Bensted’s Charity started as the Faversham workhouse established under the provisions of the Poor Law Act 1834 administered by trustees under a trust deed dated 25th August 1835.
On the closure of the workhouse in 1929 the building became a Public Assistance Institution under control of Kent County Council.
Under the provisions of the National Assistance Act 1948 the Poor laws were finally abolished and the buildings were used by the County Council as a home for old people called Bensteds House with some two hundred residents, a hospital, and an ambulance station run by the NHS.
The County Council and the NHS closed the old peoples’ home and the hospital in 1984, and the County Council were then appointed interim trustees. A new Trust Deed was established on 12th May 1989 and a new body of Trustees appointed. The area of benefit is the twenty-four parishes east of Teynham in the Borough of Swale.
There are eleven Trustees, comprising two nominated by Kent County Council, five nominated by Swale Borough Council, and four co-optatives. Those nominated by Councils do not represent or act for the Council once appointed, and act solely as Trustees administering the Trust Deed in accordance with Charity Law.
The site of Bensteds house was sold for residential development for around £500k and this was invested to provide income for grants for beneficiaries. The portfolio is a managed multi-asset fund with bonds in a medium risk investment which has doubled in value over 30 years.
In January 2019, a generous donation of £500,000 was made to the permanent endowment of the Charity from the estate of the late Colin Sharpe, a local businessman. This was invested with the original portfolio without charge.