Zouq Foundation

Charity Number: 1185897

Annual Expenditure: £0.4M
Geographic Focus: Throughout England And Wales, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Jordan, Lebanon, Malawi, Mali ... [8 more]

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £433,025 (FY 2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: Not publicly specified
  • Geographic Focus: Local (Rochdale/Lancashire) and International (particularly Pakistan)
  • Charity Number: 1185897

Contact Details

  • Address: C/O Pakeeza Dairies, Kingsway West Business Park, Moss Bridge Road, Rochdale, OL16 5LX
  • Email: hello@zouq.org.uk
  • Phone: 01706 489129
  • Website: None listed

Overview

The ZOUQ FOUNDATION was established in October 2019 by the family of the late Ghulam Zouq, founder of Lancashire Farm Dairies, to establish regular charitable giving to various projects. The foundation focuses on advancing education, training, and preventing or relieving poverty by providing grants to support people suffering hardship. In the financial year ending October 2024, the foundation received £616,500 in income (entirely from donations and legacies) and distributed £433,025 in charitable activities. The foundation operates as a family philanthropic vehicle, giving both openly and discreetly, locally in the Rochdale area and internationally, with particular focus on Pakistan. As noted by the family, their late father “was a philanthropist at heart, never turning away those who had genuine need.”

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal, publicly advertised grant programs. Grants are awarded at the trustees' discretion based on the foundation's charitable purposes.

Priority Areas

  • Education and Training: Supporting educational initiatives and skill development for people experiencing hardship
  • Poverty Relief: Direct support to individuals and projects that lift people out of poverty
  • Sustainable Income Projects: Initiatives that provide long-term income generation opportunities
  • Community Support: Both local (Rochdale/Lancashire area) and international (particularly Pakistan) projects

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented, though the foundation appears focused on poverty alleviation and education rather than other charitable causes.

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees (all appointed 21 October 2019):

  • Dr Nadia Zouq - Chair
  • Mohammed Azhar Zouq - Trustee (also Managing Director of Lancashire Farm Dairies and trustee of Central Mosque Rochdale)
  • Dr Rehana Zouq - Trustee

All three trustees are children of the late Ghulam Zouq, who founded Lancashire Farm Dairies in 1984. The family has a strong commitment to philanthropy, with Lancashire Farm Dairies itself contributing over £530,000 in charitable donations in 2020 alone (up from £162,000 the prior year).

No trustees receive remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. The foundation has no trading subsidiaries and no employees.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The ZOUQ FOUNDATION does not have a public application process. Grants appear to be awarded at the discretion of the trustees, who identify and support projects aligned with the foundation's charitable purposes. The foundation was established to enable “regular charitable giving to a variety of projects,” suggesting trustees proactively identify beneficiaries rather than responding to public applications.

Those seeking support may contact the foundation via email (hello@zouq.org.uk) or phone (01706 489129) to inquire about potential funding, though there is no guarantee of consideration without an existing relationship or connection to the foundation's areas of interest.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. As a discretionary grant-maker, decision timelines likely vary based on individual circumstances.

Success Rates

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Application Success Factors

Since the ZOUQ FOUNDATION operates through trustee discretion rather than open applications, the following factors appear relevant based on the foundation's stated purposes and background:

  • Alignment with Core Mission: Projects focused on poverty alleviation, education, training, and sustainable income generation for people experiencing hardship
  • Geographic Relevance: Strong connection to either the Rochdale/Lancashire area (the family's business base) or Pakistan (the family's heritage)
  • Sustainable Impact: The foundation emphasizes “lifting people out of poverty and providing sustainable income,” suggesting preference for projects with long-term impact rather than short-term relief
  • Direct Benefit to Individuals in Hardship: The foundation's purposes specifically mention “providing grants to support people suffering hardship, with the object of improving their conditions of life”

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • The ZOUQ FOUNDATION does not accept unsolicited applications and operates through trustee discretion
  • The foundation was established in 2019 by the family of Ghulam Zouq, founder of Lancashire Farm Dairies, to formalize their philanthropic giving
  • Focus areas include education, training, poverty relief, and sustainable income generation for people experiencing hardship
  • Geographic priorities appear to be the Rochdale/Lancashire area and international projects, particularly in Pakistan
  • The foundation distributed £433,025 in charitable activities in FY 2024, funded entirely by family donations and legacies
  • The family has a strong track record of philanthropy, with Lancashire Farm Dairies contributing over £530,000 to charitable causes in 2020
  • Without a public application process, organizations seeking funding would need to make direct contact via hello@zouq.org.uk, though success would likely depend on existing relationships or strong alignment with the foundation's specific interests

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References

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Zouq Foundation fund?

Grant Programs The foundation does not operate formal, publicly advertised grant programs. Grants are awarded at the trustees' discretion based on the foundation's charitable purposes.

How much funding does Zouq Foundation provide?

Zouq Foundation provides grants ranging from Not publicly specified, with total annual giving of approximately £433,025 (FY 2024).

How do I contact Zouq Foundation?

Address: C/O Pakeeza Dairies, Kingsway West Business Park, Moss Bridge Road, Rochdale, OL16 5LX Email: hello@zouq. org.

Is Zouq Foundation a registered charity?

Yes, Zouq Foundation is a registered charity with the Charity Commission (charity number 1185897). They serve organisations across 16 regions in the UK.

How do I apply to Zouq Foundation?

How to Apply The ZOUQ FOUNDATION does not have a public application process. Grants appear to be awarded at the discretion of the trustees, who identify and support projects aligned with the foundation's charitable purposes. The foundation was established to enable "regular charitable giving to a variety of projects," suggesting trustees proactively identify beneficiaries rather than responding to public applications.

Where is Zouq Foundation based?

Zouq Foundation is based in Rochdale. They fund organisations across 16 regions in the UK.