Hackney Parochial Charities

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £372,445 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Quarterly meetings for projects; rolling for individual hardship
• Grant Range: Up to £500 (individuals); range not specified for organizations
• Geographic Focus: Specific areas within London Borough of Hackney (ancient parish boundaries)

Contact Details

Website: www.hackneyparochialcharities.org.uk

Email: office@thetrustpartnership.com

Phone: 01285 841900 or 020 3397 7805 (for application support)

Administration: Peter Gee, Senior Administrator, The Trust Partnership

Overview

Founded in 1603 with the first legacy from Thomas Heron, Hackney Parochial Charities operates under the motto “Meeting Hardship with Compassion Since 1603.” This historic grant-making charity comprises three constituent charities: Hackney Parochial Charities (219876), South Hackney Parochial Charity (212336), and West Hackney Parochial Charity (208941).

With total income of £225,501 and expenditure of £372,445 in the year ending March 2024, the charities are funded primarily by the Hackney Joint Estate Charity, which manages a property portfolio in East London, alongside income from stocks and shares. The charities' mission is to relieve hardship and poverty and advance the lives of those living within specific areas of Hackney, though importantly, they do not cover the entire Metropolitan Borough—only areas within ancient parish boundaries.

Recent strategic priorities reflect current social challenges, including relief of food poverty, support for warm spaces, fuel poverty alleviation, and addressing social isolation among young and older people.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Individual Hardship Grants: Up to £500

• Covers furniture, white goods, and essential household items
• Must apply through third-party supporting agency (church, social worker, NHS, council, housing provider, GP)
• Guideline prices provided for specific items
• Applications processed on rolling basis between trustee meetings (HPC and WHPC)
• SHPC has fixed deadlines (quarterly)

Organizational Project Grants: Amount unspecified

• For organizations based in Hackney or serving people within areas of benefit
• Must demonstrate alignment with funding priorities
• Quarterly deadlines throughout the year
• Requires two independent referees and detailed documentation

Nursing Grants: Available through HPC only

• Individual grants to nurses
• Project grants to nursing organizations

Priority Areas

The Trustees' current priorities include:

• Relief of food poverty
• Support for warm spaces and fuel poverty alleviation
• Services for socially isolated elderly people
• Support for individuals and families with no recourse to public funds
• Advice and support organizations
• Support services for young people
• Homelessness and hardship relief
• Children's work and youth activities
• Families and parenting support

Organizations previously supported include: Solace Women's Aid, St Mungo's, Family Action, East End Citizens Advice Bureau, Hackney Church, Claudia Jones Organisation, Beersheba Living Well, Hackney Quest, Re-engage, Clapton Common Boys Club, Hackney Migrant Centre, Hackney Caribbean Elderly Organisation, North London Action for the Homeless, Mishon, Bags of Taste, The Salvation Army Cambridge Heath, Choice In Hackney, Step by Step, Made in Hackney, Apollo Music Projects, Sunbeams London, Hackney Doorways, Frampton Park Baptist Church, St Joseph's Hospice, Hackney Community Law Centre, The Community Hub, Hackney Foodbank, Team Up, and Age UK East London.

What They Don't Fund

Hackney Parochial Charities will NOT fund:

• General appeals or donation letters (must use application forms)
• Local authority statutory responsibilities
• Schools, colleges, or universities (except individual hardship cases)
• Umbrella, second-tier, or grant-making organizations
• Hospice running costs (except specific projects)
• Feasibility studies
• Professional associations or training costs
• Non-charitable organizations (companies limited by shares)
• Overseas trips, passports, or visas
• Family holidays (except group project trips)
• Heritage projects (unless educational)
• Environmental conservation projects
• Social research
• Campaigning or lobbying projects
• Website development projects
• IT equipment (except individual hardship)
• Any type of debt
• Daily living costs, rent, or utility bills
• Retrospective grants
• More than 2 individual grants within 5 years to same person
• State-supported expenses (SHPC)
• Higher education grants or second/Masters degrees (WHPC)

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Governance and Leadership

The charities are governed by 9 Trustees who are appointed by local parish churches and Hackney Council. The Trust Partnership provides clerking and administrative services.

West Hackney Parochial Charity Leadership:

• Chair: Reverend Niall Weir
• Vice Chair: Irfan Malik

Administration: Peter Gee serves as Senior Administrator and is responsible for all three parochial charities plus the Hackney Joint Estate Charity.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

CRITICAL ELIGIBILITY STEP: Before applying, applicants must verify they are within the areas of benefit using the online postcode checker. The charities follow ancient parish boundaries and exclude these wards: Woodberry Down, Brownswood, western half of Stamford Hill West, Clissold, western half of Stoke Newington, Haggerston, Hoxton West, Hoxton East, and Shoreditch.

