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Privacy Policy

At Hammersmith United Charities we are committed to protecting your privacy. This statement describes how Hammersmith United Charities collects and uses personal data about people who visit our website.

Personal data means any information that you give us from which you can be identified, such as your name, your home address, your email contact details, or your telephone number. Personal data does not include information where your identity has been removed (i.e. anonymous data).

Who are we?

When we refer to “we” or “us” in this privacy notice we are referring to Hammersmith United Charities, a charity with registration number 205856. We are a controller of your personal data, which means we are responsible for deciding how we hold and use data about you. We are registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office with registration number Z7121372.

If you have any questions about this privacy notice or our data protection practices please contact us on officeadmin@hammersmithunitedcharities.com.

How do we collect personal data?

We obtain personal data from you when you use our website or sign up to our newsletter. This policy also covers situations when you contact us by email, fill in an online form eg to attend an event or fill in a paper form that you’ve downloaded from our website.

Using our website

Our website (http://hamunitedcharities.org.uk) is not intended for children and we do not knowingly collect data relating to children.

When you use our website, we use cookies to collect technical data (such as your internet protocol (IP) address, your browser type and version, and other technology on the devices you use to access the website) and information about how you use our website. Wherever possible we use aggregated or anonymous information which does not identify individual visitors to our website. Our Cookies Policy has information about how we use cookies on our website http://huc.popcorndigital.co.uk/cookie-policy/.

We will also collect any personal data you give us if you sign up to receive our newsletter (see Newsletters below).

We will only collect and use your personal data in this way if:

  • you have given your consent; or
  • it is necessary for our legitimate interests (or those of a third party) and your interests and fundamental rights do not override those interests.

Our websites may include links to websites run by other organisations. Clicking on those links or enabling those connections may allow third parties to collect or share data about you. Hammersmith United Charities is not responsible for the privacy practices of these other websites so you should read their privacy policies carefully.

Newsletters

We would like to keep in touch with you about the work that we do, events that we organise, and ways in which you can support us.

We use a third party, MailChimp, to deliver our email communications. Mailchimp will only use your personal data in accordance with our instructions. If you want to find out more about MailChimp, you can view their privacy notice here: https://mailchimp.com/legal/privacy/. If you consent to receive email newsletters from us, we will add your name and email contact details to our marketing database and we will share this information with MailChimp in order to send the emails to you.

From time to time, we may also send communications to you by post if we are satisfied that we have a legitimate interest to do so, for example, we may send you a Christmas card.

When you send us an email, fill in an online form or return a paper form

If you contact us by email or fill in an online or paper form that you’ve downloaded from our website we will use your personal data to consider and respond to your request or query, or to process any application you make to Hammersmith United Charities. We will only use your personal data in this way when we have a legitimate interest.

You can change your marketing preferences or opt out at any time by contacting us on 020 8741 4326, by post to Hammersmith United Charities at Sycamore House, Sycamore Gardens, Shepherds Bush W6 0AS or by email to: officeadmin@hamunitedcharities.com.

How do we protect personal information?

We have put in place appropriate security measures to prevent your personal data from being accidentally lost, used or accessed in an unauthorised way, altered or disclosed.

We limit access to your personal data to those employees, contractors and other third parties who have a business need to know. They will only process your personal data on our instructions and they are subject to a duty of confidentiality.

We do not transfer your personal data outside the UK.

We have procedures in place to deal with any suspected personal data breach.

Will we disclose the information we collect to outside parties?

We may disclose your personal data to:

  • external service providers such as our IT and system administration providers;
  • our professional advisers, for example, our accountants, auditors, insurers and lawyers;
  • if we are under a legal duty to disclose or share your personal data, for example, if required to do so by a court order or for the purposes of prevention of fraud or other crime;
  • where we need to share your personal data with a regulator, for example, making returns to HMRC or reports to the Charity Commission;
  • as part of a sale, transfer or merger of parts of our organisation or our assets.

We will not sell any information about your web browsing activity.

Data retention

We will only keep your personal data for as long as reasonably necessary to fulfil the purposes we collected it for, including for the purposes of satisfying any legal, regulatory, tax, accounting or reporting requirements. We may retain your personal data for a longer period in the event of a complaint or if we reasonably believe there is a prospect of a legal claim connected to our relationship with you.

Your rights

You have the right to ask for a copy of the information we hold about you and to have any inaccuracies in your information corrected.

In certain circumstances, you also have the right to:

  • Ask us to erase your personal data from our files and systems where there is no good reason for us continuing to hold it.
  • Object to us using your personal data to further our legitimate interests (or those of a third party) or where we are using your personal information for direct marketing purposes.
  • Ask us to restrict or suspend the use of your personal data, for example, if you want us to establish its accuracy or our reasons for using it.
  • Ask us to transfer your personal data to another person or organisation.

