Glyn’s gift for youth charity
£10,000 for talented youngsters
A Scarborough businessman has gifted £10,000 to a new charity to give a helping hand to talented young people on the Yorkshire coast.
The donation by Glyn Simpson is to the Freeman 1st Foundation, named after famous lifeboatman Henry Freeman, the sole survivor of the 1861 Whitby lifeboat disaster who saved more than 300 lives at sea and an ancestor of F1F founder Lesley Jackson, née Freeman.
Mr Simpson founded his Scarborough construction and roofing firm four decades ago and served on the Scarborough lifeboat.
Based in Bridlington, F1F provides financial and practical support to people aged up to 25 from Bridlington, Scarborough and the surrounding areas so they can develop their talents into careers. The trustees meet all the running costs to ensure donations are spent entirely on beneficiaries.
Mr Simpson, 66, said: “The cause resonates with me because F1F gives a leg up to young people so they can make the most of their talents in sport and the arts.
“The more money spent locally, the better, and I know the founder Lesley is an astute businesswoman who will spend it wisely. The history resonates with me as I was on the Scarborough lifeboat for a few years and Henry Freeman was a famous character of great importance to the institution who gave as much as he could for nothing.”
Beneficiaries to date include local golfing prospects Tommy Risker and Matthew Raybould. The foundation is also supporting a talented young dancer and promising young violinist.
Mr Simpson added: “Successful businesspeople have a responsibility to give time and money back to their local communities.”