
Support us
We are an independent charity (Registered Charity No. 292101) and we rely on the generous support of individuals, companies, trusts and foundations to enable us to deliver our award-wining programmes and services.
Support us
Preserving history
As an independent charity and fully accredited museum, Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust cares for over 70,000 maritime objects in its collection – ranging from archaeology, rigging, hand tools, machinery, fine art and photography.
Through our collections, we engage audiences on the Dockyard’s legendary seafaring and shipbuilding heritage and reveal the untold stories of generations of Dockyard workers and their impact across Kent, Medway and beyond.
Donations such as yours, help us to preserve our historic buildings and beloved ships, create interactive exhibitions, exciting learning programmes and support our community outreach.
As a charity, we continue to be at the heart of community through our education programme and outreach work. You may spot our Mobile Dockyard van on the road travelling to hospices, community centres and dementia care units to deliver wellbeing sessions. Or perhaps see our Dockyard gazebo at a community event, where our enthusiastic team of staff and volunteers run free activity sessions for families and the general public to enjoy.
Without the help of our supporters, we would not have achieved as much as we have over the past 40 years. We are ever so grateful for the continued support we receive.



Play your part
Below are a number of ways in which you can get onboard and support our charitable purpose.
Our supporters
In 1984 The Royal Dockyard at Chatham closed and stewardship of the 80 acre Historic Dockyard passed to Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust, an independent charity (Charity No. 292101).
Since then many individuals, organisations, Charitable Trusts and Foundations have supported the Trust to preserve the Historic Dockyard and engage people in understanding its role and importance to the Royal Navy and to Britain.
Benefactors and Donors
We are grateful to all our supporters, some of the most generous benefactors include:

Arts Council England

Biffa Award

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

English Heritage (Historic England)

European Regional Development Fund

The Fidelity UK Foundation

The Foyle Foundation

Garfield Weston Foundation

The Gosling Foundation

The Headley Trust

Homes & Communities Agency

The Kent Messenger Group

The Manifold Charitable Trust

Medway Council

National Lottery Heritage Fund

National Maritime Museum
The Michael Uren Foundation

Museums, Libraries and Archives (MLA)

South East England Development Agency (SEEDA)

The Wolfson Foundation
Dockyard Ambassadors
We are delighted to have a number of Ambassadors who we work with very closely to promote the work of Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust. Our Ambassadors come from a variety of backgrounds and are based geographically across the UK.