You also have rights in relation to automated decision making, but at Hammersmith United Charities we do not make any decisions affecting you based solely on automated processing.

If you have given your consent to us processing your personal data, you have the right to withdraw your consent at any time.

If you wish to exercise any of these rights, please contact us on 020 8741 4326, by post to Hammersmith United Charities at Sycamore House, Sycamore Gardens; Hammersmith, W6 0AS or by email to: officeadmin@hamunitedcharities.com

We may need to request specific information from you to help us confirm your identity and ensure your right to access your personal data (or to exercise any of your other rights). This is a security measure to ensure that personal data is not disclosed to any person who has no right to receive it. We may also contact you to ask you for further information in relation to your request to speed up our response.

Other people’s information

If you provide us with someone else’s personal details (for example when you suggest that we let someone know about our sheltered housing) you must make sure that you have that person’s consent to provide us with their details, particularly if you’re giving us sensitive information about them.

Changes

If your personal details change, please help us to keep your information up to date by notifying us using the contact details below.

We may update this privacy statement from time to time. If we do so, we will post the changes here so please check from time to time. By continuing to use our websites you will be deemed to have accepted such changes.

Contacting us

If you have any questions about this privacy notice or how we handle your personal information, please contact us on 020 8741 4326, by post to Hammersmith United Charities at Sycamore House, Sycamore Gardens; Hammersmith W6 0AS or by email to: officeadmin@hamunitedcharities.com.

You have the right to make a complaint at any time to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), the UK supervisory authority for data protection – https://ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint/.

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Opening our doors to older people in need of a home

We're inviting older people on a low income who need an affordable home to tour our almshouses.

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Woman giving talk on domestic abuse to other women

Mental health trauma is the unseen side of domestic abuse

“People feel uncomfortable talking about domestic abuse, and there’s little understanding about its impact on emotional and mental wellbeing.”

UNiTE to End Violence against Women is an annual campaign led by the UN. The campaign kicks off on 25th November – the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women – and runs until Human Rights Day on 10th December.

Most violence against women is committed by the woman’s husband or other intimate partner.  It happens in every country across the globe; 1.4 million women in the UK experience domestic abuse each year and, on average, one woman is killed by a male partner or ex-partner every week.

However, even more worrying are stats from the UK’s police chiefs – which point to more women affected by domestic abuse taking their own lives than were murdered by a partner or former partner. Yet there is very little awareness of or discussion around what is arguably a secondary and largely invisible impact on women.

That’s where organisations like Woman’s Trust come in. Set up almost thirty years ago, Woman’s Trust has an exclusive and specialist focus on providing free mental health care to address the trauma caused by domestic abuse and the effect this has on women in their daily lives – often going undiagnosed for years, sometimes even decades after the relationship has ended.

Woman giving talk on domestic abuse to other womenWoman’s Trust has received a number of grants from us since 2012. The London-based charity has supported tens of thousands of women with free therapy and counselling and has been a literal lifesaver for women at some of the most desperate times of their lives.

A client of Woman’s Trust said: “My experience getting help and support from Woman’s Trust was invaluable. I was not in a good place and didn’t know that I was in an abusive relationship for all those years and what was abusive about it. When it’s psychological abuse it’s very difficult to decipher. WT helped me to see things and to understand what was happening to me, which made me understand why I have been feeling so depressed for so many years.”

Tessa Hazzard from Woman’s Trust told us, “People feel uncomfortable talking about domestic abuse. They don’t even want to think about it. Many people still aren’t aware of the significant trauma and depression it can cause. That’s exactly why it’s so important to keep it in the public eye.”

According to Tessa, there are still many misconceptions around domestic abuse, from what it entails to how likely it is to happen and the way it affects survivors on a practical and emotional level.

Many people don’t realise that the term ‘domestic abuse’ covers a wide range of abusive behaviour, from physical violence to economic control and psychological abuse.

Women who experience domestic abuse are twice as likely to experience depression as those who don’t, and it can take a long time to process the trauma – or even recognise that mental health challenges are caused by domestic abuse. Counselling is invaluable, but it’s difficult to access on the NHS and even more rare to get specialists who understand the unique ways in which survivors are affected, which is why charities like Woman’s Trust are so important.

Tessa shares, “We offer up to 18 confidential, non-judgemental sessions with the same counsellor, so you have time to build rapport and trust. Sessions are held at the same time each week and can be online or face-to-face in a women-only setting. More importantly, we are led by the women themselves, who decide what is affecting them the most at any time, and we help them to unpack that and find ways to address it.”


Get support

If you’re experiencing (or have experienced) domestic abuse, and you want to find out about counselling sessions in London, contact Woman’s Trust on:

(Office hours: Mon-Fri, 9:30am – 5pm)

If you want to make a professional referral for someone under your care or supervision, call Woman’s Trust on 020 7034 0303.

