Needham Townlands Trust

Long before the idea of the Welfare State needy people were helped by charities and charitable trusts some of which were called Town Lands Trusts.  Many such trusts still exist today and still have a role to play even in the Welfare State.  These trusts are obliged to function according to the purposes set down in their Trust Deeds.

Needham Town Lands Trust has a small but useful annual income.  Usually applications must be of the sort which fall outside the scope of the Social Services and must be for the benefit of Needham people.  Sometimes help has been given to enable an elderly person to visit a sick relative in hospital.  The young can be helped as well.  For example, if there is an essential school trip which the family really cannot afford.  In fact, recently we have been able to help with the airfare for a Needham girl going to Kosovo on an aid project.  Also we made a substantial contribution towards the cost of a new mini bus for the High School which will benefit Needham children attending the school.  The commemorative seat in the Village Hall grounds was also paid for by the Trust.

If you think that the trust can help you or if you know of someone in the village who might qualify please contact Sylvia Miller on 852059 or Sally Nicholson on 852045.  Applications are treated confidentially.

From 'Some Notes on Needham' by C Mather

“The Town Lands belonging to Needham originally consisted of several cottages and 24 acres of land mostly granted in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.  The Town Lands Charity has been in existence for over 400 years.  The conditions of the Trust are that one-fifth of the income is apportioned for church purposes in the parish and four-fifths for the common use of the town & parish of Needham and for the benefit of the poor.  Of late this non-ecclesiastical share has been given mainly by vouchers for food, clothing and fuel to the pensioners of the parish.”