Stepney Children's Fund

Stepney Children's Fund is a British children's charity. The fund was the brainchild in 1980 of Toynbee Hall Warden, Donald Piers Chesworth OBE, and a Roland House then later Toynbee Hall Resident, Bob Le Vaillant. At the time, Bob Le Vaillant was a serving Army Warrant Officer in the Ministry of Defence in Whitehall. He was living in the East End and working off duty as a Scout Leader (later Scout District Commissioner for Tower Hamlets and Development Commissioner for Central London) with Scout Groups at the East End Methodist Mission and Toynbee Hall.

The Fund was constituted at Toynbee Hall on 19 September 1982. Trustees were: Mrs Ann Crisp, wife of Toynbee Hall Deputy Warden, John Crisp; Mr John Crisp, Mrs Freny Kapadia (Toynbee Hall Resident); Mr Robert (Bob) Le Vaillant (Toynbee Hall Resident); and Mr Derek Noblett (Police Constable, H District Metropolitan Police Youth & Community Section).

The objects of the Fund were to "assist families which include children who have qualified for holidays through the Stepney Committee of the Children's Country Holidays Fund (CCHF), viz.,needy children of all races, colours and creeds aged between five and thirteen (five and twelve in the case of girls), whether or not such holidays have been provided." The Fund had power to raise funds and spend them on activities including outings, visits, parties, holidays, camps, etc. The Fund shared Toynbee Hall's Charity Registration 211850 and the Fund's accounts were audited and incorporated in Toynbee Hall's main accounts.

In 1986 on Bob Le Vaillant's retirement from the Forces and with a pledge by British Petroleum (BP) of salary funding for a Director, Toynbee Hall appointed Bob Le Vaillant to set up and run a Children's Department. The Department effectively absorbed Stepney Children's Fund work but nevertheless continued using the Fund's name as it was well-established and respected especially in areas of the countryside where 'Stepney' children camped or were sent on holidays.

A number of projects were established and developed in partnership with national youth organisations, Metropolitan Police, local schools and caring agencies. Projects included Tower Hamlets/Central London County Scoutreach, Youth Outreach Special Summer Camps and Schoolchildren’s Day Camps, Youth Crime Diversion Befriending Scheme, Parent’s Support, Young Leader Training and Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme and a national programme of social awareness lectures, fundraising and volunteer recruitment.

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