Funding resources

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.

The fund’s principal aim is to support people in trouble, particularly young offenders and ex-offenders, as well as other disadvantaged young people. Preference is given to pump-priming new projects, especially those that are innovative and can serve as a model elsewhere.

Objectives of fund

The funding is intended for registered charities working in the current priority areas:

• Supporting offenders and ex-offenders into work, specifically for those looking to build skills and capability to get into sustainable work.
• Helping specific groups within the criminal justice sector that are less popular with funders than others.
• The secondary funding area is focused on projects that work specifically with young people (aged 16 to 25 years) involved with the Criminal Justice System to ensure they are given every possible chance to realise their full potential and to participate fully in society, rather than general youth development projects.

Value notes

There are 2 levels of funding:

• Small grants of up to £5,000
• Main grants have no maximum amount

Grants are normally awarded for 1 year only.

Match funding restrictions

Applicants must show that they have investigated other sources of funding and made plans for the future, which should include replacement funding if appropriate.

Who can apply

Applications will be accepted from UK registered charities and Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIOs) with an income of up to £5 million. Preference is to support new and innovative projects.

Restrictions

The following are not eligible for funding:

• universities or colleges
• physical, mental and developmental disabilities, and medical research or medical conditions, including drug and alcohol addiction
• environmental projects
• work in promotion of religious or political causes
• sponsorship, marketing appeals and fundraising activities
• endowment appeals
• work that has been completed, or will be completed, while the application is being considered
• grants to individuals or to causes that will benefit only one person, including student grants or bursaries
• organisations working outside the UK, and overseas expedition or travel
• work that should be covered by statutory funding
• capital costs including building work and renovations
• immigration legal fees or visa applications
• after school clubs and summer schools
• eligible expenditure

The funding can be used for:

• Pump-priming, particularly where the grant would support a project piloting new approaches and where that grant would form a major element of the funding or where it would be matched by other funders.
• Project funding, preference is to support projects where the grant is used for an identified purpose.
• Associated project costs, applicants should include the cost of any overheads associated with the work, such as office or secretarial support, so that the project is not under-funded.
• Core costs, including staff salaries, training and overheads that enable an organisation to develop and maintain expertise.
• Innovative or pioneering work, new ideas are encouraged and projects that could inspire similar work in other areas of the country.
• Emergency or deficit funding for an established organisation, in exceptional circumstances. This funding usually goes to charities which the company knows or has previously supported.

How to apply

Applications can be made at any time and are considered 3 times a year, in February, June and October. It may take up to 4 months for the application to be processed.

The closing dates for applications in 2026/27 are midday on:

• 12 March 2026 to be considered in June 2026
• 2 July 2026 to be considered in October 2026
• 12 November 2026 to be considered in February 2027
• 11 March 2027 to be considered in June 2027
• 1 July 2027 to be considered in October 2027
• 1 November 2027 to be considered in February 2028

Any applications that arrive too late for consideration at one meeting are automatically rolled forward to the next.

The guidelines and application forms can be found on the trust's website.

The completed form must be printed, signed and posted to the trust's office, along with the supporting documents. It must arrive by midday on the closing date.

For further information, search for the Weaver's company using Grant Finder.

Contacts

For further information to obtain this fund, please contact:

Charities Officer
The Weaver's Company
Saddlers' House
Gutter Lane
London
EC2V 6BR

Tel: 0207 606 1155
Email: charity@weavers.org.uk