Tylers' & Bricklayers' Charitable Trusts and Relief in Need Charity Newsletter Autumn 2016
Charity of the Year The Trustees are delighted to announce the launch of a Tylers’ and Bricklayers’ Charity of the Year as part of the 450th Charter Anniversary celebrations. Liverymen attending Common Hall will be asked to take part in a vote to choose the first Charity of the Year, to be launched at the Installation of the New Master in October 2017. Further details will be announced very soon.
How you can help the Trusts It’s really quite simple! Complete a Standing Order Form for the Trusts or Charity. You can donate monthly, quarterly or annually – just £20 per month will make a difference!
And so it was under ominous August skies that the group, led by Deputy Master Tom Rider, made their way to the helipad on the 17th floor of the Royal London Hospital to be greeted by three members of the LAA team, Bronwen Jones, Tanya Moss and Mike Horton. Fire Officer Mike led the group to the helipad where he explained that “Walter” the newest of the helicopters was on standby to respond to requests for assistance to trauma patients anywhere within the M25 boundary. On average there are 6 call outs in a 24 hour period, each costing £2650 just to take off. The helicopter, which operates during daylight hours, is manned by pilots, a doctor and a paramedic with the fire officer ensuring the safety of every flight. They respond within 4 minutes of activation and on average will land within 6 minutes. The helicopter will land where it is safe to do so, including T junctions, parks and some very well know locations in London such as Tower Bridge Green!
Gift aided standing order forms are available from: Lesley Day Hon. Secretary Tylers and Bricklayers Charitable Trusts 15 Heathway Chaldon, Caterham, Surrey CR3 5DN charities@tylersandbricklayers.co.uk
Tylers’ and Bricklayers’ visit London Air Ambulance One of the core principals of the Livery movement as a whole is to support charities. The Tylers’ and Bricklayers’ Company is no exception and we were delighted to accept an invitation from one of our beneficiaries, the London Air Ambulance to visit their headquarters and helipad at the Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel. The service started operating from the top of The Royal London Hospital in 1989 when there was a great deal of competition from hospitals in London to have London’s Air Ambulance based at their hospital. The Royal London Hospital was successful in its bid as it was the only multi-disciplinary hospital with a site where it would be safe to build a roof top helipad. Although there are now four trauma hospitals in London, it is currently only one of two with an operational roof top helipad.
What most people do not realise is that the London Air Ambulance is a charity. Whilst it receives some funds from NHS Trusts and the National Lottery, LAA must fundraise to bring in the required £6 million to run its two helicopters for a year. The Tylers and Bricklayers Charitable Trust is able to provide a charitable grant to the work of the London Air Ambulance using donations from its Liverymen and Freemen together with investment income. Incidentally “Walter” was so named following a competition to come up with an appropriate name. “Walter” was named after the grandad of the winner, Megan. In her entry Megan explained “My grandad is named Wally and lives in the moon and stars with the angels so he would help keep the helicopter safe in the sky when it's helping people. He is my hero and my angel in the sky and I will share him to help the other people.”