History of Grant Giving Charities

Bristol Charities has, over the years, administered endowment funds on behalf of a number of Charities.

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 Object

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

1600

Name

Date

Charitable Object

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

1700

Name

Date

Charitable Object

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

1800

Name

Date

Charitable Object

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

1900

Name

Date

Charitable Object

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 Furber

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

2000

Name

Date

Charitable Object

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

“I cannot thank you enough for helping me get a proper bed. I have been on a camp bed for 5 weeks. I have a spinal problem…that has got worse. Today I got an orthopedic three quarter bed, with a nice metal frame. It is so comfortable. Thank you so much. I medically needed a bed and I am looking forward to sleeping in comfort.
With gratitude.”

— Ms R. R - Grant recipient

Dear Sir, Madam and all who do the magnificent work at Bristol Charities,

You recently donated £120 to my mother, who has a damaged spine and neck; making sleeping very painful.

I got a memory foam from Bristol Bed Maker with other funds to make up the shortfall. It is wonderful!!! Thank you so much it really makes a difference!

— Mr G. B

Thanking you very much for the carpet you supplied to me. After many months of homelessness, I am now settled in my new flat.

Your generosity and kindness has helped me greatly and the contractors did a great job. Once again, Thank you.

— Mr R. M

Thank you to Bristol Charities and supplier for the Russel Hobbs oven which is brill! I had my first roast dinner this week.

Well done and I hope I can give back one day.

— Mr R. A

The Vassall Centre, Gill Avenue, Bristol, BS16 2QQ