The Hopmarket Charity

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: Approximately £60,000-£80,000 (estimated from recent financial data)
• Total Granted Since 2011: Over £800,000
• Decision Time: 3 months (applications end of January, decisions in April)
• Grant Range: Variable (one-off projects and ongoing operational support)
• Geographic Focus: City of Worcester only
• Application Deadline: End of January annually

Contact Details

Primary Contact:

• Email: elaine.pollock@worcester.gov.uk (Applications)
• Email: julian.pugh@worcester.gov.uk (General enquiries)
• Phone: 01905 722027
• Address: Guildhall, Worcester, WR1 2EY

Website:

• https://thehopmarket.co.uk/the-hopmarket-charity/

Application Pack:

Available for download from the charity's website or by contacting the email above.

Overview

The Hopmarket Charity (registered charity number 244569) was established under Parliamentary Act in 1730 to maintain the Hopmarket and support needy persons in Worcester. Registered with the Charity Commission on 23 September 1965, the charity has a unique heritage spanning nearly three centuries. With total income of £196,186 and expenditure of £187,267 (2024 financial year), the charity generates revenue by owning and letting retail units at the Hopmarket complex and residential properties at 13-16 The Foregate in Worcester. This income is held on trust specifically to benefit needy persons in the City of Worcester. Since 2011, the charity has awarded over £800,000 in grant funding to local community organizations and charities. The charity is governed by 9 trustees comprising Worcester City Councillors and independent representatives from the local community, with no trustees receiving remuneration.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Hopmarket Charity operates a single annual grant program with applications accepted once per year. Grant awards are made with no intention of ongoing financial commitment unless exceptionally specified by trustees.

Annual Grant Program:

• Application deadline: End of January
• Notifications: April
• One application per organization per year
• Preference for one-off projects, though operational support is considered

Priority Areas

The charity supports local community organizations and charities that provide services to “needy persons” in the City of Worcester, defined as those who by reason of poverty, sickness, or infirmity (whether young or old) are in need of financial assistance, care, or attention.

Funding preferences include:

• One-off projects
• Operating costs
• Delivering services to vulnerable people
• Training volunteers
• Provision of activities for beneficiaries

Primary beneficiary groups:

• Children and young people experiencing poverty or disability
• Elderly people
• People with disabilities
• Other charities and voluntary bodies serving the above groups

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the charity's focus is strictly on organizations serving needy persons in Worcester. Support for the following would likely fall outside their remit:

• Projects outside the City of Worcester boundary
• Organizations not serving people experiencing poverty, sickness, or infirmity
• Individual applications (grants are made to organizations only)
• Activities that do not directly benefit vulnerable Worcester residents

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Governance and Leadership

The Hopmarket Charity is governed by 9 trustees with no employees. The board comprises Worcester City Councillors and independent representatives from the local community, ensuring both civic oversight and community perspective.

Key Governance Features:

• No trustees receive remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity
• No employees with total benefits over £60,000
• Financial controls and conflict of interest policies in place
• Administration handled in conjunction with Worcester City Council
• Not recognized by HMRC for gift aid
• Owns and leases land and property to generate income for grants

The charity's main method of helping beneficiaries is through grant-making to other organizations rather than direct service provision.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Applications are administered by Worcester City Council in conjunction with The Hopmarket Charity.

Process:

1. Contact elaine.pollock@worcester.gov.uk to request an application pack
2. Complete the application form with details of your organization and proposed project or activities
3. Submit one application per organization per year
4. Ensure your organization serves “needy persons” in the City of Worcester
5. Clearly demonstrate how your work benefits people experiencing poverty, sickness, or infirmity

Important Notes:

• Only one application per organization allowed in any one year
• Applications must be submitted by the end of January
• The charity operates on an annual cycle only

Decision Timeline

• Application deadline: End of January (annually)
• Decision notifications: April
• Total decision time: Approximately 3 months from deadline to notification

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly available. However, given the charity has distributed over £800,000 since 2011 (averaging £57,000-£62,000 per year) against annual income of approximately £196,000, a significant portion of income is directed to charitable grants.

Reapplication Policy

Organizations may submit one application per year. If unsuccessful, organizations can reapply in the following year's cycle. The charity makes awards “with no intention of an ongoing financial commitment unless exceptionally specified by Trustees,” suggesting most grants are one-off awards, though exceptional ongoing support may be considered.

Application Success Factors

Geographic Requirement is Absolute

The charity's trust deed specifically requires that grants benefit “needy persons in the City of Worcester.” This geographic limitation is fundamental and non-negotiable. Applicants must clearly demonstrate their beneficiaries are within Worcester city boundaries. Interestingly, the definition includes those “whose need originates in Worcester,” regardless of permanent residence, suggesting some flexibility for people temporarily outside the city who originated from Worcester.

Define Your Beneficiaries' Need

The charity is legally bound to support those experiencing poverty, sickness, or infirmity. Applications must clearly articulate:

• Which vulnerable group(s) you serve
• How they experience poverty, sickness, or infirmity
• The specific assistance, care, or attention they require
• How your organization addresses these needs

Align with Funding Preferences

The charity explicitly prefers support toward:

1. One-off projects (strongly preferred)
2. Operating costs
3. Delivering services
4. Training volunteers
5. Provision of activities

Applications for one-off projects appear to have the strongest alignment with trustee preferences. If seeking operational support, demonstrate why this is necessary and how it enables service delivery to vulnerable people.

No Ongoing Commitment Expectation

Grant awards are made “with no intention of an ongoing financial commitment unless exceptionally specified by Trustees.” Successful applications will likely demonstrate either:

• A discrete, time-limited project with clear outcomes, or
• How operational funding will be used in a specific period to deliver defined services

Avoid creating the impression that the charity will become a regular annual funder unless you have exceptional circumstances that might warrant trustee consideration of ongoing support.

Early Engagement Recommended

Given the single annual deadline and one-application-per-year rule, organizations should engage early in the cycle. Requesting an application pack well before the January deadline allows time to craft a strong application aligned with the charity's specific requirements.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Geographic focus is non-negotiable: Your beneficiaries must be needy persons in the City of Worcester experiencing poverty, sickness, or infirmity
• One shot per year: Only one application per organization annually with a fixed end-of-January deadline – make it count
• Preference for one-off projects: While operational costs are considered, the charity explicitly prefers supporting discrete projects with defined outcomes
• Three-month decision cycle: Applications submitted by end of January receive decisions in April, allowing for planning
• No expectation of repeat funding: Frame your request as a standalone need rather than the start of an ongoing funding relationship
• Council partnership: The charity works closely with Worcester City Council for administration – professional presentation and civic alignment may be beneficial
• Historic charity with stable income: Nearly 300 years of operation with property-based income provides reliable funding stream averaging £60,000+ annually in grants
• Request the application pack early: Contact elaine.pollock@worcester.gov.uk well before the January deadline to ensure sufficient preparation time

References

1. The Hopmarket Charity official website - https://thehopmarket.co.uk/the-hopmarket-charity/
2. Charity Commission Register - THE HOPMARKET CHARITY (244569) - https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/about-the-register-of-charities/-/charity-details/244569/full-print
3. OpenCharities data for charity 244569 - http://opencharities.org/charities/244569