In the modern context, the Charity’s object is to support the work of lay people, in Anglican parishes in England, Wales and Ireland, who are appointed as a “Guide”. In accordance with Mr. Willats’ Trust, the predominance of the Guide’s work must be pastoral in nature.
The Charity was founded by Mr. William Willats in 1858 to appoint “in different parishes districts, and places, in England, Wales and Ireland, persons, under the name of “The Poor Man’s Guide to Eternal Life”, to visit the therein resident members of the poorest, and lowest, classes of society, to read, and explain to them, the Holy scriptures, sermons and other good books, to pray with, or read prayers to them, and generally to impart to them, religious instruction, advice and consolation.”
The duties of Guides, where expressed in the Trust to be “confined to the parishes, districts, or places, in which they, respectively, shall be, from time to time, located....”
The Charity therefore expects the majority of a guides time to be involved in such work. The Charity understands, however, that a guide will need time to prepare for their work. The Trustees are particularly interested in time spent by the Guide in direct contact with their “clients”. In most cases the Charity would expect no more than one third of a guides time to be spent in preparation, save in exceptional circumstances.
Due to current rates of pay, it is no longer possible to support the whole of a Guide’s stipend. The present policy of the Trustees is therefore to assist parishes by contributing towards that proportion of the stipend/expenses which the parish itself has to fund.
All grants are awarded subject to finances permitting and the Trustees reserve the right to withdraw a grant at any time without notice.
The standard grant currently paid is £2,800 per annum and payments are made to the Parochial Church Council by half-yearly payments in advance, following approval by the Trustees of the Report of the Guide and Incumbent which is considered by the Trustees when they meet in March and September.
The Charity will not support more than two (full time equivalent) Guides per parish.
Applications for grants will only be considered by the Trustees if they are in receipt of all the enclosed forms correctly completed.
The Trustees meet quarterly in March, June, September and December in each year.
