If you have walked through the garden at Aylesbury Museum in the past few months you may have noticed a delightful statue of three children. The statue is a gift to the museum from The Charity who in 2019 celebrated 300 years of their work in Aylesbury.

The statue was made by local sculptor Judy Cowper and despite several delays due to “lockdown” was finally installed in July 2021. Judy called them her Corona Kids and their names are Florence, William and Arthur.

In 1719 the charity was set up to place children in apprenticeships where they would learn a trade to enable them to support themselves and their future families. The children are shown wearing 18^th century clothes and looking at a book. On the plinth around the statue are shown tools of some of the trades eg a chisel and a saw. Their clothes are patched and darned as they would have been poor children and Judy hopes that children visiting the statue might take time to count the patches and think about what life would have been like for them at that time.

In the 21^st century there are still families and individuals who need help with the cost of new school uniform and books, university fees, apprenticeship tools and equipment to help with studies.

The Charity meets monthly to consider applications. Grant application forms are available to download on the website.