Chartered Accountants
Contact details:
James Holland-Leader
Partner
Office Suite 1, Haslemere House, Lower Street, Haslemere, Surrey, GU27 2PE
T: 01428 652788
E: James.hollandleader@knoxcropper.com
www.knoxcropper.com
Regions covered: UK wide
About Knox Cropper LLP
Knox Cropper LLP is one of the oldest firms of Chartered Accountants in Britain, and has specialised for a number of years in advising ‘not-for-profit’ clients, including the Social Housing Sector.
We currently provide external and internal audit services to a number of registered Housing Associations, as well as external audit or independent examination to a number of Almshouses and Abbeyfield Societies.
Knox Cropper is external auditor of The Salvation Army, one of the largest providers of supported accommodation outside of the government.
Legal Services
Contact Details
James Millis
Partner
Somerfield House, 59 London Road, Maidstone, Kent ME16 8JH
T: 01622 776 457
E: jamesmillis@brachers.co.uk
W: www.brachers.co.uk
Regions covered: South East
About Brachers LLP
Brachers is an award winning law firm, providing valuable legal support to individuals, businesses and charities. We offer a full range of legal, regulatory and governance advise on areas such as:
- Property/construction related matters including planning
- Charity mergers and acquisitions
- Day to day governance and compliance issues
- Employment matters.
- Litigation and disputes
We have worked with the almshouse community for over 5 years. Our successful and often long-standing relationships with clients are borne out in the excellent feedback we receive and our high rankings in in the Chambers UK Guide, Chambers HNW Guide and The Legal 500.
As members of ‘Solicitors for the Elderly’ we can provide specialist legal advice for older and vulnerable people and would be happy to support almshouse residents.
Solicitors
Contact details
Kristine Scott
Head of Charities, Education and Charities Team
Rachel Gwynne
Head of Charities and Not-for profit team
Lancaster House, Nunn Mills Road, Northampton, NN1 5PA
T: 01604 463 345
E: kscott@hcrlaw.com
W: www.hcrlaw.com
Regions Covered: In practice, East Midlands, East Anglia, London. If required, England and Wales and via Associate firm, Scotland also
About HCRL
HCRL is a full service legal firm with a specialist charities practice. We do all legal, regulatory and governance work charities require. Previous work for almshouses: all property related and construction and planning; mergers / acquisitions; employment matters; governance and constitutional; Charity Commission dealings.
Architects
Contact Details
Pat Mills BA BArch (Hons) RIBA
Partner
62 Burgate, Canterbury, Kent CT1 2BH
T: 01227 762060
E: patmills@clague.co.uk
W: www.clague.co.uk
Regions covered: UK wide
About Clague LLP
Clague, the design-led architecture practice based in Canterbury, and with offices in London and Harpenden, has a longstanding reputation among the almshouse community. With its dedicated conservation and historic buildings team, Clague advises on quinquennial inspections, ensuring Trustees are best placed to protect the fabric of their estates.
At the heart of Clague’s work are design projects often requiring listed building consent, which demand a sensitive and detailed understanding of former building techniques and materials. As a result, Clague’s 60 strong team, including nine partners, has delivered projects across the country for many almshouse charities, whether adapting existing homes or designing new ones.
The quality of the firm’s work has been nationally recognised with Clague a three time recipient of the Almshouse Association Patron’s Awards. The successful projects were undertaken for Harefield Parochial Charities, St John’s Hospital and The Roger Manwood Trust in Canterbury.
For further information on Clague’s work with almshouses contact: Pat Mills on 01622 762060 or via patmills@clague.co.uk
Architects
Contact Details
Simon Cottingham
Director
Studio 35, 10 Hornsey Street, London N7 8EL
T: 020 7700 2736
E: simon.cottingham@mepk.co.uk
W: www.mepk.co.uk
Regions covered: Countrywide
About MEPK Architects
MEPK Architects are housing specialists with over 50 years’ experience in the sector. Our current projects range from estate regeneration and high density multi-tenure developments to innovative low carbon projects and rural infill housing.
We particular expertise in designing housing for vulnerable & older people. In recent years we have designed over 40 schemes in this category including numerous Extra Care projects and a Care Village with 125 dwellings.
We are preferred consultants for specialist older person housing providers Hanover Housing & Sanctuary and have worked with a number of Almshouse charities. We also have experience of designing residential care homes.
