Charitable Activities
The Role of Livery Companies
|
|
Livery Companies
|
|
So what of our own Company?
|
The perception of Livery Companies as secret societies with special
handshakes, or stuffy institutions full of self-important old men
perpetuating a dynastic role, should be laid to rest in an instant.
In 2006, around 100 Livery Companies in the City of London gave
away over £40 million to charitable causes, the great majority of this
going to welfare and education, the beneficiaries of which are in large
part outside of the particular industries the companies represent.
Although 75% of the Companies have active links with their trades
and professions, the Livery affiliations connect them with:
- almost 200 units of the Armed Forces
- about 60 air, sea and army cadet units
- nearly 70 church establishments, and
- about 40 almshouses providing 830 homes to those in need.
In education, primary and secondary schools, tertiary and FE colleges
and city academies, all receive direct support in finance and kind
from the Livery Companies. These relationships are long established
and will continue to grow as Livery Companies expand their activities
and more Companies are established.
Many people are surprised at the size of the charitable outreach
whilst the Livery remains largely invisible to the City and its workers,
but the Companies continue to work for and meet their goals in an
unostentatious way.
The Livery undoubtedly delivers life-changing enhancement to a
greater number of individuals than is apparent.
|
|
The Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers was founded as a guild
in 1951 and granted Livery status in 1963, becoming the 83rd Livery
Company of the City of London and only the sixth to be formed since
the reign of Queen Anne ended in 1714.
It aims to support the highest standards of design, manufacturing,
marketing and retailing of every type of furniture throughout the
United Kingdom.
It achieves these aims through a variety of means, such as:
- promoting the training courses on offer,
- support of student financial awards and prizes,
- leading joint initiatives with industry-associated trade bodies, and
- the award of its own highly prized Guild Marks recognising
excellence in three categories:
Bespoke for the finest commissions of craftsman made furniture,
Manufacturing for the highest standards of production process in
furniture manufacturing companies, and
Design recently introduced for designers of manufactured furniture
Membership of the Company as a Liveryman or Freeman is restricted
to men and women employed or having been employed in the
furniture industry. Thus individuals are able to contribute to the
industry and its work outside of their employed function, and even
after formal retirement.
We are authorised to have 300 Liverymen and unlimited Freemen at
any time.
There have vacancies in both categories and anyone within the
industry willing to pay the annual fees and make an annual donation
to the charitable funds may apply to join. The normal progression is
firstly receiving the Freedom of the Company, and then receiving the
Freedom of the City and being installed as a Liveryman.
|
|
So how did Livery Companies come about?
|
|
What are the Benefits of becoming a Freeman?
|
The origin of the Livery Companies is lost in the mists of antiquity but
their descent can be traced from the medieval “misteries” or guilds
which were to be found in many of the leading cities of Europe. They
were craft or trade societies, whose members tended to congregate
in a common area for both practical and material convenience.
Since their members were engaged in, and controlled, most forms of
trade and commerce, the guilds were wealthy and, as a consequence,
they came to exercise considerable power and influence. The Guilds
and Livery Companies of the City of London were no exception. There
is also a significant number of Guilds outside London.
The social and economic conditions which gave birth to the old guilds
have long been superseded by the development of industry and
commerce in modern form, but it says much for the inherent vitality
of the Livery Companies that they have survived these changes and
the loss of most of their former privileges and powers.
Their survival has been achieved by:
- fostering their trade or craft in a wider context,
- acting as patrons,
- involvement of their members,
- increasing their power for good by service to the community, and
by introducing modern skills and professions to their ranks.
Their role today varies from Company to Company. Some such as the
Goldsmiths and the Fishmongers still have a regulatory or statutory
function whereas others whose original callings have substantially
disappeared concentrate on their charitable work or support the
modern equivalent of their past trades. Thus the Horners now
support the modern plastics industry.
The “modern Companies” cover trades and professions not existing
or recognised in earlier times such as the Air Pilots and Navigators
and the Information Technologists.
The Livery undoubtedly delivers life-changing enhancement to a
These and other recent Companies restrict their enrolment to
individuals working within their profession thus returning to the
original concept of the guilds.
|
|
- Opportunities to contribute to the UK furniture industry
- Supporting the charitable activities of the Company
- Continuous professional development opportunities
- Access to industry information, including the members-only pages
of the website
- Networking across the whole furniture industry
- Social events at a variety of prestigious venues in the City and
elsewhere, including the glittering banquet at the Mansion House
in the presence of the Lord Mayor and the Sheriffs on the annual
Installation of the Master
- Opportunities for early involvement in relevant exhibitions
- Prior information on Guild Marks and training awards
- Social outings at home and abroad such as golf days, clay pigeon
shoots, vineyard tours and historic buildings visits, often with
privilege status
- And much more...
|