Apply for a Benevolent Fund – UK

Deadline: 19-Nov-21

The Weavers Company has announced the applications for the Benevolent Fund.

The Weavers’ Company Benevolent Fund was set up in 1973 with funds from The Worshipful Company of Weavers, which is the oldest City of London Livery Company and has a history dating back before 1130 AD.

Priorities

Supporting offenders and ex-offenders
- Many offenders and ex-offenders suffer from a variety of difficult, complex problems and are amongst the most vulnerable members of society. They will fund work that addresses the social and economic problems faced by this group and their families, providing them with support, life-skills training and a way back into education, training and/or employment, so that they may reintegrate and make a positive contribution to society. Their particular interest is in supporting young offenders under the age of 30.
Helping disadvantaged young people
- The Trustees are keen to support projects working with disadvantaged young people to ensure they are given every possible chance to realise their full potential and to participate fully in society. They normally define young people as being aged from 5 to 30 years.

What will they fund?

Size of organisation: Though income is not a barrier to an application being considered, the Committee’s preference is to support small organisations. Local organisations, such as those working in a village, estate or small town should normally have an annual income of less than about £100,000. For those working in larger cities and/or across the UK, annual income should not be more than about £250,000.
Funding Limit: Grants of up to £15,000 per annum may be awarded, but smaller applications are also welcomed.
Duration of funding: Grants are normally awarded for one year only. The Company can however exceptionally consider applications for multi-year funding, up to three years.
Pump-priming: They particularly welcome applications for pump-priming grants from small community-based organisations where their grant would form a major element of the funding.
Project funding: They prefer to support projects where their grant will be used for an identified purpose.
Associated Costs: If you are applying for project funding, you should make sure you have included the cost of any overheads associated with the work, such as office/secretarial support, so that the project is not under-funded. It is in your best interest to ensure that you have realistically assessed the cost of the project.
Core costs: They will consider applications for core funding for new projects, such as general administration and training that enable an organisation to develop and maintain expertise. Only those organisations whose main purpose fits within their area of interest are eligible to apply.
Innovative or pioneering work: They like to encourage new ideas and to fund projects that could inspire similar work in other areas of the country.
Continuation funding: They may consider providing ongoing funding for successful projects which have proved their worth.
Emergency or deficit funding: In exceptional circumstances, they may provide emergency or deficit funding for an established organisation. Applicants most likely to be granted such emergency funding are charities that the Company knows or has previously supported.

What won’t they fund?

Long-term support: They will not normally provide long-term support.
General appeals: They will not support sponsorship, marketing or other fundraising activities.
Endowment Funds: They will not support endowment funds, nor bursaries or long-term capital projects.
Grant-giving charities: They will not provide grants to grant-giving charities.
Retrospective funding: They will not make grants for work that has been completed or will be completed while the application is being considered.
Replacement funding: They will not provide grants for work that should be covered by statutory funding.
Building projects: They will not fund building work, but may help with the cost of equipment or furnishings.
Disability Discrimination Act: They will not fund capital projects to provide access in compliance with the DDA.
Personal Appeals: They will not make grants to individuals.
Umbrella bodies or large, established organisations: They will not normally support projects in which the charity is collaborating or working in partnership with umbrella bodies or large, established organisations.
Overseas: They will not support organisations working outside the UK, nor overseas expeditions or travel.