E F Bulmer Trust

Could E F Bulmer Trust fund your project? Check fit free. Draft if yes — or shortlist better matches.

Typical grants: £500 – £5,000
Where they fund: Herefordshire
Applications: Accepted
How to apply: Email application
Decisions: Quarterly

Works for Registered charities, CIOs, CICs and community groups.

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efbulmer.co.uk

About E F Bulmer Trust

The E F Bulmer Trust is a family-run charitable trust founded by Fred Bulmer in the late 1930s, deeply rooted in Herefordshire. Its primary mission is to relieve hardship, need, and distress among former employees of HP Bulmer Holdings PLC and their dependants, while also providing support to local individuals and community organisations. Guided by values of compassion, social justice, fairness, and community responsibility, the Trust focuses on direct relief of suffering through healthcare, mental health, disability support, and social welfare. It awards modest grants, often for core costs, and prioritises targeted, locally-focused initiatives that make a tangible difference in the lives of those in need.

What E F Bulmer Trust funds

The Trust supports causes including poverty, hardship, disability, physical health, and mental health, all within Herefordshire. It funds community organisations through the Herefordshire Good Causes grant, which covers core costs for projects addressing these areas. Small grants are also available for individuals in need across the county, and separate support exists for former employees of HP Bulmer Holdings PLC and their dependants who face hardship or distress. The Trust prefers to fund direct relief work and initiatives that demonstrate clear local benefit, avoiding broader or less targeted activities.

Who can apply

Eligible applicants include registered charities, CIOs, CICs, community groups, schools, and sports clubs based in Herefordshire. The Trust also supports individuals in need within the county, particularly those who are sick, convalescent, disabled, infirm, or vulnerable. Former employees of HP Bulmer Holdings PLC and their dependants can apply directly for relief. There is no religious restriction, and the Trust welcomes applications from grassroots organisations that show local roots and a clear understanding of community needs.

What E F Bulmer Trust doesn't fund

The Trust does not fund trips or projects abroad, awareness-raising work, political activity, or private individuals unless an eligible organisation applies on their behalf or they are former employees. It also excludes grants to be passed on to other organisations, help with budget shortfalls or debt repayments, retrospective funding, projects unable to start within 12 months, work that statutory bodies have a duty to fund, unspecified expenditure, and environmental or arts projects unless they meet specific criteria.

How they like to fund

The Trust awards one-off grants, typically for core costs, and does not offer multi-year commitments. It welcomes unsolicited applications from eligible organisations and individuals. Grants are modest in size, reflecting the Trust's focus on targeted, locally-focused relief. As a family-run foundation, it values personal connection to the community and direct, tangible outcomes from its funding.

How much does E F Bulmer Trust give?

E F Bulmer Trust runs 3 grant programmes. Every figure below is sourced from their published guidance.

£500 – £5,000

Last verified 8 August 2026 · 40 sourced facts

Grants for Former Employees of HP Bulmer Holdings PLCRolling applications

Online application form

Herefordshire Good Causes grantOpen to applications

Online application form
3 rounds a year
Decisions in ~10 weeks
Single-year grants

Small Grants to Individuals in NeedRolling applications

Online application form
Decisions in ~1 weeks

Those are the published figures. What your charity could realistically get — and whether you'd clear their rules on income, location and legal structure — is what the free fit check answers.

What E F Bulmer Trust funds — and what they won't

Their stated priorities

primary objective is the relief of former employees of H P Bulmer Holdings PLC and its subsidiary companies and their dependants who are in need, hardship or distress.

Where they fund

Herefordshire

Costs they'll cover

Core costs

The full exclusions list (12)

To fund trips or projects abroad
For awareness-raising work
For political activity
For private individuals (unless an eligible organisation is applying on their behalf or former employees of HP Bulmer Holdings PLC)
To be passed on to other organisations
To help with budget shortfalls or debt repayments
For projects where the grant expenditure is due to start before the grant award date (retrospective funding)
For projects unable to start within 12 months of the grant award date
For work which statutory bodies (such as schools or local authorities) have a duty to fund
For unspecified expenditure
Environmental projects - unless the project can provide evidence that the outcomes match our criteria
Arts projects - unless the project can provide evidence that the outcomes match our criteria

Good to know

FaithNo restriction

Focus areas

HealthMental healthDisabilityPoverty & hardship

How to apply to E F Bulmer Trust

E F Bulmer Trust takes applications via email application.

Published programme route: online application form.
Decisions are typically quarterly.
Check whether your charity is in scope before you spend time on a full bid.

How it works

1
Describe your project. Once — used for this funder and others.
2
See if this could be a fit. Honest check on cause, place, size, and rules.
3
Draft if yes. From your real data — or move on if not.

See if E F Bulmer Trust could be a fit. Draft if yes.

Frequently asked questions

How much funding does E F Bulmer Trust provide?

E F Bulmer Trust typically provides grants of £500 - £5,000.

Where does E F Bulmer Trust fund charities?

E F Bulmer Trust funds charities operating in Herefordshire.

Does E F Bulmer Trust accept unsolicited applications?

E F Bulmer Trust accepts unsolicited applications from eligible organisations. Current programme status is on this page — do not assume a round is open.

What does E F Bulmer Trust not fund?

Their published exclusions include: To fund trips or projects abroad; For awareness-raising work; For political activity; For private individuals (unless an eligible organisation is applying on their behalf or former employees of HP Bulmer Holdings PLC); To be passed on to other organisations. The full exclusions list is further up this page.

How do I apply for funding from E F Bulmer Trust?

E F Bulmer Trust takes applications via email application. Published programme route: online application form.