Anchor Society CIO

Anchor Society CIO, established in 1769 as a voluntary association inspired by Edward Colston's philanthropy, is a historic Bristol-based charity dedicated to improving the lives of vulnerable, isolated, and financially challenged older people aged 55 and over in Bristol, Bath & North East Somerset, North Somerset, and South Gloucestershire (BS, BA, GL postcodes). Rooted in values of compassion, dignity, and collaboration, it evolved from aiding 'lying-in' women and orphans to prioritizing elderly welfare, maintaining an unbroken lineage through annual presidential appointments, personal fundraising traditions, and partnerships like the Bristol Old People Funders Alliance to foster independent, fulfilling lives and combat poverty, loneliness, and exclusion.

It funds targeted projects and charities addressing financial hardship, social isolation, loneliness, mental and physical health challenges, and cultural exclusion for older adults, including direct service provision like befriending, daily living support, housing assistance, crisis relief, and cultural engagement—such as £5,000 grants for free concert tickets enabling social connections. Support extends to emergency individual grants (under £500), recurring programmes, core costs, and occasional capital for adaptations, emphasizing measurable, sustainable outcomes for over-55s.

Eligible applicants are UK-registered charities and community groups with strong local presence and direct impact on older people in the specified areas; small to medium-sized organisations (typically under £1M turnover) are preferred, with no strict income limits but a requirement to pass the online Eligibility Checker. Applications via online form precede biannual trustee meetings, with next deadlines 29 September 2025 and 22 December 2025; notifications follow 6-8 weeks later. Typical grants range £1,000-£10,000. Exclusions include children, youth, education, animals, or non-local/non-elderly initiatives, distinguishing Anchor as a sharply focused regional leader in elderly support.