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Leathersellers’ Review 2024–2025
MASTER’S WELCOME
Today our work with the leather industry is largely centred on supporting all aspects of leatherworking skills and training, from bookbinding to shoe design as well as in encouraging understanding and engagement with the material.
It has been a huge privilege and honour to serve as Master through a truly memorable year in which the Company has continued to champion the leather industry, education and the charitable ambition of the Leathersellers’ Foundation. Having worked for many years in the leather industry I am delighted that supporting the industry remains a key objective. One of the highlights of the year was visiting the Scottish Leather Group factory in China where airline seat covers are made from leather tanned in Glasgow. The fact that leather remains as relevant today as it did to our forebears some six hundred years ago is testament to the qualities of this remarkable material. Today our work with the leather industry is largely centred on supporting all aspects of leatherworking skills and training, from bookbinding to shoe design as well as in encouraging understanding and engagement with the material. To this end, I am delighted that our Surplus Leather Project, featured in this Review , has burgeoned in scope and scale and is now helping students from some sixteen universities to discover and explore the possibilities of leather. Something that embodies both the past and present of leather is the Leather Conservation Centre, an institution that we have supported for many years. It is heartening that this year they have found a new home in a state-of-the-art studio in Leicester. We look forward to following the journey of this world-class body. Now in its fourth year, the main charity grants programme of The Leathersellers’ Foundation is focused on preventing and tackling the consequences of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). Most ACEs charities are directly focused on children but DENS, a homelessness charity based in Hertfordshire, supports adults in overcoming the effects of childhood trauma. An essential read in this Review , their evidence shows that on average their clients had experienced six or seven different forms of loss, abuse or neglect before adulthood, and crucially, it helped the Foundation to improve its own understanding of what ACEs look like as a core focus.
It is hard not to be moved by the experiences of our grantees and the people and partners we support. One of the abiding memories of my year was meeting pupils from the Leathersellers’ Federation of Schools in Years 8 and 9 taking part in a pioneering Scholarship Programme, designed to raise aspirations using one-to-one mentoring and extracurricular activities. While celebrating the achievements of students who had completed their first year, we were reminded of the extraordinary difference that this initiative is making to their lives. You can read more about this success and why the programme is a source of pride for all those involved at the schools. This is all underpinned by the hard work and dedication of the Leathersellers’ members and staff. I’ve witnessed the incredible commitment of our members in so many important ways, whether on the sporting field, as school Governors, as trustees of Barnet Almshouses or as volunteers on our Small Grants programme. And I would like to thank each and every member of staff for all that they do, day in, day out, to steward and maintain the estate, support our long-term partners, advance our charitable aims, champion the leather trade, and host – we are frequently told – the best dinners in the City. It has been a huge honour throughout the year to welcome members, family, friends and guests from charities, schools and the leather industry to the Hall, not only fostering the fellowship which is the bedrock of all that we do but also drawing people together as a force for positive social change. It has also been a great pleasure to support Leatherseller Alderman Gregory Jones KC over the course of his year as Sheriff of the City of London. Congratulations to our new Master and Consort, Martin and Sharon Dove, and I wish them a thoroughly enjoyable and successful year.
Nicholas Tusting
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