Page 108 - The Wish Stream Year of 2021 (Crest)

The Sandhurst Trust... Slow March!
By Vaughan Kent-Payne
2021 was definitely a year of two halves. From January to September, the charity was subject to, firstly national rules then lat-
terly, RMAS rules designed to protect the new intake of OCdts in September. Finally, the restric- tions were lifted, the staff emerged from furlough and we started to run events again.
Regular visitors, The Forward Institute, returned for two training periods with associates from across industry, commerce, and the armed ser- vices. The latter were given a bye as the remain- der were ‘ambushed’ by two Colour Sergeants and put through 15 minutes of drill – a process described by one as; ‘herding cats.’
We also ran a couple of board dinners and a few guided tours. We expect it to take some time for the tours, at one stage running at two a week, to pick up as the majority of our guests are retired and, understandably, take their time to explore new horizons. However, there was no such reti- cence from a group of venture scouts who were shown around by some of our volunteers.
On the subject of tour guides, our numbers had dwindled to 10 pre-pandemic with two nonage- narians still providing sterling service. However, the lull in events enabled us to carry out a recruit- ing drive and I am delighted to report that we now have six guides of working age. Our more venerable volunteers are still very much part of our orbat and are involved in more static roles with the guests brought to a room they are sit- ting in rather than them escorting a group for the
whole of a three-hour tour. However, we are not resting on our laurels and, if anyone is interested in becoming a guide, please get in contact.
Meanwhile, reunions started again with 16 groups returning to Sandhurst. 2022 so far has 35 booked in, approaching the pre-Covid levels once again.
To conclude, the re-start of our core business enabled us to increase our charitable disburse- ment to £83,567. This represents a significant increase on 2020 and is, in fact, our third best total since we started charitable giving in 2015. Furthermore, during 2021 we passed the magic mark of half-a-million pounds provided in chari- table grants. The breakdown of our disburse- ment for 2021 was as follows:
Welfare
UK Officer Cadets International Cadets RMAS community Grants to other charities
Leadership
Leadership RMAS Leadership Members Leadership Staff Wish Stream
Wider Leadership
£57,525
£10,032 £44,057 £576 £2,860
£26,042
£15,246 £1,120 £820 £6,146 £2,710
As you can see, the majority of our disbursement was focused on welfare, with the lion’s share going to grants for International OCdts. Through-
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