The Charity of Mrs Mabel Luke

We are a charitable almshouse trust that provides 16 flats for rent to vulnerable households of working age near Newbury town centre. The trust originated in a 1928 donation by a local benefactor looking to support needy families in Newbury town and adjacent Greenham parish. In 2017/18 the four cottages she had provided were demolished and three small blocks of one- and two-bedroom flats were completed on the site. They were filled by mid-2018. 4 flats are for single people or childless couples. The remaining 12 are two-bed flats for families with children, of whom there are 17 in all on the site. 4 households are from ethnic minority communities; 5 are single parents; 4 are single people - a diverse group. We provide, manage and maintain high quality affordable homes. While we do not provide further support to our households we help them to access support from the local authorities or other not-for-profit organisations in the area. Newbury and its surrounds are a high-cost area and the local housing authority (West Berkshire Council) has long waiting lists. We therefore supply a much needed flexible housing resource within easy walking distance of Newbury town centre. We have residents who were homeless before coming to Mabel Luke Place.