address the issues that we have failed to deal with for decades, particularly around community housing.

Our member charities have faced difficulties in the planning stage of development and welcome an open discussion around necessary reforms to the planning process, particularly around Section 106 and its application to almshouses.

The Association also welcomes the emphasis on building back better following the Coronavirus pandemic and feel it is vital that we build with a laser-like focus on truly affordable, community housing.

Furthermore, we hope that the extra £450 million Home Building Fund will provide an opportunity for new almshouse developments, which will help to establish high quality housing which is rooted in the community. We look forward to working with the government as it develops its proposals and hope to show why almshouses can provide part of the solution to our current housing crisis.   

Full Government press release can be found here

Posted 30 June 2020

Association’s Statement on the Westferry Printworks Development

The Almshouse Association is concerned by the apparent inconsistency in the affordable housing allocation with local authorities, particularly around Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, which have been highlighted by the debate around the Westferry Printworks development.

It would appear that developers were keen to significantly reduce the percentage of affordable housing in their developments at a time when affordable homes are out of reach for so many.

Our member charities have repeatedly faced difficulties due to Section 106 even though their core function is to provide truly affordable housing. Almhouses should be exempt from Section 106 agreements because of this, yet our members have struggled with officials who misunderstand the remit of the agreements or the work of almshouses.

The Almshouse Association has long recognised that in order to promote more development of affordable housing, barriers to almshouses development need to be removed. Currently many local planning departments do not recognise almshouse charities as “affordable housing providers” as the terms used in the planning guidance PPG, refer to ‘Registered Providers of affordable housing‘. Many almshouse charities, established and run by the local community, are not ‘Registered Providers’, (although they are all registered with the Charity Commission and they provide affordable housing). We would like this guidance amended to refer to “a preference for Not for profit Affordable Housing Providers”.

The Almshouse Association believes that where a local planning provision is made for a Section 106 levy to be applied to commercial developers for affordable housing, it should be complied with. This would lead to greater opportunities for the provision of affordable housing.

Almshouse Association CEO Nick Phillips said:

“The question seems to be about a fair playing field in terms of developers required to contribute to building affordable homes. People talk about the “housing crisis” but the charities we represent report the real challenge is an “affordable housing crisis” and that section 106 is designed to be a way of providing communities with affordable housing. “

The Association welcomes consistency and the support of proper affordable community housing for those in the local community. We look forward to continuing our work with the government and local authorities to increase the national stock of truly affordable, community led housing

What is Section 106 ?
A section 106 agreement is an agreement between a developer and a local planning authority about measures that the developer must take to reduce their impact on the community. A section 106 agreement is designed to make a development possible that would otherwise not be possible, by obtaining concessions and contributions from the developer.  It forms a section of the Town And Country Planning Act 1990.

Posted 29 Jun 2020

Covid-19 update: 29.06.20

To help our members access the most up-to-date information and guidance, we have now moved to dated updates. This will hopefully make our coronavirus updates easier and quicker to read. We will update this page as and when new information arises and/or we develop new guidance.

For the most up-to-date government advice, please visit www.gov.uk/coronavirus.

Monday 29th June 2020

The Charity Commission has updated its guidance for charitable companies and CIOs in relation to new laws affecting members’ meetings and insolvency. These provisions are set out in the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 and came into effect on 26 June. The Charity Commission guidance states:

‘AGMs for companies or CIOs: any that had to be held between 26 March 2020 and 21 August 2020 can be delayed until 30 September 2020 at the latest. This is allowed by the Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020 and also applies to community benefit and friendly societies. It temporarily overrides the timing requirements in a charity’s governing documents. This deadline of 30 September may be extended if the government thinks this is needed. We will update with any changes if they happen.’

The new laws do not apply to unincorporated charities. If the governing document of an unincorporated charities specifies when an AGM should be held, the charity can amend its governing document to allow more flexibility.

To read the full guidance, please go to:

www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-the-charity-sector

Wednesday 24th June 2020

The Government has announced a wide range of measures that come into effect over the coming days/weeks:

Those who are shielding: What has changed?

The government has updated its guidance for people who are shielding taking into account that coronavirus COVID-19 infection rates have decreased significantly over the last few weeks. This guidance remains advisory.

