# United St Saviour's Charity

United St Saviour's Charity is a charity in the London Borough of Southwark, London, England. The charity supports the people and communities of Southwark through grant-making programmes, which provides funding to local charities and organisations, as well as providing housing for older people in their almshouses. It was founded as the Corporation of Wardens of the Parish of St Saviour, Southwark in 1541.

## History

United St Saviours Charity dates its roots back to 1541, when Henry VIII passed an Act of Parliament to form the Corporation of Wardens of the Parish of St Saviour, Southwark, to administer the affairs of the parish of Southwark St Saviour.
The Act of 1541 provided that the parishioners of the new parish elect six able persons to be church wardens, and carry out all their duties, which would include looking after the poor of the parish and management of the parish estates, including land and money gifted to them by wealthy benefactors. The six wardens had specific roles and titles to go with it, such as Warden of the Great Account, Renter Warden, Bell Warden, and College Warden.
In 1584, the local MP and Warden, Thomas Cure, gave a large amount of land and money to the parish to establish sixteen almshouses as a 'College or Hospital for the Poor'. Thomas Cure has made his wealth by becoming the Master of the Saddle Horses to Edward VI, Mary I, and Elizabeth I. The charity still owns the properties on this land right by Borough Market, and uses the rent from the various commercial pubs, shops, and homes to fund its work.
Over the centuries, many others left money and land to the parish, which included funding almshouses. These gifts still fund the work of the charity today, and in some places, United St Saviours still owns the land.
The Corporation of Wardens continued in existences for many centuries, acting as trustees of the charities, and heavily involved in Borough Market. In 1900, the corporation had its ecclesiastical role removed, which left only the charitable functions intact, and United St Saviour’s Charity came under the control of the Metropolitan Borough of Southwark. The charity still maintains vestiges to its past through giving honorary titles of the Wardens to Trustees.
The original almshouses in Park Street lasted until 1868 when they were forced to move when the new railway line was built. The inhabitants moved to newly built almshouses in West Norwood. These almshouses were still standing until 2005, when eventually, their age and general poor state of repair prompted a move to Purley, South London, in 2006, where St Saviour’s Court remains today.
In 2012, United St Saviour’s Charity took on custodianship of Hopton’s Almshouses at Bankside. Today, the charity operates almshouses for older people across four sites, as well as owning a number of historic properties in North Southwark that help fund their charitable work. The charity also holds an annual service in Southwark Cathedral to commemorate the life of Thomas Cure.

## Governance

United St Saviour's Charity is a charitable company with charity number 1103731. It was incorporated on 13 May 2004. The charity can have up to 12 trustees, who are normally connected to Southwark through their work or home.
The Board meet up to 5 times per year. There are two subcommittees which focus on grant making and finances. The head office is based in Crucifix Lane in London.
The charity is corporate trustee to the linked United St Saviour's Endowment Charity and Hopton's Charity.

## Activities

United St Saviour’s Charity supports the people and communities of Southwark through community investment and providing housing for older people.
Almshouses
United St Saviour’s Charity has been providing almshouses for older people since the 16th century, driven by the organisation’s core value to provide housing for the people of Southwark. The charity provides 137 homes across four sites, for people older than 65 years of age.
The charity has provided almshouses since the 16th century. The current almshouses include St Saviour’s Court in Purley, Hopton’s Gardens, Appleby Blue, and Helen Peele Cottages.
Applebly Blue almshouse, located in Bermondsey, opened in July 2023. The almshouse consists of 57 homes for people over the age of 65 in Southwark with low incomes. It also hosts a range of community and social activities.
Community Investment
The charity provides grants to other organisations in Southwark through its Community Investment programme. The programme provides small and large grants to organisations that benefit people who live and work in Southwark, focusing on three following priorities:
* Positive aging - ensuring that older people in Southwark are experiencing a great quality of life
* Strong, resilient communities - that the communities of Southwark are inclusive, strong, and supportive of each other
* Levelling the playing field - ensuring that all residents of Southwark have the same life opportunities and are able to take advantage of them
One Southwark
In 2022, as part of their Community Investment Programme, United St Saviours Charity launched One Southwark, a programme that supports young people between the ages of 16-25 with two years of financial support, mentoring, events, and training. The programme is managed by United St Saviour's Charity and is in collaboration with a coalition of community stakeholders (businesses, funders, charities, and residents).
Research
The charity also has a research and influence focus, developing partnerships with research funders and research institutions. Its main focus is housing and ageing, and the impact on health and wellbeing.