In 1973, 2001 and 2015 the Charity received Charity Commission permission to “pool” or consolidate a number of charities and today the Charity delivers its grant giving programme through four main areas.
It is important, however, to recognise and remember those individuals and benefactors who have contributed to the rich history of Philanthropy and Charitable Support, both within the charity and also in Bristol. Their legacy has made a significant contribution to shaping the City and making it the vibrant, thriving community it is today.
Description of Grant Giving Charities
| Name | Date | Charitable Objectives |
|---|---|---|
| Merchant Tailors Charity | 1399 | Pensions and accommodation for Tailors or widows of tailors |
| Dr George Owen’s Charity | 1553 | Pensions and accommodation for poor men |
| Alderman Thomas Chesters Charity | 1582 | General relief of poor people in the parish of St John and the relief of residents in St James Almshouse |
| Alderman Robert Kitchen’s Charity | 1594 | Grants to poor kindred of the founder certain ecclesiastical charities or incumbents poor people of Bristol, Freeman or widows of Freemen |
1600s
| Name | Date | Charitable Objectives |
|---|---|---|
| Thomas Holbyn’s Charity | 1619 | On St Thomas’ day payments would be made to the poor people of the parish of St Thomas Bristol. In addition a yearly sermon would be preached on that day at St Thomas church |
| The Rev Dr Thomas White’s Charity for Marriage patrons | 1622 | Preference was given to young women on marriage |
| Rev Dr Thomas White Grays Inn Lane Trust also Essex Estates | 1622 | The Building of an ecclesiastical College and Almshouse within the City of London – to house 20 people – 4 from Bristol |
| The Sion Hospital Pensions | 1623 | Pensions to the poor of Bristol or elsewhere who through age, infirmity or illness are in need |
| Mr Edward Coxs Charity | 1627 | Charitable purposes for poor apprentice boys decayed handicraftmen especially within the parish of St Phillips |
| Humphrey Browns Charity for the poor of the Parish of Iron Acton | 1629 | For the poor of the Parish of Iron Acton |
| Alderman George Harringtons Charity | 1638 | For Freeman of the City or their widows |
| Alderman Joseph Jackson’s Charity | 1658 | Weekly payments to poor housekeepers |
1700s
| Name | Date | Charitable Objectives |
|---|---|---|
| Francis Fullers Charity | 1705 | Those in need in the Parish of St Philip and St Jacob Bristol |
| Sarah Ridley Pension Charity | 1716 | To build Ridley Almshouse and later to pay pensions to poor persons and of the Protestant religion |
| The Rev Dr Charles Sloper Charity | 1727 | For bibles for poor people and also funds for poor people within the City of Bristol |
| Sir Abraham Elton’s Charity | 1727 | Preference for the residents of St Werburghs |
| Mrs Ann Thurstons Charity | 1756 | Poor lying-in women, wives of Freeman of the City of Bristol |
| Bristol Dispensary & Relief in Sickness Charity & A J Williams Memorial Charity | 1775 | For relief in sickness of residents within 10 miles of the city centre |
| Bristol & District Nursing Association | 1775 | Institution located in College Green |
| Miss Ann Casa Majors Charity | 1778 | Payment made to the rector of St Stephen’s Church |
| John Merlotts Charity for the Blind | 1784 | Pensions to blind people resident in Great Britain over 50 years of age |
1800s
| Name | Date | Charitable Objectives |
|---|---|---|
| Bristol Female Misericordia Society | 1800 | For the relief of the sick and married women in child birth |
| Miss Elizabeth Ludlow’s Charity | 1805 | Widows or daughters of Freeman of the City of Bristol |
| Samuel Gist’s Charity | 1808 | To maintain men, women, boys and girls at Queen Elizabeth’s Hospital and Red Maids School |
| Richard Reynolds II Charity | 1809 | To make grants to certain named institutions or other charitable objects |
| Clifton Dispensary | 1812 | An institution for persons who had no other means of seeking medical assistance |
| Thomas Bonville’s Charity for poor housekeepers | 1817 | Housekeepers, resident in Bristol |
| Richard Hughes Educational Charities | 1819 | Income distributed to Strangers Friend Society, Queen Elizabeth’s Hospital and Red Maids School |
| Thomas Bonville Charity for poor residents | 1822 | Preference for people regularly attending Divine Worship |
| Mrs Mary Ann Peloguin’s Charity | 1836 | Preference for lying-in women particularly wives of Freeman of the City and residents in the Parish of St Stephens |
| Richard Reynolds Charity | 1836 | Income to Almshouse Charities |
| Red Lodge Reformatory Fund | 1854 | Grants to Institutions or Societies in or near Bristol to rescue and care for criminal or neglected girls and young women |
| Bristol Guild of the Handicapped Trust | 1866 – 1923 | To meet the needs of physically handicapped children and younger men |
| Edmund Lanes Charity | 1871 | Preference for traders or former traders |
| Bristol Medical Missionary Society | 1872 | Dispensary at 7 Redcross St to render free medical aid to the poor and to work to reclaim those who had fallen into evil ways |
| Lady Sarah Haberfields Charity | 1875 | Payments to poor married women who were not receiving poor law relief |
| Read Dispensary Fund | 1876 | Grants to sick women and children of Bristol who are referred by their doctors |
