The Mears Foundation

Charity Number: 1134941

Annual Expenditure: £0.2M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £240,000+ (2023)
  • Income: £347,502 (2024)
  • Grant Range: £1,000 - £10,000 (estimated based on recent awards)
  • Geographic Focus: UK-wide
  • Application Method: Employee endorsement required
  • Decision Time: Varies by grant cycle

Contact Details

Website: www.themearsfoundation.org.uk

Email: mearsfoundation@mearsgroup.co.uk

Phone: 01452 634600

Registered Charity: 1134941

Company Registration: 07021016

Key Personnel:

  • General Manager: Heather Tyrer
  • Chairperson: Christine Losecaat MBE

Overview

The Mears Foundation is the independent charitable arm of Mears Group plc, established as a grant-making charity. Founded to harness the goodwill, talents, and skills within Mears Group (one of the UK's leading housing and social care providers with over 6,500 employees), the Foundation supports charities and community projects that provide practical help to vulnerable people across the UK.

In 2023, the Foundation donated more than £240,000 to projects and initiatives across the UK and Northern Ireland. The Foundation's mission is to “empower individuals by giving them the support and opportunities they need to build their skills, confidence, and independence.” Their strategic approach centres on building stronger, more connected communities through grants that create lasting impact, with particular focus on asylum seekers, older people, and those experiencing homelessness.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Mears Foundation operates annual grant cycles with varying dates each year. In their September 2024 cycle, they awarded £50,000 across multiple projects. Individual grant amounts typically range from approximately £1,000 to £10,000 based on recent awards.

Application Method: Rolling cycles throughout the year with specific deadlines communicated internally to Mears Group employees who submit applications on behalf of organizations.

Priority Areas

The Foundation supports projects that:

  1. Alleviate Poverty - Projects providing food, digital access, and fuel support
  2. Combat Isolation - Initiatives helping isolated individuals reintegrate into communities
  3. Protect and Enhance Green Spaces - Environmental conservation and community gardening projects
  4. Promote Health and Wellbeing - Physical and mental health support programs
  5. Build Community Resilience - Strengthening local communities and social connections
  6. Encourage Inclusion and Diversity - Projects promoting equality and accessibility

Specific Focus Groups:

  • Asylum seekers and refugee populations
  • Older people facing isolation
  • People experiencing homelessness
  • Care leavers
  • Children and young people in disadvantaged communities

Recent Grant Examples

  • Glasgow asylum support project - events and safe meeting spaces for isolated asylum seekers
  • Islington homeless shelters - welcome sanitary packs for residents
  • Hull asylum seekers support - essential services for 190 asylum seekers through The Peel Project
  • Exercise classes for asylum-affected families in Hull
  • North Ayrshire Fairer Food Network - supporting food provision in Scotland's most deprived communities
  • Ground Force Project - expanded gardening initiative across 10 locations
  • Ochil House Gardening Club - greenhouse installation with 54 volunteer hours from Mears staff
  • Christ The King Primary School - playground transformation with student involvement
  • Care Leavers Hub - outdoor space transformation with greenhouse and vegetable growing area
  • Age UK Rotherham and SafeHaven support
  • Aston Pre-School - £1,000 for garden refurbishment

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the Foundation's focus on UK-based projects supporting vulnerable people suggests they do not fund:

  • International projects outside the UK
  • Projects without clear community benefit
  • Initiatives lacking connection to their priority areas
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Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees:

  • Christine Losecaat MBE (Chairperson) - Internationally experienced senior business strategy, marketing and communications specialist; CEO of consultancy firm Little Dipper
  • Judith Herbert (Treasurer)
  • Diane Keay
  • Paddy Grace
  • Alison Wilkinson
  • Liam Wilkinson
  • Martin Gaffney

Senior Management:

  • Heather Tyrer (General Manager) - Accomplished Charity and Community Manager focused on creating impactful fundraising opportunities to support national and local charities and community projects

Leadership Quotes:

Heather Tyrer on the Foundation's impact: "We're excited to be able to support different charities and good causes which help make a significant impact in the communities we work in."

On partnership working: “We are proud to be partnering with AESSEAL to provide important support for asylum seekers to communicate and get online.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

CRITICAL REQUIREMENT: The Mears Foundation does not accept direct applications from organizations. All applications must be endorsed and submitted by a Mears Group employee.

