The RSA Trust is deeply saddened by the loss of Her Majesty The Queen. Our thoughts and condolences are with the entire Royal Family.
The RSA Trustees were honoured to be presented to HM Queen Elizabeth II in June 2010.

Gary Walker
Chairman, The RSA Trust

Our long-standing relationship with Enterprise Enfield continues with our funding package renewed for both the Inspiring Women programme and for Business Counselling – providing free advice to Enfield residents running or thinking of setting up their own businesses.

According to Enterprise Enfield’s own website the scheme has been so successful its attracted European Union funding to extend it to other North London boroughs:

“The annual scheme, which commenced in 2008, has already supported 156 women from Enfield and more recently from Haringey and Waltham Forest, and was fully funded by The RSA Trust until 2016. In 2016 Enterprise Enfield secured European Regional Development Funding which enabled the organisation to offer a brand new Inspiring Women Programme to assist women throughout London to realise their business dreams.”

Talented young footballers in Enfield can play in new kit this season, courtesy of a grant from the RSA Trust.

The Trust agreed to sponsor new kit for Enfield Town’s Under 9s side, part of a community sport initiative associated with Enfield Town FC, who currently play in the Istmian League. We wish the team well for the season!

This year’s Open House attracted 150 visitors, mainly due to the line between London and Enfield Lock being closed and buses on diversion from Ordnance Road. However, those that did make it had much more serious interests in the Factory. One visitor, collector of RSAF objects brought along his copies of brochures and his deactivated Enfield revolver as part of the show and tell aspect of the Royal Armouries exhibition. This exhibition focussed on the development of housing along Government Row, on the spit of land between the natural River Lea and the Lee Navigation. The exhibition also explored the social and community life of the Factory. Also on display were the photographs taken by young people as part of Photos with Your Phone!.

As always Ray Tuthill and his volunteers from the Apprentices Association were invaluable in running the day and both staff and Trustees extend their thanks to Ray and his team. This year we are also grateful to Philip Abbott from the Royal Armouries for his work in creating the Royal Armouries Exhibition, but for invigilating it and the Photos with Your Phone!; exhibition as well.

On Thursday 12th September the RSA Island Centre hosted the second plaque unveiling of the year, dedicated to the sacrifices of workers at the Royal Small Arms Factory during the Second world War.

As in January, the RSA Trust provided a buffet lunch for representatives of factory workers, Enfield’s civic society and the firearms community in the United Kingdom. We were honoured to have amongst our guests our local MP, Joan Ryan, Derek Stimpson of the Worshipful Company of Gunmakers and Dr. Matthew Ford, the guest honoured with unveiling the plaque, who gave an incredibly interesting speech, ended from applause not only from the assembled guests but from our bell, Albert, striking twelve. OUr Chairman, GAry Walker, gave trhe opening speech before the Royal Armouries’ Head of Archives Philip Abbott introduced Dr. Ford.

The plaques provided this year are part of the National Lottery Heritage Funded Roll of Honour Project, delivered in a partnership between the Royal Armouries, the RSA Trust, Enfield Council and the Royal Small Arms Factory Apprentices’ Association.

We are grateful to the Trustees of the RSA Trust for organising this unveiling and for providing a space to remember the Royal Small Arms Factory and its workers.

As part of the Royal Armouries’ Roll of Honour Project, the RSA Trust has worked with our long term community partners, Enact, to deliver two photography training sessions for young people living on Enfield Island Village this summer.

Photos with your Phone saw a diverse group of nine young people learn how to take better photographs using their phones as well as edit the photos on the devices as well. They received professional tuition courtesy of Little Bear Studio, whilst the RSA Trust’s Heritage Manager gave a tour of historic sites on the Island and a tour of the RSA Interpretation Centre. Photos from the sessions will be exhibited in the Community Hall on Saturday 22nd September as part of London Open House, with visitors encouraged to vote for their favourite pictures. The most popular photo and the most improved photographer will each win a prize.



The project is funded by the National Lottery through a £9,800 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and the RSA Trust. Partners include Enfield Local Studies and Archives, Enfield Museum and the Royal Small Arms Factory Apprentices Association and the RSA Trust. It aims to uncover the hidden histories of workers at the factory, both in general and during the two world wars in particular.

The RSA Trust is pleased to announce its support for Lea Rowing Club, with a grant towards the purchase of a new boat, the RSA Trust 2. This boat is the sister of a boat the Trust previously funded for the Club, RSA Trust back in 2015.

The boat will be used for the club’s junior squads for training and competition and will enable the Club to build relations with schools and youth groups further upstream from its Hackney base, including the communities around Enfield Lock and Ponders End. The Club has a volunteer schools outreach officer who is creating links with state schools in Hackney, Haringey and Enfield. The Club also offers bursaries for junior membership to pupils from a state school in Tottenham. The school benefits from a three year £20,000 programme to develop rowing there, funding two coaches with indoor (gym) and outdoor sessions.

The RSA Trust continues to fund the life changing work of Edmonton Eagles Amateur Boxing Club. This year the Club has run more sessions than ever before, including additional boxing mentoring sessions for young people from Enfield Island Village.

The Club uses RSA Trust funding to run free after school boxing sessions for young people and works to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour through its mentoring schemes. They also provide specialist young women and girls who witnessed or been direct victims of domestic violence.

The Club is open six days a week at the Heart of Edmonton Centre on Montagu Road.

The RSA Trust has renewed its grant to Enact for the current financial year.

Enact is currently implementing a new strategy to improve the Charity’s resilience. In their own words:

1. Working towards Sustainable Infrastructure which includes strengthening its staff, sessional and volunteer base, and diversifying funding streams.
2. Working towards Engagement to Investment where participants are actively encouraged to journey from simply attending provision into volunteering and leading the development of our clubs. Moving seamlessly through age-related provision and investing over the long term.
3. Offering Meaningful Training that Equips and Builds Confidence so participants gain the skills they need to open up their own life chances and have confidence in their own voice to change their circumstances and contribute to developing their community.
4. To increase the community Awareness, Invitiation and Access that enact is here, that all are included and welcome, and there is a place for everyone who wants to engage.

We know that as Enact implements their strategy they will continue providing world class youth and community support for families and young people on Enfield Island Village, Enfield Lock and surrounding neighbourhoods.