The Hobson Charity Limited

Charity Number: 326839

Annual Expenditure: £1.6M
Throughout England And Wales

Contact Info

Website: https://hobsoncharity.org.uk

Phone: 020 3880 6425

Email: Post@HobsonCharity.org.uk

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: Data not publicly available
  • Success Rate: Not disclosed
  • Decision Time: Within 30 days (typically)
  • Grant Range: £500 - £150,000 (majority under £5,000)
  • Geographic Focus: England and Wales only

Contact Details

Website: https://hobsoncharity.org.uk

Email: Post@HobsonCharity.org.uk

Phone: 020 3880 6425

Overview

The Hobson Charity Limited was founded in 1985 by Sir Ronald Hobson, KCVO (1921–2017), a British entrepreneur, business-owner and dedicated philanthropist. The charity continues today under the chairmanship of Lady Patricia Marina Hobson OBE, supported by four family trustees (Deborah Hobson, Jennifer Hobson, Elizabeth Kelsall, and Emma Cook). The charity's primary objective is to empower a wide array of charitable organisations by offering grants that can help them achieve their goals, particularly for those working with young people, disadvantaged, deprived, disabled or elderly populations. The trustees currently focus their attention on urgent cost of living related applications from 'frontline' service charitable organisations, though they also consider other urgently needed specific item purchases on a monthly basis. The charity prefers to distribute funds widely across many organizations rather than developing long-term partnership relationships.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

  • Capital and Equipment Grants: £500 - £150,000 (majority under £5,000)
  • Applications accepted on a rolling basis
  • Online application portal
  • Feedback typically within 30 days
  • Grants settled after purchase confirmation with paid invoice

Priority Areas

  • Relief of poverty, suffering and distress of those in need in the United Kingdom
  • Provision of facilities for recreation and leisure in the interests of social welfare
  • Advancement of education amongst inhabitants of the United Kingdom
  • Other charitable purposes beneficial to UK communities
  • Current priority: Cost of living related applications from frontline service charities
  • Projects supporting young people, disadvantaged, deprived, disabled or elderly populations

What They Don't Fund

  • Salaries, staffing or people costs
  • Core running costs or operational expenses
  • Repeat or multi-year funding requests (except in very exceptional circumstances)
  • Projects already purchased or completed
  • Funding to individuals (except in exceptional circumstances)
  • Applications from charities outside England and Wales
  • Organizations without a functioning website

Governance and Leadership

Chair: Lady Patricia Marina Hobson OBE

Trustees (all family members):

  • Deborah Hobson
  • Jennifer Hobson
  • Elizabeth Kelsall
  • Emma Cook

Operations: Day-to-day operations managed by an Administrator and a small team

The charity operates with “the same enthusiasm” as when originally founded by Sir Ronald Hobson, maintaining the family's commitment to philanthropy while focusing on specific project funding rather than long-term partnerships. The trustees carefully evaluate each application individually to ensure alignment with the charity's stated objectives.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

  • PDF application letter with full project details and detailed budget
  • Signed recent accounts/financial statements
  • Safeguarding policy document (signed PDF)
  • Bank details form
  • Complete bank statement
  • Optional: quotations, estimates, plans/drawings (max 3MB total for uploads)
  1. Application portal: Available on hobsoncharity.org.uk
  2. Application basis: Rolling applications accepted year-round
  3. Current prioritization: Cost of living applications from frontline charities reviewed first; other urgent specific item purchases considered monthly

Decision Timeline

  • Feedback timeframe: Usually within 30 days
  • Peak periods: May take longer during busy times
  • Applicants advised to contact the charity if they haven't heard back within the timeframe
  • Grant settlement: After purchase confirmation with paid invoice

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed. The charity notes there are “no guarantees of success” but following their guidelines improves chances of approval.

Historical data: During the financial year ending 31 March 2014, the charity distributed 88 grants totalling £950,220.

Reapplication Policy

The charity does not support repeat or multi-year funding requests unless there are “very exceptional circumstances.” Organizations should not expect ongoing or partnership-based funding.

Application Success Factors

Key Requirements for Strong Applications:

  1. Specific capital or equipment focus: Applications must be for specific items or projects, not ongoing costs. As the charity states: “The trustees prefer to assist with funding for specific items or projects, ensuring that our support directly addresses the immediate needs of our beneficiaries.”
  1. Detailed budget and project information: Provide comprehensive project details, itemized budgets, and quotations where applicable.
  • Who else is supporting the project
  • Amounts already raised
  • Outstanding or pipeline applications to other funders
  • List of Trust/Foundation donations received
  1. Website requirement: Must have a functioning website with information about your charity's work and contact details.
  1. Safeguarding documentation: Submit a signed, current safeguarding/child protection policy.
  1. Cost of living relevance: Currently, applications related to urgent cost of living support for frontline service delivery receive priority consideration.
  • Fully paid receipts/invoices for funded items
  • Project impact report 6-12 months after grant settlement
  • VAT reclaim confirmation
  1. File optimization: Keep PDF uploads under 3MB; optimize file sizes as needed.

What the charity looks for:

The charity aims to “empower a wide array of charitable organisations” and maximize positive impact across a broad range of charities. They prioritize grants over long-term partnerships to support as many different organizations as possible.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Focus on specific items: Applications must be for clearly defined capital or equipment purchases, not salaries or running costs. The vast majority of grants are under £5,000.
  • Demonstrate wider support: Show evidence of other fundraising efforts and support from multiple sources - the trustees want to see you're actively building a funding portfolio.
  • Align with current priorities: Cost of living related applications from frontline charities currently receive priority attention. If not cost of living related, ensure it's for an urgently needed specific item.
  • Complete documentation upfront: Have all required documents ready - accounts, safeguarding policy, bank details, and supporting quotes/estimates before starting the application.
  • Don't expect partnerships: This is a one-time grant funder that prefers to support many different organizations rather than developing ongoing relationships. Do not request repeat or multi-year funding.
  • Quick turnaround: With typical 30-day feedback times and grants settled on invoice, this can be a relatively fast funding source for eligible projects.
  • England and Wales only: Geographic restriction is firm - must be registered charity in England and Wales with a functioning website.

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References