Summer 2025
Celebrating 500 years at Lench’s Trust
Welcome to the Summer edition of the newsletter! It has been an incredibly busy few months, we have had several events celebrating half a millennium’s worth of history at our Trust. Both Founders Day and our celebration event at the Old Crown in Digbeth were fantastic ways of sharing our incredible history and the impact we have had on our city over the centuries. The indomitable Professor Carl Chinn has reminded us of the important social impact of our Trust and why it is as important today as it was 500 years ago.
Alongside this we have been working with corporate and business partners raising funds for different things that you felt were important, it was a pleasure to attend events at Tanner’s Close and Lench’s Close to see the new garden furniture, with special mentions to “Marion’s Bench” a lovely tribute requested by residents to our former Scheme Manager, Marion, who lived and worked at the Trust for close to 30 years and to share the event with Marion’s husband Gary and daughter Marie made it extra special. I tip my hat to Paul and his team for the colourful and imaginative work they have done on the grounds as we prepare for Moseley in Bloom at Lench’s Close.
Finally, we have refurbished the café/restaurant at William Lench Court, this was co-designed with residents, and we incorporated the colours, features and comfort that was asked for. It was really pleasing to hear the feedback at the opening event; we are still working on expanding and adapting our menu options and we have ordered a refrigerated cake stand and panini/toaster maker which is due to be delivered at some point in June.
Whilst it is right and proper that we celebrate our history in our special anniversary year, it is also important that we focus on the future too. Many of you will be aware or attended several public consultation events at both Lench’s Close & William Lench Court on our plans to build additional homes.At Moseley our aim is to build 6 new bungalow style properties, one of which will be fully accessible for those with mobility needs including using a wheelchair, our plans also include our first two bed property at Lench’s Close which have proved popular at William Lench Court.
At William Lench Court our plan is to build the first social housing eco-pods for later living in the country. The pods will be in the woodland we have at the back of the Scheme, with the aim of creating nature connectivity for later living. Both Schemes have been designed to ensure that they are as fuel efficient as possible with the aim that all the new homes are at ECP rating A's, guaranteeing keeping our residents as warm as possible and having reduced fuel bills due to the thermal performance of our planned homes. Rest assured building these new homes does not affect the maintenance charges for any existing or future resident of the Trust.
Talking of improving the energy efficiency of our homes, we plan to start work at Lench’s Close to improve the thermal efficiency of our homes alongside upgrading the heating system and pipe work, (the pipe work in particular is past its shelf life). The Trust will be doing extensive due diligence through the tendering & procurement process to appoint the right contractors for the work that is needed, I have been made fully aware of how important communication is when undertaking works of this nature and we will ensure we have a resident liaison with whoever is successful in working with us.
Resident Scrutiny Panel and Management Visits
I have been delighted with the response we have had on the resident scrutiny work, (there is more information on the work of the panel later in the newsletter) and we believe the work of the panel is an essential layer of additional governance and direct communication with our residents. We have been working with 5 other social housing providers, and I am hoping we can learn and share ideas on how we can improve our services to you through the feedback the panel will provide. Thank you to all those that have volunteered, your commitment to the Trust is outstanding!
As a Senior Team, Mark, Michelle, Laura and I have been attending meetings at each Scheme to meet and talk in a group setting or one to ones if requested. The meetings have one simple aim, to ensure you have good and consistent communication with the leadership of the Trust. Feedback so far has been positive, and all the meetings have been solution focused and respectful, a big thank you to all that have attended and contributed so far. If you have any further suggestions on how we can improve what we do, please let us know. My mantra is “little by little” I hope we are making incremental improvements and building on what we do, we won’t always get it right or please everybody, but what I can assure you is that if it’s in our gift we will do our utmost to deliver the best possible service to you all.
On behalf of all the team we hope everybody has a fantastic Summer with friends and family, we are looking forward to working with you all in what promises to be a busy period ahead for the Trust.
Best Wishes
Easter at Tanner’s!