People who are shielding remain vulnerable and should continue to take precautions but may now choose to leave their home, as long as they are able to maintain strict social distancing. If you choose to spend time outdoors, you may do so with members of your own household. If you live alone, you can spend time outdoors with one person from another household or you may choose to spend time outdoors with one person from another household. Ideally, this should be the same person each time.

If you do go out, you should take extra care to minimise contact with others by keeping 2 metres apart. This guidance will be kept under regular review.

On 22 June the government set out a series of steps for further relaxing shielding guidance which will come into effect on 6 July and 1 August.

From 6 July, the government will be advising:

  • you may, if you wish, meet in a group of up to 6 people outdoors, including people from different households, while maintaining strict social distancing
  • you no longer need to observe social distancing with other members of your household
  • in line with the wider guidance for single adult households (either an adult living alone or with dependent children under 18) in the general population, you may from this date, if you wish, also form a ‘support bubble’ with one other household. All those in a support bubble will be able to spend time together inside each other’s homes, including overnight, without needing to socially distance

From 1 August the Government will be advising that shielding will be paused. From this date, the Government is advising you to adopt strict social distancing rather than full shielding measures. Strict social distancing means you may wish to go out to more places and see more people but you should take particular care to minimise contact with others outside your household or support bubble.

In practice this means that from 1 August:

  • you can go to work, if you cannot work from home, as long as the business is COVID-safe
  • children who are clinically extremely vulnerable can return to their education settings if they are eligible and in line with their peers. Where possible children should practise frequent hand washing and social distancing
  • you can go outside to buy food, to places of worship and for exercise but you should maintain strict social distancing
  • you should remain cautious as you are still at risk of severe illness if you catch coronavirus, so the advice is to stay at home where possible and, if you do go out, follow strict social distancing

The guidance for the clinically extremely vulnerable group remains advisory. More detailed advice will be updated in this guidance as the changes in advice come into effect on 6 July and 1 August.

Unless the Government sees a significant rise in cases they expect the shielding programme to be paused on 31 July.

Those in receipt of centrally provided food boxes and medicine deliveries will continue to receive this support until the end of July if they want it.

Read further information on schools and the workplace for those living in households where people are shielding.

Distancing guidelines [for those that are not shielding]

From 4 July the 2m distancing rule will be changed. The PM advised that the 2m distancing rule is still the ideal, but where it is not possible, people should keep a distance of “one metre plus” – this means staying one metre apart, whilst observing a number of precautions to reduce the risk of transmission. These precautions include:

  • Sitting side to side rather than face to face
  • Continued use of face coverings
  • Increased use of hand sanitiser/washing hands properly

Hospitality

  • Restaurants and pubs will also be allowed to reopen from 4 July, providing they follow safety guidelines.
  • All hospitality indoors will be limited to table service, and contact between staff and customers will be limited.
  • Customers will have to give contact details when they enter a pub or restaurant.
  • People in England will be free to stay away from home overnight for the first time since lockdown began in March.

Meeting other households

  • Two households of any size will be able to meet indoors or outside.
  • This does not have to be the same set of households – but the government does not recommend meetings of multiple households indoors because of the risk of infection.
  • Outdoors, people from multiple households can meet in groups of up to six – but two households can meet regardless of size.

What else will reopen?

  • Hairdressers will be able to reopen, as long as they take precautions.
  • Libraries, community centres, bingo halls, cinemas, museums and galleries will be able to open, along with funfairs and theme parks, amusement arcades, outdoor skating rinks, indoor leisure centres, social clubs and model villages.
  • Places of worship will be able to open for prayers and services.

Thursday 11 June 2020

The government has updated its guidance on meeting people from outside your household. In addition to the measures introduced at the beginning of June, new rules will be introduced on 13th June for single person households (those who live alone) and single parent households.

Under the new rules, people from single person and single parent households will be able to form a ‘support bubble’ with one other household. Those in the support bubble will be able to spend time in each others’ homes without needing to stay 2m apart. They will also be able to stay overnight. Details about the new rules can be found at:  

www.gov.uk/guidance/meeting-people-from-outside-your-household

The new rules are likely to impact almshouse residents, many of whom live alone. You should make your residents aware of the changes and, if their letter of appointment asks them to do so, remind them that they should inform you if they’re going to be away from the almshouses overnight. Some almshouses have treated their community as a single household for the purposes of the lockdown, which has enabled residents to continue to interact with each other indoors over the past few months. If this is the approach your charity has taken, we would suggest speaking to your residents to see whether this is something they wish to continue or if they would like to move to the new government rules from 13th June.

