Our History
The Almshouses of John Isbury and Jacob Hardrett have existed for over 500 years to provide homes in peaceful surroundings for those in housing need of the parish of Lambourn and adjacent parishes. Whilst originally two separate charities with almshouses in close proximity to each other, the charities were merged in 2019. Our almshouses are privately funded and are independent of any local authority or housing association. Read more about our history HERE.
Our Name
“The Almshouses of John Isbury and Jacob Hardrett” is a very historic title for the almshouses, it is also a rather a long and slightly cumbersome title to use and hence have registered the name of “The Lambourn Almshouses” with the Charity Commission as a working title.
Our Structure
In 2022 we changed our structure from a charity to a UK Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) which is a legal structure created specifically for charities and introduced in 2013 to simplify the process of setting up and managing a charity. Unlike other legal forms such as charitable companies, a CIO does not need to register with Companies House, but is regulated solely by the Charity Commission in England and Wales, or the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) in Scotland.
Our CIO is its own legal identity. This means the organisation can enter into contracts, own property, and take on liabilities in its own name, rather than in the name of the trustees.
Our Constitution
A constitution for a UK Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) is the key legal document that outlines the charity’s structure, governance, and operational rules. It defines the charity’s purposes, the powers of its trustees, and the roles of members. It also details how decisions are made, meetings are conducted, and conflicts of interest are managed. The document ensures the charity is run transparently and in line with legal requirements.
A web version of our constitution can be found HERE
Our Homes
11 individual homes make up the Lambourn Almshouses. The homes are simple individual apartments located in our historic buildings however have many of the comforts one would expect. Find out more about our homes HERE
Our Trustees
The Charity is managed by a board of 10 trustees, of which 8 are co-opted and two ex-officio (The Warden of New College, Oxford and the Vicar of the Benefice of the Lambourn Valley). A list of the current trustees can be found HERE
Our Residents
The residents are typically older individuals who are in need of affordable housing and support. Our Almshouses provide a safe, secure, and community-focused environment for residents who are of good character however have fallen on hard times. Our residents have a local connection to the area and, while they are living independently in their own accommodation, they benefit from the sense of community and support that almshouses are designed to offer. Our aim is to provide residents with dignity, security, and comfort in their later years, ensuring that their housing needs are met without financial burden.
Our Donors
We are deeply grateful for the generosity of our donors, whose financial and material contributions make our work possible. Our supporters include private individuals, companies, public bodies, as well as charitable trusts and foundations. More about our donors, including a list of names can be found HERE
Our Clerk
Pete Penfold is the Clerk of the Lambourn Almshouses. He takes care not only of the administration but also of many of the maintenance and more practical tasks associated with operating Almshouses which are over 150 years old.
Our Policies
We have policies which govern how we operate and ensure that what we do is consistent, fair to all and transparent. Our policies are available HERE
Our Finances
Our income comes from the maintenance contributions of the Almshouse Residents, the income from renting out Westfield farm and most critically contributions from our generous donors. We file accounts with the Charity Commission. Our accounts can be found on the Charity Commission Website and HERE.
Our Farm
The Charity owns Westfield Farm in East Garston some 5 miles along the Lambourn Valley from the Almshouses. The farm is rented to Neil Walker on an Agricultural lease which provides income to help us maintain the Almshouses.
