The Shipwrights' Charitable fund is a registered charity 262043 incorporating 262045.

One of the main functions of a Livery Company is its charitable work. Their origins lie, after all, in guilds of craftsmen and merchants who clubbed together, long before the days of pensions and insurance, to provide a safety-net for widows and orphans, the aged and infirm, and members who had fallen on hard times. To this day a number of Companies continue their early tradition in running almshouses and old people's homes.

The Shipwrights' principal focus is naturally on maritime or waterborne charities, projects, and activities throughout the United Kingdom. The Deed of Trust of the Charitable Fund, and policy guidelines laid down and regularly reviewed by the Court, confine donations to:-

• maritime or waterborne projects or activities.
• the City of London
• church work

with emphasis on support for young people.

Appeals are always acknowledged as soon as possible after receipt. The Education and Charities Committee meets in February, June, and November each year to consider appeals.

Broad details of donations in the last financial year may be found elsewhere on the site, and will give a flavour of the sort of things the Shipwrights support.

Young people who are thinking of asking for help to go on, for example, the Tall Ships Race, should ask themselves the question the Charities Committee asks, which is "What makes this person deserving of support from charitable funds?", make their case accordingly, and provide the names and addresses of two referees who know them reasonably well and are or were in positions of authority - teacher, doctor, clergyman, cadet CO or scout leader, etc. etc.

Appeals for grants to help with "heritage" projects such as ship or boat restoration are usually required to show:

1. that the project will be used to train one or more young people in craft skills and/or
2. that the project has the support of the National Historic Ships Committee.

Appeals should be addressed to the Clerk, and should if possible be accompanied by the latest report and accounts. All appeals are acknowledged.