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8
CHARITABLE
DONATIONS
The Firefighters Memorial Trust
The Firefighters Charity
Restoration of Appearance and Function
Trust (RAFT)
The Massey Shaw and Marine Vessels
Preservation Society
Andy Goves, Chairman Charitable Trust
The Trustees have, in recent
months, agreed donations
totalling £18,370 which
represents 75% of its annual
income and is in line with the
Financial Model developed as
part of the Charitable Trust’s
Reserves and Investments policy.
The Trustees continue to engage more closely
with the core charities. On 12th July 2011 the
Chairman visited the Massey Shaw undergoing its
major restoration at Gloucester Docks and also
the new Therapy Centre for the Firefighters
Charity at Marine Court, Littlehampton on 22nd
November 2011.
Donations have been made to the following
charities and organisations and in each case there
are defined and tangible outcomes of each grant,
together with performance measures insisted
upon as part of these donations.
A donation of £3410.40 has been made to the
Firefighters Memorial Trust to assist volunteers
refurbishing the wall coverings and carpets in the
Memorial Chapel at the Fire Service College,
which have not received any attention since the
Chapel was formally opened in 1988.
An initial donation of £5000 has been made and
Trustees have agreed to provide a total of
£15,000 by 2013. This will ensure the complete
refurbishment of the Residents’ Lounge at the
new Therapy Centre at Marine Court,
Littlehampton and, crucially, provide a platform
to permanently raise the profile of the Company
and, with it, possibilities for future increased
membership. On-going performance measures
include progress reports on construction and
visits by the Trustees. Opportunities for a
ceremonial plaque and high profile ceremony
exist in 2013 to formally “hand over” the
refurbished lounge.
A donation of £5000 has been provided for a
specific project to study the properties of Smart
Matrix which accelerates the healing process in
burns victims through an improved artificial skin
graft process. A six monthly progress report will
be submitted by RAFT to the Charitable Trust.
A donation of £5000 to completely fund an
educational project to be presented by
professional actors to Key Stage 2 pupils in
London schools studying World War II as part of
their themed based curriculum. On 8th
November, all Trustees were invited to view the
inaugural “dress rehearsal” held at the London
Fire Brigade Museum in Southwark.
Together with Viv Jones, Chair of the PR and
Marketing Group, five Trustees attended this
presentation. The importance of attending this
inaugural production should not be understated -
it provided the Charitable Trustees with an
opportunity to offer feedback and constructive
criticism on the performance, as well as clearly
demonstrating engagement with a beneficiary
and monitoring how the Charity’s donation was
being used for educational benefit.
It is intended that the performance will now be
piloted among selected London schools after
December 2011, with full evaluation completed
by the end of the current school year. The
finished production is planned to be ready for the
start of the school year in September 2012.
Whilst this may seem some months away, the
time frame allows for more extensive
development of the production which will allow
schools attending to tailor the depth of the
production according to their individual teaching
requirements.
This time frame also allows time for important
discussions on how the Worshipful Company and
Charitable Trust would wish to have appropriate
branding on the information packs which have
yet to be developed and will be sent out to
schools in advance of their attendance. Again
opportunities will be available for Trustees to see
the production at these later stages with an
audience of school children.
It is important to emphasise here that this
professionally produced drama, scripted and
enacted by Spectrum Drama, was produced to a
very high standard and whose members are to
be congratulated, along with David Rogers, on its
process thus far.
Fire Industry Charity Ball
Of course, none of these donations
to such deserving causes would
have been possible without the
generous support of all Company
members. And in particular, those
responsible for sponsoring and
supporting the annual Fire Industry
Charitable Ball need special
mention here, due to the
unprecedented amount raised this
year in ever more challenging
financial circumstances.
The Fire Industry Charity Ball was a
great night with a great result, with
over
raised for our
Charitable Trust.
With special thanks to our co-
promoters and sponsors:
Join us next year on 15th
September 2012 at the Radisson
Portman Hotel.
£23,172
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