The Worshipful Company Of Farriers Charitable Trust 1994

Quick Stats

• Registered Charity Number: 1044726
• Annual Giving: £140,306 (2024)
• Annual Income: £68,851 (2024)
• Decision Time: Not publicly specified
• Grant Type: Individual grants (hardship/welfare) and organizational partnerships
• Geographic Focus: England and Wales
• Application Process: By written application to the Clerk (no public application form)

Contact Details

Address: Magnesia House, 6 Playhouse Yard, London EC4V 5EX

Website: www.wcf.org.uk/charity

Email: theclerk@wcf.org.uk

Phone: 020 3410 0720

Overview

The Worshipful Company of Farriers Charitable Trust 1994 was established on 14 December 1994 and registered as a charity on 6 March 1995. The Trust operates as the charitable arm of the Worshipful Company of Farriers, one of London's historic Livery Companies (ranked 55th), which received its Royal Charter in 1674. The Trust focuses on two primary areas: advancing farriery education and training, and providing welfare support to farriers and their families experiencing hardship. With annual expenditure of £140,306 (2024), the Trust makes grants to individuals and supports both UK-based and international farriery development initiatives. The organization is governed by 1 trustee (The Worshipful Company of Farriers) and supported by 20 volunteers. Recent strategic focus includes partnership with international equine welfare charity Brooke on the Global Farriery Project, which has trained over 1,000 farriers in low and middle-income countries.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Trust operates through two main funding streams:

1. Individual Welfare Grants

• Financial support for farriers and their families experiencing poverty, hardship, sickness, or suffering
• Support extends to spouses, widows, widowers, and dependents of current and former farriers
• Grant amounts not publicly specified
• Application method: Written application to the Clerk

2. Education and Training Support

• Training and education grants for farriers and apprentice farriers
• Equine Veterinary Studies Award (EVSA): Covers accommodation, meals (B&B plus lunch allowance), and travel expenses for veterinary students to work with senior farriers for up to 5 days
• EVSA recipients also receive Freedom of the Company without entrance fee, with annual subscription waived for 2 years post-graduation
• Application method: Through veterinary schools

3. Strategic Partnerships

• Organizational partnerships with equine welfare organizations (e.g., Brooke Global Farriery Project)
• Focus on raising farriery standards internationally
• Application method: No public process; partnerships appear to be invitation-only or trustee-initiated

Priority Areas

• Farriery Education: Training and professional development for farriers at all career stages
• Welfare Support: Relief of poverty, hardship, sickness, and suffering among the farriery community
• Professional Standards: Promoting proficiency and competence in farriery
• Horse Welfare: Relief of suffering and distress of horses
• International Development: Supporting farriery training in low and middle-income countries

What They Don't Fund

The Trust's charitable objects are narrowly defined and limited to:

• Support only for the farriery profession and equine welfare
• No general charitable giving outside these areas
• No grants to organizations outside the farriery/equine sector

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Governance and Leadership

Governance Structure: The charitable trust is governed by The Worshipful Company of Farriers as the sole trustee. The Company itself is governed by the Court, which consists of the Master, three Wardens, a Treasurer, Past Masters, and Assistants, served by the Clerk, Craft Secretary & Registrar, Chaplain, and Beadle.

Current Master (2024-2025): Mr. John Chilman AFCL, a highly respected farrier who became a Liveryman in 1994 and joined the Court as an Assistant in 2013. He served as Craft Committee Chairman for six years. His career began with an apprenticeship in Newmarket and Lambourn, and he founded his own farriery business in Worcestershire. The Master serves a one-year term, with installation taking place annually in September.

Previous Leadership: David Buckton served as Immediate Past Master and was quoted supporting the Brooke Global Farriery Project, stating: “Better welfare of their animals will improve the livelihoods of the equine owning families.”

Volunteers: The Trust is supported by 20 volunteers who contribute to its charitable activities.

