HUC Today

Hammersmith United Charities Today

The main focus of the charity’s work has been to provide care and well-being for elderly people in the Borough of Hammersmith.

H.U.C has a limited annual budget from which it makes grants. This will be developed over the years 2008-2010 when the charity hopes to launch a public grant-making programme. In the interim period, the trustees of the charity may make a number of small grants.

Currently studies are taking place to identify priorities for grant making and systems are being put into place to enable the charity to administer what the trustees hope will be a large scale grant-making programme.

Housing

Sycamore House and John Betts’ House welcome elderly 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 including repairs, improvements and the maintenance of the flats and common parts. Residents pay their own electricity charges, council tax, telephone and TV licence where applicable. All other costs including salaries of staff, safety and security equipment, all heating and hot water 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

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”.