What we do

Registered Charity No. 248746.

WHAT THE CHARITY DOES

The Royal Fund for Gardeners' Children was founded in 1887 as the Royal Gardeners' Orphan Fund to help the orphans of horticulturists by giving them regular allowances or making grants for special purposes. Though in the intervening years social conditions have improved and wages are higher, the need for this help remains. Our aim is to ensure that the orphans are no less well fed and clothed than their contemporaries and that they are able to take advantage of the educational opportunities open to them.

Recognising the special needs of one parent families, we ensure that each family is visited at least once a year. Our visiting and counselling service provides us with the opportunity to find out the special needs of each family. We find that the knowledge that there is someone who cares and takes an interest in their problems is a great comfort to bereaved families.

Not the least of these problems arises when the family have been living in tied accommodation and, on the death of the father, are moved elsewhere, sometimes to a different area and far from friends and familiar surroundings. Difficulties may arise when the children change schools, and, in addition to bereavement, the mother has to cope with her own feelings of loneliness. It is at such times that the Fund can be of great help.

In 1985 the scope of RGOF work was expanded to help the needs of children of horticulturists, not necessarily orphans. We are now able to offer assistance to children with special educational requirements. These may be because of a special talent or through disability. We can also help needy children with items such as winter clothing, beds and bedding, holidays, etc. We have also given grants to pay for fares to school, for special educational facilities and for holidays.

THE CONSTANCE SPRY FUND

This is a fund which was created in 1960, as part of The Royal Gardeners Orphan Fund, to commemorate one of the most famous flower arrangers of her time. It is applied primarily for the benefit of orphans who have passed normal school leaving age, but whose talents qualify them for further education.

Change of Name

In 2006, the trustees decided on a change of name for our Fund to the Royal Fund for Gardeners’ Children. We feel the new name better reflects the scope of our work, which helps not only the orphaned children of gardeners, but any child in need who has a parent employed in horticulture.