About Us

Lancaster Charity and Platten & Benson Trust are two charities that provide quality, affordable, supported accommodation for local people in need, who as residents are beneficiaries of the Charity and the Trust. The charities are managed by a board of Trustees, and are also registered with the Charity Commission and are members of The Almshouse Association.

LANCASTER CHARITY – Registered Number: 213461

HISTORY

In his will, dated 2nd March, 1715, William Penny, a notable Lancaster gentleman, left a bequest to enable the building of Almshouses for ‘poor indigent men and women within the town of Lancaster’.

Lancaster Charity was created in its present recognisable form on 22nd December 1860, made up of several smaller charities which between 1835 and 1843 had been set up to manage legacies which had been left for the building and maintenance of Almshouse accommodation within the old Lancaster town boundaries.

For many years, the Charity was based in the offices of OSG Solicitors in Castle Park, Lancaster, but in mid 2011 it relocated to William Penny’s in Regent Street.

PLATTEN & BENSON ALMSHOUSE TRUST – Registered Number: 500574

HISTORY

GOVERNANCE

CHARITY COMMISSION REGISTRATION
Lancaster Charity – Registered Number: 213461

Charitable objects:
The provision of almshouses and pensions for persons not less than 55 years of age who are disabled by age, accident or infirmity from maintaining themselves and who (except in special cases to be approved by the commissioners) have resided in the area of benefit for not less than three years.

The relief of aged persons in need resident in the area of benefit by the provision of an annual treat or in such ways as the trustees think fit.

Platten & Benson Almshouse Trust – Registered Number: 500574

Charitable objects:
Almshouses for poor aged persons of good character who (except in special cases to be approved by the charity commissioners) are resident in the borough of Morecambe and Heysham at the time of appointment.

REPORTING TO THE CHARITY COMMISSION

As required by law, the charities submit an annual report of its activities and audited accounts to the Charity Commission. Copies of these reports can be found here:
Lancaster Charity – Registered Number: 213461
Platten & Benson Almshouse Trust – Registered Number: 500574

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

The Charities are administered by voluntary Trustees, and the body of Trustees consist of fourteen persons being Six Nominative Trustees and Eight Co-optative Trustees

The Trustees of Lancaster Charity are currently:-

The Nominative Trustees are appointed by Lancaster City Council – 

  • Cllr Louise Belcher
  • Cllr Dave Brookes
  • Cllr Keith Budden
  • Cllr Shelagh McGregor
  • Cllr Joyce Pritchard
  • Cllr Robert Redfern

The Co-optative Trustees are –

  • Pam Barker
  • Nicola Combe
  • Roger Carradice (Chair)
  • Dame Pauline Fielding
  • Chris Hanna
  • Susan Hodgson (Vice Chair)
  • Alan Sandham
  • Leah Vasey-Saunders

They are all supported by Yvonne Kent, Almoner

COMPLAINTS

The complaints process
Please tell us about the problem.
The first step is to report the problem to us. We should be able to put things right. We have complaints procedures that should be easy to use, fair and designed to put things right.

OUR POLICIES

THE ALMSHOUSE ASSOCIATION