United Charities

Deeping St James United Charities - a charity for all seasons

You may wonder what a new washing machine and a 16th-century Deeping St James gentleman have in common?.They are linked down the years by the overriding desire and foresight to leave a bequest for the benefit of others in the future. In this case the gentleman was Robert Tyghe (who lent his name to Tyghes Close). His charitable bequest was made with Richard Auborn to disperse rents from their land and properties to repair highways, bridges and causeways and as directed by six inhabitants to bestow charitable deeds of alms in the parish of Deeping St James – and this is the link to the washing machine given to a resident in need in 2021.

Prior to the pandemic instant gratification and buy now pay later was the order of the day but now, when life is on a more precarious footing, there has been a shift towards looking to the future and to examining our legacy .For example, just this month when the floorboards of the Cross School were taken up for renovation, a time capsule was left behind giving an insight into life in Deeping St James in the 21st century. Under normal circumstances, when it is possible to go into the Priory Church, you can see a fairly dark and nondescript notice board bearing the names of benefactors and donations belonging to the people of Deeping St James.These include the aforementioned Robert Tyghe whose legacy was land and premises

to the value of about £40 a year; Susanna Brewton, the wife of Revd. Topham who gave £50 to be laid out in land, the profits to go to twelve widows on St Thomas’ Day for ever; William Swan, who gave three acres and one rood of land the profits of which were to go to the poor at Candlemas and at the discretion of Robert Tyghes Trustees; William Stretton, who gave an acre of land; Robert and his son Samuel Sharpe who gave two acres the profits of which were to be given in bread by the Church Wardens and the Overseers of the poor on St Thomas’ Day; and Thomas Bunning who gave three roods of land, the profits to be disseminated in the same way. A separate plaque over the church door tells of John Perkins, a merchant of Market Deeping responsible for the building of The Granary, but born in Deeping St James who, on his death in 1879, left £400 to the Trustees of Tyghes Charity Estates to be invested in public funds. He directed that one part of the yearly interest was be paid to Stamford Hospital and another to Peterborough Hospital to enable the Trustees to nominate patients to these institutions.

These gifts cannot be underestimated in an age without the benefit of the Welfare State and the National Health Service, where sanitary arrangements were of the most basic and the success of the harvest (or not) was of paramount importance – these legacies would have had a transformational effect on the lives of residents of Deeping St James and Frognall. And they still continue to do so – not more than in these years of the Covid pandemic. In 1908 the original Charities were merged and now operate as Deeping St James United Charities and the Tyghe Educational Foundation was integrated in 2020. Funds are administered by ten Trustees who meet regularly under guidelines laid down by the Charities Commission. Relief in Need and Relief in Sickness is still offered to residents who in times of crisis turn to the charity for help with their day-to-day living costs, for the provision of new household equipment in the event of a breakdown and help is also given via local schools with uniform, music lessons and some school trips. When unexpected costs arise in hospital care, attending appointments locally and at a distance, DSJ United Charities have stepped in to help and where enabling equipment is needed, not available elsewhere, the Charities can again help, often working locally with the Deepings Men’s Group.

With a growing population, never before has the community needed more help. The Priory Church Hall, in normal circumstances well used by a number of popular community groups, was supported when refurbishment was needed and recently help was given to protect the ancient oak tree in the car park. United Charities, with the Parish Council, have acted together to provide funds to protect the tree with railings not dissimilar to those that were taken down for the war effort in the 1939-45 War. Both the Age Concern and the Scouts minibuses were funded by a large contribution from the Charities. Help has been provided for the Rebuild the Signal Box Group, for equipment at Jimmy D’s and Little Linchfield, and books for the Deeping School Library.

It has been said that when the going gets tough the tough get going and United Charities have a tradition of supporting local need in these times. In the Second World War the upper room of the Institute became the HQ of the 60th Lincolnshire Red Cross detachment – leaving behind their practice skeleton in a wooden cupboard! Certainly during this Pandemic United Charities have again. been on hand not only to provide for individuals and families who have fallen into need because of a loss in income but also to support those that have helped others; namely the Feed Deeping Group, the Deeping Business Support Group, the group behind the Deepingathon and Age Concern in their supply of an uplifting cream tea to members! There is support for the local Food Bank on an ongoing basis and as the months roll on the help continues to be there as society gradually creaks back into a new normal.

St Thomas’s Day, traditionally an occasion when a bucket of coal and a loaf of bread was given to destitute Widows of the Parish, is still marked by United Charities when a small cash grant is offered to residents of pensionable age who are in need. Book grants are offered to students (18-25 years) towards the cost of their studies for three years, and this also applies to those who are undertaking a vocational qualification.

Since 2008 fortnightly surgeries from Citizens Advice for residents of Deeping St James have been funded by United Charities. Since the beginning of the first Lockdown these sessions have been held virtually, and in recognition of the help that the group have given to 50 residents over this time a grant of £1000 was made to the organisation.

United Charities have an office in an upstairs room at the Institute next to one which has been rented to the Parish Council since 1896, but groups are able to meet at the Institute for free, or for very little, such as First Responders, U3A, the Allotment Society and WI among others. With ambitious plans to convert the Cross School into a multi-use community hub the role of Deeping St James United Charities in the 21st century is as much a critical part of the community in Deeping St James as it ever was.