FRESH faces are needed to assist with the running of a charity providing housing for deserving people in West Devon.

The Ford Street and Maynard Almshouse Charity is currently looking to welcome new members to become trustees for the 251-year-old organisation.

The almshouses, in Ford Street, Tavistock, provide comfortable homes at a reasonable cost for deserving, primarily older people in Tavistock and Gulworthy.

A trustee for the charity said: 'The almshouses are flats and maisonettes for people who are in need. It has mainly been for the elderly or retired but we have considered people who are financially struggling.'

The trustee said residents pay a reasonable price to live in the flats compared with private rentals and even council properties.

'They are amazing places — all modern. There is no communal living, they are all separate entities. There is a warden who provides 24-hour cover, if the residents want the facility, and there is a huge communal garden. It is a real gem for the area.'

The almshouses were formerly two separate charities — the Ford Street Charity Almshouses and Maynards.

The Ford Street almshouses were built as a terraced building in 1762, comprising 16 one-roomed dwellings on two floors. A small coal-fired range was provided in each room. In 1959 electricity was installed, and in 1960 a supply of cold water and a kitchen sink were proposed for the eight rooms on the upper floor. Four bathrooms with geysers for hot water were added to the back of the property.

By 1988 the building was completely gutted and re-constructed as eight self-contained, one-bedroom flats.

Maynards House, now incorporating two flats, was built in 1879 to specifications drawn up by the estate office of the Duke of Bedford. The duke gave the land and provided funds for a building to replace the original charity house in Bannawell Street, which he proposed to develop as part of his original plan for Tavistock.

The two charities were merged in 1983 by a Charity Commissioner's scheme. The merged charity then went on to acquire Hope Cottage. A derelict house occupied the land at the time and the charity bought the site with the aid of a loan from the Almshouse Association. The eventual availability of a grant from the Housing Corporation and a generous legacy from the estate of the late Mrs Dorothy Hope, allowed demolition and rebuilding to take place. The resulting two almshouse maisonettes were formally opened in 1996.

The charity pays considerable regard to the need for all properties to be kept in good order, and a decent standard maintained for comfortable living in a pleasant environment, along with efficient, quality care.

Two vacancies on the board of trustees have recently become available and the charity is now looking for interested people to apply.

Clerk to the trustees Clifford Alford said: 'The trustees manage the houses but it is not an onerous job at all. We meet four times a year to oversee what is happening and to approve any major expenses.'

The board is currently made up of parish and West Devon Borough Council representatives, and people from different careers, retired and still working.

The charity is looking for people with different skills, who can bring their expertise to the board.

Mr Alford said: 'We are looking for someone who is interested in the administration of the charity. They may want to liaise with the residents occasionally so they know what is going on and to check to see if any maintenance work is needed.'

The clerk undertakes the day-to-day administration of the charity and reports back to the trustees at the meetings. Trustees can have as much involvement in the charity as they want.

Anyone who is interested in becoming a trustee for the charity can contact Mr Alford on 01822 612393.