Pilkington Charities Fund

Pilkington Charities Fund, established in 1950 by the Pilkington family—founders of the iconic St Helens glass manufacturing company—originally aimed to alleviate poverty and ill health among local communities and employees. Over decades, its mission evolved to support Merseyside organisations tackling poverty, old age, ill health, disability, and health stigma, rooted in a profound sense of local responsibility, particularly in the Liverpool City Region and St Helens. In July 2025, it transferred its £25m assets to the Community Foundation for Lancashire and Merseyside as a ringfenced named fund, ensuring continuity with specialist oversight and annual distributions exceeding £800,000 to sustain its legacy of flexible, impactful philanthropy.

The fund prioritises advancing health and disability services, poverty relief, and awareness-raising initiatives that address inequalities and deliver sustainable benefits to vulnerable residents. It supports both project-specific work—such as health outreach and support for older people—and core costs like salaries, running expenses, and infrastructure, favouring organisations with proven local impact and deep community ties. Grants go to charities delivering measurable outcomes in poverty alleviation, disability support, and health empowerment across Merseyside.

Eligible applicants are UK-registered charities, CICs limited by guarantee, or constituted community groups established for at least three years, with a minimum of three unrelated trustees/directors; grants are proportional to income (not exceeding 50% annually) and target activity in the Liverpool City Region (Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens, Wirral), prioritising St Helens. Unsolicited applications are welcomed via online form on the Community Foundation website, requiring documents like constitutions, accounts, and safeguarding policies; the next deadline is 15 August 2025, with annual panel decisions in October. Distinctively flexible on core funding unlike many restricted grantmakers, it excludes new organisations and emphasises enduring local disadvantage over capital projects.