History
The World Radiography Educational Trust Fund was initially established by the International Society of Radiographers and Radiological Technologists (ISRRT) in 1965 as the ‘Kathleen C Clark Educational Trust Fund’. The purpose of the fund was for the furtherance of education in the science and the practice of radiography, radiotherapy and techniques in nuclear medicine throughout the world.
When the ISRRT was founded in 1959, amongst the chief objectives was the improvement of standards of education and training. The objects of the Society, as outlined in the ISRRT Constitution, were:
to promote and encourage improved standards of training in radiography, radiotherapy and allied subjects;
to facilitate the exchange of information and experience on radiographic and radio-therapeutic techniques and allied health subjects through the medium of international cooperation;
to create and hold funds which shall be available for furthering the objects of the Society, whilst at the same time being a non-profit making organisation; to do all such other lawful things as shall be incidental or conducive to the attainment of the foregoing objects.
Discussions on these important aspects continued until 1965, when it was decided to inaugurate the Kathleen Clark Educational Trust Fund. The then trustees were Mervyn Frederick Allen (Dunedin New Zealand); Kenneth Charles Denley (Chorleywood, Herts); Lisa Falk (Copenhagen Denmark) and Lucy Mary Craig London (United Kingdom).
The fund was to be administered by the appointed trustees (not more than 7), whose responsibility it was to consider applications for scholarships or assistance from the fund, and if approved to make appropriate awards. The trustees were to consider applications for awards falling within educational activities including; designated scholarships, research, translations, abstracts, teaching material and other educational activities as the Trustees approved. Preference was to be given to ISRRT member countries. It was not intended for the fund to be used for travel. Full written reports were required from the recipients of the awards, and the ISRRT reserved publication rights.
In 1967, at the ISRRT Council in Prague, the name of the Fund was changed to ‘The World Radiography Educational Trust Fund’. One of the reasons for changing the name of the fund was to increase its scope and to ensure that the fund could be used on a worldwide basis. In addition, awards would be available for other general educational activities.
Following the demise of Miss KC Clark in 1968, the Council of the ISRRT at its meeting in Tokyo in 1969, agreed to establish the fund under a Trust Deed. This then became an official organised fund of the ISRRT, incorporating a series of scholarships, the first of which was to be known as the KC Clark Memorial Scholarship, awarded for outstanding educational activity in connection with a school of radiation medicine.
On October 1, 1969 the ISRRT board voted that the balance of the fund being a sum of 2000 pounds sterling be transferred, and vested in the first three names of the trustees together with George Christian Grossel. It was also at this time, that the first donation was received by the charity of 25 pounds sterling and the ‘World Radiography Educational Trust Fund’ became an officially recognised charitable organization.
The World Radiography Trust Fund established the principle that when income was sufficient or out of the capital of the Trust fund when if income is insufficient, grants, donations or awards such as bursaries or scholarships in pursuance of the objects of the Charity would be given. The Charity established a committee comprising a Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer who were to meet at least once a year and a quorum was established of three people to hold a meeting. Minutes were to be taken. The fund relied on corporate and individual donations, supplemented by an agreed percentage of the ISRRT annual surplus funds.
In 1992 the ER Hutchinson Book fund was incorporated into the Trust Fund.
On April 18, 2015 an addendum to the trust deed was added to change the name from ‘World Radiography Trust Fund’ to the ‘World Radiography Education Trust Foundation’. The objectives outlined in the original Trust Deed from 1969 were changed to include the new radiographic technologies, techniques and practices.
A mission statement; ‘The World Radiography Education Trust Foundation (WRETF) is dedicated to improving education in the science and practice of Radiography, Radiotherapy and allied subjects throughout the world’ was added?
The Vision of the WRETF was also established; ‘To empower, develop and enhance radiography knowledge and skills in the international community of radiographers working in developing countries through providing resources, supporting and sponsoring opportunities’.
The WRETF trustees moved to holding meetings twice a year and facilitated the attendance of trustees using virtual platforms so as to minimise travel costs. The quorum was also changed to four trustees instead of three.
The Chairman is formally established to serve a two-year term with a renewal of one term allowing for a maximum of four years to be served consecutively. The appointment of the new trustees was changed to allow for the Trust to make appointments and to have the ISRRT board of management ratify the appointments.
The Trust comprises at least seven trustees (although eight is preferable). A trustee may be appointed for a period of three years with the opportunity to serve an additional two years making a maximum period of five consecutive years.