James Henry Blake Charity
Established 1909 to aid the personal development of young people in Mansfield and Chatteris.
Funding for the development of young people
We provide grants for the social and personal development of young people in need of support who live in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire and Chatteris, Cambridgeshire. The grants enable children and young people to take part in approved, organised and safeguarded educational and leisure activities.
How does it Work?
Children and young people between the ages of five and eighteen can receive financial assistance to access a wide range of activities, including those connected with the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, Scouting, Girl Guiding, school field trips etc. as well as holidays run for youngsters with life-limiting illnesses.
1. Activities must be designed to aid personal and social development of an individual or group and applications can be made at any time.
2. Individuals and groups should preferably have been professionally identified by teachers, healthcare staff, group leaders etc, as requiring financial support.
3. The trustees meet during the year to assess all applications and make decisions on which grants can be approved. In exceptional circumstances support may be given at short notice.
Who can apply?
You must be based within the District Council areas of Mansfield (Nottinghamshire) or Chatteris (Cambridgeshire) to qualify for a grant.
Financial grants can be for any individual or groups as long as they are between five and eighteen years of age.
All activities should have been assessed to ensure current Health and Safety, Safeguarding and Vulnerable Children's policies are in place.
For further information on how to apply please call 01623 632525
or email: [email protected]
About the charity
The James Henry Blake Charity was established under the terms of the last will and testament of James Henry Blake, a well-respected businessman and former Mayor of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, who came originally from Chatteris in Cambridgeshire.
His will became effective in 1909 and the relevant section states the aims as:
"...enabling or assisting poor orphans or other poor children... to go for a holiday of seven to fourteen days duration to the seaside or elsewhere... Each boy will be provided with a new suit of clothes, cap and pair of boots and each girl with a new dress, hat and pair of boots"
Originally, the charity organised and ran the holidays to coastal resorts, London and adventure centres, helping young people take part in educational and leisure activities. Joint holidays were funded for young people from Mansfield and Chatteris to places like Great Hucklow in Derbyshire, giving many their first experience of life in the countryside.
This photo shows a group setting out on holiday in 1962 leaving from St Peter's Church in Mansfield, (courtesy of Mansfield and Ashfield News Journal)
Even trips as far afield as Poland on the PHAB Land-cruiser were supported by the charity and reports by youngsters afterwards showed how much the wide range of new activities were appreciated. Adult volunteers like Michael Page, who organised several annual holidays became a valued trustee, able to offer wise insight to ensure the value of the visits supported.
Times change and these days the charity no longer organises its own holidays for children, as by virtue of legislative amendments approved by the Charity Commission of England and Wales in May 2009, the aims now read:
"to assist children aged up to eighteen years of age in need of support, in any activity of leisure or personal development deemed appropriate by the Trustees... any such child will be provided with any necessary clothing, equipment or expenses"
In more recent times, the Charity has given donations towards organised camping and sailing visits for a Beaver Pack; enabled the entire year of a school to take part in a residential field trip; supported Girl Guides to enjoy a weekend guiding festival in Lincolnshire and also helped a Venture Scout group attend a World Convention in Brazil.
The Charity has funded individual holidays on the Isle of Wight for young people with Cystic Fibrosis through Dream Holidays and enabled a Sea Scout take part in a residential course, as well as given support to children attending schemes run by other charities such as APTCOO and NIDAS in Mansfield, where extra social activities to enrich experience and enhance personal development are provided. In Chatteris support has been given to the Scout Group, Girl Guiding groups and recently, to the local Army Cadets who were nominated by the Town Council.
Points to remember when applying
Please try to get your application in as soon as possible, leaving good time before your planned events, as the Trust only meets a few times a year.
To support as many groups as possible, grants are usually on a 'one off' basis rather than repeated funding. Priority is given to those who have not received a grant before.
All grants are entirely at the discretion of the Trustees and we regret that if your application is rejected, there is no process of appeal on the decision.
