Liverpool Corporation City Justices Poor Fund

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £78,602 (recent year income); £98,195 (recent year expenditure)
• Success Rate: Not applicable - no public application process
• Decision Time: N/A - beneficiaries selected by Lord Mayor
• Grant Range: Varies - typically entire annual fund distributed to 1-4 selected charities
• Geographic Focus: Liverpool and Merseyside
• Application Method: No public application process - invitation only by Lord Mayor

Contact Details

Address: 151 Dale Street, Liverpool, L2 2AH

Phone: 0151 227 5177

Email: town.hall@liverpool.gov.uk

Charity Number: 229539

Alternative Names: The Lord Mayor's No 2 (Charity) Account, The Lord Mayor's Charity Appeal

Overview

The Liverpool Corporation City Justices Poor Fund, established in 1964 under Section 595 of the Liverpool Corporation Act 1921, operates as the charitable fundraising vehicle for Liverpool's Lord Mayor. With recent annual income of £78,602 and expenditure of £98,195, the fund's purpose is “to raise income for distribution to charitable organisations in Liverpool.” Each year, the elected Lord Mayor personally selects between one and four Liverpool-based charities to benefit from their annual fundraising efforts. The charity is administered by Liverpool City Council with a single trustee structure - the serving Lord Mayor. The fund is recognised by HMRC for gift aid purposes and maintains comprehensive governance policies covering financial controls, risk management, and conflicts of interest.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

This is not a traditional grant-making fund with application cycles. Instead, the entire annual fundraising proceeds (typically £50,000-£100,000 per year) are distributed to charities selected by each Lord Mayor during their one-year term of office. Each Lord Mayor chooses beneficiary charities based on personal passions and civic priorities.

Recent Beneficiary Charities

2025-2026 (Lord Mayor: Cllr Barbara Murray)

• Liverpool Education Grants Charitable Trust - focus on literacy, lifelong learning, youth provision

2023-2024 (Lord Mayor: Cllr Mary Rasmussen)

• Local Solutions AIMS projects - £50,000 raised for supporting disadvantaged young people and care leavers

2022-2023 (Lord Mayor: Cllr Roy Gladden)

• Options for Supported Living, South Liverpool Domestic Abuse Services, Liverpool Domestic Abuse Service (LDAS), Veterans HQ Liverpool

2019-2021 (Lord Mayor: Cllr Anna Rothery - two-term tenure)

• The Anthony Walker Foundation, Amadudu Women's Refuge, LCR Pride Foundation, Merseyside Somali Association

Priority Areas

Based on recent beneficiaries:

• Education and youth development
• Equality and social justice
• Community support and domestic abuse services
• Disability support
• Skills and employability

What They Don't Fund

• Organizations without Liverpool connection
• National charities without local Liverpool delivery
• Individual applications
• Organizations not selected by the serving Lord Mayor

Ready to write a winning application for Liverpool Corporation City Justices Poor Fund?

Our AI helps you craft proposals that match their exact priorities. Save 10+ hours and increase your success rate.

Join the Launch List

Governance and Leadership

Current Trustee: Councillor Barbara Murray (appointed 14 May 2025) - serving as both Lord Mayor of Liverpool and sole trustee. The trustee changes annually when a new Lord Mayor is elected each May by Liverpool City Council.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The Liverpool Corporation City Justices Poor Fund operates exclusively through the Lord Mayor's personal selection of beneficiary charities. There is no application form, deadline, or assessment process open to the public.

Getting on Their Radar

Understand the Annual Cycle: New Lord Mayors are elected each May and announce their selected charities shortly after taking office.

Build Relationships with Liverpool City Councillors: Since the Lord Mayor is always a serving councillor elected by their peers, building awareness among Council members increases visibility.

Demonstrate Strong Liverpool Connection: All recent beneficiaries have been Liverpool-based or delivering significant services to Liverpool residents.

Participate in Liverpool Civic Life: Organizations visible in civic and community events at Liverpool Town Hall are more likely to be known to incoming Lord Mayors.

Decision Timeline

Beneficiary charities are selected by each Lord Mayor at the start of their one-year term (May) and funds are distributed at or near the end of the term.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no application process exists. Organizations are unlikely to be selected in consecutive years given the pattern of each Lord Mayor selecting different causes.

Application Success Factors

Since this operates through invitation only, documented selection patterns show preference for:

• Personal Connection to the Lord Mayor: Lord Mayors explicitly choose charities based on their “passions” and priorities
• Liverpool-Centric Focus: Every beneficiary has been Liverpool-based or delivers significant Liverpool services
• Addressing Inequality and Disadvantage: Recent beneficiaries consistently work with youth disadvantage, racial inequality, domestic abuse, disability inclusion, or educational disadvantage
• Established Track Record: Selected charities demonstrate proven impact with specific metrics
• Alignment with Civic Priorities: Organizations working on Liverpool City Council's strategic priorities appear favored

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This is not an open grant program - only Lord Mayor selection based on personal priorities
• Focus on Liverpool visibility and being a well-known, respected local charity
• Build councillor relationships since the Lord Mayor is always a serving councillor
• Recent patterns strongly favor youth, equality, and poverty-focused organizations
• Monitor mayoral transitions each May when charity selections are announced
• Demonstrate civic engagement and collaborative working with the Council
• Recent appeals have raised £50,000-£100,000 annually

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• P H Holt Foundation
• Skelton Bounty
• Community Foundations for Lancashire and Merseyside
• Worshipful Company of Insurers Charitable Trust
• Lewisham Local
• Tate & Lyle Sugars - Lyle's Local Fund
• Mayor of London
• Ken Dodd Charitable Foundation
• TALLOW CHANDLERS BENEVOLENT FUND NO 2
• The Grove Trust

References

1. Charity Commission Register - Liverpool Corporation City Justices Poor Fund (Charity Number 229539). Available at: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/229539 []

1. Liverpool City Council. “Lord Mayor of Liverpool.” Available at: https://liverpool.gov.uk/council/councillors-and-committees/lord-mayor/ []

1. Liverpool Charity and Voluntary Services (2025). "Donate to the Lord Mayor of Liverpool's Charity Appeal." Available at: https://www.lcvs.org.uk/ []

1. Local Solutions. "Lord Mayor's Charity of the Year." Available at: https://localsolutions.org.uk/the-lord-mayors-charity-of-the-year/ []