Crowborough Almshouse News – July 2025
Since the last news up-date there have been a number changes amongst the almshouse team. The pressure that comes with looking after the upkeep of nineteen flats across four separate locations and overseeing twenty residents has given rise to the need for the first time ever to employing a clerk: Rupert Cole. This change has worked well and has released the trustee team to give a more personal caring support to our ageing residents. At the same time a more focused oversight has been maintained in ensuring the properties and the gardens are well managed. Despite the very dry spring and early summer the gardens at all four properties look colourful
There have been changes to our trustee team, with Anthony Youlton joining us along with Janice Begbie and James Stevens. Anthony from All Saints `Church, Janice and James from St Johns the Evangelist both in Crowborough. New members have added a wealth of experience and strength to the team together with vision and fresh inspiration. The charity welcomes new trustees and the chairman and the clerk are always ready and happy to discuss the charitable work of the almshouses with anyone interested in supporting the charity, either as a trustees or volunteer. Pictures of the new trustees can be seen on the trustees and officers page on the website.
One of the major changes is that the charity is well advanced in moving from a straightforward unincorporated charity to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). This has taken time to come to fruition but the new scheme has been registered by the Charity Commission. Although the scheme is almost identical to the present charity scheme the trustees decided to bring the name in line with the area of operation, namely, Crowborough Almshouses Charity. This change amongst other matters offers the trustees greater security and legal protection especially when dealing with property matters.
Having celebrated the charity’s 150th anniversary in June 2024 when the charity was honoured in having the Deputy Lieutenant of East Sussex, Amanda Hamblin, join the church commemoration service and afternoon tea the charity was again honoured on 24th September when the High Sheriff of East Sussex, Lucinda Fraser paid a visit to the charity and viewed two of the properties: de Lannoy Cottages, in Beacon Road and Swift House in Walshes Road. The High Sheriff also met several of the residents. On both visits Rupert Cole, clerk to the charity and Judy Goode vice chair escorted the two dignitaries.
Of late the chairman, Bob Bailey has been speaking with the chairperson of Buxted Almshouse as our two separate charities have an overlap of parishes, being, Buxted and Maresfield whereby beneficiaries of the charities can be offered almshouse accommodation. Further news following this discussion will be a topic of a future newsletter.