Contact Us
If you think the James Henry Blake Charity can help you or someone you know and you'd like to access financial support, please don't hesitate to get in touch:
Call: 01623 632525
Email: [email protected]
Registered charity no 221719
Here are a few examples of the past activities the James Henry Blake Charity has supported
Members of the 2nd Chatteris Scouts display their group banner at a recent event. The donation enabled the scouts to take part in various new activities, including some support for a Day Out at a nearby Ski Dome.
Learning to sail was great fun for some cubs from the 8th Mansfield St Lawrence Scout Group. The group enjoy a wide variety of activities to enhance their personal and social development.
Youngsters from a Mansfield School enjoyed a residential holiday in the Derbyshire Peak District at Great Hucklow at the end of the school year. Here they participated in all sorts of local activities as well as having fun at the Centre, like learning new board games in the evenings. They said the food was wonderful!
Vivienne Brown, Trustee of Blake's Charity presents a cheque to Lynn Farebrother of NIDAS towards weekly activity sessions for youngsters in the Mansfield area to build their confidence and self-esteem.
Blake's Charity is making a difference
"It's good to reflect on the help and support given to 8th Mansfield by Blake's Charity. Their financial support has been essential in re-establishing the Group. Blake's should be justly proud of what they have achieved with upwards of 55 young people now involved with an organisation that I hold dear as a good influence on the development of young people."
Quote from Valerie Severn 07909 798656
Group Scout Leader
Chatteris Guiding Association
"Thank you for the £1000 donation given to Chatteris Guiding Association. We have five active groups and this donation will benefit our activities like the District Campfire."
Linda Tilbrook District Commissioner
The donation was shared between
Chatteris District Rainbows 3rd Chatteris Rainbows
3rd Chatteris Brownies 6th Chatteris Brownies
1st Chatteris Guides
Special thanks from “Think Children“
"A cheque for £1,000 was presented by Jean Moulson (left), a Trustee of The James Henry Blake’s charity, to Think Children’s Wendy Walton-Towle. The money will go towards helping primary school children in Mansfield who are being affected by emerging emotional, social and behavioural issues. We are extremely grateful to the James Henry Blake Charity for their support."
From the Newsletter of 'Think Children.'
Beech Academy Visit The Snow Dome
Following a Rotary Children of Courage Lunch when one of the Trustees met the deputy head from Beech Academy and its worthy recipient of a Courage Award, Michael Page and Viv Brown from Blake's Charity were invited to look around the school and meet staff and pupils.
The school offers a rich curriculum and a wide range of activities to enhance confidence and self esteem in the pupils. In the summer term, Michael Beeley and Viv Brown presented the school with a donation to assist more youngsters to attend an end of term visit.
Charity Helps Holiday Plans
Having fun on the slopes
Taken from the Newsletter for Beech Academy-part of the Evolve Trust in Mansfield.
"In December there was a Beech Academy first. A full coach load of students visited the Snowdome in Tamworth thanks to the incredibly kind donation of £1100 from Blake's Charity. The students were so excited to be given the opportunity to take part in skiing (which was the first time for many) or take part in a range of snow games like tobogganing or snow balling. It is fair to say that a fantastic time was had by all and spirits were very high indeed when all returned safely, after singing Christmas carols and songs on the bus journey home.
Blake's supports Annual Camp
The Charity Helps School Holiday Plans
The James Henry Blake Charity made a donation towards two residential holidays in Keswick and Rand Farm Park planned by Asquith Primary School for the summer of 2020.
Following a tour around the Mansfield school led by members of the School Council and Corinna Brown, the trustees heard during an assembly how much the children were looking forward to the holidays.
Trustees Michael Beeley and Vivienne Brown are pictured with head teacher Clare Harding and some members of the School Council.
Chatteris Mayor Nominates Army Cadet Force
Following a nomination by the Mayor of Chatteris, Linda Ashley, the Trustees of Blake's Charity were delighted to award funding to the local ACF. The army cadets have opportunities to plan and take part in a wide range of activities at their weekly meetings and work towards awards like D of E as well as joining in with annual events within the town. This donation will support their own recent fund-raising in order to attend a UK summer camp and support several members to participate in visits to Europe, including the 2020 Dunkirk Commemoration.
