United St Saviour's Charity

What United St Saviour's Charity does

United St Saviour's Charity is a registered charity and company limited by guarantee (Charity Registration 1103731, Company Registration 5092710) established in 1541 and headquartered at 16 Crucifix Lane in the London Borough of Southwark. Its mission is to support Southwark's communities through almshouse housing for older people on low incomes, grants to local community organisations, and research and advocacy on housing and older people's policy. The charity operates three almshouse sites: Appleby Blue (a contemporary development in Bermondsey with communal courtyard, rooftop garden and community kitchen), Hopton's Almshouses (twenty Grade II* listed units built in 1752 with money left by Charles Hopton, located near Tate Modern), and St. Saviour's Court, with residents occupying under licence and paying Weekly Maintenance Contributions largely covered by Housing Benefit.

The organisation makes money primarily through rental income from a portfolio of historic investment properties in north Southwark — including pubs, shops and residential homes, many of them Grade II listed and concentrated around Borough Market — together with smaller income streams from almshouse Weekly Maintenance Contributions. This capital base funds an outgoing community investment programme delivered through Core Grants (£5,001–£100,000 per award, average £37,633 historically), the 2025-2030 Community Investment Strategy, and partnership programmes such as Funding Differently. In 2026 the charity deployed nearly £800,000 to ten Southwark community organisations under a record £1,000,000 grants budget. On the influence side it runs multi-year research collaborations including the ARC for the Future (Almshouse Resilient Communities) consortium of seven almshouse charities funded by the Dunhill Medical Trust, the Almshouse Longevity Study with City University of London (finding almshouse residents live up to two and a half years longer than the general population), and a cookery-school study with Bournemouth University at Appleby Blue.

It operates with a small staff (11–50 employees), is governed by a board of trustees currently chaired by Dr Ben Johnson, and works through an ecosystem of strategic partners including the Alan and Babette Sainsbury Charitable Fund, Community Southwark, Citizens Advice Southwark, Southwark Council and Stonewall Housing (under the HouseProud Pledge, where it holds Pioneer status). Its commercial distribution channels are the direct almshouse waiting list and direct grant applications, with no parent company, subsidiaries, or external investors.

Name

United St Saviour's Charity

Legal name

United St Saviour's Charity

Website

https://ustsc.org.uk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

United St Saviour's Charity is a 1541-founded Southwark charity providing almshouse housing for older people on low incomes, awarding community grants to local organisations, and conducting research and advocacy on housing and community policy. It is funded by rental income from a portfolio of heritage properties in and around Borough Market.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Housing / Almshouse Provision

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly (62331), Community Housing Services (62422)

SIC

Real Estate Operators (No Developers) & Lessors (6510), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Affordable/Subsidized Independent Living (HUD/LIHTC) Communities (HLADAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC), Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)

Keywords

• Almshouse social housing
• Older people's housing
• Community grant funding
• Southwark community investment
• Charity housing provider

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Rental income from investment properties: The charity owns historic investment properties in north Southwark including pubs, shops and residential homes. Many properties are Grade II listed and located in Borough Market. Rental income from these properties funds charitable work.
2. Weekly Maintenance Contributions from almshouse residents: Almshouse residents pay Weekly Maintenance Contributions (WMCs) similar to rent but different in law. Residents occupy accommodation under a licence as beneficiaries. Many residents receive Housing Benefit towards their WMCs.
3. Community Investment Grants: The charity makes grants to community organisations in Southwark through Core Grants and other grant programmes. In 2026, nearly £800,000 was granted to ten Southwark community organisations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

United St Saviour's Charity provides subsidised almshouse accommodation to older residents on low incomes in the London Borough of Southwark, including the historic Hopton's Almshouses. It runs a Community Investment programme awarding grants to Southwark-based community organisations and conducts research into almshouse living and the housing needs of older people, funded by an endowment of investment properties (pubs, shops, residential homes).

Product overview

United St Saviour's Charity is a charitable organization providing a portfolio of services focused on housing for older people and community investment in Southwark. The core housing offerings include three distinct almshouse properties: Appleby Blue (new development with community facilities), Hopton's Almshouses (historic Grade II* listed buildings), and St. Saviour's Court. The charity also manages an investment property portfolio (pubs, shops, residential homes) that generates rental income to fund operations. On the community side, the organisation operates grant programmes including Core Grants, Community Investment Programme, and Funding Differently initiatives, awarding hundreds of thousands of pounds annually to local organisations. The charity also conducts research through the ARC for the Future project and Housing and Older People Research collaborations, contributing knowledge to the almshouse sector.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Appleby Blue: New almshouse development providing pioneering housing for older people in Bermondsey, Southwark, with community facilities including a cookery school and rooftop garden.
• ARC for the Future
• One Southwark
• Community Southwark

Products and services

• Almshouse Accommodation in Southwark Subsidised almshouse housing provided to older people on low incomes in the London Borough of Southwark, with Weekly Maintenance Contributions set against Housing Benefit allowance. Residents are allocated units within the charity's portfolio through an application process published on the charity website.
• Hopton's Almshouses Historic almshouse site operated by the charity for older residents, currently the focus of an LGBTQ+ inclusivity project for residents and staff.
• Community Investment Grants Grant funding awarded by the charity to Southwark-based voluntary and community organisations to deliver local community services and projects.
• Investment Property Portfolio Endowment of investment properties consisting of pubs, shops, and residential homes that the charity lets on the open market to generate rental income, which in turn funds almshouse operations and Community Investment grants.

