Rowland Hill Memorial and Benevolent Fund

The Rowland Hill Memorial and Benevolent Fund, established in 1882 as a permanent memorial to postal reformer Sir Rowland Hill, provides targeted financial and practical support to current and former employees of Royal Mail Group Ltd, Post Office Ltd, Parcelforce Worldwide, and Royal Mail Property & Facilities Solutions, along with their dependants facing hardship from poverty, age, infirmity, health challenges, or homelessness. Guided by values of compassion, practicality, and confidentiality, the Fund delivers one-off grants for specific needs like debt relief, funeral costs, rent/mortgage arrears, utility bills, emergency home repairs, mobility aids, and disability adaptations, prioritizing prevention of poverty, disability support, housing stability, and aid for children, young people, the elderly, and disabled individuals across the UK.

Eligibility is strictly limited to individuals and families in the postal community with savings below £12,000; organizations are not supported. Applications from eligible people or consented third parties are welcomed UK-wide (England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland) with no geographic or income restrictions beyond need assessment.

Grants are awarded case-by-case to cover documented essential costs, with no published ranges, paid directly to suppliers like landlords or utilities. Unsolicited applications are accepted rolling via the online Lightning Reach portal or initial email/phone discussion with advisers, requiring evidence like bank statements and proof of postal service; decisions typically follow within four weeks, prioritizing urgent cases. Exclusions include private medical care, cost-of-living aid, strike pay, loans, weddings, car/vet repairs, or broadband. Distinctively, the Fund partners closely with Royal Mail and Post Office for awareness, maintains efficient trustee-led operations, and collaborates with other charities for holistic impact within its niche postal beneficiary base.