Charitable Trust

Having been Chairman of our Charitable Trust for a year, I thought it would be helpful for members to be aware of what we have got up to and what is planned for the future. The Charitable Trust is an important part of the Company. In our last financial year the Trust has received in funds about £18,500, made up of donations as well as the proceeds of fundraising events namely the Charity Concert (£2,200), and the Master’s wife Jenny completed the 10k City Challenge (£3,000). 

This is more than we have raised for several years, but we are always looking for fresh ideas to raise money, such as a sponsorship for growing hair, shaving it off, or releasing the Master from imprisonment in the Tower of London!  If any members have any sponsorship or fund-raising ideas they would like to share with us, please get in touch. We are also going to liaise with the Events Committee in case some events could fund-raise.

The Trustees continue to monitor very carefully our investments to ensure there is a good balance of keeping our funds safe, and at the same time getting a reasonable return on our capital.

We have continued to support worthy causes within the City or further afield, especially in the area of education. We are now supporting another pupil at King Edward’s School, Witley (a school supported by the City) and prizes at various schools and colleges in the City. We are also supporting students at the Guildhall School of Music and Queen Mary College. Finally we do not forget our own members who have fallen on hard times and indeed this year have helped one such member.

The more money we raise, the more help we can give. Trustee Robert Crease continues to carry out an initial assessment of all applications, and please do put forward worthwhile causes for consideration.

The apprentice scheme is a practical way to help aspiring arbitrators and Trustee and Court Assistant Philip Fidler continues to run the scheme on our behalf.

There is a possibility of a vacancy on the Board of Trustees and if anyone is interested please contact me. Ideally the new Trustee should have some investment experience.

Can I thank on everyone’s behalf Barry Rose, who has just retired as a Trustee after 10 years’ valuable service.

We look forward to helping raise even more funds next year and support more worthy causes. However, we need your money to do so, so why not complete a direct debit form (with gift aid) to assist your charity in meeting its objectives?

Michael Goodridge
Chairman of Trustees