The McCarthy-Dixon Foundation

Registered charity 1190255 · since 2020mccarthydixon.org.uk·Northamptonshire·Updated 29 October 2026

Key takeaways

Its stated work fits groups in Northamptonshire, which it lists as a priority area, that provide food and essentials, run social clubs or outreach, support families through schools, or offer community wellbeing services.
Neither its annual report nor its register entry gives a grants figure or grant range, so this profile offers no basis for judging a realistic request size, and a grant writer should ask the foundation directly.
No application process is published, so the sensible first step is to use the contact shown to get in touch before writing a proposal.
Its food parcels reach people through existing partner organisations and recognised local support providers rather than directly to the public, so a group already working alongside such providers may be a closer match, and no exclusions are published that would rule any group out.

Overview

The McCarthy-Dixon Foundation is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (charity number 1190255).

The McCarthy-Dixon Foundation is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales, and its mission is to bring community to people in need. It was established in the early days of the first COVID-19 lockdown, when its founder, recognising growing hardship locally, first set up The Swan and Helmet Food Bank. Its work covers food and essential items, welcoming social clubs and outreach, school-based support for families, and practical community wellbeing services across Northamptonshire.

What they fund

Priority Areas

The foundation describes its mission as bringing community to people in need. It provides food and essential items, including regular and emergency food parcels for children, families and individuals facing financial difficulty and crisis across Northamptonshire. Its work also includes welcoming social clubs and outreach to strengthen local social networks and prevent isolation; school-based support for families in need; and practical community wellbeing services. Through its school partnerships, it provides tailored aid identified by schools, including food and essentials and support for children's education. Its wider support connects people with resources, skills and guidance for greater stability. Food Hub parcels are distributed through existing partner organisations and recognised local support providers, rather than directly to the general public.

Themes

Food and Essentials
Social Clubs and Outreach
Schools Support
Community Wellbeing

Geographic Focus

Priority: Northamptonshire.

How to apply

No application process is published in the charity's annual report, its register entry or its website. The contact shown is for getting in touch.

Where they fund

Where it says it funds

Northamptonshire

Similar funders

Funders supporting work similar to The McCarthy-Dixon Foundation.

Northamptonshire Community FoundationMixed deadlinesGave £1.1M Northampton Municipal Church CharityRollingGave £39,000 Northamptonshire Health CharityFixed deadlinesGave £647k St. Giles Charity EstatesNo public processGave £66,715 The Diocese of NorthamptonNo public processGave £468k The David Wilson FoundationInvitation onlyGave £480k The Wilson FoundationRollingGave £155k Beckett's and Sargeant's Educational FoundationNo public processGave £34,000 The Davidge Usher TrustRollingGave £83,600 The Fusion21 FoundationInvitation onlyGave £1.1M

Five years of accounts

Financial year	Income	Expenditure	Grants paid	Accounts document
year to 31 March 2021	£88,622	£83,993	—	Accounts for year to 31 March 2021
year to 31 March 2022	£108,635	£80,784	—	Accounts for year to 31 March 2022
year to 31 March 2023	£104,509	£122,400	—	Accounts for year to 31 March 2023
year to 31 March 2024	£231,106	£175,707	—	Accounts for year to 31 March 2024
year to 31 March 2025	£492,023	£455,201	—	Accounts for year to 31 March 2025

Figures from the charity’s filed accounts and its register entry. The document icon links to the charity’s entry on the Charity Commission register, where its filed accounts can be found.