The Beginning:
The care
of children who came
from Northern families of police officers that had suffered injury, disability
or who had lost their lives, all began in 1897 when Catherine Gurney first
founded the Northern Police Orphanage, later known as St George's House.
Catherine Gurney
Acceptance
of the help offered to families affected and whose lives had been so
dramatically changed was well received and made possible through the
financial support of the participating Police Forces (see
example below), along with donations from the public and businesses.
Typical List of
Participating Police Forces 1950's |
Cheshire |
Cumberland |
Westmorland |
Derbyshire |
Durham County |
Lancashire |
Lincolnshire |
Northumberland |
Nottinghamshire |
Shropshire |
Staffordshire |
Yorkshire East
Riding |
Yorkshire
North Riding |
Yorkshire West
Riding |
York |
Wales |
Police
Training Centres |
Scotland |
The
Trust's Formation:
Over the
years families needs have changed, this resulted in the closure of St
George's House and its assets sold. The Trusts, originally established to
administer these assets and provide support to police children in need,
merged in 2006. Those charities, St George's Fund and Northern Orphans
Trust then formed to become the St George's Police Trust - six years later this in
turn evolved to become the registered charity known now as the St George's Police Children Trust.
So what
began in 1897 is still operating successfully to this day. One can only
imagine the immense satisfaction that Catherine Gurney would feel if she
knew that her valuable work, that of helping the children of police families, was still
being carried on well over a hundred years later.
St George's House c1930
St George's Police Children Trust
c2015
St George's House c1945
The St
George's Police Children Trust charity provides support of a financial
nature to children and young people throughout their school years and in
many cases, further education. The Trust is governed by a body of some twenty
trustees who set budgets, provide strategic guidance, and monitor the
activities and progress of children and the families being supported - all
of which is carried out to a detailed business plan and annual budget.
The Trustees are drawn from
the police staff associations of England, Wales and Scotland.
How the
Police Children Trust helps.
The Trust provides support for on or off duty incidents-
Following is a brief
summary only of the
grants and assistance provided by the Trust, for full details visit
www.stgeorgespolicechildrentrust.org
The Charity
aims to help ease the financial pressures on families that resulted from
the loss of a police officer parent or, due to an injury or illness, are
unable to work.
This financial support is provided throughout their school years and in
some cases, into further education - each year more than half a million pounds is distributed to police
families and more than 300 children and young people are supported by
the Trust every year.
St George's
Police Children Trust Grants
Support allowance and/or seasonal gifts are made by the Trust to
beneficiaries in this category. The payments are assessed on a financial
basis and a banding framework used. Funding can be made to this group
for any eligible beneficiary whilst in full time education to statutory
school leaving age, or up to the end of the school year in which they
turn 19 years of age.
Weekly Support
Allowance
May be payable
to beneficiaries whilst in education up to the end of the school year in
which they turn 19.
The amount paid will be dependent upon household income and the
applicable support band.
Further
Education Grants
These are
available from the age of 18 to help support a course of study in
further education. Beneficiaries will be eligible for a
course of up to a maximum of four years or to the age of 25, whichever
is the lesser.
The Trust's support is a fixed sum payable (not the whole
course costs) in three equal installments throughout the academic year.
The Trust does not provide grants for "gap year" periods or
activities.
Ex-Gratia
Grants
The
ex-gratia
grants application process and criteria includes consideration of
applications in respect of trade tools when leaving school to start
work, musical instruments, text books etc. The merit of each application
will be considered on a case by case basis.
Special Needs
Grants
The Trust will support children who are deemed to be classed as having a
special need. To be eligible the criteria is to be in receipt of the
"children's award" as defined in the police pensions regulations. Proof
of receipt will be required.
Holiday
Home
The Trust has recently purchased a property in Harrogate which is to be
used as a holiday home predominantly for our new and current
beneficiaries. It's aim is to be a place for families to escape from the
pressures of home - spending some much needed time together. A one
week's respite stay at our holiday home will now be available to all
current beneficiaries and, subject to availability, can be taken
anytime. For further details, please check the website
www.stgeorgespolicechildrentrust.org
How the
Trust makes
a difference to police families:
"It feels
really special to get some money from the Trust at Christmas. When Dad
was alive we always got gift vouchers from the police at Christmas, so
it's nice not to be forgotten now that he's no longer here. It feels
like the money is something Dad has left for us" (Elena aged 17,
Cleveland)
"The
support we received from the Trust meant Rhianna and I could move
forward and start a life together.. It really was a turning point in our
lives, giving me the boost to be independent." (Sarah, Lancashire)
"The money
we received from St George's has made such a difference to the boys
lives, it has paid for all the extras; extra tuition, sports lessons,
music lessons, not to mention just helping to cover the costs of
bringing up a family of five. The Trust has enabled our children to not
miss out on all those extra things and has made life enjoyable. I can't
begin to imagine how different our lives would have been without the
support we have received. Can't begin to explain how grateful we are and
so thankful for what they have done". (Rachel, Yorkshire)
"I had no
idea what the St George's fund did before my husband's death; I just
knew it was another deduction from his wages every month. The support we
receive from the Trust helps us to not feel forgotten, that is really
important" (Sue, Cleveland)
How you can help:
In these
difficult financial times and, as the numbers of police officers
continue to decline, we need more than ever before to source new ways of
raising money so that we can continue to help those children in need.
The simplest way
of helping is to make a donation to the St George's Police Children
Trust.
By Post: St Andrew's, Harlow Moor Road, Harrogate, HG2 0AD.
(Please make cheques payable to: St George's Police Children Trust).
Leaving a Gift in your Will: By doing this you are helping to
secure the future of the charity, enabling it to continue supporting
more and more families.
How this
can be done is explained in detail by visiting the following web site:
www.stgeorgespolicechildrentrust.org/how-you-can-help/Donate
Gift
Aid is a really easy way to make your gift go further. Gift Aid
doesn't cost you or the charity a penny either ! The Trust claims a
refund on tax that you have already paid - all you need to do is
complete the Gift Aid declaration when you make a donation. For more
information telephone 01423 504448 or you can download a form from the
web site.
Newsletter:
The St George's Police Children Trust produces a regular newsletter - if
you would like to stay up to date with all of the Trust's news or you
want to make a fundraising enquiry visit the Trust's website link shown
below:
Contact
the St George's Police Children Trust:
Street address-
St Andrew's, Harlow Moor
Road, Harrogate. HG2 0AD
Telephone-
01423 504448
Web site-
www.stgeorgespolicechildrentrust.org
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