Quantifiable outcome

• Almshouse residents may live up to two and a half years longer than the general population

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core partnership, research collaborators, key partner, partner, research partner and vendor.

• Borough of Sanctuary Coalitioncore partnershipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition formed to provide joined up funding and support for refugees, asylum seekers, people fleeing violence and harm and communities across Southwark. Partners include: United St Saviour's Charity, Alan and Babette Sainsbury Charitable Fund, Southwark Council, Southwark Refugee Communities Forum, Southwark Day Centre for Asylum Seekers, Panjshir Aid, Southwark Citizens Advice, Southwark Law Centre and Community Southwark.
• ARC for the Future Research Partnersresearch collaboratorsStrategic or Co-development PartnerSeven community partners providing high-quality accommodation for older residents for the ARC for the Future research project. Partners include: Whiteley, Southark, SJMT, Leap, DAMHA, Bristol Charities, and United St Saviour's Charity.
• Community Southwarkkey partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for VCS Premises and Policy Officer role and joint working on Funding Differently programme - a community-led, multi-funder pot for small grants.
• Citizens Advice Southwarkkey partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership in Borough of Sanctuary Coalition providing advice services to refugees and asylum seekers in Southwark.
• Active Communities NetworkpartnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partnership for delivering youth and community activities in Southwark.
• Southwark Councilkey partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal authority partner in Borough of Sanctuary Coalition and general collaborative working on housing and community matters in Southwark.
• Bournemouth Universityresearch partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership for the cookery school at Appleby Blue Almshouse, studying how community-based food activities can improve the health, wellbeing and social connectedness of older people.
• City University of Londonresearch partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlmshouse Longevity Study collaboration analysing the lifespan of almshouse residents compared to the general population. Team consists of actuarial scientists and social scientists.
• Life House ProjectpartnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on resident-led animated training video for LGBTQ+ inclusion at almshouses.
• Stonewall Housing (HouseProud Pledge)partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through HouseProud Pledge commitment to LGBTQ+ inclusion in housing, signed in June 2024.
• Housing LINpartnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for knowledge sharing on housing issues including LGBTQ+ housing pledge implementation.
• Circa (Estate Agents)vendorOthersEstate agents who sponsor Hopfest annual celebration and provide estate management services for almshouses.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Locality: Locality is a UK national network supporting community-led organisations with funding, advice, and policy advocacy. Comparable to USS's community investment and grants function, though Locality operates at national scale rather than borough level.

Direct peers

• Hanover Housing Association: Hanover is a UK housing association specialising in retirement housing for older people, providing both rented and leasehold options. Closely comparable to USS's almshouse mission of providing affordable housing for older residents.
• Housing 21: Housing 21 is a large UK provider of retirement and extra-care housing for older people, including affordable and social rented options. It is directly comparable to USS as a registered provider of housing for older people on lower incomes, operating at much greater scale.
• City Bridge Trust: City Bridge Trust is the London-wide grant-making arm of the City of London Corporation, funding charities tackling disadvantage across London including older persons and housing. Directly comparable to USS's Southwark-focused grants and community investment function.
• The Almshouse Association: The Almshouse Association is the national umbrella body for almshouse charities in the UK, providing guidance, advocacy, and sector support. It is a direct peer in the almshouse sector, representing the model USS operates within.
• Bristol Charities: Bristol Charities is a historic almshouse charity and one of USS's ARC for the Future research partners. It operates almshouses and grants programmes in a different region, making it a comparable peer in the almshouse and community foundation space.

Broad incumbents

• Peabody: Peabody is a large London-based housing association providing affordable and social housing including homes for older people. It is a broader incumbent offering overlapping older-persons housing but across a much wider portfolio and geography.
• Sanctuary Housing Association: Sanctuary is a large UK housing association providing general needs and supported housing, including retirement living. Overlaps with USS on affordable housing for older people but operates at national scale with a broader portfolio.
• Notting Hill Genesis: Notting Hill Genesis is one of London's largest housing associations, providing affordable homes including for older people. Comparable as a London-focused affordable housing provider with overlapping older-persons housing offerings.
• Guinness Partnership: Guinness is a major UK housing association delivering affordable housing, including specialist housing for older people. Comparable to USS as a long-established provider of housing for lower-income and older residents, though at substantially larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/united-st-saviour-s-charity
• Instagraminstagram.com/uss1541
• Xx.com/UnitedStSaviour

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about United St Saviour's Charity