This new guidance does not apply to those who are clinically extremely vulnerable who will need to continue to shield until 30th June 2020. Details about who should be shielding and what they can or cannot do can be found at:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19

Monday 8 June 2020

Panel of Consultants member, Stone King, will be holding a webinar on 17th June titled ‘Post-Lockdown Risk Assessments and Moving On – An Almshouse Toolkit’. The webinar will provide legal guidance and practical tips as we start to emerge from the lockdown. Full details about the webinar, including booking information, can be found at:

www.stoneking.co.uk/event/webinar-post-lockdown-risk-assessments-and-moving-almshouse-toolkit-17062020

The Charity Commission has updated it’s guidance on reporting serious incidents, which includes examples of serious incidents as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

www.gov.uk/guidance/reporting-serious-incidents-to-the-charity-commission-during-the-coronavirus-pandemic.

Wednesday 3 June 2020

The government has updated its guidance for landlords, tenants and local authorities. The main changes are around the maintenance and repair works on properties, which can now take place provided social distancing and hygiene measures are adhered to and the resident is not shielding or self-isolating.

It also offers guidance around moving home, which is also now allowed. If your charity has a vacancy, you may need to consider how to manage this process in a safe way. Some options could be to hold interviews via video conference (e.g. Zoom) and offering a virtual tour of the property. If your residents are particularly vulnerable and there are communal spaces, you may wish to ask the person moving in to self-isolate for up to 14 days.

The full guidance can be found at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-and-renting-guidance-for-landlords-tenants-and-local-authorities.

The government has also issued guidance on working safely during coronavirus. There are eight different guides available, covering different types of work. The most relevant to almshouse charities are likely to be ‘Offices and Contact Centres’ and ‘Other People’s Homes’. Each guide offers advice on risks that need to be considered, social distancing, cleaning and PPE. You can find the full list of guides at:

www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19. 

Monday 1 June 2020

The government has announced that from today groups of up to six people are able to meet outdoors in England, including in gardens and other private outdoor spaces, provided strict social distancing guidelines are followed. This will enable people to see their friends and family. They must not, however, meet indoors as the risk of contracting Covid-19 is increased.

The government has produced some guidance on how to access green spaces safely. These can be found at:

www.gov.uk/government/news/coronavirus-guidance-on-access-to-green-spaces

Those who received a letter from their GP asking them to shield are also now allowed to leave home to exercise with someone from their household or, if they live alone, with one other person from outside their household so long as social distancing is maintained. These people are still advised not to go shopping and to keep any contact with people from outside their household to a minimum. Please note that this guidance is for England only at this stage. The updated guidance for those who are shielding can be found at:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19

In Scotland, people are allowed to meet outside with residents from one other household at a time and no more than eight people at one time (e.g. two households of four people). They can meet in parks or private gardens. People in Scotland are also advised not to travel more than five miles from their homes. Those who are shielding should continue to do so. Similar rules will apply in Wales, though there will be no limit to the number of people from the two households.

In Northern Ireland, groups of four to six people who are not in the same household can meet outdoors.

What does this mean for your charity and residents?

If you closed your communal gardens at the start of the lockdown, you may wish to look at opening these up. If you have a number of residents who would like to meet their families and friends at the almshouses, you may wish to have a booking system in place to ensure that social distancing can be maintained. You should remind residents and visitors of good hygiene practices and provide hand sanitiser where appropriate. If you provide any garden furniture, you will need to consider how this will be cleaned between use. Residents should also be reminded of their obligations under the new NHS Test and Trace scheme (see 28 May 2020 update)

Communal lounges and kitchens should remain closed to discourage residents from meeting indoors.

We’re aware that some almshouse charities chose to implement stricter lockdowns back in March in consultation with their residents. You will need to start thinking about how you are going to relax these measures whilst keeping your residents safe. This may require you to consult with your residents again to see how they would like to proceed. A good starting point may be to allow your residents to meet family members in the communal garden, following the guidance given above. If you are not able to offer this straight away, you should advise your residents that you are working to find the safest way of doing this and give them an idea of when they might be able to use the garden.