Tanner’s Close hosted a ‘Egg’cellent Easter party for its residents on the 17th of April. Lynn and Rita put together a delicious display of Hot cross buns and scones for everyone to enjoy (not to mention plenty of teas and coffees).
Tanner’s had entertainment from ‘Back in Time’, and they brought the life to the party through music, dress up and dance. ‘Back in Time’ is very popular at Tanner’s Close and if you get the chance to see them, I would highly recommend it! There was also a raffle hosted by our very own Cathy Graham with a few lucky winners, walking away with easter eggs and wine!
Garden Party at Tanner’s!
We celebrated the arrival of the new garden furniture at Tanner’s Close around the Scheme as well as a lovely hand-crafted bench at the top of the Scheme, a tribute to our late Scheme Manager, Marion O’Mara, who worked for the Trust for many years.
There is also some nice garden tables and chairs placed around Tanner’s Close gardens for resident to enjoy when the weather is nice. Thank you again to our sponsors for making this happen and adding another milestone reached in our 500th year!
Thank you to our sponsors, Tyndallwoods and Ark Consultancy for the furniture and Profurn for Marion’s Bench and providing the buffet.
Resident Scrutiny Panel (RSP)
Local social housing providers empower residents to drive change
Six local social housing providers have joined forces to give residents a stronger voice, including Birmingham-based Broadening Choices for Older People (BCOP), Harborne Parish Lands Charity (HPLC), Lench’s Trust, Sir Josiah Mason Trust (SJMT) and Yardley Great Trust (YGT).
The newly launched Residents’ Scrutiny Panel (RSP) uniquely brings groups of residents together to discuss the quality of services at each of their Schemes and share ideas for improvements with landlords. It expands on the previous RSP, formed of four of the organisations, which won anAlmshouseAssociation award but was put on hold due to the pandemic.
Twenty-five residents participated in the re-launch meeting in April, where they discussed which areas were of greatest interest for influencing decision-making.
Attendees included Chrissy who lives at Lench’s Trust. Commenting on the RSP, Chrissy said: “I wanted to get involved because I feel we should have a voice. I’m looking forward to seeing it all come together step by step.”
Pat, who represented SJMT and YGT said: “It’s great! I think it’s a really good idea and it’s something that’s needed. It allows you to see how other Trusts work and meet new people.”
Margaret, a HPLC resident, said: “I’m impressed! Emma, the facilitator, was excellent. I got involved as I would like to know what happens in other Schemes compared to where I live and what improvements can be made across the sector.”
BCOP resident, Lynn, was also impressed. She added: “The RSP is a good way to give residents a voice so they can be heard by management.”
The meeting was held at Lench’s Trust, and non-residents were offered a tour of the Scheme to gain even more ideas for their own homes.
David Healey, Partnership Chief Executive for SJMT and YGT, said: “I’m delighted that new partners have joined the project, giving even more residents the opportunity to have a say and enable services to continuously improve.
“Residents have a unique perspective and can now play an even greater role in shaping their communities by sharing good practice between the organisations and holding management to account.”
Dominic Bradley, Chief Executive of Lenchs Trust added, “For us this is an essential layer of additional governance, putting our residents front and centre of our work, this is about learning from each other, listening, and working to improve the experience of residents receiving our services. This is a fantastic way of residents working directly with our Trustees on all aspects of our work. We are excited to get started.
About the RSP
The Residents’ Scrutiny Panel was first launched in 2018, with four of the current partnering charities, as listed below.
The project was hugely successful and led to new learning and best practice for each organisation, including a new Compliments, Concerns and Complaints Process.
The RSPwon the 2018 AlmshouseAssociationAward for Excellence and Inspiration in recognition of the collaborative and innovative partnership approach.
The 2025 RSP will be facilitated by Emma Wilson from YD Consultants.
About the six partner organisations:
BCOP: Established in 1946, BCOP schemes include nursing homes, independent living and supported living housing
HPLC: HPLC provides sheltered accommodation for older people living in the old Parish of Harborne.
