BY-ELECTION rivals Steve Tuckwell and Danny Beales and Steve Tuckwell visited an Uxbridge housing charity on a trip organised by Big Society Capital, which aims to show how investment can support communities.

Uxbridge United Welfare Trust, which has run an almshouse in the constituency for many years, rebuilt it with funding from Charity Bank in 2019.

The loan allowed the trust to create better-quality housing for elderly Uxbridge residents, freeing up social housing stock for families.

The visit gave Steve Tuckwell (Conservative) and Danny Beales (Labour) an insight into how social investment can support frontline groups like UUWT.

Residents of the socially affordable units must be eligible for state pension and housing benefit, among other criteria, to make sure the trust serves those in the constituency who most need it.

Research shows that living in an almshouse comes with greater life expectancy, which could be due to a sense of community and wellbeing.

Residents at UUWT also have a monthly lunch with trustees of the charity, to share concerns and ideas for the site should they arise.

Big Society Capital is calling for all political parties to consider social investment as part of their policy plans.

Mr Beales said: “It’s been fantastic today looking round the project, seeing what the partnership has done in terms of unlocking these amazing new homes for residents – we need to do more projects like this.”

Mr Tuckwell said: “This is a real jewel in the centre of Uxbridge that needs to be supported, and if I’m elected I will be back to doing as much as I can to support [it].”

Dominic Gilham, chief executive of Uxbridge United Welfare Trust, added: “The next MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip must be willing to help organisations like ourselves.”