The Weaver’s Company Benevolent Fund provides funding for smaller UK registered charities working with young offenders, prisoners and ex-prisoners, and young disadvantaged people, especially those at risk of criminal involvement within the UK.

Grants are available for:

1. Helping disadvantaged young people - the object of the fund is to support projects working with disadvantaged young people to ensure that they are given every possible chance to realise their potential and to participate fully in society. Young people are normally defined as being aged from 5 to 30 years, and

2. Supporting offenders and ex-offenders, particularly those under 30 years of age - many offenders and ex-offenders suffer from a variety of difficult and complex problems and they are amongst the most vulnerable members of society. Funding is available for work that addresses the social and economic problems faced by this group and their families. Projects should provide beneficiaries with support, life skills, training and a way back into education, training and/or employment, so that they may reintegrate into and make a positive contribution to society.

Priority is given to smaller organisations which offer direct services. Local organisations such as those working in a village, estate or small town should normally have an income of less than  £100,000. Those working across the UK should normally have an income of not more than  £250,000.

The Fund normally awards one-off grants up to £15,000, although in exceptional circumstances grants up to 3 years may be awarded.

Please note that there is a matched funding requirement for the Fund. Applicants will be required to show that they have sought and secured funding from other sources to support their application.

Further information, guidance and an application form is available on the Company’s website (scroll down the page to the section headed 'Applying for a Grant').

The Company operates 3 deadline for applications each year, on

o 31st March for the Company’s June grant panel:
o 31st July for the Company’s November grant panel, and
o 30th November for the Company’s February grant panel the following year.

The next application deadline is therefore Monday 31st July 2023.