Bearder Charity

Charity Number: 1010529

Annual Expenditure: £0.2M
Geographic Focus: Calderdale

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £190,000 (approximate)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Not publicly available
  • Grant Range: Not specified
  • Geographic Focus: Metropolitan Borough of Calderdale, West Yorkshire (with discretion to fund outside this area)

Contact Details

Address: 5 King Street, Brighouse, West Yorkshire, HD6 1NX

Phone: 01484 710571

Website: www.bearder-charity.org

Email: Not publicly available

Overview

The Bearder Charity was established by John Bearder, a Halifax solicitor and philanthropist, and registered with the Charity Commission on 13 April 1992 (Charity Number 1010529). The charity distributes approximately £190,000 annually to support a wide range of individual and community projects across the Calder Valley. Founded with deep roots in the local legal community—John Alfred Bearder joined his father at what became Bearders Solicitors in 1946—the charity maintains a focused commitment to addressing poverty, hardship, and distress in Calderdale. With total income of £67,760 and expenditure of £843,928 in the financial year ending April 2024, the charity operates as a trust with four trustees who oversee its grant-making activities.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The charity operates with a dual focus:

  • Individual Support: Grants to individuals experiencing poverty, hardship, and distress in Calderdale
  • Community Projects: Grants to organizations and projects benefiting Calderdale residents, including support for children's activities, elderly services, and disability support

The charity awards approximately £190,000 per year across these programs. While specific grant amounts are not publicly disclosed, the charity has demonstrated flexibility in funding diverse projects, from purchasing art materials for creative activity days to supporting larger community initiatives.

Priority Areas

  • Relief of poverty, hardship, and distress among Calderdale residents
  • Children and young people's services
  • Elderly and older people's support
  • People with disabilities
  • Community benefit projects in the Calder Valley area

The charity's objects explicitly state it can also benefit “other charitable institutions or charitable objects as the Trustees in their absolute discretion select even if outside Calderdale area,” providing flexibility for exceptional cases beyond the primary geographic focus.

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly detailed. However, given the charity's focus on Calderdale residents experiencing poverty and hardship, applications from organizations or individuals outside this geographic area or addressing needs unrelated to poverty relief are less likely to succeed.

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Governance and Leadership

The Bearder Charity is governed by four trustees operating under a trust structure. The charity has comprehensive governance policies including:

  • Conflicting interests policy
  • Financial reserves policy and procedures
  • Internal charity financial controls
  • Risk management policy
  • Trustee conflicts of interest policy
  • Trustee expenses policy
  • Safeguarding procedures
  • Serious incident reporting

One or more trustees receive payments or benefits for providing services to the charity, as disclosed in Charity Commission records. The charity is not recognized by HMRC for gift aid and does not own or lease land or property.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Detailed application procedures are not publicly available through standard charity databases or the Charity Commission register. The charity's website (www.bearder-charity.org) was inaccessible during research.

Recommended approach: Contact the charity directly by phone at 01484 710571 to inquire about:

  • Application forms or procedures
  • Whether applications are accepted on a rolling basis or to fixed deadlines
  • Required supporting documentation
  • Eligibility criteria for individuals vs. organizations

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. Applicants should inquire about expected timeframes when making initial contact.

Success Rates

Success rates and application volumes are not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

Information about reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants is not publicly available. This should be clarified during initial contact with the charity.

Application Success Factors

Based on the available information about the Bearder Charity's history and purpose, the following factors may strengthen applications:

  • Clear demonstration of need: Show how the grant will address poverty, hardship, or distress among Calderdale residents
  • Local connection: Projects and individuals based in or serving the Metropolitan Borough of Calderdale are the primary focus
  • Community impact: For organizational applications, demonstrate broad benefit to Calderdale residents, particularly vulnerable populations (children, elderly, disabled)
  • Practical outcomes: The example of funding art materials for children from Belarus in cancer remission suggests the charity values tangible, activity-based support
  • Priority populations: Applications supporting children/young people, elderly people, or people with disabilities align with the charity's documented areas of focus

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • The Bearder Charity is a locally focused trust with roots in Calderdale's legal and philanthropic community, established by solicitor John Bearder
  • With approximately £190,000 distributed annually, the charity supports both individuals and organizations across the Calder Valley
  • Geographic focus is critical—applications must demonstrate connection to Calderdale, though trustees have discretion for exceptional cases
  • Priority beneficiary groups include children/young people, elderly people, and people with disabilities
  • Contact the charity directly by phone (01484 710571) to obtain application guidance, as detailed procedures are not publicly available online
  • The charity's website was inaccessible during research; telephone contact is the most reliable initial approach
  • Applications should clearly articulate how funding will relieve poverty, hardship, or distress—the charity's core mission

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