Our Organisation
A fundamental characteristic of the RNBT is that the majority of trustees and other volunteer members are serving and ex-serving RN ratings and RM other ranks. This dates back to the founding principles of the Grand Fleet Fund, the forerunner of the RNBT, established by Admiral Lord Jellicoe in 1916.
A charity with a Royal Charter
The Royal Naval Benevolent Trust was incorporated under Royal Charter granted on the 2nd May 1922, and is registered with the Charity Commission (number 206243). The Charter has been updated over the years.
Patron
His Majesty King Charles III
Vice Patron
The Trust may appoint Vice Patrons from time to time and currently there are three:
- Ken Lambert BEM – who was chairman of the Grant Committee from 2010 to 2017 and a trustee from 2010 to 2018.
- Nick Jellicoe – naval author and grandson of Admiral Jellicoe (founder of the Grand Fleet Fund) was granted the honour of becoming a Vice Patron in 2018.
- Jenny Agutter – actor was granted the honour of becoming a Vice Patron in 2022.
Governance
The governing body of The RNBT is known as the Central Committee, its members are the trustees of the charity. The Chair of Trustees chairs the Central Committee; its members are the Vice President (also the Honorary Treasurer), the Admiralty Governor, the Senior Serving Officer Trustee, the Specialist Trustees and the Ordinary Member Trustees. The Central Committee meets three times a year, supported by two sub-committees, the Finance and Risk Committee and the Operational Delivery Committee, both of which report to the Central Committee.
The President
The President is a retired senior officer appointed by the Central Committee; Admiral Sir Tim Fraser KCB took up post in March 2023.
The Chair of Trustees
The Chair of Trustees is a retired senior officer who is elected by the Central Committee; Commodore Russell Best RN OBE was elected in February 2023.
The Vice President and Honorary Treasurer
These posts can only be filled from the body of Ordinary Member trustees. Dr Alf Crossman was elected to both posts in March 2025.
Senior Officer Trustees
In addition to the Chairman there are two other Senior Officer Trustees, one carries the title “Admiralty Governor” and as with the Chair, is a retired senior officer who is elected by the Central Committee; the other is a senior serving officer. Both are volunteers who join the Central Committee by virtue of their competence and interest in the work of the Trust.
The Admiralty Governor is Colonel Matt Stovin-Bradford Royal Marines. The Senior Serving Officer is Captain Ashley Spencer Royal Navy.
Specialist Trustees
Good governance requires that the trustee body comprises an appropriate cross section of skills. The Trust has four such specialists offering skill-sets in finance and investment, legal matters, care and safeguarding and buildings management. As with all the trustees, they are volunteers who have a genuine interest in the work of the Trust.
Lieutenant Commander Tim Forer Royal Navy – Legal & Management
Nick Gartside CFA – Investment & Finance
Pauline Shaw OBE – Care & Safeguarding
Commander Helen Wright Royal Navy – Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
Ordinary Members
There are up to ten Ordinary Member Trustees who are serving or former RN ratings or RM other ranks, all of whom serve a three year term that is renewable subject to being re-elected.
WO2 David Baxter
Adrian Boswell
Natalie Ellis-Burt
Peter Hopkins
Geoff Hounslea BEM
David McGinley
Tony Maher
Staff
The Trust employs a team led by Chief Executive, Debbie Dollner. The headquarters staff operate from Castaway House in Portsmouth and deal with grants, finance, public relations and the day-to-day affairs of the Trust.