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Established 1909 to aid the personal development of young people in Mansfield and Chatteris.
Established 1909 to aid the personal development of young people in Mansfield and Chatteris.
The History of the Charity
The History of the Charity
The James Henry Blake Charity was established in 1909 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.
Church Street, Mansfield 1871: James Henry Blake helped renovate some of the older buildings in Mansfield such as this decrepit timber framed building, which he bought in 1893 that stood on the corner of White Hart Lane.
James Henry Blake wanted to help children in poverty to ensure they had the clothes they needed and to provide opportunities for them to experience holidays which would benefit their social and physical development.
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)
Illustration of a charity holiday in 1978
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.
CAN WE HELP YOU?
CAN WE HELP YOU?
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: hello@blakescharity.org.uk
Registered charity no 221719
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