The Trustees give priority to applications from local people.  Applications will normally only be accepted from people outside the area where a particular need can be established.

The St John's almshouses comprise 24 units at St John's North, The Broadway, 27 units at St John's South, The Broadway, and 25 units at St Mary Magdalen, Colebrook Street.   The Charity also has 5 units of accommodation at Christes Hospital in Symonds Street.  The location of these sites is shown on the location map.  Depending on the number of couples living with us we generally house between 90 and 100 residents.

The Charity provides heavily subsidised accommodation to those of limited means so it is necessary for applicants to complete a financial assessment to evaluate their finances.  Applications will not normally be considered from people who own their own property, nor from people who already have the benefit of sheltered housing unless they have other pressing needs.

The majority of the Charity's almshouses comprise one bedroom flats.  Most of these are big enough to provide accommodation for a couple, although some are only of sufficient size for a single person.  Within each flat there is a living room, bedroom, bathroom or shower room, and a kitchen.  Each flat is centrally heated and linked to the welfare staff with a call system.

There is a community room at St Mary Magdalen where regular coffee mornings and clubs are held.  There are also facilities at the community room for hairdressing, chiropody, and a medically equipped bathroom which residents can utilise with the help of a care assistant if bathing at home becomes difficult.

The Charity is an Anglican foundation and has its own Chapel in the Broadway where services are taken regularly by the Charity's own Chaplain who also provides pastoral support to the residents.  There is a strong Christian focus within the life of the community, although there is no required religious affiliation of prospective residents.

The Charity's welfare staff provide constant care and support to residents.  The Charity employs a Matron, Deputy Matron and two Assistant Matrons, most of whom have nursing qualifications.  There is twenty four hour emergency cover.  There is also a shopping assistant who can help the housebound with their shopping.  At Christes Hospital there is a resident warden, with cover from the City Council’s peripatetic warden service when she is off duty.  The welfare staff are on duty during the day and someone is on call at night time. 

The care support offered by the Charity's matrons is greater than that which would normally be associated with a warden service in sheltered housing. It must be emphasised though that this does not constitute regular and constant nursing.  New residents have to be in sufficiently good health when they enter the almshouses to be able to lead independent lives. 

Residents pay a weekly maintenance contribution towards their accommodation and also a heating contribution towards the cost of heating.  These are reviewed annually.  The current charges from 8th May 2009 are:

Maintenance Contribution….£64.00 per week.
Heating Contribution………....£13.00 per week.

If you want further information about applying for almshouse accommodation, then please go to ‘How to contact us’