By his Will of 1667 he left seventeen acres of land in North Lambeth, close to the River Thames, to provide income for the relief of the local poor.
In recent times the Foundation has adopted a progressive strategy in realising its aim of relieving poverty in Lambeth.
Grants are purposeful, with the intention of making a sustainable improvement in the lives of recipients; applicant organisations must show explicit and realistic ‘outputs and outcomes’ that will benefit the individuals the charities exist to serve; some awards are concerned with strategic approaches to the needs of individuals in poverty, examples of which include support for the local credit union, tackling in-work poverty and the funding of projects teaching financial literacy to school children.
There is no doubt that poverty looks different today than it did in the 1620s, but for those affected by it, the impact remains damaging both of the human spirit and of the opportunities many others take for granted.
The director and a small staff team advise on policy development, handle day-to-day operations and manage the Walcot Estate.