The Double 'o' Charity Limited

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £667,873 (2024)
• Total Dispersed Since 1976: £4,000,000+
• Decision Process: Trustee discretion (private dispersal charity)
• Geographic Focus: UK and international disaster relief
• Application Process: No public application process

Contact Details

Registered Charity Number: 271681

Company Number: 01260864

Note: This charity operates as a private dispersal charity and does not maintain public contact details for grant applications.

Overview

The Double 'O' Charity Limited was established by the rock group The Who in 1976, initially to support Erin Pizzey's Chiswick Women's Refuges. Since 1983, Pete Townshend has assumed operation of the charity, running it as a “private dispersal charity” focused on survival and recovery causes. With total assets generating annual income of approximately £692,471 (2024), the charity has dispersed over £4 million directly since its inception, with responsibility for dispersing a similar amount through Double O Promotions. The charity operates with 2 trustees and 1 employee, maintaining a focused approach to charitable giving through trustee initiative rather than open application processes.

Funding Priorities

Priority Areas

Primary Focus Areas:

• Relief of drug and alcohol addiction
• Support for survivors of domestic violence
• Assistance for survivors of sexual abuse
• Music education programs
• Emergency international disaster relief
• Young people's prison reform

Documented Beneficiaries Include:

• Teenage Cancer Trust
• Arvon Foundation
• Bedales School
• Chemical Dependency programs
• Children of Chiswick
• Lifeworks Community
• Orleans House Gallery
• Oxford University
• The Promise
• Spirit of Recovery
• Yabsley Exhibitions
• Mozambique Earthquake appeal (£300,000 via Oxfam in 2000)
• Barbuda community ($150,000)
• The Live Room recording studio

Grant Examples

The charity has made grants ranging from support for individual cases to large-scale disaster relief:

• $150,000 to the Barbuda community for disaster relief
• £300,000 to Oxfam for Mozambique Earthquake appeal
• Over £1,000,000 in net proceeds from The Who's Encore series CDs distributed between Double O and Teenage Cancer Trust
• Funding for recording studio equipment (Audient console for The Live Room)

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Governance and Leadership

Pete Townshend has operated the charity since 1983, describing it as focused "more than ever on 'survival'" - referring to its mission supporting survivors of addiction, abuse, and trauma.

The charity currently has:

• 2 Trustees
• 1 Employee
• No trustees receive remuneration
• One or more trustees are directors of subsidiaries

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This charity does not have a public application process. The Double 'O' Charity operates as a “private dispersal charity” where grants are awarded through trustee initiative and discretion rather than through open applications from the public.

According to documented information, the charity "runs under Townshend's initiative as a private dispersal charity" with Pete Townshend personally identifying and selecting beneficiaries based on the charity's mission priorities.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are made at trustee discretion rather than through application cycles.

Success Rates

Not applicable - no public application process.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process.

Application Success Factors

Since this charity operates through trustee discretion rather than public applications, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, analysis of documented grants reveals patterns in the types of organizations and causes that receive support:

Funded Project Characteristics:

• Direct alignment with survival and recovery themes (addiction, abuse, trauma)
• Music education and creative arts programs
• Emergency disaster relief requiring immediate response
• Young people's rehabilitation and reform programs
• Both individual cases and established treatment programs

Connection Points:

• Organizations working in music and creative arts sectors
• Causes connected to The Who's touring activities and performances
• Established charities with proven track records in priority areas
• Emergency situations requiring immediate humanitarian response

Quote from Pete Townshend: The charity is "focussed more than ever on 'survival'" - emphasizing support for those recovering from addiction, abuse, and trauma.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No Public Applications: This charity does not accept unsolicited applications and operates through trustee discretion
• Private Initiative Model: Grants are made based on Pete Townshend's personal initiative and awareness of needs
• Survival Focus: Strong emphasis on supporting survivors of addiction, domestic violence, and sexual abuse
• Music Connection: Historical support for music education and creative arts programs
• Disaster Response: Responsive to international emergencies requiring immediate humanitarian aid
• Relationship-Based: Beneficiaries appear to be identified through personal connections, The Who's touring activities, or established charity relationships
• Not Suitable for Proactive Targeting: Grant writers cannot directly apply to this funder through traditional channels

References

• Charity Commission Register of Charities: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/271681
• Pete Townshend Official Website - Charity page: https://petetownshend.net/charity
• The Who Official Website - Charity information: https://www.thewho.com/charity/
• Charity Commission financial data for year ending 31 May 2024