Page 7 - July 2017

Worshipful Company of Firefighters Charitable Trust
WCOFF CHARITABLE TRUST
The Charitable Trust is in the process of going through incorporation with the Charities Commission which is likely to be concluded by the end of 2017. One of their requirements is to have a regular rotation of Trustees. Graham Maltby is reviewing a streamlined administrative process on behalf of the Trustees to ensure that we respond to the Charities Commission requests in a timely and efficient manner.
Over the last year we have continued to support a number of Fire Cadet programmes run by London Fire Brigade and the Essex Fire and Rescue Service, as well as a specific project for the Air Training Corps aligned to the Ministry of Defence Firefighting School at Manston in Kent. We have made grants to other youth related charities including the “Burns Camp”, which provides confidence re-building strategies for young people who have been burned in fire related events. We have also made a grant award to “FIRE AID”, a charity which utilises volunteers from across the United Kingdom Firefighting Services to equip and train overseas Fire and Rescue Services in communities less fortunate than ourselves, such as in Moldova.
The Lord Mayor’s Charity has again been supported. An exciting Education and Training initiative is being steered by the Education and Training Sub-Committee towards granting recognition awards to graduate students who present valuable and worthwhile dissertations and theses surrounding Fire and Rescue and Fire Industry related educational projects from 11 recognised Educational Establishments. The capital funds are ably invested for us by JMFinn. A new Legacy Document has recently been approved by the trustees and will soon be made available to livery members. The Charitable Trust remains thankful for and acknowledges the support of the many donors to the Trust, particularly Company members, and from events such as the Fire Industry Charitable Ball and the City Dinner.
Frances Blois Chairman.
Worshipful Company of Firefighters Charitable Trust
Frances Blois
Chairman of the Charitable Trust
It has been over a year since I was privileged to become Chairman of the Charitable Trust and carry on the good work of my predecessor Past Master Frank David. He had steered the Trust over a number of years and it would be remiss of me not to pay tribute to my Mentor and colleague who has seen the Trust through a period of much development and change. We have had a number of changes since my Chairmanship. We have the retirement of Past Masters Frank David and Bryan Spearman, Graham Maltby has taken over as Vice- Chairman and we have recently been joined by Howard Myers. Past Master Michael Harper will also be retiring and will be replaced soon. A recent request has gone out to Liverymen to think about applying as a Trustee.
The Charitable Trust realises that the world of the Fire Industry and the Fire and Rescue Service, like many sectors, is changing at a considerable pace and we will shortly be looking at the current core charities to see if these reflect the changing environment. We will also consider what else we can do in the youth and young persons sector. This draws on one of “Aims and Objectives” of the Company and the Charitable Trust in providing opportunities to promote responsible and good citizenship for future generations.
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