Harpur Trust
52°09′00″N0°27′32″W/ 52.150°N 0.459°W
 | |
| Founded | 1566 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Sir William Harpur |
| Type | Charitable trust |
| Focus | EducationandAlmshouses |
| Location | |
| Website | https://www.harpurtrust.org.uk/ |
The Harpur Trustis a charity inBedford,England.The stated aim of the charity is to help and support the people who live in and around Bedford, and to help them improve their lives by:
- providing and promoting education
- offering help and relief to anyone who is sick, in need, in hardship or distress
- providing recreational facilities with a social welfare purpose for the people of Bedford and its surroundings.
Reorganised as a company limited by guarantee in 2012, it was previously called The Bedford Charity (The Harpur Trust) as its legal name, but was most often referred to as the Harpur Trust.[1]
The main activities of the charity are the operation of a number ofindependent schoolsand oneacademyin Bedford. The charity also operates a number ofalmshousesin the Bedford area. In addition, the charity supports the community by giving grants to local projects. In 2009/10 it donated over £1,900,000 in grants to projects based in and around Bedford. This money is intended to help local organisations and individuals to make a difference to their own lives or those of others.
History
[edit]The Harpur Trust was established bySir William Harpur(c.1496–1574). Harpur was amerchantfrom Bedford who becameLord MayorofLondonin 1561. He wasknightedin the following year. Sir William and his wife, Dame Alice, gave anendowmentwhich consisted of some property in Bedford and 13 acres (5.3 ha) ofwater-meadowswhich are nowHolborn.It was to support free schooling,dowriesfor poor maidens and “poore chylders ther to be nurryshed and enformed”. In 1566, the Bedford Charity endowedBedford School,which had been established in 1552, and founded "the Writing School" (later renamedBedford Modern School) to teach copper plate handwriting. In 1764, the Harpur Trust was formally created byAct of Parliament.It was not until 1882 thatgirls' educationwas endowed by the trust.[2]
Present day
[edit]Schools
[edit]Today the Harpur Trust runs a range of fee-charging private schools:
- Bedford Schoolfor boys
- Bedford Modern School,co-educational
- Bedford Girls' School(The school was founded in 2010 as the result of the merger betweenDame Alice Harpur SchoolandBedford High School)
- Pilgrims Pre-Preparatory School, co-educational
In March 2009, the charity confirmed it would enter the state education sector with the opening of a newacademyin Bedford:Bedford Academyopened in September 2010, sponsored by the charity along withBedford College.[3][4]
Other activities
[edit]The Harpur Trust also ownsalmhousesin Bedford and the nearbyvillageofBromham.[5]The Charity's endowment was valued at £53.9 million in June 2010 and it employs over 1,200 people in Bedford. Its current Chief Executive is David Steadman.[6]
References
[edit]- ^"Bedford Charity".London Remembers.Retrieved23 June2020.
- ^"UCL Bloomsbury Project".www.ucl.ac.uk.Retrieved23 June2020.
- ^"Bunyan Academy set for next year".Bedfordshire on Sunday.13 March 2009. Archived fromthe originalon 23 July 2012.Retrieved28 April2009.
- ^"Bedford Academy Becomes a Centre of Excellence".IQM.25 September 2017.Retrieved23 June2020.
- ^"£2 million investment in new Almshouse Accommodation".www.harpurtrust.org.uk.Retrieved23 June2020.
- ^Hutchinson, Paul (18 February 2019)."David Steadman named as new CEO for Harpur Trust".Bedford Independent.Retrieved23 June2020.
- De-la-Noy, Michael (1999).Bedford School: A History.Bedford School.ISBN0-9536685-0-9.
- Sargeaunt, John; Hockliffe, Ernest (1925).A History Of Bedford School.F.R.Hocliffe & T. Fisher Unwin Ltd. ISBN N/A.
- Godber, Joyce (1973).The Harpur Trust 1552–1973.White Crescent Press Ltd.ISBN0-9502917-0-6.
External links
[edit]- Official site
- Harpur Trust page from the Charity Commission– includes links to annual reports