Patron’s Awards are made annually to encourage the highest standards in almshouse developments, which can include the restoration, conversion or modernisation of existing almshouses, the conversion of other buildings into almshouses or new-build almshouse projects.

Harefield Parochial Charities won their award for the new-build almshouse project in Burbery Close on their Dairy Farm site in Breakspear Road North, Harefield. Unlike traditional almshouses that are occupied by elderly people, the Trust’s project consists of 14 family dwellings with 2, 3 or 4 bedrooms. These homes are available for Harefield families only, who are in need of housing.

In the ceremony, His Royal Highness presented scrolls to commemorate the Award to Patrick Mills representing the Trust’s architect, Clague of Canterbury and John Ross, the Chairman of Trustees of Harefield Parochial Charities. A fellow Trustee, Mrs. Wendy Rice-Morley accompanied Mr. Ross at the ceremony.

For more information on Harefield Parochial Charities’ Dairy Farm project call 01895 823058.

www.harefieldcharities.co.uk

Azlina Bulmer, Programme Manager, who lives in York, said: “We are excited to be relocating our northern offices to St Clements Hall. We are ourselves a charity, and to be working from a community-managed centre fits the bill perfectly. York is vibrant and culturally rich city so we are excited by our new surroundings.”

Since its founding in 2007, Charity Bank in the North has been working to assist charities, voluntary organisations and social enterprises in the Yorkshire and Humber region to become more sustainable.

The team has helped about 900 organisations across the region through a series of workshops, looking at financial sustainability issues. It has awarded loans and grants of almost £13.5 million in the region, and rolled out of an investment readiness programme.

With more demands expected from the charities and voluntary sector, Ms Bulmer is confident it will continue to grow and provide vital financial and business support for the sector.

She said: “The team is enabling charities, social enterprises and voluntary organisations to carry on their work, offering vital services to the most vulnerable people in the region, and creating jobs and income for communities.”

Learn more about Charity Bank in the North
Learn more about Charity Bank’s Loans
Learn more about Charity Bank’s Saving Accounts

The Advisory Board members are;

• David Melding AM, Conservative Party Assembly Member for South Wales Central and Shadow Minister for Economic Development.
• Gerry Holtham, the leading banker and economist and a public policy specialist, who was chair of the independent Commission that recently reported on funding and finance for Wales.
• Simon Gibson, Chief Executive Officer of Wesley Clover, the venture capital specialist, chaired by Sir Terry Matthews. Simon chaired the Welsh Assembly Government’s independent review of higher-education commercialisation activities.
• Sir Roger Jones, former WDA chairman and BBC Trustee and current chair of governors of Swansea University and member of S4C Authority.
• Adele Blakebrough, a pioneer of the social enterprise movement and a member of the Welsh Assembly Government’s Social Enterprise Ministerial Advisory Group.
• Tom Davies, currently Commissioner with the Independent Police Complaints Commission, with responsibility for Wales and former Big Lottery Board Member and the inaugural Director of the Princes Trust in Wales.

Commenting on the appointments Ian Courtney, the Charity Bank’s Regional Director for Wales said:

“I regard the quality of these appointments as an endorsement of the Charity Bank proposition. Every member has that special understanding that distinguishes the work of the sector. The combination of some of the sharpest entrepreneurs in Wales, enlightened fund management practitioners and progressive thinkers will be invaluable in developing our business. Charity Bank is indebted to our Board members for agreeing to volunteer their time to serve Wales and its social enterprise movement.”

The Bank established a permanent presence in Wales in the summer of 2009 with the appointment of a regional director for Wales. The Advisory Board has been established to guide the development of the Bank’s business in Wales. Members of the Advisory Board will not hold governance responsibilities.

The appointment of the Advisory Board comes at a key time for the development of Welsh social enterprises and charities. The Comprehensive Spending Review of public expenditure will sets the Assembly Government’s future level of funding is expected to report in the Autumn. It will influence the shape of the sector in Wales. Charity Bank is eager to support the sector in developing innovative ideas for the delivery of services and products.

More details on Charity Bank’s work in Wales can be found within the Charity Bank in Wales section of this website.

Chief Executive of Charity Bank, Malcolm Hayday said:
“Over the past six months we have been able to increase our funding to charities and social enterprises.  Some of the organisations we have supported have come to us because their funding has been withdrawn, while others have been attracted by the certainty and service we offer.

Hayday added: “We remain open for business and are actively encouraging applications from the sector.  As the public spending cuts come into effect we will continue to maximise our support to enterprises that are making a real difference to the communities and people they serve.”

Preferential loan rate announced

Charity Bank has also announced that it will be offering charities and social enterprises a preferential rate (a 0.5% reduction in its existing lending rates) for new loans drawn before the 31st December 2010.

To find our more about Charity Bank loans visit www.charitybank/loans or call 01732 774050.

“We have called for the ‘Big Society Bank’ to be a wholesale provider of finance to existing independent intermediaries so we are pleased that this seems to be the case. Existing social investment organisations provide the most effective way to leverage the impact of the money and multiply the funds available.”

“As a regulated bank, for each pound of additional capital invested in Charity Bank we make at least seven pounds available to Charities and Social enterprises. We currently have loan commitments of £61million and, additionally, as a result of our loans, our borrowers have been able to raise a further £180m across the sector. With more capital we could multiply this support many times over.”

“The social sector needs to scale up, and if funds are directed towards intermediary organisations like Charity Bank who are established players working towards the long term sustainability of the sector, this is a positive step.”

www.bowarts.org

www.stgeorgesassociation.co.uk

www.thenewcovenant.co.uk

www.geography.org.uk