Traditionally, entry to the Crafts of Irvine was by demonstrating that the members skills met the standards expected (an original "Trading Standards" of the time) and along with the membership brought benefits in the form of charitable aspects which were a form of insurance against poverty and burial expenses.

With trade union reform and loss of political influence, the Trades survived as "purely social and charitable bodies". And this is how most Crafts now exist in Irvine with open membership, dividing efforts towards fellowship events and raising funds for local charities and worthwhile causes. The Wrights & Squares are the exception where membership is still only open to time served craftsmen but they still enjoy the social and charitable efforts.

In the 1960s the Master Court rarely met more than once per year and discussions on our charitable donations lasted all of two minutes as the 'usual' six beneficiaries, who tended to be large national organisations, received their annual " guineas on the nod.

It was Deacon Convenor Bill Gooding who suggested that, with the large broad-based membership of the Trades, we could do a little better with our giving. And so began a transformation of the Incorporation from a mainly inward looking organisation to one which is well known around the town and whose annual dividing up of their Charity Fund, is eagerly awaited by many local beneficiaries.

Our annual giving is now in thousands of pounds with one specific cause chosen as the main focus each year - to receive approximately two thirds of the fund. Actually, we have found it remarkably difficult to select a different recipient each year and at the same time, keep it local.

Since the mid-1960s the Trades have made donations in excess of £260, 000 - quite a transformation. However, the biggest beneficiary is from all this has been the Incorporation itself and its members. The Trades today is a thriving organisation, sure we organise events with a view to raising money for the Charity Fund and, yes each of the Crafts also makes its own donations now as well, but the fun and the fellowship enjoyed by the members and friends as these vents unfold is what is binding the membership together to ensure that the Trades will last for years to come.

Each year sees events organised by individual Crafts such as race nights, literary evenings, bottle stalls, BBQ's or golf away-days. The Incorporation raises more significant funds by holding an annual Cabaret and an annual Charity Golf AM/AM which raises several thousand pounds.