HUC Today

Hammersmith United Charities Today

The main focus of the charity’s work in recent decades has been to provide for the care and well-being of elderly people from the Borough of Hammersmith through provision of sheltered accommodation and, for 25 years, a frail elderly unit.

H.U.C closed its care home in 2008 and has since developed a further 24 sheltered flats and generated sufficient surplus income from its invested endowment to make grants. In 2012, trustees will award grants totalling £300,000 to support local communities in the charity’s area of benefit.

Housing

Sycamore House and John Betts’ House welcome older people from the Borough of Hammersmith to live their retired years in comfort in their own flats, secure in the knowledge that they are warm and safe. The flats are available to people with minimal income and savings who have lived in the area of benefit for the last five years, or who have spent at least ten years there previously.

All residents pay a monthly contribution which covers part of the running costs almshouses, including repairs, improvements and the maintenance of the flats and the common parts. Residents pay their own electricity charges, council tax, telephone and TV licence where applicable. Other costs including the salaries of its staff, safety and security equipment and some of residents’ heating and hot water bills, are borne by the charity. All residents are encouraged to live as independent a life as possible.

Both Sycamore House and John Betts’ House have a Scheme Manager and there is a Relief Scheme Manager for weekends and holidays. For added security and peace of mind, each flat is equipped with a call system linked to an emergency centre which is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The charity also maintains emergency pendant alarms for use by residents who might need them, at no cost. Each House also has a laundry room which is free and available to all residents.

The Charity is also a “registered social landlord” in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Housing Corporation – registration number: 1789.

The area of benefit is the area of the former Metropolitan Borough of Hammersmith

Grants or “Relief in Need”

Relief in need is defined as, “relieving either generally or individually persons resident in the area of benefit who are in conditions of need, hardship or distress by making grants or providing services or facilities calculated to reduce the need, hardship or distress of such persons”.

Full details of our grants programme and how to apply acan be found in the Grants section.