Donations

The Henry Cook Centre

A Legacy Worth Supporting

A Place Built on Giving

The current building was presented to the charity in 1969, uniting the legacy of two historic causes:

Cook’s Bethel (Otherwise Seaman’s Bethel)
The Henry Cook Institute & Ragged School

These now operate under one name and one roof: The Henry Cook Centre, located in South Street, Gosport. From here, we continue to support people through practical service, spiritual encouragement, and warm, non-judgemental welcome.

We work alongside other charities, churches, and community partners to make a lasting difference where it’s needed most.

Henry Cook's Life and Work

The Henry Cook Centre is built upon the life and work of Henry Cook (1824–1893), a visionary missionary who dedicated his life to helping those often left behind by society — seafarers, orphans, the impoverished, and the forgotten.

In the 19th century, Henry Cook:

Opened Ragged Schools to teach children who had no access to education
Set up industrial homes for boys, offering shelter and practical skills
Launched the Portsmouth and Gosport Seaman’s Mission to provide spiritual care, warm clothing, and food to sailors
Established reading rooms during the temperance movement
Created Gospel ships that travelled between the UK and France to reach those in need
Founded missions in both Portsmouth and Deauville, France

His work was deeply practical, rooted in the Christian Gospel, and far ahead of its time. We continue his mission today at The Henry Cook Centre, combining charitable outreach with Christian fellowship — all under one roof.

Your Help

Why Your Support Matters

Unlike many organisations, we receive no central funding and employ no paid staff. We rely entirely on donations, hall hire, volunteer support, and community goodwill to:

Maintain and operate our community hall
Provide a safe space for local support groups
Host accessible faith-based meetings for those marginalised by traditional churches
Offer practical help for people facing homelessness, addiction, loneliness, or poverty
Promote the Gospel and preserve the spiritual legacy of Henry Cook

Every pound you give goes directly towards helping the people of Gosport. Your donation could keep the lights on for a support group, buy materials for an outreach project, or help someone find warmth, safety, and dignity.

How We Use Donations

As a registered UK charity, we are committed to the ethical and transparent use of all funds received. Your donations are managed by our volunteer board of trustees and spent entirely in line with our charitable aims.

We have no salaries to pay and no corporate overheads. Every donation supports:

The upkeep of our building and facilities
Heating and utilities for support groups
Emergency assistance for vulnerable individuals
Community outreach and events
Christian mission and pastoral care

your donations

How to Give

Giving to The Henry Cook Charity is simple — and every gift, no matter how small, makes a real difference.

One-Off Donations
(see form below)

Make a single contribution to support our work when it suits you. This helps with daily running costs* or urgent needs.

*please note we incur a small fee (approx 1% + 20p per transaction) taken from your contribution for using this service

Regular Giving

A monthly gift provides predictable support and allows us to plan ahead, saying “yes” more often to those who come through our doors.

Donate your Time

Volunteers are at the heart of everything we do at The Henry Cook Centre. By giving a little of your time, you can make a big difference in the lives of those who need support the most. Whether you can help regularly or just occasionally, your skills, kindness, and energy are invaluable.

Every act of service helps us continue Henry Cook’s legacy of faith, compassion, and care for the community.

your donations

Donation form

Thank you for supporting The Henry Cook Centre – where faith meets action, and where every donation brings hope to life.

Be Part of the Story

By donating, whether financial, practical or time-based, you keep the centre open to shine a light in people’s life, you chase the darkness away. You’re: