Objectives and Activities

Objectives of the Charity

The basic aims of the Trust ( focussing primarily on the North East and South West England ) can be summarised as:

  1. To advance the education of young persons under the age of 25
  2. To promote the relief of persons who are blind or suffering from any ophthalmic disease or disability and to promote research into the causes, treatment and prevention of such.
  3. To provide financial assistance in the relief of sickness of persons who are suffering from terminal illness.
  4. To promote, improve, develop and maintain the education and appreciation of the art and science of music.

Further details can be obtained in writing from the secretary or from https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/1041578/charity-overview?_uk_gov_ccew_onereg_charitydetails_web_portlet_CharityDetailsPortlet_organisationNumber=1041578

The Trustees consider that the operation of the Trust is compliant with the public benefit requirements. The Trustees will continue to focus the Trust’s grants policy on organisations that meet the objectives of the Trust and which are compliant themselves with the Public Benefit guidelines.

Personal grants will continue to be made on the basis that application is open to all members of the public without discrimination on the grounds of race, creed, gender, personal background or financial circumstances, within the aims and guidelines of the Trust.

Guidance  relating to ‘safeguarding’ of vulnerable people does not apply to this Trust as it is currently structured, though grants will not be made to any organisation deemed not to be fulfilling its obligations under this guidance.

Structure, Governance and Management of the Trust

The Christina Aitchison Trust, created as a variation of the Will of the late Miss Christina Aitchison, was finally entered as a registered charity on the 20th October 1994 and granted charitable status by the Inland Revenue backdated to the 12th October 1994.

The Trust was created in Miss Aitchison’s memory in order to support the causes she championed in her lifetime.

The Trustees review their number and roles annually in addition to the administration of the Trust and the award of grants. Day to day operation of the Trust and the initial assessment of applications is carried out by the secretary under the review of the other Trustees.

All Trustees give of their time voluntarily with an allowance being paid annually to the secretary to cover the physical costs of the role.

The Trustees aim to meet annually but otherwise administration of the Trust will be by e-mail, phone or other media as required.

Reference and Administration

Charity Name                                      The Christina Aitchison Trust

Charity No                                          1041578

Chairman and Treasurer                  Mr APG Massingberd-Mundy

Secretary                                             Rev. RWB Massingberd-Mundy

Trustee                                                Mr AM Carding

                                                            Mrs Antonia Carding Wright

Finances
Annual income                                   Approximate £2500
Annual grant expenditure                Approximately £2500
Financial Advisors                              Blackrock Investment management
                                                            CAF Bank