When we started
Firth Homes began in 1869 and we have copies of the records starting:
“At the First Ordinary Meeting of the Trustees held at the Culters Hall Sheffield on Wednesday the 23rd day of February 1870 at twelve o’clock at noon.”
The annual meetings were minuted from that day, with the first person entering the Home in December 1869, and provide a fascinating record of life both at the home and of society in general. The Almshouses were and still are a charitable institution and were set up by Mr Mark Firth. A portrait of Mr Firth and his sister hangs in the community hall.
The Homes
We have 4 bungalows and 28 flats – they are all are modernised. They are all the same size have a double bedroom and are suitable for couples. The homes are all electric, including night storage heating using off-peak electricity. Bathrooms have a shower but no bath. The kitchen is fully fitted with the fixed appliances provided and maintained by the charity. The accommodation is unfurnished and must be carpeted and decorated by the resident except for the floor covering for the bathroom which is provide by the Charity. We maintain the building and keep all the services working. Residents are responsible for looking after their homes inside and keeping them clean. We have a communal laundry and a large social lounge and kitchen for a range of social activity, special parties and interest groups. We organise regular social events.
Living at Firth Homes
Firth Homes is a charitable almshouse Trust. There are nearly 2,000 almshouse charities in the UK. Almshouse accommodation is not managed like a tenancy:
you occupy your home not as a tenant, but as a licensee at the discretion of the Trustees for so long as you continue to qualify for the accommodation and can live independently without a risk to yourself or to others as defined by the Trustees. All residents must sign a Licence to Occupy to accept our terms;
the Licence sets out the conditions that the Trustees decide are needed to maintain a safe, peaceful and supportive community of older people, who are in need of sheltered accommodation. We therefore have a policy about frequent absence and visitors to stop the homes being either unoccupied or over- occupied. This policy is managed sympathetically and with understanding to prevent an abuse of the charitable purposes for which the homes were built;
we make one “maintenance charge” for your accommodation. We don’t call it ‘rent’ because you do not have a tenancy.
Eligibility
- You must be over 60 years of age.
- Priority will be given to Sheffield residents (or those returning to Sheffield).
- You must be in housing need – put this in your application(Trustees will decide)
- You must have sufficient health & mobility to live independently (see below).
Personal care
Firth Homes is not a residential home. Personal care is not provided. The Warden is not trained (or permitted) to provide personal support including cleaning; shopping; cooking or to administer medication. Residents who need help of any kind have to organise this for themselves or rely on relatives, friends or professional carers. An en-suite guest room is available at a small charge to facilitate care for a short time.
Limited Parking
Because of limited space, permits to the car park are allocated to residents by the Trustees as they see fit, and they may re-allocate permits at any time. Accommodation does not include the right to park within Firth Homes. There is one space available for ‘drop-off’ or unloading. There is street parking on Nethergreen Road and in the adjacent side roads.
The Caretaker/Warden
Terry Sweet (the warden) and his wife Helen live on-site and deal with the day-to-day running of the estate, but Firth Homes does not provide 24 hour cover. In particular there may be only emergency cover during holidays or sickness or other unavoidable absences.. The warden is a key holder. They should be contacted to deal with accommodation faults or emergencies.
Health & Safety
Residents must maintain a landline phone connection. Through this phone line the Trustees connect your home to a monitored ‘social alarm’ company. When the pendant is pressed at any time, day or night, they will assess the emergency and they can contact the emergency services and your relatives or the warden. The homes have fire detectors which are also monitored remotely. The front doors to the flats are fire doors and they are fitted with an overhead door closer which makes the door stiffer to open. Fire Regulations prevent residents from remaining at Firth Homes if they become unable to exit and enter their home safely and without assistance. There are no lifts. The layout of the homes makes them unsuitable for wheelchairs and scooters.
Independent Living Plan (ILP)
Firth Homes does not take charge of your personal support. This is your responsibility or that of a relative or nominee. The Trustees have a policy aimed at managing sensitively the time approaching when a resident can no longer look after themselves. Firth Homes rely during this process on an Independent Living Plan. The Trustees recommend that this stage is anticipated by the resident and their relatives so that we can work together as this time approaches. Options should be explored in advance by relatives or friends so that there is a plan if more support is required or if a move from Firth Homes might be needed.
Our Housing Charge
Residents pay us one charge to cover the cost of maintaining the homes. This charge is reviewed each year. (See Cost of Living at Firth’s Homes page.)
Smoking
Smoking, (including e-cigarettes, is not permitted inside the Almshouses or in any other part of the premises or anywhere else outside within the boundary of the estate.