WORCESTER Municipal Charities has announced the appointment of Richard Boorn as its new chairman for 2026.
Richard, who is retiring shortly from his business interests, is looking forward to a new challenge. He is a longstanding trustee of the Municipal Charity and wants to increase his involvement as he has always been passionate about the support the charity gives to the less privileged of the city.
He has had a successful business career and is a former city councillor with a keen interest in football, which has involved him in being vice chairman of Bromsgrove Sporting to help them through a difficult financial period.
However, with more time available he says he would welcome taking over from Paul Griffith who has chaired the charity for an amazing 41 years but has stepped down to spend more time with his family.
Richard said he was very grateful to Paul who has agreed to stay on as vice chairman and introduce him gradually to all the nuts and bolts of the charity’s internal management.
He continued: “Paul will be a hard act to follow but I will give it my best endeavour and look to build on his sound foundations. My first job is to balance the books, after having to repair the roofs of Berkeley’s Almshouses, with a cost of over £700,000 which is a lot to find.
“This job comes round every hundred years or so, but the charity does have one of the best surviving examples of ancient almshouses in the entire country. The nature of the age and protected status of the property means working very closely with planners which adds considerable extra work and cost.”
Richard explained that the charity now owns property worth £15.3 million, built up over its 467 years. It comprises six properties let rent-free to other charities,16 commercial investment properties,100 almshouses including 32 for the retired and 68 newly created since 2013 for the “younger single homeless”.
Richard added: “Just this property portfolio on its own will keep me busy and benefit by my experience of running a commercial company I hope will help create financial security for our charitable activities.”
