Community Engagement

As part of the Company’s commitment to community engagement, training and life-long learning in the local area, educational establishments, and the associated plastering trade, the Charity is able to support individuals and not-for-profit organisations either in kind or with financial support in the form of bursaries and grants.

Bursaries are normally paid up to £500 per applicant, but larger sums may be awarded in individual cases, if merited. The Beneficiaries will probably be students currently undergoing training in the sector but may also be established practitioners who wish to develop and enhance their knowledge and experience.

Typically applications might be for travel expenses to support a course of learning abroad; fees for existing courses where no other support is available; a wage subsidy to enable a student to pursue extra-curricular skills; funding to a mentor to support achievement of advanced qualifications; or costs towards enhanced disabled access to training.

The Trustees will consider any application endorsed by the Company’s Industry Committee that supports and maintains the quality and diversity of plastering and drylining skills in the UK. To be eligible, applicants must have been resident in the UK for at least two years and ideally must have at least two years’ work experience in the plastering and drylining sector.

Applicants can download, print off a pdf form and complete an application by clicking here.

 

Other areas of Community Engagement supported by the Plaisterers’ Charity include:

• ‘Inspiring Organists’ initiative in conjunction with the Royal College of Organists;
• St Paul’s Church of England Primary School in Whitechapel
(Read the latest Choir Church Report HERE);
• Voces8 Foundation
• 282 (East Ham) Squadron Royal Air Force Cadets.

All of whom, with our help, continue to be able ‘to make a real difference’ in support of the education and training of children and young people, particularly during the COVID-19 crisis.

 

Inspiring Organists

Tom Daggett (OBE Organ Scholar at St Paul’s Cathedral) and Jem Stephens are continuing to work with the ‘Inspiring Organists’ initiative, via Zoom, concentrating on theory and extended repertoire using video and sound recordings.

Visit #Inspiring Organists website

St Paul’s Church of England School – Choir Church

Tom Daggett (OBE Organ Scholar at St Paul’s Cathedral) is also working with the St Paul’s Church of England Primary School’s ‘Choir Church’ initiative, by providing online weekly singing assemblies and other activities with members of the School’s Choir.

 

VOCES8 FOUNDATION

Voces8 Foundation are also continuing with various educational initiatives online and the Charity has also been pleased to provide support for some of the self-employed members of Voces8, whose singing engagements have been cancelled during the current COVID-19 crisis, which has affected their income.

Visit Voces8 Foundation website

 

282 (East Ham) Squadron Royal Air Force Cadets

The Charity has been actively involved with 282 since our affiliation commenced with them in the autumn of 2011 with the Charity has provided financial support for many of the Squadron’s activities, particularly the Marching Band, where funding has been provided to enable musical instruments to be purchased and maintained or replaced and professional tuition provide to the Cadets, making it one of the top Cadet Bands in the UK.

The Company’s has also provided mentoring for Cadets in connection with future career opportunities and a representative of the Company is a member of the Squadron’s Civilian Committee. In return, the Cadets have provided music and support at numerous Company events, including providing ‘Carpet Guards’ at the Annual Banquet and on other important occasions.

Most recently on the day of the London Marathon, several members of the Squadron supported Freeman Michael Shirley, a Pilot Officer in 282 in his efforts to raise money for the Master’s charity, the Children’s Society, by completing a Virtual Marathon walking 26.2 miles around City of London, joined at various planned stages by the staff and cadets in a relay format to ensure compliance with the ‘Rule of Six’. Michael’s target of £2,000 was matched by a similar grant of £2,000 from the Jack Peachey Foundation and enable him to raise a final amount in excess of £5,000.

Choristers

We continue to support the music development at both St Paul’s and Peterborough Cathedrals through the sponsorship of a Chorister.

This year our Peterborough Chorister is Lewis Barber, while at St Paul’s we are pleased to continue supporting Oliver Davies for a second year.  We look forward to supporting both of them this year.