Page 95 - QDG Year of 2022 CREST

1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards
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Leathersellers
With Gavin Bacon as Master, 2021/22 saw the Court and Committees advance the Leathersellers’ commitment to supporting and enabling individuals and communi- ties, fostering opportunity and supporting a sustainable UK leather industry.
Across the grant awarding Commit- tees of what is now the Leathersellers’ Foundation (the renamed Leathersellers’ Company Charitable Fund), the strategic focus has been refined, defined and implemented.
For charitable giving this meant the introduction of targeted new funding for charities focusing on Adverse Child- hood Experiences. People who have experienced six or more ACEs have a life expectancy 20 years lower than that of the average population. Multiple ACEs prevent individuals from achieving their potential, in opposition to a core aim of our Foundation’s work. In just six weeks we received almost 150 applications, demonstrating the need for support in this area.
The Foundation’s work in educa- tion and improving social mobility also continued at pace as we reinforced our long-term commitment to our partner schools in south-east London, Colfe’s and the Leathersellers’ Federation of Schools, as well to undergraduates across the country with our student grants programme, which dates back to 1602. We also took the time to better understand approaches to social mobility
and commissioned a specialist educa- tion consultancy to produce a landscape review to help inform and understand our future practice.
2021/22 saw the formation of a Leather Strategy that encompasses charitable giving from the Foundation, related minor trusts and the Leathersellers’ Company, and considers how best to support both its historic industry and those who use the material of leather. The
230 Squadron, RAF. Each year the award seeks to recognise excellent examples of young leadership. Many congratu- lations to Corporal J Harrison of 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards who received the 2021/2022 award for his professional, selfless, and motivated work, particu- larly in the support offered to the Ground Manoeuvre Surgical Group.
five pillars of the leather strategy are: celebrating leather; business and maker support; leather education; the leather industry; and heritage and conservation.
Foundation grants across charity, education and leather totalled £3.4m.
In wider Company news
our offices benefitted from refurbishment and redesign
providing new office and meeting spaces, and the major redevelopment of Number 3 St Helen’s place is nearing completion and will provide new tenants with modern, secure, and sustainable offices. We look forward to welcoming them to St Helen’s Place soon.
We were pleased to award The Leather- sellers’ Award for Outstanding Leadership to nominees from our three key military affiliations across the Armed Forces: 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards, British Army; HMS Audacious, Royal Navy; and
Vital contributions to preserving our heritage and history were also carried out. Our most iconic painting, the 16th century portrait of Henry VI which hangs in the Court Room, has undergone much needed conservation work. A significant split in its wooden panels has now been repaired. Additionally, damaged paint has been consolidated and retouched and a new structural support has been created to form a sealed micro- climate that will protect the painting from low humidity and environmental fluctu- ations going forward. The frame, which had suffered from wood movement and
loss of gilding, has also been repaired. But perhaps the most historically significant moment of the 2022 livery year, was the Installation of Clare Lennon as the Company’s first lady Master since our establishment by Royal Charter in
1444.
2021/22 saw the formation of a Leather Strategy
sioning. A greater emphasis is now being placed on their academic work, and cadets must place an equal level of attention to this aspect of their develop- ment, as they would their fitness or green skills. 29 Pl, Borneo Coy (aka Sovereign’s Pl) have just been through the turbulent Regimental Selection Board Process and have all now finally found a home. I forgot what a stressful this can be and found myself wearing 3 or 4 different hats throughout the week as Officer Cadets were left with only one choice they had never previously considered. With the risk of sounding like Captain Cuddles; the motivation, professionalism and good humour means that this group of individuals are a pleasure to instruct, and I could not recommend a posting to RMAS for a SSgt or Capt anymore. We need a QDG presence at the Academy to ensure we attract the best possible talent and strengthen the amazing work the Regiment is doing.
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Simpson pretending he knows what he will look for on the inspection