Boss Business Supplies Charity

The Boss Business Supplies Charity, founded in 1925 as the BOSS Benevolent Fund by the BOSS Federation, is a UK-wide specialist charity dedicated to providing essential financial assistance to individuals facing hardship, distress, or financial difficulty within the business supplies industry. Its unwavering mission—predating the welfare state—focuses on relieving acute needs among current and former employees (and sometimes dependants or widows) who have worked at least two years in the sector, embodying values of solidarity, dignity, and compassion. Governed by volunteer trustees with deep industry knowledge and partnered with the BOSS Federation, it offers pragmatic, tailored support like one-off emergency grants, ongoing quarterly aid for prolonged challenges (e.g., illness, redundancy, rising costs), and Future Fund grants up to £750 for professional training and career advancement within the sector.

Eligibility is strictly for individuals, not organisations, who demonstrate insufficient income for essentials via three months' bank statements; no religious or other restrictions apply, and it serves all UK regions where the industry operates. Applications are unsolicited and rolling, submitted online via Lightning Reach or paper form, with follow-up calls if needed; trustee meetings occur every 6-8 weeks, yielding decisions within 1-2 months.

Typical grants range £500-£2,000 for hardship relief, excluding projects, core funding, or general public support—making it uniquely the UK's only fund dedicated solely to this niche professional community. Charities should align only if directly serving verified business supplies sector individuals, ensuring targeted, empathetic impact on financial security and wellbeing.