The Future for Almshouse Charities

Almshouses have always been there to provide a home for people in need. The category of the person in need and eligible to be selected for a place in the almshouses is often specified under the terms of the charity when the charity was established. Almshouses are created as homes for people in need, in perpetuity. This means that the trustees of the charity have a responsibility to manage and maintain the property for the residents who do not acquire rights to buy the property as will other forms of social housing.

On the 29th April 2013 a group of leading trustees in Essex, together with other experts in their field, came together to consider The Future of Almshouse Charities. The outcome of this Workshop is a report which details lots of information about:

- Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIOs) and benefits of conversion

- How to develop new almshouses properties

- How to finance new schemes

It covers other aspects which should be of considerable interest to almshouse charity trustees everywhere like design issues and working with partners.

Sections are based on presentations at this Workshop made by:

• Anthony de Ritter, Director, The Almshouse Association
• Phil Watts, Senior Associate, Charities Team, Anthony Collins Solicitors, Birmingham
• Steve Heywood, Regional Director, Iceni Homes
• Carolyn Sims, Head of Banking and Regional Director for London & South, The Charity Bank Limited
• Kathy Green, Programme Manager, The Almshouse Consortium.

To download a copy of the report (pdf file) click on the link below: