Origins of the Trust
Queen Mary’s Roehampton Trust has its origins during the First World War when a Trust was formed to provide a hospital (and limb fitting centre and factories for the manufacture of limbs) for the treatment of limbless soldiers, sailors and airmen. Thus was founded in 1915 the ‘Queen Mary’s Convalescent Auxiliary Hospitals for Members of HM Forces who lost their limbs in the Great War’.
The Hospital underwent many changes over the following years, most notably during the 1980s when the land and property comprising the Hospital, Limb Centre and Factories were transferred in stages to the ownership of the National Health Service. The last of these transactions took place in 1990. The Trustees invested the capital thus obtained and have since used the investment income to meet the object of the Trust.
The Object of the Trust
The object of the Trust is set out in a Charity Commission Scheme dated 10 April 1972 (the Principal Scheme), which has been amended by subsequent Schemes and, where permitted, by resolutions of the Trustees. The current object of the Trust is:
- To relieve persons in the following classes who are in need of assistance:
(i) Persons who served in any of the Armed Forces of the Crown and who were disabled in such service and the widows and other dependants of such persons.
(ii) Persons who served in the Mercantile Marine or in any service established under the Civil Defence Acts 1937 and 1939 and who were disabled in such service and the widows and other dependants of such persons.
The Trustees meet the object of the Trust by making grants to organisations whose objects include the reception, accommodation, treatment or after-care of persons who come within the Trust’s object as set out above. The Trustees may also make grants in aid of medical or surgical research having particular regard to the needs of disabled persons who served in the Armed Forces of the Crown. The Trust does not make grants direct to individuals.
During the year 2024-2025 40 charities were invited to apply for a grant. From those charities which applied, 28 grants totalling £457,000 were approved by the Trustees. Some of those grants have been received by beneficiary organisations and the remainder will be paid before the end of the financial year. The grants covered welfare support, nursing care, activities, entertainment and recreation, accommodation and assisted living for those who meet our charitable object.