Donation to "Think Children"
A cheque for £1,000 was very gratefully received by the Think Children Charity from The James Henry Blake Charity. The money will go towards helping primary school children in the Mansfield area struggling to cope emotionally with the situations they are facing. The money is even more important in these very strange and challenging times as it will enable children to easily access the vital early support they need, helping them to build strategies which will enable them to cope better and achieve positive mental health. Wendy Walton-Towle the Development Manager at Think Children would like to say, “A big thank you to the trustees for their wonderful support”.
Send A Child To Hucklow
For sixty years, this charity has been arranging and administering holidays at the Nightingdale Centre for thousands of children to enjoy holidays in the Derbyshire countryside. Blakes Trustee, Vivienne Brown was pleased to attend a celebration at the Old Meeting House Mansfield to mark this remarkable achievement.
Asquith School Visit Great hucklow
A donation was made to assist Asquith Primary School, Mansfield send a group on a spring holiday at Great Hucklow in Derbyshire, as part of the national "Send A Child To Hucklow" scheme.
The headteacher, Claire Harding, thanked the Trustees and reported "The children had a wonderful time. They loved being in the countryside, playing games, visiting local attractions and were very appreciative of the accommodation and food which was of a very high standard..... they were made to feel really special.
Enjoying the new playground at the Nightingdale Centre
A huge
Thank You
to all at Blake's Charity for your very kind and generous donation.
We had an amazing time at Robinwood Activity Centre
Church Vale Visit Robinwood
The trustees received this wonderful card from pupils at Church Vale Primary School, Warsop who had a fantastic residential holiday at Robinwood Activity Centre in Todmorton. The children had plenty of fun and the opportunity to experience a wide variety of activities as well as gaining confidence and self-esteem during the week.
2022 A Busy Year for the 8th
Mansfield St Lawrence Scouts
The 8th Mansfield Scout Group currently caters for around 65 boys and girls aged 6 – 18 and with financial assistance of Blake’s Charity, the dedicated leaders have been able to help provide several weekend camps including one to the Lake District for Explorer Scouts (aged 14 – 18) and another for climbing in the Ullswater/Helvellyn area for Senior Scouts (aged 12 – 14).
The Beaver Scouts (aged 6 – 8) held a Weekend Camp including a camp fire and nature ramble and the Cub Scouts (aged 8 – 10) went to Walesby Activity Centre, always a popular location for a Weekend Camp, where they tried new activities, had fun and developed skills for life.
Twenty–five young people also enjoyed a fantastic five day holiday at Walesby Activity Centre at a substantial discount thanks to generous support from Blake’s Charity, when they took part in numerous activities including a coach outing to Skegness and also lit a beacon for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
“Nottinghamshire Scouts have recently been awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the equivalent to a MBE. It is due, in no short measure to the generous donations such as yours over the years, which have allowed us to develop the Scout Group and put on the programmes and activities which has helped us gain the award.
The Group are extremely proud that three Explorer Scouts have gained their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award with three more not far behind.
I think Blake’s Charity should be justly proud of their support for 8th Mansfield Scout Group.”
Valerie Severn
Group Scout Leader.
Well Done TO YOU All
Highlights of The Bamburgh Holiday
"It was excellent!
I was nervous when I got there but I was happy when I got used to things.I liked the beach because it was very peaceful and awesome.
The green was like a massive field you can play on. I liked it because you can see the castle and play on the park.
The life museum was good."
"We got to see a bird hatching from its egg. It was really really cool. I’ve not seen anything like that before. It was once in a lifetime experience.
Beamish was my favourite. I finally got to experience it. The food was good and our room was amazing. Its not every day you get to spend time with your friends."
Exciting Activity Holidays for Sutton road Primary
The Walesby Holiday
At Walesby the children took part in a variety of activities that included: 3G swing, crate stacking, archery, indoor climbing, zip wire, water rafting, canoeing, sailing and they completed an assault course. The first evening they joined some other schools for a campfire and sang traditional campfire songs. The second evening we had a disco where others joined us. Every night we had hot chocolate and we played lots of outside games.
