Supporting architectural education and nurturing careers.

Our charitable trust is committed towards architecture, education and the City of London.

In line with the overall ethos of the livery, philanthropy is also central to the Architects’ Company. The Company’s two charities are the WCCA Charitable Trust and the Temple Bar Trust.

The WCCA Charitable Trust supports various educational institutions and events in the City, as well as providing bursaries and subsidies to students of the Company. In addition, the Trust aims to support the City’s charitable endeavours throughout the year.

The Temple Bar Trust was formed by a group of Architects’ Company members, with the support of the Company’s Court, to realise a long-term ambition to make Temple Bar the Hall of the Architects’ Company.

The Orpington Sea Cadet Unit 

We are very proud of our association with the wonderful young people and senior team at Orpington Sea Cadets.

In 2012, in response to the requirement for all livery companies of the City of London to adopt a unit of our late Queen Elizabeth II’s armed forces, the Worshipful Company of Chartered Architects formed an association with the Orpington Sea Cadet Unit, known officially as the Training Ship Whirlwind.  

2022 was a very significant year for the unit – it marked the 80th anniversary of its foundation. In 1942 Great Britain was in the middle of World War 2 and the fighting services were in desperate need of manpower. In addition to the general call-up at 18 the Sea Cadet organisation was created for boys aged 14 and over so that they could receive training in the particular skills that would make then suitable for entry into the Navy in due course. It is vitally important not to confuse Sea Cadets with Sea Scouts for whilst the scouts are part of the World Scouting Movement and enjoy a range of water borne activities the cadets are associated with the Royal Navy and receive thorough training in a large range of specific seamanship skills. In many instances cadets do then go on to actual careers in the Royal Navy, Merchant Navy and at Trinity House. 

The Company’s involvement with Whirlwind since 2012 has been to provide a representative on the Unit Management Committee and to make an annual financial grant from the Charitable Trust Fund to assist with the unit’s educational programme. In return the cadets provide us with carpet guards at our formal dinners and stewarding assistance at events such as the annual carol service plus the chance to join them on various activities and outings. Over the years we have spent several days sailing dinghies around the Tilbury docks and visiting No.10 Downing Street with the cadets. In the 10 years of our association, the unit, although one of the smallest in the London region, has doubled in size and under the inspired leadership of the Commanding Officer, Petty Officer Andy Lawson, has received 4 burgees – pennants awarded for excellence – in the last 4 years. This has put Whirlwind into the top 10% of the country’s 400 Sea cadet Units.