Lench’s Trust: Established in 1525 in Tudor Birmingham, Lench’s Trust provides later living services in Quinton, Moseley and Sutton Coldfield for people aged over 55. Find out more
SCHA: Formed in 1990, SCHA has two purpose-built schemes comprising extra care self-contained apartments.
SJMT: Founded in 1868, SJMT provides sheltered housing for people over 55 across Solihull and Birmingham.
YGT: With its origins lying in the 14th century, YGT provides sheltered housing and nursing care through several schemes across Birmingham.
Moseley in Bloom
Another year, another wonderful Moseley in Bloom at Lench’s Close. With thanks to our sponsor WSP; this year’s Moseley in Bloom has a special 500 twist. To celebrate we hosted a garden party alongside this to unveil the new garden furniture to bring Lench’s Close to life for the summer months!
The Bistro: Grand Opening
The café at William Lench Court has recently undergone a huge makeover; this project co-designed with Hannah Floyd and her team (from Pi Sq.), along with residents and the catering team did a fantastic job in putting everyone’s dreams and ideas into reality!
We held a grand opening to celebrate this achievement, dedicated to the 500 years of Lench’s Trust, those who attended had the chance to preview the new menu, have a look at the new interior and were treated to cakes, pastries and drinks
The grand opening had a huge turnout from residents to Trustees and even the public – speaking to some of the guests they said, “I love these new highchairs, my grandchildren can eat at the table comfortably with us.” Another resident said, “The new sofas feel homely – I can sit, have a cuppa and relax”.
If you haven’t had the chance already, visit The Bistro and try for yourself from the new menu!
Tenant Satisfaction Measures (TSMs)
Support
Recently a copy of the TSMs form has been posted to every resident’s flat. As a reminder, the TSMs are a set of standardised perception questions to find out how satisfied residents are with the services Lench’s Trust provide. They also provide excellent information on how and where we need to focus any improvements, allowing us to prioritise our service to ensure our homes remain of a high-quality standard for our residents to live in.
As a registered social landlord, Lench’s Trust are governed and regulated by the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) and under the Social Housing RegulatoryAct, from 2024 onwards, we must record performance against TSMs.
We can support you
Michelle will be visiting all the Schemes to offer support with your Tenant Satisfaction Measure if you are unsure or need clarification on questions. Here are the dates for your diaries when Michelle will be visiting:
Tuesday 10th June
Wednesday 11th June
Thursday 12th June
Lench’s Close
William Lench Court
Tanner’s Close
There is a communal post box located at each scheme for your form to be returned
Status of funded projects
Early March we shared a presentation with you in regard to our sponsors and the projects that will be funded by them.
Here is what projects have been funded so far:
Tanner’s Close
Brand new garden furniture – Completed
Marion’s Bench – Completed
Lench’s Close
Brand new garden furniture – Completed
Moseley in Bloom – Completed
William Lench Court
The Bistro refurbishment – Completed
New café menu – Completed
General
Cakes for the 500th year events – Completed
Summer Recipe
Fancy a light sweet treat to enjoy during the summer months? Then look no further than the Lemon & Blackberry Traybake, perfect for picnics, parties or as a snack after dinner.
Lemon & Blackberry Traybake
Ingredients
60ml olive oil, plus extra for greasing
150ml pot soured cream
200g caster sugar
3 British Blacktail Medium Free-Range
Eggs
200g plain flour
1 tsp baking powder
¼ tsp fine sea salt
2 unwaxed lemons, zest
Method
Blackberries
150g pack blackberries
1 tbsp caster sugar
1 tbsp cornflour
½ unwaxed lemon, juice
Icing
1½ unwaxed lemons, juice (about 40ml)
50g icing sugar, sifted
1. Preheat the oven to 190ºC, gas mark 5. Grease and line a 20cm square baking tin with baking parchment. Put the soured cream and sugar in a bowl and use a balloon whisk to combine; whisk in the eggs 1 at a time. Add the oil and the rest of the cake ingredients; mix into a smooth batter. Transfer to the lined tin.
