The Fashion & Textile Children's Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £372,000 (last reported year)
• Success Rate: 90% of applicants received grants
• Decision Time: 4-6 weeks
• Grant Range: £250 - £500
• Geographic Focus: UK-wide
• Children Supported: 832 children (last reported year)

Contact Details

Website: www.ftct.org.uk

Phone: 0300 123 9002

Email (General Applications): apply@ftct.org.uk

Email (CEO/Partnerships): anna@ftct.org.uk

Overview

Founded in 1853 by philanthropic textile merchants, The Fashion & Textile Children's Trust (FTCT) has been supporting children in UK fashion and textile families for over 170 years. Originally established when a group of textile workers came together to support the children and widow of a former colleague during the thriving cotton weaving industry, the charity has evolved alongside the British fashion and textile sector. With annual giving of £372,000, FTCT supported 832 children in its last reported year, achieving an impressive 90% success rate for applications. The charity's mission is clear: ensuring no fashion or textile family has to struggle financially to meet their child's basic needs. Led by CEO Anna Pangbourne, FTCT provides a confidential, free service focusing on essential items for children aged 0-18 where families are experiencing financial hardship.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Individual Family Grants (Rolling basis, online application)

• Grant Range: £250 - £500
• Maximum of three grants per family (12-month waiting period between grants)
• Application turnaround: 4-6 weeks from enquiry to decision
• 90% success rate

Priority Areas

Education Support:

• School uniform (including polo shirts, blazers, PE kits, school shoes)
• Educational supplies and learning tools
• Specialist tutorial support
• School fees (in exceptional circumstances)
• Transport costs for school

Essential Items:

• Children's clothing and shoes
• Bedroom furniture (beds, mattresses)
• Bedding
• Essential household appliances (white goods)

Disability and Additional Needs:

• Mobility equipment
• Sensory toys
• Specialist clothing
• Home adaptations
• Therapies and counselling (where no state funding available)

What They Don't Fund

• Applications from major grocery retailers (as of January 2025: Sainsbury's, Tesco, Asda, Morrisons, Aldi, Argos, Habitat employees - redirected to Grocery Aid or Retail Trust)
• Repeat funding for the same white goods or furniture items previously funded
• Requests where state funding is available

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Governance and Leadership

CEO: Anna Pangbourne (anna@ftct.org.uk)

Chair of Board of Trustees: Justin Hampshire, Group Chief Executive of TFG Brands London (appointed October 2024), succeeding Mike Taylor who served for eight years as Commercial Director at the British Heart Foundation.

Board of Trustees:

• David Shepherd
• Vanessa Green
• Mike Trotman
• Ryan Becker
• Kristin Cramborn
• Rob Bready
• Richard Sims

The charity has 11 trustees and 20 volunteers. All trustees serve voluntarily with no remuneration.

Key Quote from CEO Anna Pangbourne:

"What's happening at home is not brought into the workplace and we know why, it's because people don't want to talk about their finances. Nobody wants to contact a charity to say they need help, but what we really try to do is break down those barriers to say: 'It's ok, you are not alone'."

On school uniform support: "School uniform can be a huge cost for families who are in financially vulnerable situations. Our grants can really help, by covering the cost of all items a child needs for school, from blazers to polo shirts, P.E kits to school shoes. A school uniform seems like a simple thing, but for those children it can make a huge difference. It's the difference between getting teased and fitting in. It's the difference between getting sent home and getting a full day of learning."

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

1. Submit Application: Online portal (translation services available)
2. Provide Receipts: If successful, original receipts must be returned to demonstrate grant compliance

Application Method: Rolling basis - no deadlines, first-come-first-served processing

Decision Timeline

Total Timeline: 4-6 weeks from enquiry form to decision

• Processing time depends on applicant returning all required supporting documents promptly
• Email confirmation sent upon decision
• Grants typically processed within 2-4 weeks once all documentation received

Success Rates

90% approval rate - awarded grants to 90% of parents who applied in last reported year

Reapplication Policy

For Previously Successful Applicants:

• Must wait 12 months since last grant awarded
• Maximum of three grants per family (lifetime limit)
• Must demonstrate continued eligibility against all four criteria
• Must have previously returned all original receipts and received confirmation email
• Fashion/textile employment must be within last 9 years
• Child must still be aged 0-18
• Must still be experiencing financial hardship

Policy Notes:

• FTCT typically will not fund the same white goods or furniture items again
• Each new application requires demonstrating how child's health/wellbeing is affected by not having requested items
• No specific information provided about reapplication after unsuccessful/rejected applications

Application Success Factors

Direct Advice from the Funder

On Financial Hardship Situations They Support:

• Household bill arrears
• Debt issues
• Caring for ill/disabled child
• Redundancy or reduced work hours
• Relationship breakdown
• Long-term illness
• Risk of homelessness
• Kinship care
• Bereavement

Anna Pangbourne on Cost of Living Impact:

"With the cost of living crisis we have seen grant enquiries double in the last two months. Regardless of where you work in fashion retail, doubled fuel and energy costs are too much for most people's finances. For most of the families we are speaking to, replacing a child's bed or buying school uniform is a cost out of reach."