| Mary Carpenter Memorial | 1877 | For the benefit of poor girls and boys in Bristol |
| Shirehampton Temperance Society | 1882 | To further the cause of temperance in Shirehampton and other charitable purposes in Shirehampton |
| The Edward Phillips Trust | 1885 | The relief or deserving needy persons either by gifts, apprentancy boys and girls to learn trades or by granting assistance to widows |
| Miss Hanah Marriott’s Trust | 1887 | Annuities to women of good character in needy circumstances over 50 years of age |
| Miss Margaret Edgars Charity | 1893 | Preference for spinsters not less than 50 years of age |
| Webbs Home Trust | 1898 | Relief of need for residents in Bristol |
1900s
| Name | Date | Charitable Objectives |
|---|---|---|
| Alice Cole Charity for Poor Householders. Alice Cole Charity for the poor of the Parish of St James. Alice Coles Educational Foundation | 1904 | For the poor of Bristol. Churchwarden of the Parish of St James. A free school for poor children |
| Alderman John Whitsons charities for poor women in childbirth and lying-in women. Poor householders and poor widows | 1905 | Preference given to lying-in women and poor men over the age of 50 |
| Mrs Catherine Mary Castle’s Trust | 1905 | Preference for women who are resident in Bristol or in the counties of Gloucestershire or Somerset being members of the Church of England |
| Miss Ellen Marrott’s Charity | 1910 | Preference for women |
| Furber Fund | 1912 | Creation of a housing charity |
| Ministers Fund | 1912 | Income towards salary of the minister of Wesley Memorial Church and Sunday School Christmas party |
| Furber Poor Fund | 1912 | Distribution of coal to poor persons of Bryant’s Hill |
| Charity of William Barrow | 1916 | Preference for widows with children, particularly those living in the Totterdown or Bedminster districts |
| Leir Fund | 1917 | Assist soldiers born in Bristol who were wholly or partially blinded in the First World War. Grants towards the cost of rods or equipment for apprentices |
| Reginald Williams Memorial | 1921 | Payments to Bristol Sailors Home for old or disabled sailors in Bristol, also to assist young men to become marine engineers |
| Henry Herbert Wills Trust | 1922 | For poor deserving persons |
| Mrs M S Phillips Annuitants & Augustus Phillips Charity | 1927 | Preference for widows or spinsters over 55 years of age |
| Soldiers Corner Arnos Vale Cemetery | 1927 | Upkeep and maintenance of graves and memorial in Arnos Vale Cemetery |
| Hooks Mills Educational Foundation | 1930 | To assist students by means of grants scholarships and bursaries. Making grants for the purpose of religious and secular education |
| Sailors College Charity | 1937 | Preference for sailors connected with the port of Bristol or widows or daughters of such sailors |
| William Emmett Habgood Charity | 1941 | Preference for men over 50 years of age particularly those who are or were tradesmen or shop keepers of Bristol |
| L E & J Yeadon Charity | 1956 | To assist in the life of poor persons in Bristol and district being (a) spastics (b) over 60 years of age or (c) children under 18 |
| Charity of Edith Louisa Garlick | 1959 | Preference for women over 50 years of age |
| James Yeadon Charity | 1963 | For persons over 60 years of age or young persons under 18 years of age |
| Bristol Humane Society | 1967 | For the maintenance of life buoys in Bristol and then later, to provide grants to organisations connected with the encouragement of swimming – life saving at sea and youth activities |
| Miss Hannah Ludlow’s Charity | 1973 | For the benefit of women of respectable character and position, but impoverished by unavoidable circumstances |
| Westbury on Trym Consolidated Charities | 1974 | Payments to those in need |
| Bishop Memorial Fund | 1977 | To benefit people at Trinity Hospital South (John Barstaple House) in relief or sickness, to help relatives to visit or in other ways |
| Hall Houghton’s Charity | 1977 | For relief in sickness of residents in parishes of St Barnabus and St Werburgh |
| Bristol Lying in Charity | 1978 | Income divided between 15 parishes to make grants to poor mothers |
| Bristol Migration Charity | 1979 | To aid poor people resident in Bristol to migrate |
| George Thomas Fund | 1980 | Grants to Bristol residents aged under 25, for education including fees, scholarships, special clothing or tools required for training |
| Bristol Shipping Staff Charity | 1983 | For the relief of needy persons, or their dependents, employed in or retired from shipping – building, broking or reparing industries within a 10 mile radius of Bristol city centre. To promote education in matters relating to the shipping industry in the same area |
| John Pearce’s Charity | Not known (1983) | Paid to the Diocese of Bristol |
2000s
| Name | Date | Charitable Objectives |
|---|---|---|
| Jackson Roeckel Teachers Association | Not known | Annuities to bona fide teachers who may have been reduced in circumstances |
| Barry T Jones Fund | 2003 | To provide grants to charitable independent schools engaged in secondary education within the City and County of Bristol |
| Ella Mary Merchant Fund | 2003 | Grants to women and men responsible for the care of the elderly or infirm relatives |