The Farmers' Company Charitable Fund

Charity Number: 258712

Annual Expenditure: £0.2M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £202,076 (2024)
  • Annual Income: £295,294 (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Not publicly specified
  • Grant Range: £750 - £16,000 (depending on program)
  • Geographic Focus: United Kingdom
  • Charity Number: 258712

Contact Details

Website: www.farmerslivery.org.uk

Email: clerk@farmerslivery.org.uk

Telephone: 020 8326 2945

Address:

The Worshipful Company of Farmers

24 Herons Place

Old Isleworth

Middlesex

TW7 7BE

Clerk: Graham Bamford

Overview

The Farmers' Company Charitable Fund (charity number 258712) was established to promote agriculture and research, education, training, and travel in connection with farming. The fund is managed by the Worshipful Company of Farmers, a modern Livery Company with approximately 400 members. The charity had a total income of £295,294 and expenditure of £202,076 in the financial year ending September 2024. The fund operates with one trustee and is supported by 10 volunteers with no paid employees. Funds are raised from Liverymen, gifts, legacies, Company fundraising initiatives, and Hall income. The Henman Brooks Jubilee Committee is responsible for identifying and supporting young people in agriculture and associated industries who wish to study to improve their knowledge and skills. The Company is a member of the AgriFood Charities Partnership, collaborating with over 120 other organisations to maximise returns from scarce resources and support the next generation of farmers, growers, researchers, and businesses.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

1. Jubilee Scholarships (£750 per award)

  • Up to 10 awards annually of £750 each
  • For current members of the National Federation of Young Farmers' Clubs (NFYFC)
  • Funds training courses including: artificial insemination courses, tractor driving certifications, chainsaw operation licenses, pesticide handling certifications (PA1), and agricultural business and skills training
  • Application via downloadable form

2. The Henman Nuffield Scholarship (up to £16,000)

  • Joint sponsorship with Savills on a 50/50 basis
  • For UK residents aged 22-45 working in farming, rural land-based industries, food industries, or agricultural associated industries
  • Minimum 2 years experience required
  • Funding for international travel and study to research topics of interest
  • Application through Nuffield Farming Scholarships

3. Attfield Brooks Apprenticeships

  • For ages 18-24 at time of binding (apprenticeship ends at 26)
  • Provides structured mentoring with a Liveryman serving as “Apprentice Master”
  • Benefits include: exposure to Livery and City of London network, annual luncheon with mentor, possible travel contribution, and reduced cost of joining Livery until age 40
  • Requirements: annual 250-word update and commitment to engagement with mentor

4. Recognition of Achievement - College Prizes

  • Awards given at 13 agricultural colleges across England
  • Colleges include: Askham Bryan, Bicton College, Bishop Burton, Duchy College Roswarne, Eastern Otley College, Hadlow College, Harper Adams, Moulton College, Myercough College, Newton Rigg, Plumpton College, Royal Agricultural College, and Writtle College
  • Students recommended by their tutor and college Principal
  • Prize amounts not publicly specified

5. Support for Community Education

  • Financial support and in-kind assistance to Surrey Docks Inner City Farm
  • Annual scholarship prize for top students at City of London Freeman's School
  • Donation of animals and equipment to urban farming projects
  • Amounts not publicly specified

6. General Charitable Fund Grants

  • Rolling application through online form
  • For broader agricultural education, research, and training initiatives
  • Specific grant amounts not publicly specified

Priority Areas

The fund supports multiple agricultural sectors including:

  • Agribusiness
  • Arable farming
  • Beef and sheep
  • Dairy
  • Engineering
  • Environmental management
  • Farm and land management
  • Food production and quality
  • Horticulture
  • Poultry and pig farming

Key focus themes:

  • Agricultural education and leadership development
  • Professional training and skills development
  • Research and innovation in farming
  • Young people entering agriculture (particularly 18-45 age range)
  • Quality food at affordable prices
  • Global food security
  • Climate change and environmental protection
  • Biodiversity

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly listed, but the fund's charitable objectives clearly focus on agriculture and farming-related activities, suggesting non-agricultural projects would fall outside their remit.