Recent Projects Funded

Example Grant Impact (Parent Testimonial):

“At the time of applying [to the FTCT] I was working less hours and had debts to pay off. I needed school shoes and uniform for both kids and a laptop for my daughter.” - Grant successfully provided these essential items

Back-to-School Campaign Impact:

• £3,566 raised funds equivalent to 90 pairs of children's school shoes or 45 secondary school blazers
• Demonstrates scale of individual grant impact

Eligible Employers Include

• High street clothes shops
• Textile manufacturers
• Fashion distribution centres
• Laundries
• Clothing logistics companies
• Soft furnishing companies
• Self-employed textile workers
• Fashion retail (excluding major grocery chains as of January 2025)

Standing Out Tips

1. Demonstrate Clear Need: Articulate how child's health/wellbeing is affected by not having the requested items
2. Provide Complete Documentation: Faster processing when all supporting documents submitted upfront
3. Be Specific About Financial Hardship: Explain the specific circumstances (redundancy, reduced hours, illness, caring responsibilities)
4. Show Fashion/Textile Connection: Clearly establish employment history in the sector (1+ years within last 9 years)
5. Confidentiality Assured: Organization emphasizes total confidentiality and does not share information with employers
6. Use Translation Services: Available if needed - don't let language be a barrier
7. Focus on Essentials: Prioritize requests for essential items directly impacting child's wellbeing and education

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Exceptional Success Rate: With 90% approval rate, eligible applicants have very strong chance of receiving funding - focus on demonstrating clear eligibility criteria
• Quick Turnaround: 4-6 weeks is relatively fast for grant decisions; ensure all supporting documents are submitted promptly to avoid delays
• Rolling Applications: No deadlines means applications can be submitted whenever need arises, but funding is first-come-first-served
• Lifetime Limit Awareness: Maximum three grants per family with 12-month waiting periods - plan strategically for most critical needs
• Focus on Child Impact: Applications should clearly demonstrate how requested items will improve child's health, wellbeing, or educational outcomes
• Employment Eligibility is Broad: Many fashion/textile roles qualify (not just direct retail); self-employed workers also eligible
• Major Retailer Exclusion: As of January 2025, grocery chain employees must seek support from Grocery Aid or Retail Trust instead
• Confidential Service: Organization emphasizes breaking down barriers and stigma around financial hardship - reassure clients this is a safe, confidential process
• Small Charity, Big Impact: Despite modest annual giving (£372,000), the charity supported 832 children - grants are modest but meaningful
• Strong Leadership Commitment: CEO Anna Pangbourne's quotes demonstrate deep understanding of applicant circumstances and commitment to reducing barriers

References

1. The Fashion & Textile Children's Trust official website - www.ftct.org.uk
2. Charity Commission Register - Charity Number 257136, https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/257136
3. FTCT About Our Grants page - https://www.ftct.org.uk/about-our-grants
4. FTCT Reapplication Policy - https://www.ftct.org.uk/applying-again
5. FTCT Trustees page - https://www.ftct.org.uk/our-trustees
6. FTCT Guidance for Grocery Employees - https://www.ftct.org.uk/guidance-for-grocery-employees
7. Drapers Online - "TFG Brands CEO named Fashion & Textile Children's Trust chair" - https://www.drapersonline.com/news/tfg-brands-ceo-named-fashion-textile-childrens-trust-chair
8. Drapers Online - "Grant enquiries to Fashion and Textile Children's Trust double" (Anna Pangbourne quote on cost of living crisis)
9. Schoolwear Association - "The Fashion & Textile Children's Trust Launches Campaign To Fund More School Uniform Grants" - https://schoolwearassociation.co.uk/the-fashion-textile-childrens-trust-launches-campaign-to-fund-more-school-uniform-grants/ (Anna Pangbourne quote on school uniform impact)
10. UKFT - "Fashion & Textile Children's Trust raises over £3,566 with back-to-school campaign" - https://ukft.org/ftct-back-to-school/
11. Turn2us - "Fashion & Textile Children's Trust (FTCT)" - https://grants-search.turn2us.org.uk/grant/fashion-textile-childrens-trust-ftct-13573
12. Marketing Week - "Why M&S wants to break the taboos around financial wellbeing" (Anna Pangbourne quotes on partnerships and breaking barriers)