Meet Cobseo’s Members: Introducing E Hayes Dashwood Foundation

Tell us about your organisation…

We are a long-established charity that provides accommodation in flats in Balham, South-West London, for veterans who have a long-term medically recognised infirmity.

Beneficiaries (known as “Guests” of the Foundation) are accommodated in spacious, well maintained individual one and two bedroom flats. Guests need to be capable of independent living but can access support from external organisations as appropriate for their needs. Guests occupy their flats under a licence issued by the Trustees and are therefore not tenants. They do not pay rent but instead pay a Weekly Maintenance Charge and their own utility charges. If Guests are eligible for state benefits then their WMC may be paid under the Local Housing Allowance.

How does your organisation support the Armed Forces Community?

The Foundation provides accommodation for veterans who have seen service in the armed forces or merchant marine and are not able to afford to rent or buy a home of their own. We provide accommodation specifically for veterans who have a long term infirmity, either as a result of their period of service or a condition which has subsequently arisen. We are able to potentially accommodate Guests with their wife/husband/partner and children. (whilst they remain in full time education).

What makes you proud of the work in the sector?

The Foundation was established by Mr. Dashwood when he built the Hyde Farm Estate of 800 homes in the early 1900s and he set aside flats in two roads for veterans, the first of whom had served in the Boer War. Subsequently veterans from the First and Second World Wars were accommodated and more recently those who had served in other conflicts and general service. The Trustees are proud to be continuing with the support and objects for those in need which Mr. Dashwood identified in those early years. The Foundation became a registered charity in 1946.

How does being a Member of Cobseo help you to do your work?

As a smaller charity in the family of those providing support for former veterans we do not find it easy to raise the profile of the Foundation and create wider awareness of availability of the accommodation which we are able to provide. Working with Cobseo, we have the opportunity to interact with a wide range of organisations and ensure that we remain relevant and informed of developments in the support sector which we operate.