The Riflemen’s Aid Society and The Rifles Benevolent Trust.........
On the formation of The Rifles, two new charities were created:
a. The Rifles Benevolent Trust, which is able to provide welfare support to all ranks of the new Regiment and of its founding and antecedent Regiments and
b. The Rifles Regimental Trust to look after the wider interests of the serving Regiment and, if required, its forming regiments.
From 1 February 2007, the date of formation, the income from the One Day’s Pay Scheme, which had previously gone to RGJ charities, has been credited to these new charities, with a minimum of 51 % going to the Rifles Benevolent Trust. The Riflemen’s Aid Society will therefore no longer have the income to provide properly for the welfare of ex RGJ riflemen and their dependants.
The Trustees of the Riflemen’s Aid Society have decided that the assets of the charity (which include its investment portfolio and the cottages in Green Jacket Close) should be transferred to The Rifles Benevolent Trust as soon as possible. The trustees of benevolent funds of the other forming Regiments of The Rifles are doing the same, so that the total funds available to the new Benevolent Trust should be over £7m, plus the value of properties.
In order for this transfer to be made, the RAS Trust Deed (a Charity Commission Scheme dated 19 February 1998) has to be amended. This is to change the definition of ‘the Regiment’ and to amend the objects of the charity to bring them into line with those of the Rifles Benevolent Trust. These changes are technical and will not affect the ability of the new trustees to look after the welfare of riflemen and their dependants in the manner to which they have become accustomed. The cottages in Green Jacket Close, which are owned by the Riflemen’s Aid Society, will also be transferred in due course and ex servicemen from all the forming and antecedent regiments of The Rifles will be able to apply to live there. Ex RGJ candidates will receive some precedence in the selection process.
The assets of some of the other Regimental Charities are being passed to the Rifles Regimental Trust to provide on going support to the new Regiment. Sufficient funds are being retained under the control of the Royal Green Jackets Management Committee to look after the ongoing interests of The RGA Association and RGJ Museum.
Capt (Retd) Patrick Mitford-Slade
Chairman, RGJ Administrative Trustees &
Chairman, The Rifles Regimental Trustees
