Sir Harry Pilkington Fund

The Sir Harry Pilkington Fund, established by trust deed on 14 March 1962 in honour of Sir Harry Pilkington and the philanthropic Pilkington family of Merseyside, is a UK registered charitable trust administered by Liverpool Charity and Voluntary Services (LCVS). Its enduring mission advances charitable purposes by distributing investment income to empower well-established organisations tackling health improvement, disability services, poverty relief, and social inclusion, primarily for those affected by poverty, old age, or ill health in the Liverpool City Region—Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens, and Wirral—with longstanding priority for St Helens. Rooted in prudent, long-term governance emphasising diverse expertise, robust financial controls, and measurable local impact, the fund embodies a commitment to dignity, wellbeing, and community resilience through front-line interventions.

It supports project and core costs, including salary funding for staff, financial/debt advice and education, social inclusion for older people, and resilience-building programmes in health and wellbeing, favouring organisations demonstrating tangible accountability and proven track records.

Eligible applicants are UK-registered charities, CICs limited by guarantee, or constituted community groups with at least three years' operational history, delivering services in the Liverpool City Region; grants must not exceed 50% of annual income, prioritising small to medium-sized entities. Typical awards range up to £20,000 (mostly lower end), via unsolicited online applications through the Community Foundation for Merseyside website in a single annual round—next open 3 July to 15 August 2025, with October panel decisions and outcomes within two weeks. Required documents include constitution, trustees list, accounts, bank statement, and safeguarding policy.

Exclusions cover newly established groups, statutory duties, commercial/political activities, exclusively religious work, or animal/plant-focused efforts; no capital, emergency, or rolling funding. Distinctively, it demands end-of-grant reporting and upholds historic Merseyside-focused ethos for sustainable public benefit.