Giving to charity can be difficult, not so much the parting with your money bit, but choosing which of the myriad of good causes you should support. Most people choose a charity close to their heart, one that has a link to a personal event, and the majority of members donate to the Environmental Cleaners’ Charitable Trust.
Supporting charities is an important part of a livery company’s role, perhaps the most important aspect of all, and it is no different for the Environmental Cleaners.
In the past year, thanks to members’ contributions to the Charitable Trust we’ve helped causes including several children’s charities and educational funds, and those linked to our armed forces and emergency services. We’ve also supported hospitals, hospices and a number of charities chosen in memory of members who have died recently (including the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity and the British Heart Foundation), as well as making donations to their widows. And that list is by no means exhaustive.
The Trustees of the Charity Fund have to consider an array of applications and unfortunately, despite having just under £35,000 to distribute, still have to turn down some appeals. Each one is given careful thought and those most in need or closest to the Environmental Cleaners’ objectives given priority.
Our charity work isn’t just about donating money, there are a multitude of charitable events throughout the year and many members give up their time too to help out worthy causes.
Meeting the people who benefit from charity work and financial contributions, whether at livery events such as the Military Awards or visits to projects, really brings home the importance of livery companies. These are actual people whose lives are being improved; it’s not just a case of moving numbers around on the balance sheet.
As the Environmental Cleaners our purpose is to make the world a better place, thanks to your donations we are able to do just that.