If you continue to maintain a strict lockdown for an extended period of time, you may find your residents and their families start to get a bit agitated and you will need to consider how you manage this.

For May updates, click here
For April updates, click here
Pre April Covid19 webpage here.

Posted 1 June 2020; lasted updated 29 June 2020 11:14 am

Almshouse Association Board Meetings – Record of Key Decisions

Record of the Key Decisions made by the Almshouse Association Board of Trustees at Board Meetings (from June 18 onwards).

The most recent decisions are listed first:

3 March 2021, via Zoom

  • The Board agreed to increase the number of Regional Champions in 2022 particularly looking at Yorkshire and other larger counties and regions.
  • Governance review at first stage considered a review of Board feedback. A workshop to review strategy was proposed for later in 2021.
  • The risk register should identify investment risks for The Almshouse Association reserves.
  • Thanks to all charities that support their staff to attend board meetings should be recognised in the Annual Report.
  • The Annual Accounts having been reviewed by auditors were approved by the Board.

17th September 2020, via Zoom

  • The decision was carried by the Board to release £20,000 from the Grant budget and for full flexibility to be granted to CEO for discretionary distribution to charities in immediate crisis up to £3,000 per case. The pilot will be reviewed after 6 months.
  • The Board voted and unanimously agreed to release a further £5,000 (above the strategic budget) to enable the data collection and Value for Money research to commence.
  • The Board unanimously agreed with the recommendation made by the F&GP to increase the Grants budget from £250,000 to £350.000.

27th May 2020, via Zoom

  • Governance review to recommence in June.

  • AGM to take place via webinar with a poll conducted prior to the meeting.  Date to be confirmed.

11th March 2020   NCVO, London N1

  • Delegated authority was given to NP to cancel or continue events based on evidence at the time.
  • The Board approved/adopted the Annual Accounts for 2019 and the Annual Report subject to minor amendments discussed. The Board approved the letter of representation to Buzzacotts.
  • Delegated authority was given to board members to register the name change from ’The National Association of Almshouses’ to ‘The Almshouse Association’ with the Charity Commission in advance of the filing with Companies House.
  • Authority was given to recruit regional champions for 9 months and to roll out nationally in 2021.
  • The new branding and logo was approved and endorsed by the Board. Roll out timing as CEO sees fit.
  • Following demand for loans and grants exceeding funds budgeted the Board approved an increase in the budget available to provide restricted funds for the provision of loans up to £1,000,000 and grants up to £250,000 for 2020.

19th September 19   NCVO, London N1

  • The Board supports the recruitment of a part-time campaign manager on a fixed term contract.
  • The Board supports an office move to suitable new accommodation.
  • The Board endorsed loans and grants paper as recommended by F&GP.
  • The Board supports a budget towards almshouse research.

4th June 19     NCVO, London N1

  • In preparation for the 75th Anniversary in 2021, a Working Party has been set up which includes Board Members, David Healey and Jim Kennedy. The event will include support for almshouses to open up their garden and/or houses to gain local interest.
  • Following a recommendation by the F&GP Sub-Committee and a unanimous vote in favour by the Board, the Almshouse Association Investments will be managed by Waverton Investment Management.
  • The Nominations Committee recommended Clive Cook of St John’s Charity, Winchester to join the Board and this was unanimously endorsed.
  • A grant was given to Anglia Ruskin University, which has produced good analysis of almshouse literature. A Sourcebook has been completed in draft.

13th March 2019, NCVO, London N1

  • Board unanimously approved the Strategy and Resource budget and asked that an update on delivery should form part of the F&GP agenda and future board meetings.

15th November 18      NCVO, London N1 

  • Organisational strategy reviewed  – discussed at length and some changes made  – to be re-presented for approval at the March 19 Board Meeting
  • Proposal to appoint Willie Hartley-Russell to the F&GP sub-committee approved
  • Agreed that future F&GP meetings would be held in London
  • Noted that 2019 member subscription fees had been increased by 2% across the board
  • Following consideration by the sub-committee and the Board, Quentin Elston, Jim Kennedy, Andrew Barnes and David Healey were individually proposed and unanimously elected to the board.

13th June 18      Merchant Taylor’s Hall, London EC2R

  • The Board instructed the Directorate to prepare policy and procedure for issuing grants to member charities

Updated: 12 May 21