WINCHESTER’S oldest charity is asset-rich but cash-poor, its director told civic chiefs.

Clive Cook, director of St John’s Winchester Charity, told the town forum last night it owned a portfolio of commercial property in the city centre.

“It is a myth that St John’s is a wealthy charity. We have significant assets but we are far from being cash-rich. Our real estate is ageing to say the least; the almshouses date back to 1608.

“Our property portfolio is ageing too. We are asset rich but cash poor. We are having to spend a lot more money maintaining our properties and we are having to look for other sources of funding.”

The charity operates almshouses and two care homes for the elderly, Moorside and Devenish House.

Mr Cook said it was 20 years since St John’s last expanded its service, opening Moorside, a home for people with dementia.

He invited councillors to tour its buildings and added: “We need to be better known and to raise our profile.”

The charity can trace the roots of its history back to the early tenth century and its current guise to 1830.

A recent inspection by the Care Quality Commission said the standards were excellent, said Mr Cook, who took over last December.

Cllrs Sue Nelmes, Ian Tait and Chris Pines praised its work.