Charities

The charitable work of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers is directed to three main areas.

(Trustees’ Annual Reports are accessible at the foot of this page)

Education

The Clockmakers’ Company awards scholarships and bursaries, principally from The Clockmakers’ Charity,  to those training to be watchmakers or clockmakers and also to those researching the measurement of time.  The Company would like to increase the number and value of these awards, so that the U.K. can develop new generations who are capable of  matching the international innovative achievements of the country’s present leaders in these fields. The Trustees’ Annual Reports giving detail of the activities of the Charity are to be found within the Annual Accounts published on the Charity Commission web-site (see links below)

Supporting charity:-

• The Clockmakers’ Charity – Charitable Fund
  .. click for Charity Commission page & all info including accounts and the Trustees’ Annual Report (incorporated within the accounts)

The Clockmakers’ Museum

The Museum is the world’s oldest collection of timepieces and horology manuscripts, and one of its finest. Situated in the public library at Guildhall in the City of London, admission is free. The running, maintenance and enlargement of the collection depends on charitable contributions. Costs continue to rise and if this unique U.K. museum is to expand, or indeed survive at its present high standard, there is a need to increase charitable donations to these charities:-

Supporting charities:-

• The Clockmakers’ Charity – Collection Fund
  The Clockmakers’ Collection Fund is a separately incorporated fund within the Clockmakers’ Charity with its own Trust Deed. Click for reference to the Collection Fund on the Charity Commission site
• The Clockmakers’ Museum & Educational Trust
  .. click for Charity Commission page & all info including accounts and the Trustees’ Annual Report (incorporated within the accounts)
• The Friends of the Museum
  .. click for Charity Commission page & info

General Charity Work

The Company supports the Lord Mayor’s charities together with a number of educational and other City charities and good causes, such as Livery Schools Link and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. It also maintains the memorials of famous English clockmakers. Very limited available funding limits the number and amount of donations that the Company would like to make.

How to make a Charitable Donation

Donations to the Company’s charities may be targetted to any or all of the above charitable activities and sent to the Clerk of the Company. U.K. taxpayers can increase the value of their donations to charities by using Gift Aid.  Under this scheme, the charity can reclaim from the Revenue an additional £25 for every £100 donated.

Additionally higher rate taxpayers can themselves reclaim the difference between the basic rate of tax and the higher rate on every donation.  Details of Gift Aid and how to register donations under this scheme can be obtained from the Clerk to the Company … and see also HMRC info >>.

A donation to one or all of the Company’s charitable activities can be made in the form of a bequest written as a codicil to a will. Bequests are taken from an estate prior to the deduction of death duties. The Clerk of the Company can provide the appropriate advice and documentation.

Types of Legacy

• Residual legacy: involves leaving all or part of the residue of your estate, after bequests to family and friends
• Pecuniary legacy: is a specific sum of money
• Reversionary legacy: involves leaving all or part of your assets to trustees so they only revert to the Clockmakers’ Company or Charities when your spouse, partner or dependant(s) dies; beneficiaries therefore have the full benefit of the income during their lifetime
• Conditional legacy: leaves all or part of your estate to a particular person, but if they die before you, then the legacy goes to the Clockmakers’ Company or Charity
• Specific legacy: is the gift of a specified possession such as property, valuables, works of art, or stocks and shares

If you are considering leaving a legacy gift, we can help you through the process. In order to leave a legacy you need to write a will, which can easily be arranged by contacting a solicitor.

Gifts

Gifts of exceptional clocks, watches and historically important documents and publications are welcome by the Clockmakers’ Museum. Please contact the Keeper of the Museum keeper@clockmakers.org to see if proposed gifts fall into this category.