Helen Jean Cope Charity

The Helen Jean Cope Charity, established in 1993 from the estate of Jean Cope following her family's philanthropic legacy in Loughborough—tracing back to grandfather Alan Moss and mother Annie Isobel Cope—is a local grantmaker dedicated to distributing assets to registered charities addressing community needs in the East Midlands, with a strong historic preference for Leicestershire, Derbyshire, and Nottinghamshire. Rooted in values of local philanthropy, stewardship, and direct community impact, it supports a broad spectrum of generalist causes, including education, community facilities like schools and village halls, projects for children, older people, disabled individuals, the homeless, and those with health needs, as well as arts festivals, playgroups, churches, and initiatives tackling social exclusion or vulnerability.

Eligible applicants are UK-registered charities of small to medium size (modest turnover preferred, no strict income limits), including national ones if projects deliver clear benefits within the East Midlands catchment; grassroots and regional organizations are favored. Funding targets specific, tangible projects such as capital appeals, equipment, facility improvements, or one-off initiatives with measurable local impact, always additional to statutory support.

Grants typically range from £500 to £5,000 (often £1,000–£3,000), with rare larger awards for high-impact cases. Unsolicited applications are welcomed on a rolling basis via postal letter (no online form), including a cover letter, charity details, recent accounts, project specifics, budget, and local impact evidence; decisions follow quarterly trustee meetings, with responses in weeks. Distinctives include low bureaucracy, no multi-year or repeat funding, avoidance of core costs or unrestricted support, and a trustee-led focus on prudent, practical quality-of-life enhancements for vulnerable East Midlands residents.