The Charity of William Williams

The Charity of William Williams is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (charity number 202188).

The Charity of William Williams aims to relieve need, hardship or distress among people resident in Blandford Forum, Sturminster Newton and Shaftesbury, and to assist people in or entering a trade or profession. It was founded by the will of a merchant from Blandford, originally to fund two poor boys in rotation from the three towns. Its annual giving is £43,702, and its disposable income is divided equally between education and the relief of people in need. Most education grants support people embarking on higher education or recognised training schemes, and it also makes grants to local educational institutions for specific projects.

Priority Areas

The charity aims to relieve need, hardship or distress among people in its three town footprints and to assist people in or entering a trade or profession. It invites applications from individuals and organisations based in those areas. Its general relief work helps individuals experiencing hardship, with goods or services provided directly rather than cash. Educational support covers apprenticeships, training, college courses and university degrees for people preparing for, entering or engaged in a trade, occupation or profession. It also considers grants for organisations that assist local residents and for local educational institutions’ specific projects. The trustees aim to divide disposable income equally between education and relief for people in need; most education grants support people embarking on higher education or recognised training schemes.

Themes

• Relief of need
• Education and training

Geographic Focus

Blandford Forum; Sturminster Newton; Shaftesbury.

Organisations apply through the Organisation Grants route by writing to the office with the reason for their application and background about their organisation, especially the assistance they give local residents.

Who can apply:

• General Relief in Need: We are able to consider requests for grants from from individuals resident in the Postcode areas of: Blandford Forum; Sturminster Newton; Shaftesbury who are in conditions of need, hardship or distress.
• Educational Application
  • To qualify for an educational grant an applicant must be a permanent resident in one of the three towns (literally the footprint of each town and not the periphery villages) mentioned above, and preferably have lived there for a minimum of one year.
  • Those students whose parental/household annual income exceeds £40,000 net per annum will not generally be considered eligible in the future. However, certain extenuating circumstances may be considered.
• Applications from Organisations
  • Trustees will only be able to consider applications from organisations with offices based within the footprints of one of the three towns of Blandford Forum, Sturminster Newton or Shaftesbury.
  • The organisation must be offering assistance which falls within the remit of the Charity’s aims and objectives to individuals resident in one of the three towns.

What to send:

• General Relief in Need
  • Your letter must include your name, current address, telephone number and email (if preferred).
  • Evidence of income will be required.
  • Any additional Letters of Support from Social Services, GP’s, Citizen’s Advice Bureaux, Healthcare Workers, or similar organisations are helpful.
• Educational Application
  • The enclosed Forms ‘A’ and ‘B’, , must also be completed.
  • Any applicant must read and sign our Privacy Notice before any application can be processed.
  • To apply please complete the appropriate form ‘A’ , ‘B’ and Privacy Notice for your town and send together with a covering letter giving information about your education, background and yourself.
• Applications from Organisations
  • A leaflet for example is always helpful.
  • It would also be helpful to provide financial details of your organisation.
  • Trustees will need to be assured that the organisation is sound and will require sight of the last audited accounts.

What the charity says:

• The trustees aim to divide disposable income equally between education and relief for those in need.
• Trustees expect organisations to be sound and require sight of their last audited accounts.