Christ’s Hospital of Abingdon (205112)

Information on its Intention to Make Changes to the Charitable Purposes and to Consolidate Christ’s Hospital of Abingdon and its Linked Charities

Christ’s Hospital of Abingdon (CHoA) is applying to the Charity Commission to seek changes to its scheme (the document by which it is governed) and to the schemes of its linked charities, most notably The Charity of John Blacknall (205112-19), The Charity of Richard Wrigglesworth (205112-20), The Abingdon Almshouse and Relief in Need Charities, Tomkins’ Almshouse Charity  and Twitty’s Almshouse Charity. Most of the provisions in the schemes date to 1971 or earlier and the Governors of CHoA wish to update these to better reflect the social and economic changes that have taken place in the intervening fifty years or more and to ensure that the Charity is responsive to the town’s needs in the 21^st Century.

CHoA proposes to make the following changes:

a) Standardise the eligibility criteria for almshouse residents across all the almshouses and remove the age criteria so that a wider range of people are eligible. Preference will be given to those from Abingdon and those aged over 50;

b) Widen the area of benefit for grant giving to those living, working or attending an educational establishment in OX14 – this will aid administration and make it easier for applicants to know if they are eligible;

c) Albert Park – alter the park financing to better sustain it for all the community to enjoy;

d) Update the way in which we support the former Ecclesiastical Parishes of St Nicholas and St Helen’s, Abingdon [and Marcham];

Vandalism in Albert Park

Police have advised us to ask the public to report any vandalism whilst in progress by telephone on 999. Unfortunately if the crime has been committed and the perpetrators have already left the scene it is extremely unlikely that the Police will be able to act.