Two Charities set up, one in 1704 the STANSBY CHARITY, and 1910 the WOODWARD CHARITY are managed by Shurdington Parish Council and Badgeworth Council.  They are now known jointly as the WOODWARD & STANSBY CHARITIES. This was first published in the Parish News magazine of August 1991 and compiled by Mr Ken Twinning.

"In the Name of God – Amen – I William Stansby of Badgeworth Clerk being sickly in Body but of good and perfect memory thanks be given to Almighty God Do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following First I give and bequeath my soul to God that is trusting to be saved by the merits of Jesus Christ my most Merciful saviour and redeemer and my Body to the Earth from whence it came and as for my Worldly Estate which it hath pleased God to bestow upon me I dispose thereof as followeth......"

These are the opening words of the Will dated 3^rd May 1704 of the Reverend William Stansby who died in 1708. By his Will he created a trust in respect of his estate which (inter alia) gave charitable bequests to the Parish of Badgeworth and Great Shurdington to the Parish of Churchdown and to Cheltenham for specific purposes. As to Badgeworth and Great Shurdington and to quote from the Will as follows:-

"… … shall out of the yearly rents and profits…pay…to my trustees of the parish of Badgeworth and Great Shurdington the sum of five pounds yearly for ever…shall be expended…to the binding out apprentice one or more poor child of children or children of honest Day Labourers to some useful trade or occupation but in no case or at any time to be given with or to the children of usurers Ale sellers or persons of wicked life and conversation either known or reputed as such nor to any of the Hallings of Badgeworth except remarkable for goodness and honesty….…"

In due course of time the property (the rents of which provided the yearly payments) was sold. The Stansby Charity subsequently was provided with £200 Consolidated 2½ % stock which produced the yearly sum of £5.00p. A scheme sealed by the Charity Commission on 4^th December 1923 regularised the procedure for the appointment of trustees of the Charity and updated the objects of the Charity as follows:

"Income shall be applied for the following objects and order of priority:-
Firstly in binding or apprenticing one or more qualified children.
Secondly in accumulating the income at compound interest…and in applying the income so accumulated when a suitable opportunity occurs in binding out or apprenticing a qualified child.
Thirdly in applying the said income in the assistance of qualified children who are preparing for entering upon or engaged in any trade occupation or service by outfits, payment of fees for instruction, payment of travelling expenses or such other means for their advancement in life to enable them to earn their own living as the trustees concerned think fit…"

"A qualified child" is then defined as a poor child of an honest day labourer resident in the Ancient Parish of Badgeworth and Great Shurdington.

The Trustees Investment Act 1961 widened the powers of investment of trustees. The Charity Commission established an Investment Fund to facilitate recourse to this and this charity’s trust fund became 89 Charities Official Investment Fund units whereby the value of this charity’s fund increased over the years as also did the annual income.

Julia Lucy Woodward died on 22^nd June 1910 and her will (with a codicil) was dated 25^th October 1906. Under her will "with a view to perpetuate the memory of her father" she directed that her farm and premises called Chargrove Oak Farm should be sold and the proceeds disbursed for various charitable purposes. A one-eight share was allocated to Shurdington…."Upon Trust that the Minister and Churchwardens might invest the…share…and from time to time apply the income produced therefrom in apprenticing a Boy or Boys…to a trade in such manner as the Minister and Churchwardens should think fit…"

A Scheme sealed by the Charity Commission on 9^th October 1926 updated the objects of the Charity as follows:-

"In so far as the Trustees of the…Charity are unable in any year usefully to apply the income of the Charity applicable for apprenticing a boy or boys…the trustees may apply the same in the assistance of poor boys…who are preparing for, entering upon, or engaged in any trade occupation or service by outfits payment of fees for instruction, payment of travelling expenses or such means for their advancement in life to enable them to earn their own living as the Trustees think fit."

The Trustees Investment Act 1961 widened the powers of investment of Trustees. The Charity Commission established and Investment Fund to facilitate recourse to this and the charity’s trust fund became 150 Charities Official Fund units whereby the value of this charity’s trust fund increased, as also did the annual income.

WOODWARD & STANSBY CHARITIES.    (return to top)

It has become evident that the objects of the two Charities (both of a similar nature) did not meet with modern educational requirements. Under powers contained in the Charities Act 1961a merger of the two Charities has been arranged and a new single Charity under the above title has been created. The Scheme was sealed by the Charity Commission on 5^th October 1990. The Scheme sets out the rules and procedure for the administration of the new single Charity with objects as follows:

1. In assisting persons who have not attained the age of 25 years in the Parishes of badgeworth and Shurdington who are in need of financial assistance and who are preparing for entering upon or engaged in any profession trade occupation or service by providing them with outfits or by paying fees travelling or maintenance expenses or by such other means for their advancement in life or to enable them to earn their living as the Trustees think fit.
2. In otherwise promoting the education (including social and physical training) of such persons"

The Trustees are desirous of fulfilling their duties in a responsible and active manner and it is for this reason that this article has been prepared (Ed. date unknown, but probably early 90's) to make known the existence of the new Charity and its antecedents.

To avoid any doubt it is stressed that this is a ‘Parochial Charity’ and not a ‘Church Charity’.

To quote from the Scheme – "the Incumbent for the time being of the present benefice of Badgeworth with Shurdington" is however an ex-officio trustee of the Charity. If therefore anyone feels himself or herself entitled to seek assistance from the Charity or if any person knows anyone who might benefit then an initial approach may be made to the Incumbent (i.e. the Vicar) at the time for he is accordingly a permanent trustee whilst the other trustees change by rotation. It is considered that payment of grants is restricted to individuals and not organisations.

The other trustees, with their respective period of years in office in brackets, are Mr Derek R Taylor (5 years), Mr Gilbert F W Roper (4 years), Mr David A Davies (3 years) and Mr Desmond R Williams (2 years). Their successors are appointed, as and when their respective terms of office expire, variously by Shurdington Parish Council, Badgeworth Parish Council and co-option. They are the inaugural trustees of the new Charity deriving their appointment from their trusteeships of the two old charities.

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