T H E C L OT H W O R K E R S ’ A N N U A L R E V I E W 2 0 1 0
Introduction This Review provides an insight into the activities of the Clothworkers in 2009-10. The Clothworkers comprises a City of London Livery Company and its associated charity, The Clothworkers’ Foundation. Founded by Royal Charter in 1528, the Company was established to promote the craft of clothworking in the City of London. It supervised the training of apprentices and protected standards of workmanship. Its members were all actively involved in the craft. Livery Companies have always had close connections with the City Corporation and their members elect the Sheriffs and Lord Mayor to this day. The Clothworkers’ Company accumulated considerable wealth over the centuries, largely through bequests of money and property from members, and by prudent management of its assets. The Company’s overall objectives are to administer its assets and affairs responsibly, play its part in the civic life of the City of London, support the textile industry in appropriate ways and seek to increase its charitable giving. Charity has always been at the heart of the Company’s activity, initially supporting members in need, but subsequently also outsiders. In modern times, the Clothworkers’ charitable activity has been channelled through its grant-making charity, The Clothworkers’ Foundation, and its associated trusts which focus on relief in need, education and blind welfare. The Company passes its income, having paid the expenses of running the Hall and its activities, across
to the Foundation each year. This, together with income from the Foundation’s own investments, is distributed to a broad range of charities. The Company remains a membership organisation, although there are no longer direct links with its original trade. Members join as Freemen or Freewomen, and some are elected to the Livery, when they take a more active role in the Company. The Court of Assistants, headed by the Master, runs the affairs of the Company, acting as a board of directors. The board of trustees of the Foundation is drawn from the Court of the Company. The Company has owned a Hall on the same site since the fifteenth century. This contains the administrative offices, together with function rooms used for member meetings and events. The latter are available for hire to third parties to make the venue accessible when not required for the Company’s own purposes. This Review covers the key activities of the Company: in textiles (where the Foundation is also active), its emerging interest in trusteeship, the focus of its collections, and its support for the armed forces. It also contains information on the broad range of charitable activity undertaken by the Foundation. Whilst the financial information on our charity and the list of grants made relate to the calendar year 2009, the commentary extends to activities in the first half of 2010. The Review is directed both at the members of the Company as well as interested outside parties; we hope it will make interesting and informative reading on the modern role of an ancient City Livery Company.
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