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The Company's Poors Benevolent Fund
The Philip Henman Foundation
The Royal Cottage Homes for Watermen

 

For further information of any of our charities please contact: clerk@watermenshall.org.

The Company's Poors Benevolent Fund.

In November 2006 the Charity Commission made a united direction under S96 of the Charities Act 1993 for the Company's Poors Fund and the Benevolent Fund to be treated as one charity for the purposes of registration

The Benevolent Fund of The Company of Watermen and Lightermen of the River Thames ("The Fund") was formed in July 2000 following the reconstruction of the charities of The Company of Watermen and Lightermen. The charity formerly the General Benevolent Fund was founded by The Company of Watermen and Lightermen of the River Thames ("The Company") by Declaration of Trust in 1930. The Fund raises money for the benefit of one of the connecting charities, the Royal Cottage Homes for Watermen, which has almshouses in Hastings and Ditchling. It also raises money to give grants to needy Freemen of The Company.

The Court of The Company of Watermen and Lightermen of the River Thames ("The Company") is the Charitable Trustee of its Charities. These include The Company's Almshouses (The Royal Cottage Homes for Watermen, situated in Hastings and, Ditchling), The Benevolent Fund of the Company of Watermen and Lightermen and The Company's Poors Fund and related charities (the income from which is applied to the almshouses and grants to needy freemen of The Company). The Court acts through the Almshouses and Charities Committee.

The Company's Poors Fund

The Company's Poors Fund was established by Act of Parliament in 1700 for the relief of needy aged Freemen of The Company of Watermen and Lightermen of the River Thames ("The Company") and their widows.

The fund of the Poor Watermen of Westminster is for the relief of needy Watermen, Freemen of The Company and their widows. The income from the fund is included with that of The Company's Poors Fund and is available to all needy aged Freemen and their widows, with priority being given to Westminster Watermen. The amount of the allowance is assessed by the Almshouse and Charities Committee annually depending on the funds available. The funds come from investment income, and donations from Freemen.

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The Philip Henman Foundation

The Philip Henman Foundation was founded by deed in 1961 with a gift from Dr Henman of shares of the Transport Development Group worth £10,000. The income was used to promote and encourage post school education and training for persons engaged in the port transport industry.

On 13 July 1995, the funds of The Philip Henman Foundation were transferred to the new Philip Henman Foundation. The principal object of the trust continues to be the education of young people making or intending to make a career on or in connection with the River Thames. The objects of the Charity were expanded to enable fund-raising and further activities to take place.
The Foundation assists the apprentices and young Freemen of The Company as they train for work on the River. To complete their apprenticeship and to obtain their licence to operate on the River Thames, they must complete courses and examinations on such subjects as navigation and chart work, fire fighting and sea survival. Their working licences are granted by The Company as agents for the Port of London Authority.

The apprentices tend to come from "river families" living in the riparian boroughs to the east of London, and it is unusual for them to have an affluent background. Many find it difficult if not impossible to find full time employment on the River during their five year apprenticeship. The cost of the relevant courses together with educational materials required is about £3,000 over the five years. The Foundation encourages self support, so helps only where it is needed, perhaps for part or the whole of course fees and materials by means of grants etc.. In addition, The Foundation funds training to improve skills and confidence of apprentices to develop leadership and team capabilities and offers character-building opportunities such as sail training cruises and training weekends to introduce apprentices to the essential water skill of rowing. Some apprentices becoming Watermen have reached Olympic standard. The Foundation also owns sculling boats which are loaned to apprentices showing aptitude and commitment.

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The Royal Cottage Homes for Watermen

The Royal Cottage Homes for Watermen was formed in July 2000 following the reconstruction of the charities under the trusteeship of the Court of The Company of Watermen and Lightermen of the River Thames. The charity combined the Royal Cottage Homes for Watermen, founded as the Royal Watermen's and Lightermen's Asylum by Mr John Dudin Brown by deed dated 9 March 1839 and The Home Cottages, Ditchling, founded in 1888 by gift of William Vokins, a Master Lightermen.

The almshouses are provided for retired Freemen of The Company of Watermen and Lightermen of the River Thames and their widows who have reached retirement age and whose economic circumstances are in line with the criteria set by the Almshouses and Charities Committee. Properties surplus to those requirements are privately let in order to maintain the charity's income for the overall maintenance of the properties on short hold tenancies.

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