Benevolent Fund

The Weavers’ Company Benevolent Fund awards grants of up to £15,000 per annum to smaller UK registered charities working with:

• Young Offenders

• Prisoners and Ex-prisoners

• Young disadvantaged people, especially those at risk of criminal involvement

Local organisations such as those working in a village, estate or small town should normally have an income of less than about £100,000. For those working in larger cities and/or across the UK, income should not be more than £250,000.

Grants can be used towards:

• Pump-priming;

• Project funding;

• Associated costs;

• Core costs;

• Innovative or pioneering work;

• Continuation funding; and

• Emergency or deficit funding (exceptional cases).

Deadline: Continuous rolling programme with applications reviewed three times per year:

• 31 March (shortlisted applications will be considered at the June meeting)

• 31 July (shortlisted applications will be considered at the November meeting)

• 30 November (shortlisted applications will be considered at the February meeting the following year)

What will we 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. We particularly welcome applications for pump-priming grants from small community-based organisations where our grant would form a major element of the funding.
• Project funding. We prefer to support projects where our 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. We 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 our area of interest are eligible to apply.
• Innovative or pioneering work. We like to encourage new ideas and to fund projects that could inspire similar work in other areas of the country.
• Continuation funding. We may consider providing ongoing funding for successful projects which have proved their worth.
• Emergency or deficit funding. In exceptional circumstances, we 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 we fund?

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