Ann Brightwell Charity – 307978

The Ann Brightwell Charity was founded in 1705.

It was started by Mrs Ann Brightwell who directed that her residuary personal estate should be used to create income to be applied to the apprenticing and outfitting of children and the purchase of equipment.  In 1877, the Charity Commission ordered that all the property and belongings to this charity was sold and the proceeds invested with official trustees with clear purposes set out.

The purposes of the charity are:

• Relieve either generally or individually persons resident in the parish of Burghfield who are in a position of need, hardship or distress.
• To provide grants of money or providing or paying for items, services or facilities calculated to reduce the need, hardship or distress of such persons
• To pay for such items, services or facilities by way of donation or subscriptions to institutions or organisations which provide, or which undertake in return to provide such items, services or facilities for such persons
• In exceptional circumstances, to grant relief to persons otherwise eligible therefore who are resident immediately outside the Parish of Burghfield but in the option of the Trustees ought nevertheless for sufficient reason to be treated as if residential therein or who are located for the time being therein

Qualifying areas of need:

• Weekly allowances for a limited period to meet a particular need
• Special payments to relieve sudden distress, sickness or infirmity
• Payment of travelling expenses for such persons entering or leaving hospitals, convalescent homes or similar institutions or for relatives visiting such persons in such institutions particularly where more frequent visits are desirable than payments from public funds will allow
• Subscriptions to secure the admittance of such persons to homes or hostels for the residence or care of old, infirm and homeless persons
• Provision of items for such persons which may include gifts of furniture, bedding, clothing, food, fuel, heating appliances or loans of expensive apparatus such as radio or television sets for widows with large families
• Supply of tools or books or payment of fees for instruction or examination or travelling expenses to help them to earn their living
• Arrangements for a recuperative holiday or change of air for those long deprived of this