We have received a number of awards for our projects for vulnerable & older persons including:
- London Evening Standard New Homes Awards – Three times winners
- Almshouse Association Patrons Award granted by HRH The Prince of Wales
- National Housing for Older People Award
- Civic Trust Award
Two of our projects have been published in the international architecture book ‘Contemporary Living Spaces for the Elderly’.
Solicitors
Contact Details
Christine Lowes BA
Solicitor
Spaceworks, Benton Park Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE7 7LX
T: 0191 246 4000
E: clowes@oneill-law.com
W: www.oneill-law.com
Regions covered: UK wide
About O’Neill Richmonds Law Firm
Christine Lowes has been a solicitor for 34 years. Throughout her professional career she has been Solicitor to the largest Almshouse Association in the country which owns in excess of 1700 Almshouses in the North East of England.
On recommendation, she has also provided advice and assistance to a number of smaller Almshouses Associations. She has extensive experience in the areas of constitutional change, trustee liability and property matters including the Setting Aside of Appointments and recovery of Almshouses.
Legal Services
Contact Details
Gerry Morrison
Partner, Head of Charities Team
Citadel House, 58 High Street, Hull, East Yorks HU1 1QE
T: 01482 337339
E: gerry.morrison@rollits.com
W: www.rollits.com
Regions covered: UK wide (Yorkshire based)
About Rollits LLP
Assisting Almshouse charities with updating an amendment of their governing documents and constitutions.
- Liaising with The Charity Commission in respect of regulated alterations to constitutions and governing documents.
- Liaising with Almshouses and The Charity Commission in respect of disposal of permanent endowment.
- Liaising with Almshouse charities in respect of charity law queries and governance matters.
- Advising trustees on their legal duties and responsibilities.
- Advising Almshouses in respect of the application and appointment process including Letter of Appointment.
- Liaising with Almshouses in respect of setting aside appointments.
- Working with Almshouses to resolve disputes in respect of residents and in respect of repair and maintenance issues.
- Liaising with Almshouses in respect of planning permission and construction projects.
VAT Advisory Services
Contact Details
Glenn Havenhand
VAT Partner
Highfields, 11 Pinchwell View, Wickersley, ROTHERHAM S66 1FP
T: 01709 709727
M: 07818 066 088
E: glenn.havenhand3@btopenworld.com
Regions covered: UK wide
About Charities VAT Services
We provide VAT advice to almshouse charities all over the UK with particular emphasis on building projects. Our aim is to seek to save charities VAT where legally possible, by identifying the zero-rate and reduced-rate VAT liabilities to building works.
The projects can be past, present or future and includes certificate preparation, advice letters and dealing with HMRC.
Chartered Surveyors
Contact Details
Fiona Caldwell
Senior Building Surveyor
6 King Edward Street, OXFORD OX1 4JL
T: 07516 505695 / 01865 726 016
E: fionacaldwell@sidleys.co.uk
W: www.sidleys.co.uk
Regions covered: South Midlands, London, South East
About Sidleys Chartered Surveyors
- Quinquennial surveys and associated planned maintenance programmes.
- Specifying and administering major repair of almshouses.
- Feasibility studies, sketch designs, working drawings and administration for new builds, extensions and alterations and refurbishment to Almshouses.
- Management of almshouse properties.
Human Resources
Contact Details
Mr A Nisbet BA MA
Managing Director
Beech House, Dodlsey Grove, Easebourne, Midhurst GU29 9BE
T: 01730 810970
M: 07966 117801
E: Adrian.nisbet@argonaut-hr.com
www.argonaut-hr.com
Regions covered: UK wide
About Argonaut-HR
We help with all matters relating to people and staffing, covering areas like pay, employee relations, engagement, staff recognition and training.
Members often contact us with questions or for advice in the following areas:
- Contracts, handbooks, policies and procedures.
- HR Advice & Management – This can be delivered remotely or on-site to cover unplanned emergencies (including grievance and disciplinary matters) or as a retained service to ensure records, documents and staff details are up to date and compliant with legal requirements.
- Training – To help support teams and individuals with topics such as effective team work, customer service, leadership and manager training.
- Coaching & Outplacement – 1:1 coaching for staff, career planning and outplacement for those impacted by redundancy