"It was exciting and really fun. We got to do so many things, I would not have got chance to do, back at home. It was fun being with my friends as well. My favourite part was the 3G swing, because you got to really high!”
Thank you once again for the generous donation - our children all had a wonderful time on these trips and really benefitted from the experiences.
Action Packed Days .....
So Many Happy Holiday Memories
"Back To Nature" Trip
A cheque for £2,000 was presented recently to Year 4 Teacher Caroline Eady and Head-Teacher James Marshall at St. Peter’s C of E Primary and Academy Mansfield by the Trustees of James Henry Blake Charity to enable pupils to attend a ‘Back to Nature’ trip at Wollaton Park Adventure Club. The Charity was set up over one hundred years ago by James Henry Blake, a former Mayor of Mansfield, specifically to benefit children in deprived areas of Mansfield. Times change but many Mansfield people will recall the name Blake from the Blake and Beeley’s hardware store on Church Street Mansfield. James Henry Blake was a regular worshipper at St. Peter’s Church, Mansfield, where there is a window dedicated to his memory. Caroline Eady gave heartfelt thanks to the Trustees, Jean Moulson and Vivienne Brown.
Chair of Governors, Christine Bacon, reiterated the school's appreciation saying this educational trip will benefit the children enormously and give them opportunities they may not otherwise experience.
In June 2023 the Trustees received news and thanks for the visit of the children.
"Without your contribution, the experience would have been out of reach for many of our children.They have been given some fabulous memories to take forward in their lives as well as develop new life skills like washing up after themselves and cleaning their tents."
Caroline Eady Class Teacher
Fabulous residential trip to Wollaton Park
"During the visit we were able to explore the park, take part in team building activities like "Whackey Races" and den building alongside some nature art with materials that the children had scavenged.
In the evening, after our picnic tea,the children sat around the campfire and roasted marshmallows and toasted popcorn whilst enjoying their hot chocolate."
Funding for Eastlands Junior school, meden Vale
During the cheque presentation, the Trustees heard how trips like this give the children an opportunity to access exciting activities led by highly skilled leaders that provide the right balance of challenge, developing teamwork, self-confidence and stimulating their imagination.
Blakes supported a Year 6 Residential Trip to Robinwood Activity Centre Alston in Cumbria in July 2023.
Robinwood was the experience of a lifetime for our children. The three days away made such a positive difference to every one of them in many ways. We would like to say a huge thank you for making this possible.
‘I will never forget this residential trip- it’s been the best three days of my life! All the activities were challenging but so much fun. Some things (like the zipwire) I didn’t feel I could do but the leaders made me realise I can do anything!’ Jayden aged 11.
Jack aged 11, ‘I’m not very confident with doing outdoor things but now I know you just have to try, and you will surprise yourself. I wish I could do it all over again but stay longer. I loved everything- especially the food!’
‘I’d love to go again to Robinwood. Our leader, Josh, was really funny and he helped us to do all the activities. The food was amazing there, especially the puddings. The best activity was the trapeze- I was awesome at it even though it was really high!’ Tyler aged 10.
Natalya aged 10, ‘The whole experience was good- so much so that I’ve begged to go again this year!
The zipline was my favorite activity. At first, I didn’t think I could do it but when I did, it felt amazing!’
‘Robinwood was a fantastic experience even though I got a bit homesick. It was so funny when Jayden fell in the piranha pool. All the activities were fun but that was my favorite.’ Hannah aged 10.
Ollie aged 11, ‘I’d recommend anyone to go to Robinwood. It’s just great to build your confidence and have fun with your friends. I didn’t want to come home!’
The children had an incredible time away and learned so much about themselves. The benefits to their health and well-being were phenomenal: from problem solving; working collaboratively towards a goal; listening and responding; developing their understanding of the wider world; decision making and celebrating achievements- the list goes on.
