Town and Manor hands out £120,000 in five years
In 2015 alone, total was £12,500
THE Town and Manor of Hungerford has handed out more than £120,000 to local good causes in the past 15 years.
At a meeting of the registered charity this month, the Constable of the Town and Manor, Susan Hofgartner, reviewed the donations made to institutions and initiatives within the local community.
In the period January 2000 to December 2015, the total donations exceeded £120,000 and, in 2015 alone, donations totalled £12,500.
Major beneficiaries during the past 15 years have included St Lawrence’s Church (£20,000), the Youth and Community Centre (£15,000), the Town Band (£12,500), the providers of the Christmas lights and the Victorian Extravaganza (£12,600 combined) as well as many other recipients such as CHAIN, Hadcaf, educational trusts and local welfare societies.
The donations are provided at no cost to the local community because they are not raised from the rates or by other taxation.
The Town and Manor of Hungerford is independent of government and its financial success is dependant upon the trustees’ ability to raise revenues from its own commercial operations.
In addition to the donations, the Town Hall complex is made available to local charities and other non-profit making organisations at discounted rates.
The Town and Manor also provides to the community of Hungerford, at its own cost of administration and capital expenditure, facilities such as fencing, roads, signage, the well-used amenities of the 200-acre Portdown Common, the 90-acre Freemans Marsh and The Church Croft.
The trustees are charged under the Charity Commission scheme to run the estate profitably and to support local residents by maintaining the availability, at favourable rates, of the Town Hall and to support organisations of the town by donations.
They are also charged with observing and protecting the ancient rights to hold markets and fairs, and the commoner’s rights.
More details are available on the charity’s website at www.townandmanor.co.uk
