Hobson Charity Limited

Hobson Charity Limited, established in 1985 by the Hobson family with Lady Hobson OBE as long-serving Chair, is a family-governed grant-maker dedicated to improving quality of life for disadvantaged, deprived, disabled, young, and elderly communities across England and Wales. Its core objectives—relief of poverty, suffering and distress; advancement of education; recreation and leisure for social welfare; and other UK charitable purposes—emphasize targeted support for vulnerability, with recent priorities addressing cost-of-living pressures and frontline services. Guided by a prudent, evidence-based ethos, it prioritizes projects demonstrating clear impact, additional fundraising, and tangible outcomes over general aid.

The charity funds thematic areas like youth opportunities, disability services (e.g., specialist mobility equipment), elder care (e.g., community day centre improvements), deprivation alleviation, educational resources for those with additional needs, and community infrastructure enhancements. Grants support discrete projects or capital items for registered charities of all sizes, blending small local groups with larger nationals, always within England and Wales.

Eligible applicants are UK-registered charities with no income thresholds or religious restrictions; unsolicited online applications are accepted rolling via the website form, requiring project details, budgets, and evidence of other funders. The next deadline for April-June 2025 projects is 22nd November 2024, with decisions at regular trustee meetings. Typical grants range from £500 to £100,000 (average ~£5,000).

Distinctively cautious, Hobson avoids core salaries, recurring costs, multi-year grants (except exceptionally), and unrestricted support, favoring specific interventions with proven need and co-funding—ideal for mission-aligned projects seeking prudent, family-trustee backing.