Case studies in local giving

Many trusts and foundations focus on local giving, defining their area of benefit to a geographical location, often stipulated by the original settlor. Remarked Anthony Wilson, Chair of the AW.60 Charitable Trust: “It's national and international philanthropy that's new, not local. Who thinks that the 1603 Charity Act was about world development? The furthest that charities got beyond the parish was ransoming captives of Barbary pirates who had sailed from the nearest harbour. Michael Lowe's and Associated Charities had our 400th anniversary in 1993: set up to deal with fuel poverty and re-distribute clothing amongst the deserving poor. We still deal with fuel poverty, but have switched to re-cycling furniture.”

Yet no matter how old the organisation, the need to alleviate poverty seems to remain. For example, The Lambeth Endowed Charities, also known as The Walcot Educational Foundation, makes grants to support education for those in financial need who are under 30 and living in Lambeth and, more generally, to relieve financial poverty amongst Lambeth residents of any age.

Its earliest roots go back to the 1620s. The largest of its charities springs from the generosity of Edmund Walcot, a citizen of London and a haberdasher by trade, who by his Will of 1667 left provision for the needs of the poor of Lambeth.

Similarly, The Harborne Parish Lands Charity was founded in 1699 as an almshouse and grant-making charity. Today it provides sheltered housing for the elderly and makes grants to organisations and individuals within the charity's boundary, which includes Harborne and Quinton in Birmingham and Smethwick in the West Midlands. It also makes a small number of grants in Wednesbury.

Meanwhile, the Richmond Parish Lands Charity was endowed by a gift of land from King George III and Queen Charlotte in 1786 and reconstituted in its present form in 1968. Its principal objectives are the making of grants for charitable purposes to voluntary organisations in Richmond, Surrey and a social housing operation comprising nearly 100 dwellings.

And in 1553 King Edward VI established two charities to benefit the people of Stratford-upon-Avon. Remarkably, this endowment of the Guild and College Estates is still providing funds for Stratford, administered by the Stratford-upon-Avon Town Trust. The Trust has around £1m to distribute each year, primarily for the benefit of the residents of the town.

Some foundations are also locally focused because of a particular interest by a living settlor. For example, Jack Petchey was born in July 1925 in the East End of London and from a background with very few advantages he became a prominent businessman and property developer. He wanted to help young people in that area to make the most of opportunities and in 1999 founded the Jack Petchey Foundation to support projects in East London and West Essex. This is now expanding across the whole of London and Essex, and includes an awards scheme, project funding and sponsorship. £30m has been awarded since 1999.