Haramead Trust

The Haramead Trust, a Leicestershire-based grant-making charity established in 1995, focuses on relieving hardship and distress, advancing children's welfare, and promoting education for better health. Founded by local philanthropists, it embodies compassion, pragmatic support, and sustained impact on enduring social issues like poverty, homelessness, and disadvantage, rather than experimental projects. With over 30 years of consistent priorities, it balances UK and international work, showing particular affinity for Leicestershire and East Midlands initiatives alongside developing world efforts.

It funds UK-registered charities tackling poverty relief, children's welfare, health (including medical aid), education, homelessness, social welfare, elderly support, disabilities, and crisis aid for families or individuals referred by trusted agencies. Grants support projects, core costs, capital, revenue, unrestricted uses, and emergencies, with recent examples including children's charities, educational programs, homelessness alleviation, medical equipment, and heritage like Leicester Cathedral. About half of grants go overseas, a third to the East Midlands.

Eligible applicants are UK-registered charities of any size with no income limits, operating anywhere but prioritizing Leicestershire benefits; individuals require agency referrals. Applications are unsolicited, rolling via email (harameadtrust@aol.com) or post, with no forms—just a covering letter, accounts, and project outline demonstrating mission fit (minimum £5,000 request). Trustees meet regularly, notifying decisions within months; 2023-24 saw £1.075m awarded to 132 recipients, mostly £5,000–£10,000, some over £10,000. Distinctives include low-bureaucracy accessibility, no religious restrictions, and direct crisis aid, excluding grants under £5,000 or misaligned activities.