About Us | Sutton Coldfield Charitable Trust

1528

Bishop Vesey, of Sutton Coldfield, persuaded Henry VIII to grant a charter in 1528 establishing a warden and society (corporation) to govern the town. The corporation was obliged to use rental and other income to provide relief of poverty and improve the locality.

1707

Thomas Jesson, a local merchant, left land and money to provide apprenticeships for boys and to distribute bread to the town's poor. This charity was administered by the corporation and it was later absorbed into municipal charities which ultimately became the trust as it is today.

1825

After a long legal action, the corporation's charities were reorganised and enriched by lands acquired in the 1825 Enclosure Award. From this time, almshouses were built and the trust provided elementary schools (including teaching and uniforms) for Sutton's children. Practical necessities such as coal, blankets and boots were widely distributed. In pre-welfare state days, the charities financed nursing and medical care for people in need and made grants to widows

1886

The town became a borough and the trust took over the corporation and various related charities within one body. This operated closely alongside the council and was administered by the town clerks. New almshouses were built, including two in the 1890s from a bequest by Frances Lingard.

1974

At the time Sutton Coldfield became part of Birmingham, the independence of the trust was safeguarded, ensuring the continuing provision of benefits for individuals and organisations within the former borough boundaries. Although the separate historic charities have been consolidated into one charity, the trustees' fundamental aims and priorities are still very similar to those pursued by Bishop Vesey and his successors over nearly five centuries.

2012

The name of the organisation was changed to Sutton Coldfield Charitable Trust to more appropriately reflect the trust's role within the town as an independent charity.

Almhouse Applications

We provide recently refurbished accommodation for older people at Lingard House in Walmley.

Each of the 46 properties has a double bedroom, living room, kitchen, bathroom, storage space and is equipped with a 24 hour emergency call system connected to two resident Wardens during the day and a Monitoring Centre overnight.

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Grant Applications

Sutton Coldfield Charitable Trust has been in existence for nearly 500 years and offers a range of grant programmes to benefit Sutton Coldfield and its residents.

Our grant awards cover a wide range of needs from individual and organisation support to food banks, to funding for local sport.