Application Steps:

  1. Identify a Mears Group Connection: Find an employee within Mears Group plc (housing management, social care, repairs and maintenance sectors across the UK with 6,500+ employees)
  2. Discuss Your Project: Contact the Mears employee to discuss your project idea and ensure alignment with Foundation priorities
  3. Collaborate on Application: Work with the Mears employee to shape and refine your project concept
  4. Employee Submits Application: The Mears Group member formally submits the grant application internally and will help manage and provide updates throughout the project lifecycle

Getting on Their Radar

Since applications require employee endorsement, organizations should:

  • Target Mears Group Locations: Mears operates housing management, repairs, and social care services across the UK. Focus on areas where Mears has contracts with local authorities or housing associations
  • Engage with Mears Asylum Accommodation Sites: If working with asylum seekers, connect with Mears staff at their asylum accommodation (IA) sites
  • Volunteer Opportunities: The Foundation notes that Mears staff contributed 54 volunteer hours to Ochil House Gardening Club - building relationships through volunteering could lead to endorsements
  • Community Events: Attend local events in communities where Mears operates housing or care services
  • Align Projects with Mears' Work: Projects that complement Mears' core business in housing, homelessness, and social care may resonate more strongly with potential employee sponsors

Decision Timeline

Grant cycles run throughout the year with varying dates. Review periods follow each grant scheme cycle. Specific timelines are not publicly available but are communicated to Mears Group employees who are managing applications. Based on typical foundation practices, expect 3-6 months from application submission to decision.

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly available. However, the endorsement requirement likely means that applications reaching the Foundation have already been pre-screened by Mears employees, potentially resulting in higher success rates than open-application foundations.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is publicly documented. Organizations should maintain relationships with their Mears Group contact for guidance on reapplying after an unsuccessful application.

Application Success Factors

Based on the Foundation's recent grant awards and stated priorities:

Strong Applications Will:

  1. Demonstrate Direct Impact on Vulnerable Groups - Recent grants show clear preference for projects supporting asylum seekers, homeless populations, and isolated older people
  2. Include Community Gardening or Green Space Elements - Multiple 2023 grants focused on “projects that transform local landscapes” including greenhouses, community gardens, and outdoor spaces
  3. Promote Community Connection - The Foundation values projects that bring people together and reduce isolation
  4. Show Practical, Tangible Outcomes - Awards favor projects with clear deliverables like equipment, facilities, or specific services rather than pure research or policy work
  5. Align with Mears Group's Geographic Footprint - Projects in areas where Mears operates (housing management in 700,000+ social homes UK-wide) may have stronger employee advocacy
  6. Engage Mears Volunteers - Several funded projects included Mears staff volunteer hours, suggesting employee involvement strengthens applications
  7. Address Multiple Priority Areas - Successful projects often tackle isolation AND poverty, or wellbeing AND environment
  8. Include Beneficiary Participation - Christ The King Primary School grant involved students in design process - co-production is valued

Recent Funding Patterns Show:

  • Strong focus on asylum seeker support (multiple Hull and Glasgow projects funded in 2024)
  • Preference for smaller UK charities rather than large national organizations
  • Interest in preventative health approaches through outdoor activities and food growing
  • Support for capital items (greenhouses, equipment) alongside service delivery

Make Your Employee Sponsor's Job Easy:

  • Provide clear, compelling project summaries they can champion internally
  • Demonstrate how the project aligns with Foundation priorities
  • Show realistic budgets and timescales
  • Indicate any co-funding or partnership working

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Employee endorsement is non-negotiable - Start building relationships with Mears Group staff in your area well before you need funding
  • Focus on vulnerability and isolation - The Foundation specifically targets asylum seekers, older people, and those experiencing homelessness
  • Green spaces are a major priority - Multiple 2023-2024 grants funded community gardens, greenhouses, and outdoor transformation projects
  • Think small and practical - Recent grants fund tangible items and specific activities rather than large-scale program development
  • Geographic presence matters - Mears operates across the UK in social housing and asylum accommodation - target areas where they have contracts
  • Volunteer engagement strengthens bids - Consider how Mears employees could volunteer with your project as this appears valued by the Foundation
  • Application windows are internal - Grant cycles exist but deadlines are communicated to Mears employees, not publicly advertised - maintain good relationships with your sponsor to catch opportunities

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