So once again may I say thank you on behalf of Eastlands Junior School, for the donation that enabled this trip to happen for our young people.
Mrs Alison Robinson
Overnight StaYcation
At Asquith School
Twenty children enjoyed an exciting time when staff volunteered to run activities at the school. After a pizza tea, the youngsters listened to a storyteller and held a fire pit session outside with food and campfire songs. Following a film, they settled down to sleep and in the morning helped pack up the tents before going home. The trustees were pleased to support this new endeavour to give youngsters a taste of a residential away from home and many lovely comments were received afterwards by the staff from both the children and their families.
Photo Courtesy of Corinna Brown
Update from Sutton Road primary
Trustee Viv Brown was invited to meet children who had taken part in the residential holiday to Bamburgh in 2022. During the photo presentation of last year's trip, the enthusiasm and enjoyment for all the new and exciting activities which the youngsters had experienced was so evident. For some this was the first time they had been away from home and reviewing the visit, they were proud of all they had seen and achieved.
The school are again looking forward to the residential visits by Year 5 to Bamburgh and Year 6 to Walesby in the summer of 2023 and Blake's Charity was pleased to offer some funding to help towards the visits in view of the increasing cost of living for families.
Update with the 8th Mansfield Scouts
In March, Michael Beeley and Viv Brown went along to this thriving Scout Troop, meeting members of the different age groups to hear about a wide range of future plans. What a marvellous time the young people were having that night; some playing indoor hockey, whilst others were making soup and fruit kebabs as part of planning a healthy diet. The trustees chatted to older scouts and some funding towards their summer camp in the Lake District was presented.
Support for a daytrip to Cleethorpes
A donation towards the costs of children going for free on a coach trip to Cleethorpes was made to Bellamy Residents Association in Mansfield. This annual visit in August 2023 allows youngsters and families to enjoy a day at the seaside with its sandy beach and a promenade packed with rides, gardens, a boating lake as well as a zoo and light railway.
Support For the Work of the J.H.Blake Charity
During the past year, the Charity had received three donations. One had been
in memory of a local social worker with the foster service, from her family and friends.
A second was a collection following the excellent SSPC Show for schools, singers and dance troups at the Palace Theatre. Stephen Glover, the promoter, had told the audience all about the James Henry Blake Charity during the show and it was wonderful to see what talented youngsters there are around the town.
Finally, the trustees were delighted to receive a donation from a local charity to enable more funding to be given in support of holidays for youngsters in the area.
Thanks for your Support
The 5th Mansfield St Mark's Boys' Brigade
It certainly was a holiday to remember for the Boys' Brigade when they set off for a week's camp in a farmer's field at Briggflats, an event that has been run for many years by its dedicated leaders from St Mark's Church.
After an eventful journey with the threat of severe weather and in a borrowed mini-bus, which actually packed up near Scotch Corner, finally the marquee and tents were pitched in a stiff breeze and the well- planned activities could begin. Good weather lasted all week apart from when it was time to pack up!
With visits to Kendal and its swimming baths and a walk up to Fox's Pulpit, where George Fox had preached to over 1000 people another day, Wednesday's highlight was a cruise on Lake Coniston where the youngsters learned about Donald Campbell's attempt on the world water speed record and how famous childrens' films had been made nearby.
go Camping in the Lake District
Thursday meant a "scramble" to the top of "High St" for the more experienced walkers where the clear views were breathtaking, followed by a downward route along the Roman road towards Penrith past the Mardale Valley.
The final hot day was spent at Blackpool with the many attractions of the Pleasure Beach and Promenade to be enjoyed by the young and young-at-heart, including sitting in a Mk9 Spitfire.
This camp, surrounded by sheep and rolling hills, is no luxury site, but the boys took great pride in keeping everything in tidy order. With good cooked food, opportunities for archery, star- gazing and a sing-song in the evening, the leaders felt sure this experience would have a significant influence on the life-skills of the young people and be a lasting memory for years to come. Blakes' Trustees are looking forward to the Awards Night photo presentation in November and a chance to meet all who went.
From a report by John Irons (Capt)