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The Cordwainers support a number of medical related causes which are linked to the wishes of our original benefactors.
In particular, we are pleased to be able to support those medical organisations associated with Dr William Marsden, who was a member of the Company and Master Cordwainer in 1849.
Royal Free London Nurses and Midwives Trust
The Trust is a charity overseen by the Cordwainers Company and staff from the Royal Free Hospital, founded in 1828 by Dr Marsden. Established in 1964, the charity originally provided a home of rest to afford a means of physical and/or mental recuperation for the nurses and ex-nurses of the Royal Free Hospital. In more recent years, the charity has focussed on the provision of resources for and financial support of nurses’, midwives’ and healthcare assistants’ educational needs.
More about the Royal Free and the Cordwainers here.
Royal Marsden Cancer Charity (RMCC)
The Free Cancer Hospital was founded in 1851 by Dr Marsden and was renamed in his honour in 1954. The Cordwainers have supported the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, which helps thousands of people, and their families cope with the ordeal of fighting cancer every year. Previous charitable grants from the Cordwainers have provided Veinsite headsets to aid cannulation, CADD Solis VIP pumps allowing blood cancer patients to have treatment at home, a Sherlock 3CG Tip Confirmation System to aid catheter placement and a Hamilton Starlet Robot, which processes tumour samples from breast cancer patients.
Royal Society for Blind Children (RSBC)
The RSBC supports blind and partially sighted children and young people aged 0-25 to have the best possible start in life. Through a blend of education, sport, creative and developmental services, the RSBC builds and improves confidence, skills, learning, health, social interaction and inclusion. Recent charitable grants from the Cordwainers have supported the RSBC’s Music Group, the RSBC’s Live Life, Go Further programme, as well as contributed to the development of the Study Hub at the RSBC’s new Life Without Limits Centre.
Blind In Business
Blind in Business was founded in 1992 by three blind graduates. After graduating from university with good degrees they initially found it difficult to gain work, due to misconceptions and wariness from employers about visual impairments. But they persisted, two became partners in leading law firms, and the third became a successful businessman (and the first blind person to gain a master’s in business administration). Blind in Business was launched to help other blind and partially sighted graduates to compete equally with sighted candidates for good jobs, by providing help, support and training, and by removing barriers to success. The Cordwainers charitable grants have supported employment training events at the charity.
University College London (UCL)/Royal Free Hospital medical students and staff
The Cordwainers supports the medical students from the Royal Free Hospital, who are part of the UCL medical school, as well the hospital’s medical staff. Previous charitable grants have funded scholarships and academic prizes for medical students, and prizes for medical staff including Excellence in Education and Exceptional Engagement awards.