For Individual Applicants:

1. Secure a third-party supporting agency (church, social worker, NHS, council, housing provider, GP). If you don't have one, call 020 3397 7805 for help connecting with East End Citizens Advice Bureau
2. Gather proof of address (utility bill, tenancy agreement, license agreement)
3. Check items/prices against guideline list on website
4. Complete online Individual Application Form at hackneyparochialcharities.org.uk
5. Upload supporting documents
6. Third-party agency details must be included on form

For Organizational Applicants:

1. Verify geographic eligibility using postcode checker
2. Identify two independent referees (prominent community members, other charities, local councillors—NOT relatives, partners, or staff)
3. Obtain reference letter on headed paper from one referee
4. Prepare latest annual report and accounts
5. Create detailed project budget
6. Complete online Project Application Form
7. Demonstrate clear alignment with funding priorities in application

Decision Timeline

Hackney Parochial Charities (HPC):

• Individual hardship: Reviewed between meetings on rolling basis
• Project grants: Trustees meet twice yearly (April and October)

South Hackney Parochial Charity (SHPC):

• Both individual and project applications: Quarterly meetings (January, April, August, October)

West Hackney Parochial Charity (WHPC):

• Individual hardship: Reviewed between meetings on rolling basis
• Project grants: Trustees meet four times yearly (January, April, August, October)
• Strategic grants: Considered at October meeting only

Post-Award Requirements:

• Individual grantees: Submit evaluation form once grant is spent
• Project grantees: Submit evaluation form 9 months after receiving grant

Success Rates

Success rate data is not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

Information about reapplication for unsuccessful applicants is not specified on the website. However, the exclusions state that individuals cannot receive more than 2 grants within a 5-year period from the same charity.

Application Success Factors

Geographic Precision is Non-Negotiable: Many applicants fail because they assume the charities cover all of Hackney. Use the postcode checker—if you're outside the ancient parish boundaries, you are ineligible. This is the most common reason for rejection.

Third-Party Support is Essential for Individuals: Individual applications without proper third-party agency support will not be processed. If you don't have this relationship, contact them at 020 3397 7805 before applying to get connected with East End Citizens Advice Bureau.

Demonstrate Alignment with Current Priorities: Applications that clearly address the Trustees' stated priorities—food poverty, fuel poverty, warm spaces, social isolation, young people, older people, and those with no recourse to public funds—are more likely to succeed.

Quality of Referees Matters: For organizational applications, choose referees who are genuinely independent and respected in the community. The reference letter should be detailed and on headed paper.

Budget Detail is Critical: Project applications must include detailed budgets. Vague or incomplete financial information weakens applications.

Guideline Prices for Individuals: Individual applicants should ensure requested items appear on the guideline list and prices align with stated maximums. Applications outside these parameters may be declined.

Complete Documentation: Missing documents (annual reports, accounts, proof of address, reference letters) will delay or sink applications. Review the full requirements before starting.

Avoid Exclusions: Review the extensive exclusions list carefully. Applications for explicitly excluded items or purposes will be automatically rejected, wasting valuable time.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Check geographic eligibility FIRST: Use the postcode checker before investing time in an application—the ancient parish boundaries exclude significant portions of modern Hackney
• Align with current strategic priorities: The Trustees are particularly focused on food poverty, fuel poverty, warm spaces, and social isolation—explicitly connect your work to these themes
• Third-party support is mandatory for individuals: Secure this relationship before applying; the charity can connect you with East End Citizens Advice Bureau if needed
• Independent, credible referees strengthen organizational applications: Choose referees who are genuinely independent and can speak authoritatively about your work
• Be aware of the 2-grant-in-5-years limit: Individuals can only receive 2 grants from the same charity within 5 years
• Different timelines for the three charities: Understand which specific charity (HPC, SHPC, or WHPC) covers your area and their particular deadlines and processes
• Complete documentation is essential: Missing annual reports, accounts, budgets, or reference letters will derail applications

References

• Hackney Parochial Charities official website: https://hackneyparochialcharities.org.uk
• How to Apply page: https://hackneyparochialcharities.org.uk/how-to-apply
• Eligibility and Exclusions: https://hackneyparochialcharities.org.uk/eligibility-check/exclusions
• Deadline Dates: https://hackneyparochialcharities.org.uk/how-to-apply/deadline-dates
• About HPC: https://hackneyparochialcharities.org.uk/about/hpc
• About West HPC: https://hackneyparochialcharities.org.uk/about/west-hpc
• UK Charity Commission Register - Charity 219876: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/219876
• The Trust Partnership Team page: https://thetrustpartnership.com/section/the-team
• British History Online - Hackney Charities for the Poor: https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/middx/vol10/pp166-172