For immediate advice or support, please call the National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.

Angelou is a partnership of West Central London services that support women and girls affected by domestic violence and abuse. You can call Angelou for free on 0808 801 0660, email angelou@advancecharity.org.uk or visit www.angelou.org to find out more.

If you’re a man experiencing domestic abuse, call Respect’s Men’s Advice Line on 0808 8010327, email info@mensadviceline.org.uk or visit https://mensadviceline.org.uk. The ManKind charity can also help you to escape an abusive situation.

 

 

 

 

 

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“It’s a wonderful oasis. I’m extremely happy here.”

New resident Ann shares her thoughts about living at John Betts House.

Why did you decide to apply for a flat here?

I was living in an almshouse in Notting Hill, but they sold the building and we all had to move out. Their plan was to use the money to build a bigger almshouse to accommodate more people. In the meantime, they were going to house us in alternative accommodation, but that was going to be miles away in North London.

I simply didn’t want to go. I’ve always lived in this area, and my daughter lives in Hammersmith. Miraculously, I knew about Hammersmith United Charities’ other almshouse, Sycamore House, so my daughter went to see the Scheme Manager Chris. While there wasn’t a flat available in Sycamore House, luckily one came up in John Betts. I was so grateful. And I must say, I am very happy with my little flat. It’s absolutely lovely.

What makes you happy with the flat?

When I came to see the flat, it had been occupied for a very long time, so I asked if they could possibly repaint it all white. They did that, so I have this smart little drawing room, and they also put in a new kitchen and new bathroom. It’s just heaven.

It is a little on the small side; I had to get rid of an awful lot of my furniture, but other than that it’s perfect. My daughter is nearby and my three grandsons come to have supper, which is lovely.

Do you like the outside space?

The garden is wonderful and I have a gorgeous ginkgo tree just outside my front door, which gives me huge pleasure. I’m quite disabled, so I can’t do much gardening, but I did bring a rose bush with me from my previous garden, and two camellia bushes, which are sitting on either side of my front door.

It’s a marvellous setup really – a wonderful oasis in the middle of a busy city. It’s so quiet and I feel very safe here.

Have you met many of the other residents?

I’ve met one or two, who have been tremendously kind. I went to the Macmillan Coffee Morning. One can go to weekly coffee mornings, but they’re a bit early for me.

Do you feel that you’ve been welcomed by the Scheme Manager and other Hammersmith United Charities employees?

Everybody has been so helpful and nice. I’m just so relieved I made this choice and that they were able to accommodate me. I’m extremely happy here.


Find out more about living in one of our almshouses

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Atinuke Adenigbagbe

“She walks smiling into any meeting and lights it up with ideas”

October was Black History Month, so we decided it was high time to celebrate one of our own heroes: Atinuke Adenigbagbe.

Atinuke (fondly called Tinu by her friends) is the Scheme Manager at John Betts House.

Atinuke AdenigbagbeCan you tell us a bit about yourself? 

I moved to London from Nigeria 32 years ago and have been working in health and social care for 23 years, focusing on mental health, social care and housing. I am passionate about making a positive impact on people’s lives.  

I have four wonderful children and what I call my ‘community family.’ As a Sunday school teacher, I love listening to people and sign-posting them to the help they need, as many struggle alone. It’s fulfilling to use my skills and training to support my community. 

And what does your job at Hammersmith United Charities entail? 

I started at John Betts in July 2023. My primary role is to ensure that residents have a safe and secure home, making sure everything is functioning properly and that everyone is well taken care of. I also assist residents with applications for adaptation aids and Housing Benefit, and I have good professional relationships with our local surgeries. Residents know they can always come to us for support. 

We host weekly coffee mornings, and on the first Thursday of each month, we enjoy fish and chips together. On the last Thursday, one of our residents cooks a meal for everyone. And I look forward to more resident-led activities in the coming year.  

It must be reassuring for residents and their families to know that you’re here to offer support? 

It’s incredibly reassuring. For instance, when one resident was in the hospital, I checked in regularly, asking if there was anything I could help with. Another resident, who has a life-limiting illness, often tells us, “If it wasn’t for the support that is available living here, I don’t think I’d still be here.” It is reassuring to know that residents value the offered support, and it gives families peace of mind, which comes back to me been satisfied with the work I do. 

You must get to know some of the residents really well? 

Absolutely! They get to know us too. For example, now that my younger daughter is at university, residents often ask how she’s doing, and they share pictures of their grandchildren or stories of their university life, which are always very interesting to listen to.   

Do you enjoy working for Hammersmith United Charities? 

