Club Meeting Speakers -John Broadhead and Ian Blamiers

Rotary Club of Birstall Luddites
Club Speakers Rotarians John Broadhead and Ian Blamiers.
BATLEY AND BIRSTALL COMMUNITY FUND (BBCF)-- Talk 21 JANUARY

John Broadhead and Ian Blamiers, trustees of BBCF, gave a talk about the history of the trust and described the work it carries out today.

The object of the charitable trust is to provide financial help to the inhabitants of Batley and Birstall in such a way that the trustees think fit. The trust was launched in 2012 following the merger of two older trusts which had a sililar purposes.

John who chairs BBFC, gave the background to the two trusts. The Batley poor Fund was started in 1869 when John Jubb, a Mill owner, and Batlys first Mayor, invested £100 in a trust, the dividend of which were to be distributed to the poor of Batly at Christmas. By 2012 the investment was worth more than a quarter of a million pounds.

The Wiliam Henry Coulter Trust was launched in the 1930s when Bill Coulter, on the closure of his iron foundry, donated the land to the council on the understanding that any proceeds from its sale would go to good causes helping the people of Batley and Birstall. In 1963 the land was sold to the West Yorkshire District Transport Company to accommodate a new bus station and the money was placed in trust. By 2012, the investmen twas worth more than £300,000.

Today the value of the merged trusts is nearing a millioin pounds and each year the dividend from the trusts investments provide more than £30,000 for good causes. Over the past 6 years BBFC has made 57 grants to 40 charities or community organisations. The total amount granted in this period exceeds £125,000.

Ian described the application process and gave examples of the type of grant made. He explained the criteria that the trust uses to decide whether or not a grant should be made, emphasising the rigorous scrutiny is made of each application.

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