Our general guidelines and exclusions apply to all 5 categories. Please study them carefully. Please also look at the list of current beneficiariesas a guide. What follows is a brief explanation of the main focus of our current grant-making in each category and of the themes we particularly favour. Such is the competition for funds that if your work does not match our themes it is unlikely to be funded.
Main Focus
Social Welfare, one of the two largest categories in which we work, reflects Sir John Ellermans personal commitment to the seriously disadvantaged and needy. In 2009/10 a total of 46 charities received £1.35million between them.
At present the focus of our funding is directed towards the following:
Disadvantaged children and young people
Needy parents and families
Older people - see special focus immediately below
Special Focus Our special focus of interest for 2008 and probably for the next few years is support for charities working with older people, especially those over 75 and suffering poverty and isolation. These people may be living independently or in residential care and from either rural or urban communities. We welcome applications from national charities working with and for older people in utterly practical ways and specifically to:
reduce isolation and combat poverty
promote health and well-being
encourage family and inter-generational contact
improve the quality of housing, security and residential care.
We have a particular interest in befriending schemes which use volunteers.
Particular Themes and Concerns
For all Social Welfare work, the Foundation is particularly interested in charities which can demonstrate all or most of the following:
Tangible benefits on a significant scale to the most disadvantaged/vulnerable people
Sharing of good ideas and collaborative work with other charities
Encouragement of and motivation towards self-help and self-sufficiency
Employment and training of a broad base of volunteers
Practical improvement in the day-to-day quality of life of beneficiaries