Dr Edwards And Bishop King's Fulham Charity

Quick Stats

• Annual Income: £185,591 (year ending March 2025)
• Annual Expenditure: £440,066 (year ending March 2025)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available (small charity, high application volume)
• Decision Time: Several weeks for individuals; organisations supported previously reviewed monthly; new organisations typically March, June, September, December
• Grant Range: Up to £5,000 (higher amounts considered with strong justification)
• Geographic Focus: Old Metropolitan Borough of Fulham only

Contact Details

Address: Dawes Road Hub, 20 Dawes Road, London SW6 6EN

Phone: 020 7386 9387 (staff work part-time, email preferred)

Email:

• General enquiries: clerk@debk.org.uk
• Grant applications: grants@debk.org.uk

Website: www.debk.org.uk

Note: Staff work part-time, so email contact is preferred over phone calls.

Overview

Dr Edwards and Bishop King's Fulham Charity (DEBK) has a 400-year history of charitable giving, originating from bequests made in the early 17th century by Dr. Thomas Edwards (c.1554-1621) and Bishop John King (c.1559-1621). The charity was incorporated as a company on 2 August 2005 and registered with the Charity Commission on 23 January 2007.

DEBK exclusively serves people living in or organisations serving the old Metropolitan Borough of Fulham as constituted on 31 March 1965. The charity helps low-income individuals and organisations working with people in need through direct relief grants and organisational funding. With income of £185,591 and expenditure of £440,066 (year ending March 2025), DEBK maintains a hands-on approach to local grant-making. The charity is overseen by 13 trustees and employs part-time staff including a CEO and clerk. Trustees are mostly local residents or those who work locally with first-hand knowledge of the area.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Relief in Need Grants (Individuals)

• Amount: Essential items of daily living
• Eligibility: People on low incomes, usually receiving state benefits
• Purpose: Kitchen appliances, furniture, flooring, and other essential household items
• Process: Waiting list system; several weeks to decision

Organisational Grants

• Amount: Up to £5,000 guideline (higher amounts considered with strong justification)
• Duration: Normally one year
• Purpose: Project funding or running costs
• Eligibility: Voluntary organisations or community groups (registered charity status not required)
• Application method: Online portal (paper applications no longer accepted)

Summer Schemes

• Deadline: End of April at the latest
• Purpose: Holiday activities for children who would not otherwise have a break during summer holidays
• Beneficiaries: Children from low-income families

Priority Areas

• Essential living support: White goods, furniture, flooring for individuals in need
• Community programmes: Services and activities for Fulham people on low incomes
• Children and young people: Summer schemes and educational activities
• Elderly care: Activities supporting seniors, including those with dementia and Alzheimer's
• Emergency relief: Food parcels and immediate support for crisis situations
• Employment support: Training for people seeking work

What They Don't Fund

• Items that government or other agencies are legally required to provide
• General funding appeals (not specific to Fulham needs)
• Trips outside the United Kingdom
• Repeat requests for items already funded
• Requests where funding is available from other sources
• Organisations with large reserves not exploring alternative funding
• Projects primarily benefiting people outside Fulham (even if organisation is Fulham-based)
• Organisations dependent on continued DEBK funding

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Governance and Leadership

Structure

• 13 trustees (mostly local residents or those who work locally)
• Every trustee serves on at least one committee
• Small staff team working part-time (CEO, Clerk/Secretary, Administrator)
• Registered as charitable company limited by guarantee

Notable Trustees

• Said Mohamud
• Patricia Lakareber
• Richard Charles Brunwin
• Rev Peter David Dobson

CEO Role

The CEO manages staff, administers and coordinates the charity's work, organizes trustee meetings, prepares reports, takes minutes, and oversees daily administration of grant applications.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

For Organisations:

• Complete online application via www.debk.org.uk/grants
• Read eligibility criteria thoroughly before applying
• Do NOT use old paper application forms
• CEO may arrange a visit before application is considered
• If uncertain about eligibility, contact grants@debk.org.uk before applying

For Individuals:

• Apply through the Relief in Need programme
• Must be Fulham resident on low income/benefits
• Apply via online system or contact clerk@debk.org.uk

Decision Timeline

Organisations Previously Supported (within last 2 years):

• No deadline
• Applications considered monthly on rolling basis

New Organisations (or not supported recently):

• No fixed deadlines
• Trustee meetings likely in March, June, September, and December

Summer Schemes:

• Deadline: End of April at the latest

Individuals:

• Waiting list system operates
• Several weeks before contact/decision
• Notified as soon as possible given high application volume

Success Rates

Specific success rates are not publicly disclosed. The charity describes itself as small with a high volume of applications. In 2018-19, grants resulted in 1,561 vouchers redeemed by Fulham residents, benefiting 2,946 people.

Reapplication Policy

• Charity prefers not to give grants for repeat requests (items already funded)
• Organisations previously supported can reapply monthly
• No specific waiting period disclosed for unsuccessful applicants
• Decisions made at trustees' discretion with no appeals process

Application Success Factors

Critical Geographic Requirement:

The most important factor is demonstrating clear benefit to people living in the old Metropolitan Borough of Fulham. Applications relating to other areas will not be accepted. If projects include people from outside Fulham, funding will only cover costs for Fulham residents.

Complete and Accurate Applications:

The charity explicitly states: “Invalid or incomplete applications will cause frustration and delay, and may even result in them being unable to process requests.” Thoroughness is essential.

Demonstrate Genuine Need:

• Show applicants are on low incomes (for individual grants, usually means receiving state benefits)
• Demonstrate the organisation serves people in genuine need
• Evidence that requested support fills a real gap

Financial Responsibility:

• Organisations must show they are well-organised
• Must not be dependent on DEBK for continued funding
• Should demonstrate exploration of alternative funding sources
• Organisations with large reserves unlikely to succeed

Local Knowledge and Connection:

Given trustees' local expertise and the CEO's potential pre-application visits, demonstrating genuine understanding of and connection to Fulham communities strengthens applications.

Previous Relationship Advantage:

Organisations funded within the last two years benefit from monthly consideration rather than quarterly review cycles.

Timing for Summer Schemes:

Applications for holiday activities must be submitted by end of April - late applications will not be considered.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Geographic restriction is absolute: Only organisations serving the old Metropolitan Borough of Fulham are eligible. Applications outside this area are rejected immediately.

• Complete applications are non-negotiable: Invalid or incomplete applications cause delays or rejection. Read criteria thoroughly and provide all requested information.

• Think modest but justify higher asks: The guideline is up to £5,000, but they will consider higher amounts with strong justification. Present clear reasoning if requesting more.

• Relationship building matters: Organisations previously funded have faster review cycles (monthly vs quarterly). Building a track record with smaller grants may lead to larger support.

• CEO visits are part of the process: Be prepared for a site visit before your application is formally considered. This demonstrates the charity's hands-on approach.

• Demonstrate independence: Show you're exploring multiple funding sources and won't become dependent on DEBK grants. They explicitly avoid creating dependency relationships.

• Email is the best contact method: Staff work part-time and cannot always answer phones. Use grants@debk.org.uk for queries before applying.

References

• Dr Edwards and Bishop King's Fulham Charity official website: www.debk.org.uk
• Charity Commission Register, charity number 1113490: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/4021106
• DEBK History page: https://www.debk.org.uk/history
• DEBK Grants page: https://www.debk.org.uk/grants
• DEBK Success Stories: https://www.debk.org.uk/successes
• London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham Family Information Directory: https://www.lbhf.gov.uk/family-information-directory/dr-edwards-and-bishop-kings-fulham-charity
• Companies House record, company number 05525568: https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/05525568