The Clockmakers' Charity

Charity Number: 275380

Annual Expenditure: £0.2M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £212,583 (FY ending Oct 2024)
  • Total Income: £225,006 (FY ending Oct 2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: £1,000 - £2,000 (for clock restoration projects)
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily City of London, with wider UK support for horological education

Contact Details

Address: The Worshipful Company of Clockmakers, 8 Little Trinity Lane, London EC4V 2AN

Phone: 020 7998 8120

Email: clerk@clockmakers.org

Website: www.clockmakers.org

Contact: Contact the Clerk to receive an application form

Overview

The Clockmakers' Charity (registered charity number 275380) operates under the governance of the Court of Assistants of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers, a City of London Livery Company established by Royal Charter in 1631. The charity's mission focuses on preserving horological heritage and advancing education in clockmaking through bursaries for training, conservation grants for historically significant public clocks, and support for charitable causes in the City of London. The charity also incorporates the Clockmakers' Collection Fund, which supports the Clockmakers' Museum housed at London's Science Museum. With 20 volunteers and a discretionary grant-making approach, the charity closely collaborates with the George Daniels Educational Trust, receiving 30% of that trust's annual funds to jointly nominate award recipients alongside the British Horological Institute.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Horological Conservation & Restoration Grants: £1,000 - £2,000

  • Supports restoration and conservation of historically significant public clocks
  • Application method: Contact the Clerk for application form

Educational Bursaries & Training Support: Amount not publicly disclosed

  • Direct financial support for specialist clockmaking training
  • Supports apprentices through structured apprentice schemes
  • Provides mentoring and financial assistance
  • Awards annual prizes for excellence in horological education

City of London Charitable Support: Amount varies

  • General charitable purposes in the City of London area
  • Discretionary grants determined by Court of Assistants

Priority Areas

Horological Education

  • Bursaries for clockmaker training and apprenticeships
  • Support for institutions and individuals pursuing horological studies
  • Mentoring throughout the world of horology
  • Specialist training not assisted by other educational charities
  • Assistance for masters who train apprentices

Heritage Conservation

  • Maintenance and conservation of public clocks of note
  • Restoration of historically significant clock mechanisms
  • Preservation of horological heritage in the City of London
  • Support for museum collections (through Clockmakers' Collection Fund)

Geographic Focus

  • Strong preference for projects within the City of London
  • Support extends UK-wide for horological education and training

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the charity's narrow focus suggests they do not fund:

  • Projects unrelated to horology, clockmaking, or timekeeping
  • Projects outside their educational and conservation mandate
  • General charitable causes beyond the City of London area (unless horologically related)
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Governance and Leadership

Current Officers (2024-2025)

  • Master: Robert Wren FBHI
  • Deputy Master: Keith Scobie-Youngs FBHI
  • Senior Warden: Dr Robert Lamb
  • Renter Warden: Oliver Bartrum MBE
  • Junior Warden: Justin Koullapis FBHI
  • Clerk: (Administrative contact - not publicly named)
  • Assistant Clerk: Kerry Hamer-Nel
  • Curator: Anna Rolls

Court of Assistants

  • Richard Bourne
  • Richard Stenning
  • Captain Anthony Gray FRSA FBHI
  • Ralph Baber FCA
  • Dr Peter Thomas
  • Martin Moore KC
  • Andrew Canter
  • Anne Wright

The charity reports having 1 trustee and 20 volunteers, with no trustees receiving remuneration.

Leadership Perspective on Funding Priorities

Former Master James Nye articulated the organization's educational commitment: "We hope to support those people, through our nascent apprentice scheme or by providing the funding that's needed for people to get through college.“ He emphasized that the Museum ”is also an expression of a hope that there is a future for the trade, which is why we're so involved in the idea of education in horology."

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

For Clock Restoration Projects:

Contact the Clerk to request an application form. Applications are evaluated against specific criteria by the Court of Assistants.

For Educational Support:

Contact the Clerk to inquire about bursaries, apprenticeship support, and training funding. The charity works closely with the George Daniels Educational Trust for educational awards.

Application Method: No public application portal; contact-based application process

Project Evaluation Criteria

When considering conservation and restoration project applications, the charity evaluates:

  1. Horological Significance: Whether the project is of significant horological interest
  2. Company Connection: Whether it has a connection to a previous member of the Company
  3. Location: Whether the project is located within the City of London
  4. Public Access: Whether the project can be easily seen or accessed by members of the public
  5. Collection Context: Whether the project or item is part of an existing museum, charitable, or private collection

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. Grants are made at the discretion of the Court of Assistants, who meet regularly to review applications.

Success Rates

Application numbers, awards made, and percentage success rates are not publicly disclosed.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is publicly documented. Interested applicants should contact the Clerk for guidance on reapplying.

Application Success Factors

Based on funded projects and stated criteria, successful applications demonstrate:

Strong Horological Significance

  • Projects involving historically important clocks and mechanisms
  • Examples include Wells Cathedral's medieval clock from circa 1392 (received £1,000), and Bevis Marks Synagogue's Ellicott & Taylor clock from 1811-1830

City of London Connections

  • St James Garlickhythe church clock restoration in 2020 (the church serves as official church for several City livery companies including the Clockmakers)
  • Strong preference for projects within the City boundaries

Public Access and Educational Value

  • Projects that enhance public appreciation of horological heritage
  • Clocks that can be easily seen and accessed by members of the public
  • Items that contribute to museum collections or educational purposes

Institutional Quality

  • Funded institutions include Wells Cathedral, St Luke's Church, Bevis Marks Synagogue
  • Professional restoration approach with proper conservation standards

For Educational Applications

  • Demonstrating initiative and merit in pursuing horological training
  • Commitment to specialist clockmaking education
  • Evidence of genuine need for financial support where other educational charities cannot assist

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Highly specialized focus: This funder exclusively supports horology-related projects and education; ensure your project has genuine clockmaking or timekeeping heritage significance
  • City of London preference: Projects within the City of London boundaries receive strong consideration for restoration grants
  • Public benefit emphasis: Demonstrate how your clock or timepiece serves the public through visibility and access
  • Heritage value: Emphasize historical significance, maker provenance, and the clock's contribution to horological heritage
  • Contact-based process: There is no online application portal; establish early contact with the Clerk to understand current priorities and receive appropriate guidance
  • Educational pathway: For training support, connect with both the Clockmakers' Charity and the George Daniels Educational Trust, as they work collaboratively
  • Modest grant amounts: Clock restoration grants typically range £1,000-£2,000; budget your project accordingly and consider this as partial funding

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