Yes, I truly feel we are a supportive team. I lost my sister last year, and the level of support I received, particularly from the Chief Executive, was beyond what I expected. Even though I hadn’t completed my probation, I felt encouraged to express my grief, and their support helped me feel at home here. I’m proud to be part of this team and the impact we make in the community is amazing. 

I believe you ran activities at John Betts House to celebrate Black History Month? 

Every Tuesday, we watched stories highlighting the contributions of Black individuals to our area. Despite the discrimination they faced, such as signs saying, “No dogs, no Blacks, no Irish,” their impact has been significant. Residents engaged with the videos, reminiscing and sharing memories, and we enjoyed tea and cake together afterward! 

Do you have any Black heroes? 

I greatly admire Nelson Mandela. He inspires me with his resilience; despite his struggles, he always saw hope. His journey reminds me not to give up on myself. As a Black person, I believe in the importance of resilience keeping your head high and believing in yourself is essential. In my role, we receive training in dignity, diversity and inclusion, promoting equality and acceptance for everyone.  

 

We asked one of our residents, Clodagh, about Tinu. She said,From the first day she arrived, it was clear that Tinu had brought with her a deep knowledge of community living and the needs of residents – support, a listener, a problem-solver, and a proactive approach to health and wellness, both physical and mental.  

“She walks smiling into any meeting and lights it up with ideas, plans and information, and leaves us to decide. She absolutely owns her role in a sometimes difficult and complex job.”  

Find out more  

You can watch a video about Hammersmith and Fulham’s Black history here. 

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Quote saying: “The flat is bright, warm, comfortable and safe.”

Introducing our new resident – Pilar

We recently welcomed a new resident to John Betts House. We caught up with Pilar to find out why she decided to move to an almshouse and how she’s settling in…

How long have you been living in Hammersmith?

I arrived in Hammersmith in winter 2001. I was born in Madrid, Spain, on the 5th of November. When I first heard the huge Bonfire Night celebration in a park here, I was stunned, and more so when my friends explained to me the history behind that date. Since then, I have celebrated my birthday with Guy Fawkes night and the sound of firework displays at London parks.

I went to Camberwell College of Art and studied a Master’s in Paper Conservation that I enjoyed a lot. Caring and protecting old books, photographs and paintings with my hands was an extraordinary experience that I have kept in my heart.

Are you retired or are you still working?

Very probably, I am retired now, but as my main job was, and still is, to study, I am lucky and I continue studying, with less compromise now, but still with a lot of pleasure. So I could say that I am retired and also working… or more likely neither!

Why did you apply for a home at John Betts House?

First of all, for my health. My heart deterioration made it impossible to continue living with a lot of stairs, garden, etc and the doctors suggested that I live in a better place to manage my heart condition. My main concern was to continue living in Hammersmith, where I have lived for all my time in London. A friend of mine spoke to me about John Betts House.

Do you feel that you’ve been welcomed to John Betts?

Since the first day, I could feel a good energy, vibration and environment at John Betts, Sycamore House and Hammersmith United Charities as a whole. Personally, I have received all the help needed to establish my new life here, with the paperwork, the logistics and the daily routine. I have felt myself listened to, cared for, and treated with a high respect for my life, my own space and decisions.

What do you think of your new home?

My new flat is by a lovely point of the garden where I can see the different flowers and plants changing colour and forms. I can see also my neighbours and talk to them and enjoy their plants and produce in their pots, like chillies and small tomatoes.

Behind the house, is the allotment with vegetables and aromatic plants. Three gardeners take care of them and they encourage us to take care of the beds during the time the plants are growing.

Now I feel a little stronger, I would like to plant some vegetables in spring. The gardeners show the best disposition to help me.

The flat itself is comfortable, safe and very adequate for my needs. The kitchen is wide enough and I enjoy cooking in it. The flat is also very bright and warm. I feel that I am in a friendly and calm space.

Have you met any of the other residents?

Yes, there are a lot of spaces where you can meet with the other residents, and always when I need something like information, or when I meet them at the laundry or allotment, I have always found them to have the best disposition and friendly answers. I think they are attentive and respectful.

Have you been to any of the activities that are organised?

Until now, my participation has been irregular due to the conditions of my health, but now I hope to assist more regularly. I have been to some coffee mornings and other meetings at John Betts and Sycamore House, but unfortunately less than I would have wanted.

What do you think of the location?

It is a neighbourhood where people are happy living here. Many of my friends live nearby. I enjoy the diversity, the old factories and breweries, art and film studios, the number of workshops and craftsmen, small museums (such as Emery Walker’s House and William Morris’), squares, pubs, houses and old facades. I also appreciate all the old trees, Bishop’s Park, the long walk along the river under the old trees and the continuous changes of scenery.

The small shops, fishmongers, hospital, good transport and other services, along with the almost absence of hills or slopes, make it very convenient.

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