Founded | 1908 |
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Location |
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Area served
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UK |
Key people
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Chairman Giles Cooper |
Mission | Support for those who have professionally served the entertainment industries and find themselves sick, impoverished or elderly. |
Website | royalvarietycharity |
Formerly called
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The Royal Variety Charity is a British charity based in Twickenham, Middlesex, England. It is dedicated to giving support to those who have professionally served the entertainment industry and find themselves sick, impoverished or elderly.
The charity is believed to be one of the few charities in the UK that has an unbroken line of patronage from the reigning monarch since George V in the early twentieth century. Queen Elizabeth II is the current sole life-patron of the charity.
Established in 1908, the charity was originally called the Variety Artistes' Benevolent Fund, and then in 1971 the Entertainment Artistes' Benvolent Fund and then in June 2015, was officially awarded the title and name of the Royal Variety Charity.
The charity provides residential and nursing care for eldely entertainers at its own care home, Brinsworth House in Twickenham and also provides a nationwide grant scheme for those living in their own homes, of any age, living anywhere in the UK.
Well known past residents of Brinsworth House have included:
Current residents include:
The Royal Variety Charity has organised its own annual fund-raising event called the Royal Variety Performance since 1912, which is attended by the monarch or other senior members of the British Royal Family.