26 January 2012
City charity supports ground-breaking children’s hospice with
£146,000
City of London’s City Bridge Trust – which uses surpluses from
the City bridges to help London good causes - has given Richard
House Children’s Hospice £146,000 for work supporting young people
with a life-limiting condition during their transition to
adulthood.
The grant for the hospice in Richard House Drive, Beckton will
help these young people to lead an active and fulfilling life and
was part of £1.73m of grants made to London charities at the last
City Bridge Trust Committee meeting on 12 January 2012.
Billy Dove MBE JP, Chairman of the City of London Corporation’s
City Bridge Trust Committee said:
“I don’t suppose those who donated money for London Bridge 800
years ago expected the £16 million annual surplus to now help young
people facing such challenges. City Bridge Trust is keen to support
this project because it bridges the move from childhood to
adulthood for those living with a life-limiting condition as well
as coping with the normal ups and downs of adolescence.”
Peter Ellis, Chief Executive of Richard House Hospice
said:
“We are thrilled to receive this support from City Bridge
Trust. This grant will help us to improve the quality of life
for young people with a life-limiting condition by giving them more
choice and control over their independent living and employment,
education and training opportunities. We are deeply grateful to the
Trust for supporting us in this way.”
Last year the City’s City Bridge Trust made 228 grants to London
charities, totalling £16.8milion and between 1995 and 2011 it
granted over £250 million to London charities.
The Trust’s origins can be traced back to 1097 when William
Rufus, second son of William the Conqueror, raised a special tax to
help repair the wooden London bridge. In 1176 the first stone
bridge across the river Thames began and that bridge, with its 19
arches, was completed 33 years later in 1209.
Ends
Notes to editors
- Press enquiries
Nick McClelland, City of London Corporation
Tel 020 7332 1754
Email
nicholas.mcclelland@cityoflondon.gov.uk
Stewart Goshawk, City Bridge Trust, City of London
Corporation
Tel 020 7332 3712
Email
stewart.goshawk@cityoflondon.gov.uk
Richard House Hospice
Karen Duncan
Trust and Statutory Fundraiser
Tel 020 7540 0226
Email
karend@richardhouse.org.uk
- About the City of London Corporation
The City of London Corporation – which is the trustee of the City
Bridge Trust - is a uniquely diverse organisation. Its main
role is to support and promote the City as a world leader in
international finance and business services and provide local
services and policing for those working in, living in and visiting
the Square Mile. It also provides other valued services to
London and the nation. These include the Barbican Centre and
the Guildhall School of Music & Drama; the Guildhall Library
and Art Gallery and London Metropolitan Archive; a range of
education provision (including three City Academies); five Thames
bridges (under the City Bridge Trust),; the Central Criminal Court
at Old Bailey; over 10,000 acres of open spaces (including
Hampstead Heath and Epping Forest), and three wholesale food
markets. It is also London’s Port Health Authority and runs
the Animal Reception Centre at Heathrow. It works in
partnership with neighbouring boroughs on the regeneration of
surrounding areas
- The City Bridge Trust
The City Bridge
Trust is London’s largest independent grant-making trust, and its
sole trustee is the City of London Corporation. Through
grant-making and strategic initiatives, the City Bridge Trust works
closely with voluntary groups and charities to reduce disadvantage
in London. The City Bridge Trust was set up in 1995 as the grant
making arm of Bridge House Estates whose original purpose was to
maintain the first stone bridge across the River Thames – London
Bridge. Its funds date from the 12th century when tolls were first
charged. www.citybridgetrust.org.uk
- Richard House Children's
Hospice
Richard House provides much needed care
and services to children with life-limiting, life-threatening and
complex healthcare conditions and their families from London and
the surrounding area. Care is provided free to children and their
families. Many of the children at Richard House are not expected to
reach adulthood and they and their families enjoy a wide variety of
experiences at Richard House. The hospice offers day care,
short-residential stays and support in the home to children from
birth until their 20th birthday. There is always one bed set aside
for emergency and end-of-life care. Other services include family
support, bereavement services and a siblings group. Specialist
facilities include a multi-sensory room, a transition young adults
group for hospice users from 16 to 25 years, and a long-term
ventilation service. Richard House needs to raise £3.1 million in
order to provide these valuable services each year. Richard House’s
registered charity number is 1059029.
www.richardhouse.org.uk