King George's Fields Stepney

King George's Fields Stepney (Charity number 1001827) is a UK registered nonprofit organisation dedicated to the maintenance, equipping, and improvement of playing fields located in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, specifically in the Stepney area. Its primary charitable objective is to provide and enhance facilities for outdoor games, sports, and recreational pastimes for the local community.

Background and Purpose

The charity forms part of a wider initiative connected to King George's Fields, originally established as a memorial to King George V following his death in 1936. This initiative was created to promote and assist in the establishment of playing fields throughout the United Kingdom, each designated as "King George's Field" to commemorate the late monarch. These fields serve as open spaces for sports and recreational activities and are protected to be preserved in perpetuity as community resources.

King George's Fields Stepney specifically focuses on the upkeep and development of the playing field situated in Stepney (Tredegar Square, Bow). The charity's object is to ensure that this space remains available and suitable for public use, reflecting the wider goals of the King George's Fields Foundation and its trustee, Fields in Trust.

Governance

The charity is administered by the King George's Field Charity Board, an executive body comprising the Mayor of Tower Hamlets and all members of the Tower Hamlets Cabinet. This board oversees the affairs of both King George's Field Mile End and King George's Field Stepney, acting as the sole trustee and managing responsibilities delegated by the council.

The Board is responsible for discharging trustee duties, administering the charity's affairs, and ensuring the ongoing maintenance and improvement of the playing fields under its care. The governance structure emphasizes accountability to the local community through its elected officials.

Financial Overview

The charity operates on modest financial resources, with reported annual incomes and expenditures in the region of approximately £10,000, primarily allocated to the upkeep and improvement of the playing field facilities.

Significance

King George's Fields Stepney embodies a community asset backed by a historical legacy tied to the national memorial initiative honoring King George V. The charity ensures that the playing field in Stepney remains an accessible, well-maintained space for outdoor recreation and sports, supporting community health, wellbeing, and social cohesion within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets.

This charity is part of the broader framework of King George's Fields across the UK, which is coordinated and protected by Fields in Trust, the trustee organisation overseeing the King George's Fields Foundation and its associated playing fields.[1][3][4][5]

[1] https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/1001827/governing-document [2] https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1088999&subid=0 [3] https://democracy.towerhamlets.gov.uk/mgCommitteeDetails.aspx?ID=325 [4] https://www.charitychoice.co.uk/king-georges-field--stepney-tredegar-square-bow-70675 [5] https://kids.kiddle.co/Fields_in_Trust