Penningtons Manches Cooper Foundation

Penningtons Manches Cooper Foundation, established in 2017 as a charitable incorporated organisation by UK law firm Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP, channels the firm's philanthropic efforts to support vulnerable individuals facing hardship from poverty, disability, race, age, war, political persecution, and especially modern slavery and human trafficking. Its mission promotes social justice and opportunity through targeted grant-making, employee volunteering (up to 21 hours annually per staff), and partnerships, guided by values of compassion, integrity, community engagement, and leveraging legal expertise for systemic change. Distinctively backed by a major law firm, it blends financial support with active pro bono involvement via regional committees at its seven UK offices.

The foundation funds direct interventions for exploitation victims, educational advancement for marginalised groups and children, poverty relief, homelessness support, and social inclusion programmes including advocacy, accommodation, capacity building, and holistic care. Signature beneficiaries include Anti-Trafficking and Labour Exploitation Unit (ATLEU), Caritas Bakhita House, Helen Bamber Foundation, Human Trafficking Foundation, St Mungo’s, and local groups like Asylum Welcome, Trussell Trust, and YMCA, prioritising high-impact work by smaller, community-embedded charities aligned with annual trustee-set themes.

Eligibility is limited to charities operating in regions around London, Basingstoke, Cambridge, Guildford, Oxford, and Reading offices, with a preference for smaller organisations serving vulnerable populations; it does not accept unsolicited applications, instead proactively selecting partners via local committees. Typical grants range from £2,000 to £15,000 (mostly £2,000–£10,000) for projects or core costs, awarded on a rolling basis with no deadlines. Exclusions cover trading activities, trustee/staff benefits, and non-charitable purposes, setting it apart through its law firm integration, modern slavery focus, decentralised regional approach, and long-term, values-driven partnerships.