Governance Policies: The Trust maintains comprehensive governance including financial controls, risk management, safeguarding policies, and conflict of interest management. It is recognized by HMRC for gift aid purposes.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This Trust does not have a public application process for organizational grants. The Trust primarily makes grants to individuals within the farriery profession and operates through the following channels:

For Individual Welfare Support:

Applications for assistance should be directed in writing to the Clerk at The Worshipful Company of Farriers, Magnesia House, 6 Playhouse Yard, London EC4V 5EX. No public application form is available; applicants should write explaining their circumstances and need for support.

For EVSA (Veterinary Students):

Applications are made through individual veterinary schools rather than directly to the Trust. One senior undergraduate from each participating veterinary school is nominated for the award.

For Organizational Partnerships:

There is no public application process. Partnerships appear to be initiated through trustee connections or by invitation. Recent partnerships (such as with Brooke) suggest the Trust is approached by or approaches organizations aligned with their charitable objects.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly specified. Given the structure with a single trustee (the Company itself), decisions likely follow the Court's meeting schedule, though urgent welfare cases may be addressed more quickly.

Success Rates

Success rates and application volumes are not publicly disclosed.

Reapplication Policy

No information is publicly available regarding reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants.

Application Success Factors

Given the Trust's structure and focus, the following factors appear important:

For Individual Applicants:

• Clear demonstration of connection to the farriery profession (current or former farrier, apprentice, or dependent)
• Evidence of genuine hardship, poverty, sickness, or suffering
• Detailed explanation of circumstances and specific need
• Applications should be made in writing with supporting information

For Organizational Partnerships:

• Strong alignment with farriery education, professional standards, or equine welfare
• Demonstrable impact on the farriery profession or horse welfare
• Projects that advance the Trust's specific charitable objects
• International development focus on raising farriery standards in low and middle-income countries appears particularly aligned with current strategic priorities

Key Strategic Alignment:

• The Trust's recent partnership with Brooke demonstrates interest in international farriery development
• Support for professional validation and technical resource development
• Focus on transforming farriery into a recognized and regulated profession globally
• Projects that improve both farrier livelihoods and equine welfare

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Narrow Focus: This is a highly specialized trust focused exclusively on farriery and equine welfare - only apply if your work directly relates to these areas
• No Public Application Process: For organizational funding, there is no application portal or form; partnerships appear to be relationship-based or invitation-only
• Individual Focus: The Trust's primary grant-making activity is supporting individual farriers in need rather than funding organizations
• International Interest: Recent partnership with Brooke suggests openness to international farriery development projects that raise professional standards
• Contact the Clerk: For any potential partnership or individual support, initial contact should be made in writing to the Clerk
• Long-term Relationships: The Trust appears to work through established connections with the farriery profession and related organizations rather than responding to cold applications
• Strategic Partnerships: Organizations seeking partnership should demonstrate how their work advances farriery education, professional standards, or equine welfare at scale

References

1. The Charity Commission, “THE WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF FARRIERS CHARITABLE TRUST 1994 - Full Print,” Register of Charities, Charity Number 1044726, https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/1044726/full-print

1. The Worshipful Company of Farriers, "The Worshipful Company of Farriers' Charitable Trust 1994," https://www.wcf.org.uk/charitable-trust

• Quote from David Buckton, Immediate Past Master: “Better welfare of their animals will improve the livelihoods of the equine owning families.”

1. The Worshipful Company of Farriers, “About Equine Veterinary Studies Award,” https://www.wcf.org.uk/about-evsa

1. RCVS, “EMS award enables veterinary students to work with top farriers,” https://www.rcvs.org.uk/news-and-views/news/ems-award-enables-veterinary-students-to-work-with-top-farrie/

1. Wikipedia, “Worshipful Company of Farriers,” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worshipful_Company_of_Farriers

1. The Worshipful Company of Farriers, “The Master,” https://www.wcf.org.uk/the-master