The Company's charitable interests are wide-ranging within its long-standing policy of support for charity in the City of London, the saddlery trade, the equestrian world, education and the relief of distress in many forms.
The greater part of the annual income from charitable funds is committed on a long-term basis within this general framework, but a proportion of the Company's charitable resources is reserved to meet some of the many appeals which are received each year.
These include research projects directed towards the causes of physical and mental illness, the relief of distress among individuals, rehabilitation, assistance to young people and support for the elderly, the Church, Service charities, animal welfare and the arts.
In the field of education, the Company provides substantial support for City University through the Charity of Robert Kitchin and maintains a number of major scholarships and bursaries at Alleyn's School which is part of the College of God's Gift founded by Edward Alleyn at Dulwich in 1619. The Company has representatives on both the Advisory Board and Court of City University and the Board of Governors of Alleyn's School.
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Alleyn's new Saddlers' scholars, September 2006 |
The Company is a founder member of the City & Guilds of London Institute (1878), and has continued its financial support for the Institute through to the present day. The Company is represented on the Institute's Council by a member of the Court.
The training of entrants to the saddlery craft has been a major responsibility from the Company's earliest days, and this work continues through the Apprenticing Charity which supports saddlery training in a variety of ways, including establishing national standards for the trade as a whole. Much of the formalised training for young saddlers is carried out at Capel Manor College, where the Company has a representative on the Advisory Board. The students are offered grants to support them during their training.
In addition, representatives of the Company are also on the Boards of Trustees of the Leather Conservation Centre and the Museum of Leathercraft, and the Executive Committee of the Society of Master Saddlers.
Among the Company's long-term commitments is support for the Riding for the Disabled Association, although other equestrian charities are given assistance when resources permit.
