The Grocers' Charity
History | Grant-Making Policy | Guidelines | Making an Application

History

The Grocers’ Charity is the charitable arm of the Grocers’ Company. Although the Grocers’ Company has an historic tradition of dispensing monies to diverse charitable causes, it was not until 1968 that the Charity itself was formally established. It is administered by The Grocers’ Trust Company Limited, and the Directors of that company are the four members of the Court of Assistants of the Grocers’ Company who hold the offices of Master, Second Warden and the Chairmen of the Finance and Education & Charities Committees.

The Charity has wide charitable aims. Each year a significant proportion of its annual expenditure is committed in the field of Education, by way of internal scholarships and bursaries at schools and colleges with which the Grocers’ Company has historic links. The balance is spread across several areas of interest, namely the relief of poverty (including youth), disability, medicine, the arts, heritage, the Church, and the elderly, with emphasis usually given to the first two categories.

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Grant-making Policy

Grant-making policy is reviewed periodically, which may result in different categories attracting a greater level of support.

All applications received are given due consideration with lists being circulated on a quarterly basis to the Education and Charities Committee that reports to the Directors.

All applicants receive a written reply notifying them of the outcome of their appeal.

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Guidelines

1.

Only appeals from organisations that are UK-Registered Charities will be considered.

2. Donations will not be made direct to individuals (but may be paid through registered charities).
3.

Support is rarely given to the following, UNLESS there is a specific close or long-standing connection with the Grocers’ Company:-

 
  • Cathedrals, churches and other ecclesiastical bodies
  • Hospices
  • Schools and other educational establishments
4.

The Charity will consider requests to support both capital and revenue projects.

5.

It is usual practice for successful applicants to be advised that a further request for support will not be entertained until at least two years have elapsed from the date of the successful application.

6.

Unsuccessful applicants are advised that a further request will not be considered until at least one year has elapsed from the date of the relevant application.

7.

Donations are made by way of a single payment and are of a non-recurring nature (although occasionally a commitment to fund a project for a limited period will be agreed).

8. Public acknowledgement of the Charity’s support is allowed, although it is preferred that it is undertaken in an unobtrusive manner.

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How to make an Application

a) ONLY applications submitted on The Grocers’ Charity official application form will be considered
b) A copy of the form can be obtained from The Charity Administrator, Grocers’ Hall, Princes Street, London, EC2R 8AD.
c) The completed form should be returned to the Charity Administrator, together with a brief covering letter written on the applying Charity's headed notepaper, as well as a copy of its most recent audited accounts and annual review.
d) Applications, which may be submitted at any time of the year, are not acknowledged, but all receive notification of the outcome in due course. (This may take several months depending on the time of year when the application is submitted.)
e) The Charity’s financial year runs from 1st August to 31st July, and applications are considered at meetings held four times during that period – November (September), January (November), April (January) and June (May).
  NB: Applications for consideration at a particular meeting in a given period must be received by the 1st of the month shown in brackets, e.g. applications for the November meeting must be received at latest by the 1st of September.

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Contact Information
Informal enquiry on the telephone or by e-mail is welcomed, and should be made to:

Miss Anne Blanchard
Charity Administrator
The Grocers’ Charity,
Grocers’ Hall, Princes Street, London EC2R 8AD
Telephone: 020 7606 3113
E-mail: anne@grocershall.co.uk


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