2. In the same bowl, use a large spoon to mix the blackberries with the sugar, cornflour and lemon juice so the berries get coated all over and purple liquid starts to seep out. Dot the berries over the cake (leaving the excess liquid behind) so they are evenly distributed; push into the batter a little. Bake for 20 minutes. Rotate the tin and bake for another 10-15 minutes. Meanwhile, for the icing, in a small bowl mix the lemon juice and icing sugar with a balloon whisk until it dissolves.
3. Remove the cake from the oven; it should feel bouncy to the touch. Brush all over with the icing. Cool in the tin for at least 30 minutes before slicing and serving warm or at room temperature
Getting to know: Jill Clarke
Jill grew up at the Maypole in a place called Millpool Hill, living in a rented bungalow on Glenavon Road. She was just three years old when the war began. Jill’s mother didn’t work outside the home; instead, she looked after Jill, her elder sister, and her elder brother, as well as four children from the Dukes family and five children from the Brady family.
Jill’s mother was resourceful and industrious. She used a large black cauldron to make porridge for breakfast for everyone, sometimes followed by soup later in the day. She also had a talent for gardening.
Outside, she grew potatoes, cabbages, onions, and various berry bushes, including gooseberries, raspberries, loganberries, and black and red currants. Rose bushes adorned the garden as well. Inside the greenhouse, she cultivated tomatoes, cucumbers, and grapes, which hung outside the greenhouse. In a large black shed, she grew mushrooms.
The family kept about 50 rabbits, which were considered a good source of food at the time. Jill’s mother taught her how to skin rabbits, although Jill would only work on the head and no further. Her father took on the task of killing the rabbits. Some rabbits were kept as pets, and the family even had special ones they took to rabbit shows. Jill and her siblings were responsible for collecting greenery for the rabbits after school. They would fill sacks with plants from nearby fields or by weeding neighbours’gardens. The hutches were cleaned daily, and sawdust for bedding was gathered for free from the sawmill at the Maypole. Neighbourhood children enjoyed listening to the rabbits chuffing.
In addition to the rabbits, the family kept chickens, which Jill and her siblings plucked before their mother cleaned them. They also had a pet dog and a cat.
During the war, there was a barrage balloon in a nearby field at the Maypole. When the Milkman’s horse passed by, Jill and her siblings would feed him a cube of sugar (the horse, not the Milkman!).
Jill’s father owned an anvil and used it to mend their shoes. For protection during air raids, the family had a shelter dug into the ground, which they used during the day. At night, however, they hid under their parents’ bed for safety.
Thank you, Jill, for the interesting insight into your childhood and look forward to sitting down again for part 2 of your story growing up!
Care Pricing
At William Lench Court we offer top-quality care packages for its residents that need that extra help to support their independent living with us. In addition to that we offer packages for your domestic needs.
Please see the pricing below:
Domestic calls: £19.71
Personal care, sitting and escorting: £21.23
If you are interested and have any questions or concerns, please get in touch with Emma or Margaret at 0121 426 0452
Home help services at Tanner’s Close
At Tanner’s Close, we offer high quality and professional home help services where we can help residents with their day-to-day cleaning if they need that extra support!
We charge either for the hour or per hour depending on your needs, please see the pricing below:
Per hour: £19.71
Per half hour: £9.85
If you are interested and have any questions or concerns, please get in touch with Lynn Redmond at 0121 311 2743
Puzzle page
SummerRiddle:
A touch of warmth, a hidden stone, In me, the seeds of wonder are sown. By skies I’ve travelled, by magic I’ve been, James knew the marvels I held within. What am I, soft yet profound?"
Answer
PeachAanswerRiddle
Planned Grounds Maintenance Schedule
There has been schedules of works provided at each Scheme for our Gardening team, so as residents you can see where the team are and when you can expect them to be at your Scheme.