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Governance and Leadership

Trustee Company Structure

Established on 1 October 2020 to comply with Charity Commission guidance requiring separation of corporate and charitable activities. The Trustee Company manages the Worshipful Company of Farmers' charitable assets and administration.

Trustees/Directors:

  1. J A Sayers – Chairman and Past Master Assistant
  2. Mrs B J Littler – Assistant
  3. E W Allen – Liveryman
  4. R J L Jones – Independent Director
  5. T J Russ – Liveryman

Operational Structure: The charity reports having 1 trustee formally registered, with 10 volunteers supporting activities. No trustees receive any remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity.

Decision-Making: The Henman Brooks Jubilee Committee plays a key role in identifying and supporting young people in agriculture. Applications can be made either through one of the Company's committees or directly to the Trust Company via the grant application process.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Applications vary by program:

For Jubilee Scholarships:

  • Must be a current member of NFYFC
  • Download and complete application form from website
  • Submit via email to clerk@farmerslivery.org.uk or post to the address above
  • Include 250-word personal biography and digital head and shoulders photograph
  • Include 500-word composition as requested on form

For Henman Nuffield Scholarship:

  • Apply through Nuffield Farming Scholarships (external organisation)
  • Must meet age and experience requirements

For Attfield Brooks Apprenticeships:

  • Contact Graham Bamford at clerk@farmerslivery.org.uk
  • Must meet age requirements (18-24 at binding)

For General Charitable Fund Grants:

  • Download charitable fund grant application form from website
  • Complete and submit via email to clerk@farmerslivery.org.uk or post

For Recognition of Achievement College Prizes:

  • No direct application - students are recommended by their tutor and college Principal

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly specified. The fund operates on a rolling basis for most programs rather than fixed annual deadlines.

Success Rates

Success rates and application statistics are not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication restrictions or waiting periods are mentioned in publicly available information.

Application Success Factors

Based on information from the Worshipful Company of Farmers:

What They're Looking For:

  • “The only qualification required is that you must be good at what you do and have the hunger and desire to be great!” - This direct quote from their website emphasises attitude and aspiration over formal qualifications
  • Commitment to agriculture and farming industries
  • Clear demonstration of how funding will support professional development
  • For Jubilee Scholarships: “WCoF are looking for Young Farmers who are committed to write reports on their experience when asked”

Application Requirements:

  • Short personal biography of approximately 250 words
  • Digital head and shoulders photograph
  • 500-word composition (for course applications)
  • Clear funding plan - “If you are going to need sponsorship, it is highly advisable to have made some approaches, or certainly have some firm ideas about who you will approach, before your interview”

Interview Process (for some programs):

  • Successful applicants may be invited for course interviews
  • Finance panel meetings to discuss funding arrangements
  • Applicants should demonstrate they have explored funding options and have plans in place

Strategic Priorities:

The fund's mission is “Inspiring, developing and encouraging excellence in the management and leadership of UK agriculture” - applications should demonstrate alignment with this focus on leadership and management development.

Recent Example:

One participant described the Challenge of Rural Leadership Course as “a fantastic, life-changing, two weeks” - suggesting the fund values transformative educational experiences.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Focus on leadership and management development - The fund's stated purpose is to inspire excellence in agricultural leadership, so applications should emphasise how funding will develop these skills
  1. Demonstrate hunger and desire - Their own guidance emphasises attitude and aspiration; show genuine passion for agriculture rather than just listing qualifications
  1. Be prepared to report back - Scholarship recipients are expected to provide updates and reports on their experiences, showing how the funding was used effectively
  1. Have a funding plan - Before applying or attending interviews, demonstrate you've thought through how you'll fund your development and what other sources you've approached
  1. Age is a key factor - Most programs target young people (18-45), particularly those at the start of their agricultural careers
  1. Membership matters - For Jubilee Scholarships, being an active member of NFYFC is essential; for apprenticeships, engagement with the Livery network is expected
  1. Target practical skills and qualifications - The fund supports specific training like pesticide certification, AI courses, and tractor driving rather than purely academic study

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