The Guild was founded in 1932 under the original name The Company of Veteran Motorists and immediately supported road safety initiatives, both from within its own organisation and from other agencies.
In 1985 it was felt that this support could be better achieved by the establishment of a registered road safety charity, which although administered and supported by GEM, would be independent from the other aspects of the Guild’s work.
Since 1985 the GEM Road Safety Charity has provided financial support for a huge number of schemes throughout the UK.
The charity has a board of registered trustees that receive requests for assistance and following recommendations from the Guild’s Executive Council, allocates financial assistance to schemes it feels are worthwhile and effective in road safety terms. The trustees also take into consideration the availability of the other funds open to applicants.
The current board of trustees are:
- Mr M Cooke, (Chairman)
- Viscount Simon
- Miss M Emms
- Mr D Swain
- Mr P Maer
- Mr K Fitzpatrick
- Clerk to the Trustees is Mr D Williams, MBE.
The Board of Trustees meets five times a year. The GEM Road Safety Charity relies on general duration from those interestedin supporting initiatives.
The following schemes have received support from the GEM Road Safety Charity during the past five years:
- Sponsorship of Child Pedestrian Accident Research by the Institute of Public Policy Research.
- Production and printing of GEM leaflet ‘A Breakdown and Accident Guide’.
- Support for RoSPA’s Choosing Safer Vehicles guide.
- Sponsorship of PACTS booklet ‘Speed and traffic law enforcement’.
- Sponsorship of Suffolk Police ‘Lights save lives’ campaign.
- Sponsorship of Telford & Wrekin Council – School travel training day.
- Purchase of display board for Northern Ireland Road Trauma Support group.
- Sponsorship of West Sussex County Council Road Safety Quiz.
- Production and printing of GEM Reaction Timer cards.
- Research grant to IPPR for follow-up research into child pedestrian accidents.
- Donation of vision screening machine to London Borough of Haringey Road Safety Unit.
- Production and printing of Personal Safety booklet in conjunction with the Susy Lamplugh Trust.
- Sponsorship of the Road Safety Student of the Year.
- Sponsorship of West Sussex County Council Young Driver's project.
- Re-print of GEM leaflet - A Guide to Winter Driving
- Research grant to Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety 'Road Traffic Police Enforcement and New Technologies'.
- Sponsorship of Young Drivers initiative by London Borough of Richmond-Upon-Thames.
- Sponsorship of Chelmsford Borough Council Roadrunners Project 2005.
- Sponsorship of research into road crash re-construction.
- Sponsorship of research project 'Beyond 2010' Road Safety targets.
- Sponsorship of Angerming School, West Sussex in a Road Safety drama event
- Sponsorship of Essex Air Ambulance Motorcycle Run
- Production of Motorcycle Safety Leaflet
- Support of Road Safety Student of the Year award until 2011
- Sponsorship of research into behavioural change and speeding
- Production of leaflet on the subject of safe cycling
- Re-print of Courtesy on the Road leaflet
- Production of film clips for young drivers on the Internet site U Tube
- Support to Pass Plus Cymru scheme
- Re-print of Motorists Breakdown and Emergency guide
- Sponsorship of a National anti drug driving campaign
- Re-print of skid advice leaflet
- Sponsorship of road safety drama workshop
- Sponsorship of bicycle helmet initiative in 2 Primary Schools in England and Wales
Application forms for financial support from the GEM Road Safety Charity can be obtained by writing to Mr D Williams MBE, Clerk to the Trustees, GEM, Station Road, Forest Row, East Sussex, RH18 5EN or by emailing
charity@motoringassist.com