In May 2021 the Charity Commission published a notice of their intention to create a scheme to support the sale of the Denman Estate and change of charitable objects to remove reference to the College. This scheme has now moved from draft to sealed which means that the Charity Commission has reviewed all feedback received and have now granted authorisation to the Denman Trust to sell the Denman Estate and change the charitable objects.
With regard to any future sale of the Denman Estate, the NFWI Board, operating as the Corporate Trustee of the Denman Trust, will make a decision over the coming months. However in the meantime the estate remains in the possession of the Denman Trust and continues to be managed and maintained. It also remains a place of work for our Centre of Training and Personal Development and Denman staff teams as well as a home to those who live on site.
The proceeds of any sale of the Denman Estate will be restricted for the use of the Denman Trust for educational activities for WI members. In order to make best use of these funds we will be running a consultation with WI members in due course on what they would like the Denman Trust to deliver in the future and what their learning preferences will be. This will ensure that what is delivered is new, inclusive and accessible to all members.
Further information for members is available on My WI and updates regarding the consultation will be sent via federations, published on My WI and in WI Life magazine.
