Charities that make grants available to village residents to assist with apprenticeships, academic requirements, study or training courses. See below for details of when they were formed, who they help and how you can apply.
Dr Rogers Trust
The Trust was created on the death of Dr Rogers, who was Rector of Holton, in 1665. He left a legacy of £200 which was to be used ¡°to provide for the apprenticing of 20 to 25 boys of Holton¡±. This was later invested in some 6 acres of land at Brill, know as Primrose Hill.
During 1980 the Charity Commission assisted the Trustees in setting up a revised scheme and the Trustees shall now ¡°apply the income of the charity in such ways as they think fit in promoting education (including social and physical training) of children and young persons resident in the area of the ancient parish of Holton¡±.
The land at Brill was sold in 1987 and the proceeds were invested in funds operated by the official Custodian of Charities. Over the years these funds have been added to and they have been producing an annual income in the region of £1,400.00 although currently this is much reduced because of low interest rates.
The Trust considers applications from apprentices, trainees and students, over the age of 14, for grants to assist in the purchase of books and equipment towards the cost of specialist courses. The Trust also offers bursaries towards the cost of Outward Bound Courses.
The awards are granted twice a year and details of when to apply are advertised in the Holton Newsletter.
If you live in Holton and require an application form or any further details contact: Doris Pridmore, Bry-Eve, Jean Hambridge, Kirton House or Caroline King, The Rectory.
The Emma Wilson Memorial Fund Awards
For many years the Trust, in memory of Emma Wilson, has made awards to local young people to acknowledge their contribution to village and school life. Again this last year we have been able to support Wheatley Park School by making a donation for awards at Prize Giving and to support their project linking the school with students in Uganda. Some Primary School pupils have also received awards for their special contributions to the school community.
We have also given further support to St Mary¡¯s Church for the Organ Scholarship.
If you have noticed any young person giving of their time and skill voluntarily to enrich the work of an organisation or activity in Wheatley please nominate them for an award.
Young People¡¯s Initiative Fund
Following the generous gift from the Farndell Bequest our trustees have set up a new fund to support initiatives by young people which benefit the communities of Wheatley or Littleworth. These initiatives must be created and managed by the young people themselves. We would welcome any applications or enquiries from groups of young people interested in setting up a project of any kind that will benefit the community. Details are as follows
Applications can be made at any time during the year.
Applications must be from groups of young people 12 ¨C 21 years old and resident in the villages of Wheatley or Littleworth, or from Wheatley Park School.
A project can be a single event or a series of on-going activities or events which benefit individuals or groups within the communities of Wheatley or Littleworth or which benefit the community life of Wheatley Park School at Holton. .
Grants will be towards the running expenses of the project.
No individual from the applying group may gain financially from the project.
Grants of up to £1000 can be made in two instalments
Each applicant must also name a mentor willing to oversee expenditure and guide the group in developing the project.
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Daffodils
Many of you will remember that the trustees planted daffodil bulbs on the verges and green spaces of Wheatley at the time of the Millennium in memory of Emma. Very many thanks to those of you who helped with this project by planting bulbs near your homes.
In the autumn of last year, the tenth anniversary of our original planting, we planted a great many more with the help of local families, the Cubs and children from Wheatley Primary and the John Watson Schools. After such a grim winter the splashes of yellow have been a delight, cheering up the public spaces. So much so that we have decided to plant even more bulbs this coming Autumn. We have tried to note the spaces which still need some Spring colour and would be grateful if anyone would join us once again by planting bulbs near their homes.
Sadly, some younger members of our community thought the flowers were there to be picked or trashed. Perhaps they need to be reminded that they are there for us all to enjoy and to remember Emma Wilson who had such a positive and helpful attitude to the village and school communities.
For further information about any of the above initiatives please contact: Chris on 01865 423966 or Jan on 01865 873695.
Wheatley Charities
¡°Wheatley Charities, is registered under the Charity Number of 203535 with the Charity Commission, and is an amalgamation of several local charities set up many years ago and was last re-organised in 1968. The oldest of these was in existence prior to 1686 and others followed during the next centuries or so. A year or two ago Wheatley Charities benefited from a local bequest which has substantially increased the charitable funds available for distribution within the provisions of the prevailing Trust Deed.
Under the current provisions of the Deed, five Trustees (two of whom are appointed by Wheatley Parish Council, one is the Vicar for the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Mary the Virgin, Wheatley and the remaining two are co-opted by the other Trustees), administer and manage two trusts both of which are for persons residing in Wheatley and Littleworth.
The first Trust is for the benefit of poor persons resident in the Parish either in gifts in kind or grants of money: the second is for educational purposes and grants may be awarded to apprentices, students and trainees under the age of 25 years to assist them to prepare for any trade, occupation or profession.
Applicants for the latter are invited each year in The Wheatley Newsletter and via other places to apply for an application form from the Chairman, Peter Targett on 01865 873147 or the Secretary, Janet Redfern on 01865 873389.
These should be returned to the Secretary by a stipulated date in September of the year of application and shortly after that date all applications are considered with a view to dispatching grants to successful applicants as early as possible.
The Trustees are actively working with the Charity Commission to revise the Trust Deed to allow an increase in the grant making activity of the Charity. ¡°
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