The David Young's Charity was set up in 1860 following a bequest of Mr David Young, a farmer in Lincolnshire. He was from a strong Roman Catholic background and left money and some land for this Trust. The original Trustees built three alms-houses and paid the residents 7/6d (37.50p) per week.

By the early 1970's the alms-houses needed complete rehabilitation but the Trustees had no funds to achieve this. The then Chairman, Mr Arthur Young, approached the St Vincent de Paul Society on the recommendation of the Charity Commission.

On 28 June 1978 a completely revised Scheme had been agreed, drawn up and sealed. The property was sold and all the proceeds transferred to the new Trustees.

The aims and objects of the scheme are fairly wide and are as follows:

"The Trustees shall apply the income of the Charity to relieving either generally or individually, persons who are in a condition of need, hardship or distress by making grants of money or providing or paying for items, services or facilities calculated to reduce the need, hardship or distress of such persons"

Preference shall be given to the following persons in order of priority:

1. Relations of the founder being Roman Catholics
2. Other relatives of the founder
3. Persons being Roman Catholics
4. If, and in so far as income is not required for application as aforesaid, the Trustees shall apply the same for such other charitable purposes as the Trustees think fit”
5. The funds of the Charity are with specialist managers and the annual income is available for grants

The David Young's Charity gets, on average, fifty applications a year. Each application is circulated by email, around the four Trustees who comment upon the request and agree, reject, or amend the grant requested. This process can take up to two weeks. The Trustees produce an Annual Report which is printed in The Vincentian, the St Vincent dePaul Newsletter.

Trustees: B W T Plunkett, M M Hall, C W R Cooke, A Chui

The David Young's Charity © 2013